Music is not the
only thing that Taylor Swift knows a thing or two about. With the release of
her new album, she has been interviewed a lot lately and she is talking about
some good topics. One of them is something that I have been inspired by this
past month from the foreword that was written by Sophia Bush in the book I’ve
been reading that I have been anxiously waiting to tell you all about once I finish it!
So here is what
Miss T-Swift has to say…
“If we continue
to show young girls that they are being compared to other girls, we’re doing
ourselves a huge disservice as a society. I surround myself with smart,
beautiful, passionate, driven, ambitious women. Other women who are killing it
should motivate you, thrill you, challenge you and inspire you rather than
threaten you and make you feel like you’re immediately being compared to them.
The only thing I compare myself to is me, two years ago, or me one year ago.”
I had the idea
for this blog before this interview came out and it couldn’t fit more
perfectly as I was piecing it together. This post is dedicated to women that I know personally. Women that
have entered my life some way or another. I am connected with these girls on
social media and have the joy of keeping in contact with them, but also watch
them evolve and really kick ass at life. (Literally, Tambree does MMA fighting!)
These girls use their beauty, brains, and
bodies in extraordinary ways. Some of them do things I couldn’t imagine doing (a chemical engineer?!) and inspire me in different areas of my life. These are some of the girls that Taylor Swift describes above that I am lucky to have in my life. And I can barely wait to brag about them. :)
So I contacted
them and asked them to answer some questions. I wanted their input, opinions,
and to highlight their amazing-ness. This is a long post, but worthwhile.
Please enjoy, be inspired, consume their stories, and read their advice. Each one is different, but they all are women that go through a lot of the same things we all do. Happy reading!
 |
| Photo credit: Tracy Phutikanit |
Name: Eden C. Tullis
Where you are from: Oswego, Kansas
(southeast, just 10 minutes away from the Oklahoma border and 30 minutes away
from the Missouri border)
Where you are living currently: Seattle, Washington
(neighborhood, Beacon Hill)
Occupation or whatever kind of gig you are
doing: College Advisor/Specialist for Orientation Programs at the University
of Washington Bothell; I also blog and consider myself a social justice
advocate
How you know Rachel: Emporia State! We were
Ambassadors together, and I got involved with BUILD Beauty :)
What’s your favorite thing about being a girl?
I’d first
like to address how I move through this world as a cisgendered female. This
means that my gender as a female aligns with my sexual identity. I go over this
terminology with my college students to be encompassing and inclusive because I
want them to feel welcome to share their own identity. Another similar practice
is the sharing of pronoun preferences, and I personally prefer the pronouns
“she” and “her”.
At first,
such practices felt awkward and weird to me. Over time, I’ve gotten used to
them, and guess what? I like how they make me feel! Owning the fact that I am
a female makes me proud to be female. In that same spirit, I like
sharing how I am a proud daughter and a sister. So what do I do when I don’t
have the space or opportunity to share this information with folks? I love to
show this off through my distinct wardrobe choices. The fashionista in me has
been set free here in Seattle, and I’m now able to explore other options beside
jeans, nice tops, or the occasional dress. I’m smitten with peacoats and lace
and red lipstick and those big, floppy hats you see at the Kentucky Derby.
Honestly, it’s half the reason why I moved to the coast.
Have you ever felt discriminated against
because you are a girl? How did you feel? What did you do about it?
I’ve felt
silenced, not necessarily discriminated against. It hasn’t occurred during my
career, but I felt silenced prior to what I learned in grad school—before I had
a name for what I was feeling. Back then, I never knew how to react. I ended up
sulking or reacting naively without any solid knowledge to negate the issue.
I’ve been working through what those reactions mean to me and how I internalize
them.
What’s the biggest risk you have ever taken?
(I apologize for this one. It’s lengthy, but I had so much to say!)
Ya know, I
used to think moving out to Seattle was the biggest risk, but life’s tests have
proven me otherwise! I’ll give you some context: I’ve never been the
spontaneous type. I’ve played it pretty safe in terms of having a good time,
and it’s worked. Some might say being a student for 18 years was playing it
safe, but it allowed me to take the kind of risks I can appreciate—those that
push me to grow. Coming to Seattle U for a certain purpose like grad school,
well that certainly helped. I had a built-in community, and my living
arrangements kind of fell into place. The culture-shock, though—that was
overwhelming and not something I expected. I considered myself a pretty
liberal, open-minded person but quickly realized that I had a lot to learn.
Those
first few months were such a struggle that I even thought about quitting. I
felt so behind…so naïve, both in class and in trainings. We’d spend all our
time going over identity issues, oppression, multicultural competence,
privilege, sex, gender, race, etc. My first reaction was to be on the defense,
but I quickly realized how important and rare it was to even be challenged by
people who care about you. Together, we were establishing a norm of holding
each other accountable. I guess what I’m trying to say here is that grad school
taught me a thing or two about the process of my own development. It roughed me
up a little, and I’m so glad it did. Ironically, my Master’s degree is in
Student Development Administration so of course I learned a great deal about
students and how they develop as people, but I ended up learning even more
about myself. Isn’t that funny? Well, I’m proud of myself for sticking with it.
I could’ve quit after finding out that I did in fact have assumptions about other
groups of people. I could’ve quit after coming to understand my privilege as a
white, able-bodied, U.S. citizen. But I didn’t. I was just confused and lost,
and that’s okay!
Two
lessons learned from all of it: a.) admitting I’m confused and lost can be pretty
humbling and there will always be people there to help, and b.) speaking up for
what I believe in, verbalizing it even if I don’t have all the answers, that is
the most important risk I’ll ever take in this life. It’s a constant and
passionate battle that all of us are doing at the same time, and I find that
frustratingly beautiful. For years, I’d been scared to verbalize how I feel
about political tensions, but now I find myself tweeting or blogging about them
constantly. When I do share, it’s not to say I’m better than anyone else. It’s
not even to take a stance on who is right versus who is wrong. It’s about
having a chance to share my own understanding around a particular issue and
learn about what others may know.
What’s your favorite quote?
This quote inspired my first tattoo
that I had done in October (I’ve shared a shorter version):
“There is a vitality, [...] an
energy that is translated through you into action, and because there is only
one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. [...] It is not your
business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with
other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly,
to keep the channel open. [...] You have to keep yourself open and aware to the
urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. [...]
There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that
keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”- Martha Graham
I’ve been happy to learn more and
more about Martha. She herself was a kick ass dancer and choreographer who
taught at Cornish College of the Arts (downtown Seattle).
How do you deal with the negative stigma
attached to being single?
Until
recently, I hadn’t dealt with it. This summer was a tough one. I had my heart
broken by my best friend, someone I trusted. Suddenly, I was angsty about the
fact that I had nothing to show for this unrequited love. I felt singled out
because I was single. Looking back, this was silly of me! Many of my friends in
Seattle are single and in their 20’s, too. It’s perfectly normal! We’re young
and we’re trying to figure it all out, right? Right!
Well, I
wish that’s what I would have thought of in the moment. But I didn’t know how
to stay positive then. Instead, I spent all my energy zeroing in on the fact
that my friends from back home are married, engaged, or in committed
relationships. Was I forever going to be committed to my job and not a
significant other? That’s what I kept thinking to myself! And for some reason,
I thought online dating might solve all my problems. Of course it didn’t! After
several failed attempts, I finally came to terms with this label.
Five
months later, I declare that I’m single because I’m choosing to be
alone. I’m not lonely, and I will continue to feel empowered by our own urges
as long as I’m in a committed relationship with myself.
Is there any advice that you have to
offer women?
My advice
is this: don’t let your personal or professional path be defined by what the
norm of our society says it should or shouldn’t be. If you want to have a
career in a field dominated by men, do it. If you don’t want to have kids,
don’t. I moved to Seattle with people questioning my intentions, and I’ve been
happy.
What are the amazing things that come from
living so far away from Kansas?
Strength,
diverse food, the sights, new friends, a liberal majority, more “green”
options, everything is buzzing, easy access to water, more diverse cultures.
What are the tough things you deal with living
so far away from Kansas?
Homesickness, missing my favorite
restaurants and places, stress about being close to my family but putting
myself first, going home isn’t just a drive away, all the grown up stuff:
finding a doctor, dentist, bank, etc.
What are books you would recommend to women?
- Through the Labyrinth: The Truth
About How Women Become Leaders by Alice Eagly & Linda Carli
- Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
- “I embrace the label of bad feminist because I am
human. I am messy. I am not trying to be perfect. I am not trying to say
I’m right. I am just trying—trying to support what I believe in, trying
to do some good in this world, trying to make noise with my writing…”
- Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
(And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
- Bossypants by Tina Fey
Name: Elahé J. Bahadori
Hometown: Kansas City, KS
Current Residence: Kansas City, KS
Occupation: Development Coordinator at the National
Kidney Foundation
How I Know Rachel: Dance class and school
Have you ever felt discriminated against
because you are a girl?
Yes, I have as
an Iranian-American. How did you feel? I felt terrible because I’ve dealt with
so much ignorance of people thinking the country my father immigrated from and
my family that live there are nothing but terrorists. What did you do about it?
I try to ignore it.
What’s the biggest risk you have ever
taken? I will be taking
a risk when I move states.
What made you want to pursue your current
career? The rewarding
work of non-profit and working for a good cause.
What are your thoughts on fear and how do
you deal with it? My
thoughts are that if you are fearless, you are not growing. There’s always
something to be fearful of so you can work toward the direction of your fears
and overcome them.
What’s your favorite quote? “If you want to live a fearless life, I
suggest you stay in your comfort zone.” – Mastin Kipp
Who are your
inspirations? My family
What is something you do to relieve
stress? Yoga. Dance does
the same thing for me but I didn’t have the space to continue this in my
current living situation. I got into yoga because it works on your flexibility
and teaches you patience and the journey toward your inward self. I stick with
it by participating in yoga challenges on Instagram that motivate me to keep
trying new poses daily. I also use deep breathing techniques in my yoga poses
to help sustain my balance and really reach deeper within.
What is your favorite girl power type
song? A Woman’s
Worth – Alicia Keys
How do you stay positive? I train my mind to think positive
thoughts when I sense that I am making negative ones.
What have you learned in your
relationship with your significant other? I’ve learned the importance of balancing each other out (I
lean more toward structure and I have an impatient personality, and he is more
flexible and has a patient personality).
What issues do you think girls face the
most and what do you think we can do to help stop them? Body image issues and we can stop them
by comparing ourselves to others.
Is there any advice that you have to
offer women? Don’t
compare yourself to anyone else but who you were yesterday.
All girls should
never live without chocolate!
Name: Tambree Wilson
Hometown: Kansas City, KS
Current living: Joplin, MO
Occupation or current gig: Going back to school for Elementary Education, MMA training, and working at a BBQ joint!
How I know Rachel: High school
“When I started
MMA, I was the only girl in the Pittsburg gym."
Have you ever felt discriminated against
because you are a girl? How did you feel? What did you do about it?
The first time I
walked into MMA training everyone stared at me. No one introduced themselves to
me (later when new kids came in they all introduced themselves) they just
stared. I had met the coach before training to see what all I needed and he
said I just needed wraps and a mouth guard. He forgot to mention that I would
need a lot of patience waiting for the guys to accept me.
What’s the biggest risk you have ever
taken?
Risk? Well I
guess the biggest risk I have taken was going back the second day to MMA
training. Or maybe sparring for the first time.
What made you want to pursue your current
career?
Well the biggest
thing that made me want to pursue MMA was because I was extremely over weight.
I needed to get back into some type of sport. I watched a UFC fight at one of
the parties I went to and I just thought to myself “That’s something I can do”.
I’ve always loved physical sports and any opportunity I had to wrestle with my
dad I did.
What issues do you think girls
face the most and what do you think we can do to help stop them?
The biggest
stigma that I think girls face that I hate the most is that “Girls are weak”.
As a strong woman myself this always enrages me. Some things I think we can do
starts in the schools. Stop asking for boys specifically to carry things.
Teachers always as for a “strong boy” to help carry in boxes, instead ask for a
girl or don’t even specify a gender. Stop having gender specific tasks! We can
all do the same thing. I punch just as hard as the guys and when they get hit
by my right hand and realize that it actually hurts. I have always been
complimented on my strength as a girl. I have embraced my physical strength and
other girls should too!
What has been your greatest
accomplishment?
Biggest
accomplishment in MMA was when I finally pulled of a submission in jiu-jitsu.
It was an arm bar and I had been training for like 3 months everyday. I was so
excited after he had tapped I slammed my hands on the mat like a gorilla and
ran around the matts. It may have been a bit over celebrated but I didn’t care
at that point. Nothing could bring me down that day. Another big accomplishment
was when I dropped from 265 to 185 in little under a year! That was probably
the toughest thing I did. I have always battled with weight, which is a whole
other issue when it comes to girls.
What is MMA training like?
I trained
everyday for an hour on top of some outside exercising usually involving a lot
of cardio. Now I train in Joplin and we have an all girls boxing class! I love
seeing how quickly girls are catching on to this sport but there is only one
other girl that does the MMA part like I do. Now I train every Tuesday and
Thursday boxing is at 6:30pm and Jiu-jitsu starts at 7:30 and doesn’t end till
9:30. I train for 3 hours on Tuesday and Thursdays and if I’m training for a
fight or tournament I workout everyday by adding cardio to MWF and S. It’s
always interesting when we have a new guy come in. They are either scared to
hit me, or they throw all they can into their punches. If they are scared to
hit me then I just keep hitting them and if they don’t want to get beat up by a
girl they will start fighting back.
Right before my
first fight one of my teammates wrote a Facebook status about me that filled me
with pride. He said that I put in more work then any other guy in our gym I
gave him a better challenge then most of the guys and that I was one of the
strongest females he has ever met. We had came a long way since that awkward
stare down at my first practice and I knew then that I was finally accepted
into the group and respected as a fighter.
All girls should
never live without an oversized hoodie.
Name:
Danielle (Hernandez) Atkins
Where
you are from: Originally born in Texas, but growing up Military I've moved
very often but I've always claimed Georgia as my home.
Where
you are living currently: Brunswick, Georgia
Occupation
or whatever kind of gig you are doing: Management Forester for the Georgia
Forestry Commission, and also a type 2 wild land firefighter.
How
you know Rachel: First met at the National Blue Key Conference in Toledo,
Ohio. Hit it off nearly instantly and been long-distance friends and seeing
each other at the annual National Blue Key Conference :)
About
Danielle’s job: My technical job title is
"Management Forester". I oversee 5 counties in Southeast Georgia for
which my main job duty is to establish and maintain relationships with
landowners: provide advice and/or recommendations for forest management such as
harvesting and reforestation. I also act as the district water quality
specialist, where I provide recommendations and advice on concerns regarding
forestry practices and water quality issues. I interact with other government
agencies such as the Natural Resources Conservation Services and Farm Service
Agency by evaluating and verifying various cost-share programs. I assist with
outreach events such as FFA competitions, environmental fairs, educational
meetings, etc. Also as a member of the Georgia Forestry Commission, one of our
top priorities is fire protection: which makes it necessary for every employee
to become wildland fire fighter certified.
What’s your favorite thing
about being a girl? Overcoming stereotypes. I have “Little Girl Syndrome” as I’ve
labeled it and I like to take on challenges or pursue aspects that most girls
aren’t typically seen at.
What made you want to
pursue your current career? During school I dipped
my toes in various classes and activities to find my "fit". During
one internship with The Nature Conservancy in the prairies of Minnesota and
North Dakota, I realized I needed to work with trees. The prairie plains, although
beautiful, didn't give me any passion in my work. So trees- done deal. I
figured out I needed a career path that allowed me to be around trees
(something I probably should have already known as I've always found trees
beautiful and inspiring). Senior year, I got further involved in the Forestry
Club and even became an officer. But what really made me seriously think about
forestry as a career was my work to re-establish our school's yearbook The
Cypress Knee. All the involvement in gaining sponsors to make the
re-establishment allowed me to interact with many forestry professionals with
various careers and various backgrounds. I can't say exactly when the moment
was that I had the thought that "I could do this" and I suppose it
was more of a gradual understanding. But the one thing I do understand is that
working on The Cypress Knee is one of the main underlining pushes to my
current career as a management forester.
What’s your favorite quote? I really have 2 favorite quotes. 1) "Make the most of yourself ...
for that is all there is of you" - Ralph Waldo Emerson 2) "Twenty
years from now from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't
do than by the ones your did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the
safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream.
Discover." -H. Jackson Brown's mother. Both of these I love so much I
actually got them tattooed on me. The entire 1st quote (which I got tattooed
first as well), and the ending of the second: Explore. Dream. Discover.
What is something you do to
relieve stress? As
of lately, my Crossfit workouts have helped me relieve much stress through a
physical outlet to blow of steam as well as a social function. As I've become
more involved with my Crossfit box, I've gained a new sense of confidence as
well as gained a new support system of friends- always encouraging one another
to be the best that we can be.
What have you learned in
your relationship with your significant other? One thing I've learned is we are continually learning... But probably one
of the best things I've learned is what I've labeled as
"inter-independence", as I don't exactly have the right word for it.
But simply enough, we've both gone through school together, spent 3 summers
apart in different states, remained active in different organizations as well
at times within the same organization, and both accepted forestry careers. We
would not have been capable of being so successful over the last few years if
we were not encouraging of one another's independence while understanding the
necessary compromises to help our relationship blossom to what it is today. But
one of my favorite aspects about our relationship is the fact we are able to do
things separately, such as go to conference meetings or just out with our
friends to dinner. There are many relationships today that get so consumed with
one another that I feel they essentially lose their identity, rather I believe
we have helped one another further discover ourselves.
What issues do you think
girls face the most and what do you think we can do to help stop them? I think the biggest issue today is self-confidence and social conformity.
These issues I know have always been problematic, but I feel as if today these
problems are enhanced with social media and new technological advances,
especially with the development of smart phones. Girls feeling it necessary to
constantly update their "status" or "check-ins" or post on
Instagram 24/7, I believe further enhances their need for social acceptance and
essentially losing their identity; or even on the opposite spectrum going to
extremes to stand out.
What girl stereotypes do
you wish would go away? The
"You're not strong enough to do it because you're a girl". Just
because you're a girl, even a petite girl, doesn't mean you can be successful
in whatever you put your mind to. My whole life has been built around
overcoming this particular stereotype - to others or even to myself. Nearly my
entire career field is man-dominated (you can find that out just by trying to
find outdoor clothing- look at the options, then look at the size
availability). Now I'm not saying that it will not be difficult or even more
difficult to be successful in some things - especially those that require a lot
of physical endurance - but what I am saying is if you put your mind and dedication
to it...you can do anything.
All
girls should never live without passion.
Name: Kelsie Weiser
From: Bonner Springs, Ks
Live in: Pittsburg, Ks
Currently: Last semester college
student
How I know Rachel: Rachel became my
friend in the strangest way. In high school I dated a guy who went to a
different high school than me. Both of us were avid on our school’s forensics
teams, and his forensics partner happened to be Rachel. I met Rachel through
this boyfriend, and came to find that I had a lot in common with this girl!
After kicking this boyfriend to the curb, I knew I still wanted Rachel to be my
friend!
What’s your favorite thing about
being a girl?
Makeup!! At first I struggled to think of what my favorite thing
could be, but then this hit me! I seriously love makeup so much. I know guys
can wear it to, but I feel as though I can really define who I am, how I’m
feeling, and so many other emotions by my makeup and really get creative.
Have you ever felt discriminated
against because you are a girl? How did you feel? What did you do about it?
Absolutely, there is a “common norm” that truly drives me crazy
and that is that girls are to be polite and sweet constantly. Personally, I’m
extremely opinionated and vocal. If I disagree with someone or have an idea I
am not afraid to speak up, even if it’s disagreeing with a man. His opinion is
no more valid than mine. When I was young, I would be afraid to speak my mind,
I felt as though what I had to say wasn’t important, but as I got older and got
my college degree in communication I learned how to turn away from that common
norm.
What’s the biggest risk you have
ever taken?
The biggest risk I have ever taken was when I was 19 years old.
I moved away to Orlando Florida all by myself to pursue a dream that I’d had
for a long time. I participated in a 6 month long internship at Disney World
(AKA The Disney College Program) I knew absolutely no one when moving there, it
was a big risk but had such a great reward.
What are your thoughts on fear and
how do you deal with it?
To me, fear can have a lot of meanings. I think being fearful is
a good thing, it means you’re afraid to lose something or someone. The way I
deal with fear, typically I just face it. I can’t avoid my fears or I’d hide in
my bed every day. Unless it’s spiders, I doubt I’ll ever actually conquer that
fear.
What’s your favorite quote?
“Do as dreamers do.”
What is something you do to relieve
stress?
When I need to relieve stress, I need alone time! The best way I
unwind is by lighting a candle and just relaxing. Whether it’s watching a movie
or playing on my computer. If I don’t have time to do all that to relieve my stress,
my quick fix is closing my eyes and slowly counting to 10. It really works!
What is your favorite girl power
type song?
Basically anything from my old Spice Girls CD’s make me feel all
kinds of girl power!
What’s your favorite girly movie?
Bridesmaids! I love how hilarious the ladies in that movie are!
What have you learned in your
relationship with your significant other?
I have learned patience and unconditional love for another human
being. My fiancé has really taught me so much, but those few words stick out
the most to me.
What issues do you think girls face
the most and what do you think we can do to help stop them?
I think girls have an issue with being self-confident! No matter
what it has to deal with, appearance, intelligence, anything, all girls need to
love themselves for who they are. We
need to teach them from a young age that everyone is beautiful and special.
What have you failed at and what
did you learn from it?
Oh yes, so many times have I failed. What I’ve learned from
failure is that I’m not invincible, I can’t do everything and it really is okay
to ask for help.
What girl stereotypes do you wish
would go away?
The “white girl stereotype” drives me crazy. Yoga pants, Uggs,
Starbucks. Yes, all awesome things. I’m almost positive not all white girls
like these things, and not just white girls like these things either.
Is there any advice that you have
to offer women?
My best advice to give other women is to go after your dreams,
make your passion your paycheck, and don’t let anyone make you feel anything
less than amazing.
All girls
should never live without feeling
loved, and loving someone else in return. Love is the most selfless thing we
can do.
Name: Josie Anne Peterson
From: Lincolnville, KS
Currently living: Ellsworth, KS
Occupation or gig: Getting my Masters degree
in School Counseling
How you know Rachel: I know her from college
My
favorite thing about being a girl is knowing that I will be a mom someday.
The
biggest risk I have taken thus far in my life is picking up everything and
moving to Ellsworth to get my Master's from FHSU, coach volleyball, and substitute
teach.
I
am pursuing my current career because If I can be that go-to person for even
just one child, and make a difference in their life, then it will all be worth
it. All of the schooling, studying,
paper work, and organizing. All of the
tears, tough phone calls, and emotional distress. It will all be worth it when that child comes
up to me twenty years down the road and tells me that I made a difference in
their lives. I know this because I was
that child. I was the child who needed
someone to reach out to me and give me an extra hand. And I was that child who went to that teacher
years later and thanked her for all that she did for me.
Fear
is very tricky. I have lived with
anxiety most of my life and that fear of new things, new people, new places has
always kept me from doing things. It is
always in the back of your mind, whether it is actually doing it, or just
thinking about it! It is awful and I
hope no one ever has to go through it.
To me, fear is scary in itself.
We often fear fear (if that makes sense)
We think about and dwell about something, but sometimes not the actual
task. We worry about being fearful of
doing it, not actually doing it, and that turns us away from it. I have gotten better at dealing with fear,
with the help of my friends, family, and some pretty good meds J
My
greatest accomplishment thus far is (recently) learning to not let my anxiety
keep me from doing the things that I want to do.
Favorite quote: "Go confidently in
the direction of your dreams. Live the
life you've imagined."
One
of the things that girls face a lot are other girls! For example, when I am at
a party I am very outgoing and like to talk to everyone, whether they are a
girl or a boy. Sometimes this made other
girls mad or annoyed because I would be talking to their boyfriend. I didn't mean anything predatory by this, I
was just wanting to talk! It's my favorite hobby: talking! So, as an outgoing girl, it sometimes makes
other not-so-outgoing girls feel defensive, or think that I am flirting.
All
girls should never live without IMAGINATION. If you can think it up in your head, you can
make it happen. If you want to live in
the middle of NYC and have a man like Mr. Big, do it. If you want to live on a farm in the middle
of nowhere with a sexy lumberjack bearded man, do it. You should be able to make these things
happen, no matter what. Try, succeed,
fail, LIVE!
Name: Rachel Marshall (NOT me!)
Where you are from: Marysville, MI
Where you are living
currently:
Macomb, MI
Occupation or whatever kind
of gig you are doing: Chemical Engineer
How you know Rachel: We met on the Internet!!
My
job in a nutshell...I work for Axalta Coating Systems, formerly known as Dupont
Performance Coatings. I pretty much make
car paint! I manage the formulas for
paint that goes to a specific assembly plant, and I have to make sure our
production facility makes it correctly and it is good quality, and I also have
to make sure the assembly plant can use the paint properly and the cars have good
color harmony and appearance.
What’s your favorite thing
about being a girl?
That's
a tough one! I'd say that I enjoy being a girl NOW, as opposed to 20, 50,
100 years ago. I enjoy makeup and doing my hair and dressing up for an
elegant event. I also enjoy doing things that some people still think are
mostly for men: Engineering, shooting guns, obstacle course racing, building
furniture, etc. My favorite thing is being able to do anything I want :)
Have you ever felt
discriminated against because you are a girl? How did you feel? What did you do
about it?
In
Engineering, its tough sometimes for women because you aren't always held to
the same standards. Things are slowly changing for the better, but I
still feel like I need to work harder and smarter to prove myself.
What’s the biggest risk you
have ever taken?
I
moved out of my house and into my aunt's house to be closer to a co-op job that
I had gotten a couple months before I turned 20. After a few months there
I moved into an apartment on campus with 3 other girls, and essentially had cut
myself off financially from my parents (they couldn't afford an apartment for
me). The plant I was working at temporarily closed 8 months after I
started working due to the economy crashing in 2008, which was very scary, but
I found a couple of other jobs in the meantime to keep me afloat until I found
another co-op job 9 months later.
What made you want to
pursue your current career?
I've
always found math and science interesting, and I wanted to use that for some
type of career. I was also in band in high school as well as involved in art
classes, but I knew to make a good living I'd go into something engineering
related and then keep my artistic passions as hobbies. Chemical
engineering seemed like the most interesting out of the engineering
disciplines.
What are your thoughts on
fear and how do you deal with it?
I
have a decent amount of anxiety, so fear of the unknown can get me feeling
pretty nervous and sometimes upset. Lately I've tried to do things that
"induce" anxiety, like trying new stuff (CrossFit competitions, rock
climbing, etc.). Then I show myself that I got through it just fine, with
hopes of reducing anxiety the next time around.
What’s your favorite quote?
Here
are a couple of quotes that I love that are very different from each other....
"No, I
don't hold on to grudges. I don't have a grudge in my life. I forgive people. I
just don't believe that you owe anybody in your life a relationship. It's
healthy and fair to opt in or out, and it's actually more fair to do that than
to hold people's feet to the fire for everything they've ever done." -
Louis C.K.
Beauty without
grace is the hook without the bait.
-Ralph Waldo
Emerson
What is something you do to
relieve stress?
Go
to CrossFit and lift some weights, go to Yoga which helps calm my body and
mind, snuggle with my little old pup, and sometimes watch a movie on Netflix
with a glass (or two) of wine.
How do you deal with the
negative stigma attached to being single?
If
I don't have someone else I'm putting time and effort into, might as well stay
occupied and put that effort into yourself!
What has been your greatest
accomplishment?
Managing
to be stable financially after I moved out when I was almost 20 and then graduating
and getting a salaried job at 22.
What girl stereotypes do
you wish would go away?
That
girls aren't strong, girls can't get dirty, they cant be sarcastic and witty
(they have to be pleasant and say things that aren't controversial).
All
girls should never live without that
perfect outfit that makes them feel like they can kick ass and take over the
world (whatever that outfit may be).
"Ladies, we need to collaborate, not compete. We need to champion each other, send out high-fives across the World Wide Web, and give high-fives in person." - Sophia Bush, I AM THAT GIRL
I am giving all these girls high fives across all kinds of states through the World Wide Web. Thank you for being YOU.
Some personal pictures I've taken with a few of these ladies!
Sparkle&Shine.
Rachel
@theglitterylife
