Chandler Crates
Hometown: Plano, TX Major: Chinese Language and Culture Certificate: Global Management What are three things on your bucket list as you enter your Junior year? "Next year I'm hoping to:
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given? "The best piece of advice I've ever received came from a singing coach several years ago. He said that 'in any given situation, an individual can choose to be either intimidated or inspired by greatness.' I think that in a world where so many wonderful people accomplish amazing things, it's easy to feel small and intimidated. However, there are still many things that have yet to be accomplished. Whenever I'm feeling small, I remember this piece of advice and am inspired by the amazing accomplishments of those around me. I smile when my sister Campbell wins an award for singing or acting, or when my sister Cameron runs a half marathon. I admire my friend Kylie for her fearless ability to pursue academic opportunities and my friend Meg for her immense capacity to comfort and care for her friends. Greatness comes in all forms, big and small, and people such as the ones listed above inspire me everyday to be a better person and accomplish more in my personal life." What's been your favorite thing about being a GA! member so far? "I joined GirlAdvocates! last semester because I wanted to become more involved with the communities around me, both at The University of Texas and in Austin at large. This organization has provided me with so many volunteer opportunities, and my favorite so far was serving as a workshop assistant for the We Are Girls Austin Conference last November. This conference is held annually by the Girls Empowerment Network, aims to inspire young women in the Austin area to recognize their worth and potential as young girls entering the social world. My favorite workshop I assisted with revolved around first graders creating mood boards. For those who don't know, creating a mood board entails flipping through magazines to search for inspiration and cutting out various images and words that speak to you in order to create a meaningful and personal collage. Walking around the room and watching these young girls create their mood boards filled me with so much hope and joy. I looked at words that young girls cut out such as "love" and power" and watched as one girl wrote "be yourself!" and "make a difference!" on her own board. Assisting with this workshop was such an incredible experience because it showed me that girls as young as 7 already have a pretty strong sense of who they are, which is a hard thing to wrap your head around. I believe that as older women in society, we have a social and moral responsibility to continue supporting, inspiring, and empowering young girls to achieve their dreams and accomplish great things." Why should others join GA!? "GirlAdvocates! has made such a positive impact on my life, and I would strongly recommend joining the organization to anyone who wants to make a difference and interact with women in the Austin community. The organization has a strong mission of "empowering girls through education, self-image, and mentorship" and I think that this goal is super important to the future successes of women in all spheres of life. You should join GirlAdvocates! because empowering women is important. You should join because the organization is full of accepting and inspiring women with diverse interests and talents who want to make a difference in girls' lives."
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 This week's member spotlight is on Hannah! She was chosen because she's a new member this semester and she’s been very active since joining our organization. We love having her positive attitude and kind heart around. Read more about her below! Hannah Hutchinson
Hometown: Bingham, NY Major: English What are three things on your sophomore year bucket list? "Three things on my bucket list this year are to finish the wall of magazine clippings in my room, to start a 100% vegan and cruelty free skin care regime/to do more research about where my products are coming from, and lastly to spend the night on the beach with my friends." What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given? "The best piece of advice I've ever been given is "this too shall pass" because it's always true, and it's comforting to remember." What's been your favorite thing about being in GA! so far? "My favorite part about being a GA member is the friendliness and personalities of the girls in the group. Everyone has been so welcoming from the start, and everyone is excited about helping the community and the overall success of women." Why should others join GA!? "Others should join GA! because they will meet caring, kind, and inspirational women. They can meet lifelong friends, network, and work towards a greater good. It will add positivity and light to your semester." 
Isha Mehta
Hometown: Major: Government and Plan II What has your undergrad experience looked like? Much like anyone's undergraduate experience, mine has had a lot of ups and downs over the past four years. I've been through some of the worst moments of my life at UT in terms of mental health, relationships, and friendships but I've also met many of my favorite people that are going to be lifelong friends, been connected to amazing internship opportunities, studied abroad, discovered my true passions and skills, learned about injustices going on in our own communities and around the world, and met some of my idols like Wendy Davis and Gloria Steinem. I've also learned a ridiculous amount about myself and definitely feel like a better, healthier, and stronger version of myself because of my time at UT. What was your favorite class at UT? My sophomore year, I took a class called South Asian Migration to the United States. That was my first introduction to Asian American Studies in any sort of academic setting. It was a really incredible experience to learn about people who look like me and have the life experiences of me and my family, which isn't typical in the classroom for people of color. This course influenced the thesis I'm currently writing, gave me a new appreciation for my parents and other immigrants, and brought me two of my closest friends. What organizations did you join and stick with? Why? The two organizations I stuck with in college are GirlAdvocates! and the Liberal Arts Council. I joined LAC because I wanted to give back to a university that has given me so many opportunities, and I knew I had ideas on how to bring those same opportunities to other students in the College of Liberal Arts. I'm a member of the Academic Affairs committee, and I love all the work we do to uplift COLA courses, research, and study abroad. The people I've met in LAC are super fun and inspiring in every way - I've learned so much about what I want to pursue in the future and the kind of person I want to be because of them. I joined GA! because of the community service and female empowerment opportunities, and I decided to stay in it because of the community of women I've found and because I believe I could be a part of expanding our outreach and initiatives. Are you excited and/or ready to graduate? Heck yeah, I'm super ready to graduate!! That's not to say I'm not enjoying myself or not going to miss UT, but I think I've gotten all that I can from UT classes, internships, and interactions and I'm ready to apply that knowledge to the real world. It's all slightly terrifying but I'm excited to see what I can learn outside of the 40 Acres. What are you planning on pursuing after graduation? After graduation I'm going to be a Business Analyst at Capital One in Dallas, TX. I want to work for a few years before going to either law school or to pursue a masters degree to achieve my ultimate goal of working in policy and advocacy.  This week's member spotlight is on Tanvi! She is a new member this semester and is also our recently inducted Programs Development Chair!
Tanvi Shahane
Hometown: Abilene, TX Major: Business Honors What are 3 things on your Freshman Year bucket list? "I want to explore more of Austin by trying more food trucks and local food places. I also really want to find more places to hike!" What has been your favorite class in college so far? "Last semester, I took an advertising class with Professor Bunting. Every week, we'd have a speaker come to talk to us about their careers. It was definitely a highlight because they were all so interesting to listen to and learn about." What has been your favorite college experience thus far? "Definitely meeting new people. I barely knew anyone at UT when I got here and it's been great to meet so many different people with different backgrounds and interests. I am still meeting new people and am so excited!" How has being a member of GA! helped you? "GA! was one of the first organizations I joined in college. It allowed me to meet new people and find a fun place to be every two weeks! Through the organization, I am also able to pursue my passion of empowering women." Why do you think people should join GA!? "Being a member of GA! allows you to meet so many incredible and passionate people. You are able to give back to the community through a variety of philanthropic events. And, you'll become part of a movement to empower women while finding a new home at UT!"  This week's member spotlight shines on Kylie Warkentin! Kylie was chosen to be recognized this week for being so eager to make an impact in our community. So far, she's helped out at our Baking Social, We Are Girls Conference, and Spooktacular. Keep reading to find out more about Kylie! Kylie Warkentin
Hometown: Houston, TX Major: English Certificate: Core Texts and Ideas Minor: Coding What are 3 things on your Sophomore Year bucket list? "The first thing on my bucket list is to study abroad! I'll be going to Italy this summer and I'm super excited. Next, I'd like to explore a lot more of Austin and go to places like Barton Springs. Finally, I'd like to try more local food." What is the best piece of advice that you've ever been given? "The best piece of advice I've ever been given is to be unafraid to not care. I think a lot of people, women in particular, have a burden on them to have a lot of empathy, warmth, and kindness, and to care about everything which just isn't a realistic expectation. We need to learn to prioritize ourselves, our goals, and drive. This has been really useful throughout my whole life and in figuring out what is and isn't important to me. Another super good piece of advice I've been given is to not be afraid to apply for things you feel unqualified for!" What influenced you to join and stay in GirlAdvocates!? "I've always been interested in woman's rights, helping out girls, and empowering and mentoring girls, so that influenced me to join the organization. What got me to stick with it is that I really appreciate how direct and realistic everything is. There aren't a whole lot of things left to the abstract but instead a lot of real community involvement both in the University and throughout Austin as a whole. I really appreciated the ability to enact direct change and see direct results. " Why do you think people should join GirlAdvocates!? "I think others should join GA! because of how direct everything is and how you're really able to feel like you're making a positive change. But also, I really appreciate how small and close-knit the group is because it's very easy to meet cool people and interact with one another which is an experience I've never really had with a club before."  This week's member spotlight shines on Zakira Abimbola! Zakira was chosen to be recognized this week for being our star member with the most meeting turnout! She's a fun person who always has important ideas and opinions to bring to the table. Keep reading to learn a little more about Zakira and why she enjoys being in GA! Zakira Abimbola
Hometown: Flower Mound, TX Major: Psychology What are you most excited about as you enter your third year of college? "I'm excited to meet more people and to begin taking classes I actually want to take" What are 3 things on your Junior Year bucket list? "To join more organizations, take LOTS of pictures, and explore Austin!" What influenced you to join and stay in GirlAdvocates!? "When I was looking for organizations to join, I was searching for something different. I came across GirlAdvocates! and loved the idea of being a part of a group that empowers women." Why do you think people should join GirlAdvocates!? "It's a great organization with a great message. You'll be able to meet new people, learn something new, all while supporting women."  This week's member spotlight shines on Kelly Miau! Kelly was chosen to be recognized this week for being our most involved new member. She's helped out at our Bake Sale, contributed to our meeting discussion ideas, and closely follows our mission in her day to day endeavors! Kelly Miau
Hometown: Jonesboro, Arkansas Major: Biology Minor: Women and Gender Studies What are you most excited about as you entire your first year of college? "I'm excited about the culture here because I feel like I have the opportunity to be my true self. Also, I get the opportunity to try new things that I've always wanted to but never did in my hometown. I'm overall very excited to try new things and meet new people." What are three things on your Freshman Year bucket-list that you hope to do or accomplish? "I want to attend the Woman's March that takes place here in January. I went to the one that happened in Houston but I'm very excited to do that here. I also want to try as much food as I can. Finally, I'm in a club called Silk Club and they do a lot of design and poetry so I want to try to explore my creative side more by working on and improving my poetry." What influenced you to join and stay in GirlAdvocates!? "I just love the message of the organization: I love women, I love women empowerment, and I don't think that our society places enough emphasis on the possibilities and things girls and women can accomplish. I've always been a big believer in encouraging women to reach their full potential and hopefully, as a society, we'll eventually get to a place where we're all treated the same. I've continued to go to meetings and stay involved because it's a small community that's very personal and it's very fun to have discussions within our meetings so that we can hear other people's viewpoints." Why do you think other people should join GirlAdvocates!? "I feel like there are a lot of people who don't pay attention to politics and other stuff that matters. I think people should join the organization or follow the message because women represent half of the population and aren't treated equally. I think people need to know that we need to be supporting women and creating an environment where everyone is equal no matter gender, color, race, or who we are. And finally, I think people should join because it's a really nice and small community to be in."  This week's member spotlight shines on our Secretary, Pooja Maiti! Pooja was chosen to be recognized this week for her sweet persona, constant stream of ideas, and outstanding commitment to the organization and our mission! Pooja Maiti Hometown: Austin, TX Major: Computer Science, Minor: Business What are you most excited about as you enter your Junior year of college? "I'm super excited to be taking Hindi so that I can enjoy Bollywood movies beyond subtitles." What has been your favorite UT course so far? "Hard to choose but Psychology and Hindi, probably." What has been your favorite memory during your time with GirlAdvocates!? "Last year, we played a sex-ed trivia game hosted by Healthy Horns. It was fun and weird because we talked about stuff that we usually don't talk about." Why do you think people should join GirlAdvocates!? I think GA! and our philanthropy - The GirlEffect - look at the heart of the issue. I think it is extremely important to start empowering girls at a young age and let them know that they are capable of anything. GA! provides all of its members with so many opportunities to help out in our community and even around the world. Also, GA! is comprised of an awesome group of girls!" GirlAdvocates!!! Get PUMPED for a semester of empowerment! If you're new (or just miss us), our information sessions will be September 2nd and 9th, 6 pm, in CLA 0.102! Come learn a little more about what we do and how we incorporate education, aid, and self-image into empowering young girls. Can't wait to meet y'all!  |
Welcome!Here you will find various blog posts, written by both officers and members, the posts will range from book reviews and poems to inspirational videos and member spotlights. Archives
May 2019
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