Empowerment

Tegeler Career Center Fashion Show Runway

Recently I was a guest speaker at an alternative campus for junior and high school seniors.  The theme was "I Am Unwritten".  The girls were encouraged to "Write The Vision", meaning I can write my own story and "BE Bold as they walk in their Destiny", (Barbara Henderson).  It was absolutely amazing.  I have had some moments of joy but this day truly brought me a joy that I definitely want to feel again. 

The day started with makeup for the girls participating in the fashion show and of course I was down for that!  But just talking to them and getting to know them made me realize that these moments for them, these opportunities were far and few between.  So it was time to make them feel extra special.  As I did makeup for them, they kept watching and would say "Miss..." and asked questions and I was just tickled to see how excited they were about the whole thing.

During the middle of the day I was assigned to speak to two groups of girls about Empowerment.  And I was not sure what I was going to talk about, I prayed about it and asked God to help me find the words to encourage these young ladies. Then I remembered something... it was in 7th grade.  It was a comment said to me by a guy I thought was hotter than a pair of Jimmy Choo heels.... well not that hot but you get what I mean.  He said to me, "has anyone ever told you- you were beautiful?"  I replied "no".  He replied, "Good, then no one ever will".  Now this comment stuck with me for a very, very long time and crippled the way I thought about myself for years, but now ... I have been EMPOWERED by that comment.  My mission now is to make sure that these girls and women always feel BEAUTIFUL and CONFIDENT in themselves.  That they know their worth, that they have the authority to say NO to someone, that they can dream and that they posses the power change their circumstances. 

Girlfriend, YOU are loved, YOU are beautiful, YOU are strong, YOU are stylish, YOU can do anything, YOU look good just the way you are, YOU are amazing!

That comment made to me is why I am in love with beauty, I see it everywhere.  And I see it in you Girlfriend. xo