Courtesy to Google Images
I remember staring at the television in my living room. My parents would turn on the news and I would be fascinated with the world. I would watch President George W. Bush address the country and answer questions from the press. I would be impressed at how much work people who lead the country did and how they did it. After seeing how much one could change the world, I was determined to make a difference in this country and run for President someday. I was 4 years old.
Today, I’m 15 and a freshman in high school. I earn good grades and I’m diligent about my work. I’m in band and I play the French Horn. I participate in my school’s speech team and I do extemporaneous speaking. I’m President of my school’s GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance). I run a website with my lovely co-director, State Rep. Stacey Newman and write about progressive values, ideals and feminism. And today, I’m an aspiring Congresswoman.
I have made it so far from that tiny 4 year old with big dreams to become President someday. From memorizing all of the United States Presidents (in order, may I add) and being a history buff, from figuring out which political party I am and changing my stances on many different issues and to learning how politics truly works, I’ve learned many valuable lessons along this 11 year journey. I still have so much more to learn. The great thing about it is that I already have a head start.
There are a variety of different organizations across the country trying to reach out to women, especially young women, encouraging us to run for office. From national organizations like EMILY’s List and Emerge America and to organizations that are formed state-by-state, like Annie’s List, Sally’s List, Ignite CA and the newly formed Close the Gap CA, these organizations push women who are willing to run for office to get out there and embrace their true talent.
All of these organizations do fabulous work for women, but, let’s put the spotlight on EMILY’s List for a moment. The highly successful women’s organization that was formed in 1986 that endorses pro-choice women for office has just launched a campaign called “Madam President”, which is aimed at getting a woman in the White House. Do you need me to be more specific? A Democratic, pro-choice woman.
Yesssssss.
Along with the launch, EMILY’s List has released a video to promote the national campaign. The video (below) features young girls sharing why they want a woman President and the benefits of having a woman in the White House.
Click to watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Y2-zpi-RWhQ
May we just take a moment to thank EMILY’s List and appreciate what they are doing? No, not just trying to get a woman in the White House, but featuring a few young girls talking about wanting to be President and what it would mean to them to have a woman be President in their life time. Young girls like the ones in the video are the future and already have a head start in political knowledge.
Instead of making fun of young girls who want a woman to represent the country and telling them that their dream is unrealistic, like I have been told over the years, EMILY’s List encourages young girls to reach for their dreams and make them possible. Finally, it looks as if there is hope for young girls to be interested in history when they are little, want to be in Congress when they’re a teenager or for Hillary Clinton to be their role model without being looked at funny or judged.
So, thanks EMILY’s List. You rock.
