Name: Ella Chamberlain
Grade: Year 11
Age: 16 Years
School: Caritas College
Hometown and State: Port Augusta, South Australia
LIFTING US UP – How can women and girls empower each other and their communities in times of uncertainty and change?
Strong females inspire and encourage others around them to be their very best, and stand up for what they believe in. Every female has the ability to be a strong female in their own way.
There are 4 main ways a person can influence another:
– directive;
– collaborative
– persuasive reasoning and
– inspiration.
Leadership involves utilizing these various strategies to guide and influence others. Different personalities, beliefs and experiences shape individual experiences requiring a good leader to take these factors in account when leading or guiding
Personally, having a strong female influence means to have a fantastic role model, showing me what should be done and what shouldn’t, how I can be a good role model and overall make a great person, it also means that I am able to have somebody there that I know that I can count on no matter the problem. A good role model can be in the form of a sporting coach, a dance instructor, a teacher, a boss, a mum or older cousin/sister or friend.
The role model that inspires me the most is my mum. She has been through so much and yet has managed to secure a good career, purchase her own home, take us on amazing holidays, raise 3 children, send us all to private school all single handily . Mum helps me to be the very best version of myself, she has taught me the dos and don’ts, how I can be kind to others and how I can be a great leader, she has also taught me that no matter what mistakes I make she will always be there to support me in every single way whether it is just someone to talk to or much more. She encourages me to strive to be my best. Taking cues from my mother, I have engaged in umpiring, coaching, being apart of the student representative council at school and part-time employment. I aspire to be a good role model for others. I would love to have the opportunity to be that kind of mentor for a younger female, especially in this challenging time for not only us as individuals but as a whole worldwide community.
In this uncertain time, it is as important as ever that women empower each other to help spread a positive word and to encourage others to be the very best that they can possibly be. Females can influence each other through different forms of communication (e.g. social media forms, face to face contact or over the phone), reaching out when they need help, random acts of kindness, asking numerous questions to either help themselves or others and also having the confidence to ask the questions. In a world of uncertainty, one thing stays consistent and that is the impact women can have on the world around them. This can take many different forms, but it starts from the beginning, birthing new life, nurturing growth, encouraging individuality, encompassing strength through difficulty, learning to be yourself, finding strength in being different, supporting those who are looking after you, admiring those that have walked before, surrounding yourself with like-minded people, or people who bring out the best in you.