INSPIRED BY WOMEN (cont'd)

FEATURE 14

I have been incredibly fortunate in my life to have met and been mentored by many powerful women. One of whom, is Sigrid Heath, a native of Saint Lucia. I met Sigrid during my study abroad year on the island of Paros, Greece and was immediately attracted to her glow. 

Sigrid is an accomplished writer, actress, and playwright. This woman is a goddess. She exudes confidence, intelligence, and class. I was lucky enough to get to work with her on a play that she single-handedly created with me in mind. Her experience and talent are profound and I am grateful that she allowed me to take the reins and pushed me to explore more deeply what I was capable of.

Anyone who has had a conversation with Sigrid will carry that conversation with them for a very long time. I think of her every time I need a boost of confidence and bravery in my work.

Her writing, her humor, her way of laughing at herself and owning her life, her successes and failures, are all inspiring and have changed what I had once thought the path of my life should have been.

I am lucky to know her and to have worked with her, and I envy the people who are destined to meet her, because they will be changed, just as I have been.

Hannah Zoppi is the Social Media and communications assistant at the Aspire Artemis Foundation.

FEATURE 15

I first met Njeri Wagana Hughes when I moved to Budapest almost two years ago. I was new in the city and trying to find my place, and she took me under her wing without hesitation. 

Njeri is a multilingual woman from Nairobi, Kenya who has lived on three continents and is currently working on a PhD in addition to raising a darling baby girl, who I’m proud to call my goddaughter.

She is like the older sister I never had, always just a phone call away if I need to vent, drink wine, or use her oven to make chocolate chip cookies. Her door is always open, something that’s rare to find when you move to a new city. 

During my time in Budapest, Njeri has been my life coach, pastor, best friend, hairstylist, cooking companion, and so much more. She taught me to always remember my own value and to be my authentic, unapologetic self in all situations. In this hectic Central European city she is my rock and I’m a better person for having known her.

-Kearstin Bailey 

Kearstin Bailey is currently a Global Mission Intern working in the field of refugee integration in Budapest, Hungary

FEATURE 17

I met Gissou Nia when we were working at a small human rights NGO. Gissou, an international human rights lawyer by training, was always encouraging us to find new and innovative ways to advocate for human rights campaigns.

I learned a lot from her due to her expertise in international criminal law and human rights law and picked up new skills relating to social media and UN advocacy. In addition to being a lovely mentor and friend, she truly taught the meaning of leadership through kindness, collaboration and teamwork. 

Parisa Elahi is a young lawyer working in the area of Middle East Finance in New York

FEATURE 19

The only limit to the height of your achievement is the reach of your dreams and willingness to work hard for them. These words of Michelle Obama have been one of my greatest sources of inspiration. They lifted me from apathy to possibility and transformed my view of my own capabilities. Ever since, I have been determined and convinced that my dreams are indeed possible.

Inspiration comes to us all in different ways. Arguably, the words and life of Michelle Obama have continued to inspire me to strive for the best, not only in my career, but my family life as well as health and well-being. In November 2008, just after my sixteenth birthday, I recall eagerly waiting up for the results of the U.S. Election. After the results were announced, while tears rolled down my eyes, I vividly remember as Michelle Obama crossed the stage in Grand Park, Chicago. As a girl who dreamt of becoming a lawyer and someday inspiring other young women, I could not resist but delve deeper into the life of this seemingly interesting woman. As 2008 was the year I was applying for college, I was motivated that it was indeed possible to fulfill my dreams of becoming a lawyer which was later met with the desire to do greater good and a peaked interest in gender policy. 

With few mentoring schemes in the Caribbean, my need and inspiration to dream bigger was met with my ability to identify with Mrs. Obama, not only as a black woman, but also as an individual whose place of birth and socio-economic status did not determine her destiny.

Growing up as a young woman in the Caribbean, there were always limitations placed on one’s dreams and aspirations. Females were held to different standards than males both academically and more particularly, socially. Being born on a Caribbean Island was seen as a disadvantage by most as opposed to being born in a first world country. Most women remained in traditional roles and were rarely seen in high paid careers and positions. Even among the few who obtained some degree of success, I felt unable to identify role models. Most seemed completely engulfed in their careers, sacrificing their personal lives. Every time I felt discouraged, I would seek comfort in the personal words of Mrs. Obama. Those words allowed me to see beyond the “First Lady of the United States” to the human being sharing her wisdom; that in itself was deeply empowering.

Women are often categorized by society as either career driven or family oriented, never both. I was made to feel that pursuing my career would require me to give-up having a family. However, Mrs. Obama is living proof that you can be a professional, mother, role model [for women], nutrition and wellness advocate, as well as being interested in fashion. My perception that women neatly fit into only one of two categories was shattered. I no longer felt that I had to choose between career, family life, wellness and fashion. She gave hope that I did not have to settle for one. Instead, I could be all.

After the completion of my masters, with my newfound knowledge, I felt compelled to further my studies. Facing much opposition from individuals who did not believe in education, as well as those who felt that it was a waste of money, I remembered the words of Michelle, who said stay true to yourself and never let what anybody else says distract you from your goals. Listening to her speeches constantly reminded me that education was not only the key to success; equal importance must be given to power and self-confidence. Despite never having met her, I was convinced that I knew her personally and that her words of wisdom spoke to my soul.

Today, I stand as a product of many things but most importantly a product of hopes and dreams. Dreams which have awakened new possibilities through the words and inspiration of the life and words of Mrs. Michelle Obama. Mrs. Obama has taught me that you can keep your identity as woman but most importantly as an individual. She is living proof that when you stay true to yourself, outside forces can do you no harm but more significantly, you can inspire the hearts and souls of diverse people worldwide. I hope someday that I will be able to inspire the hearts of many worldwide. As a living example of a well-versed and grounded individual, Michelle Obama, without a doubt, has, and continues to be one of my greatest sources of inspiration, to do more and to be more.

-Alberta A.G.S. Richelieu - (pictured above)