Nailah
Ajamu (2005-2006)
…My life is evolving…growing…becoming. Sometimes
I feel like I am finding myself, only to stumble against the reality
that I am still changing…maybe even a bit lost. It is such
an amazing experience to live as your own mediator of everything.
That is what college did for me…changed me into a person
truly making her own decisions and realizing the weight and the
privilege of that. It made me see some things differently, let
me truly develop my own mindset. It freed me…and at the same
time I feel it sometimes boxes me in.
As a Grrrl I remind myself to be ever true to myself in whatever I do. I realize
that one light shining can truly cause others to do the same because I help
my girls to uplift themselves and give them a truly Grrrl attitude. Not to
say that I’ve learned it all, but I share what I’ve learned to
those who wish to know and I too learn from them.
Fisk has opened my eyes to the fact that I am not the only one. That there
are others out there like me other than in my family, other than in Act
Like a GRRRL. My class is a class full of artists; visual artists, actors,
singers, dancers…I love it. When I saw them I just knew…I just
knew that it’d be different than my other school experiences.
I realized that I could truly be myself around them which led me on the path
of being myself wherever I am. Not being ashamed of who I am. And I feel that
I’ve truly grown so much.
One thing for sure that this school does for me is that it keeps me busy. So
I have to learn to take care of myself and sometimes that means taking a break.
I am learning to be gentle with myself and to be happy just because I am alive.
Otherwise I would probably crack, so I have ultimately learned to cope.
Act Like a GRRRL has truly helped
me to learn to speak the truth that resides in me. And now that
I am here, on my own, an adult, I am learning to live by that
truth. Nobody can tell me what to believe or take anything away
from me that is rightfully mine. Here at college I have been
both a teacher and a learner. A teacher ever patient and ever
loving and a student ever thirsting for knowledge of this complex
world around me.
I believe that truly growing into adulthood is all about finding yourself and
learning to be who you truly are…whoever that may be from one minute
to the next.
…So to all of the Grrrrls out there…my message is stay true and stay
you…and follow the path that your heart has laid out.
Ashley Strickland (2005-2006)
“ I currently reside in Chattanooga, TN. I'm a second semester
freshman at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. I do believe
I'm in one of the most beautiful places on earth as well as in
life. Act Like a GRRRL helped me
to be able to speak up about how I felt. I guess you could say
ALAG changed
my life and allowed me to become free! I was able to tell my
story both vocally and written. My friends and family were forced
to listen
to me and that changed my life. I learned that I was beautiful
both inside and outside. It was a wonderful experience and something
that I will never forget.
ALAG helped to me to get and maintain
successful friendships and relationships. For the first time in
my life I am in a healthy dating relationship with a wonderful
boy,
in fact today it will be 17 months since we first started dating!
Words of wisdom for future GRRRLs, be open minded and let go!
Trust those around you and trust yourself. Use your voice it will
grow
strong the more you use it. Also fall in love with yourself and
you'll be able to fall in love with others! Life is wonderful and
beautiful and I am so glad I'm in it!”
Haviland Forrister (2005-2008)
“I attend Agnes Scott College, an all-girls undergraduate
college, in Decatur, GA. I am currently planning on majoring in
Astrophysics and Philosophy, with a minor in Religion. Emotionally,
I am very sure of myself. Whenever I feel myself get upset over
something, I think of the GRRRL way of approaching things, and
immediately I go through all the how's and why's of the situation
until I feel like I know where I am, why I am, and what I can do
to deal with whatever upset me.
Over the past semester at college, I have gained friends and lost friends,
and it's this odd process that I don't know if I'll ever get used to. But I'm
just going with the flow, dealing with things as they come, being with the
friends who still call me their friend and always keeping a lookout for other
GRRRLs on the horizon. I am beautiful, confident, and willing to live life.
I am trusting, but smart. I am loving, but selfish. I am amazing. Act
Like a GRRRL showed me how to love and how to accept love. It taught
me a way of looking at the world that allows me to be myself, to be confident,
and yet to be empathetic with others. I believe in myself above all else, thanks
to Act Like a GRRRL. I believe in myself, and
I am sure of what I want out of others, and I trust my own intuition, and I
approach every situation with this outlook of knowing where I stand and what
I will and will not accept from others. Act Like a GRRRL taught
me how to step back from a situation and evaluate exactly what was going on,
the societal pressures that were being placed on me and the demands that others
were implicating. Act Like a GRRRL helped me
become more sure, more confident, more thoughtful, more empathetic, more loving,
more accepting, and more curious about the world. It has defined who I am and
the person that I will become….There's no right or wrong here; there's
just you. And you'll be fantastic.”
Deanna Riggan (ALAG 2006, Intern
2007)
"
I feel like I am becoming a very strong
young woman. I participated in the Vagina Monologues last February
and am currently co-directing
the Vagina Monologues at Warren Wilson College. I have learned
a
lot about my passions in life which include working with women's
issues. I am majoring in Gender and Women's studies and minoring
in Creative Writing.
Act Like a GRRRL was probably the
biggest thing that has ever happened to me. I do not know where
I would be if I had not done the program. It showed me my potential
to be a grrrl.
Future Girls: Enjoy having ALAG's
supportive environment. It is a true blessing. Believe in yourself,
every girl has the potential to be a grrrl!
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