The Empowered Women Who Empowered Me

“Our first African American, our first Asian American, and our first woman Vice President, Kamala Harris,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar announced.

My throat tightened. My eyes welled with tears.

 

“Tear check?” My mom asked. We laughed, both of us admiring the historical event.

 

I wished my grandma was there. She passed away shortly before Christmas. She was born in 1924, only four years after the 19th Amendment was passed. She wasn’t able to be a Eucharistic Minister (a position dear to her heart) until Vatican II — well into her adulthood. She lost her job — which she loved — when the men returned from WWII. Her husband died 20 years before her. Despite it all, she thrived.

 

She was a strong-willed woman who stubbornly stood against everything — even death. She cheated death several times. She survived a heart attack and consequent quadruple bypass, a broken hip, breast cancer and Alzheimer’s.

 

She taught me the power of womanhood. She taught me that life is not measured by the events you live through but by how you respond to them. She taught me that being a woman means being independent and proud of your work — even when you don’t get external credit for it.

 

It saddens me that my grandmother didn’t live to see this monumental moment.

 

As Harris was sworn in, I texted the organization I am in, CHAARG, which empowers college-aged women to “find their fit.”

 

“Cheers to a historic day, everyone! Politics and opinions aside, it’s a beautiful day to see women finally achieve positions of power. Empowered women empower women!” Several people liked and replied to the message, reminding me how much I love the organization.

 

CHAARG elicits the power of my womanhood. Before CHAARG, I didn’t know my own potential. I have learned the power of my body, mind and passion. CHAARG has empowered me to pursue a career as a lawyer, ideally pursuing a career in public policy — a path I previously thought unattainable.   

 

I am grateful to be in CHAARG during this historical vice presidency.

 

As my mom and I watched Harris take her seat, I wondered if my sister was watching. My mom and sister have been key role models in the development and understanding of my womanhood.

 

My mom was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer when I was nine years old. She was the epitome of resilience. She didn’t win some glorified “fight” against cancer; rather, she was honest about how terrified she was, which is a true sign of strength. Transparency and vulnerability are necessary characteristics of strong women. 

 

My mom taught me that strength entails asking for help when you need it. I believe that she has lived 12 years after a diagnosis with a bleak prognosis because she has graciously accepted the help of others. She is the embodiment of female strength.

 

I grew up envying my sister. I envied her bountiful friendships, line of male suitors, good looks and social skills.

 

“I’ve always admired you,” she wrote to me in a letter when I was in high school. “People I danced with taught me to hate my body. I was always covering myself in makeup. When you watched TV with mom and dad at night, I hid in my room, too anxious to show my face without makeup. But you’ve never cared what people think. You never change who you are because of someone else. You’re always yourself. I hope you never lose that.”

 

My sister taught me the importance of applauding those around you. She taught me how to appreciate the strengths of other women rather than envy or root against them. She taught me how to be inspired by others and the importance of sharing that inspiration. She also helped me discover my biggest strength: authenticity.

 

My mom and I watched the remainder of the ceremony, but, frankly, we only watched to see the first woman Vice President be sworn into office. Moved by the spirit and strength of womanhood, we knew, in that moment, we were inexplicably connected to all the women who had impacted our lives.

Happy International Women's Day!