Testimony
By: Ellisa Brown
I committed myself to A-WOW because the organization helped more than can ever be expressed with words. This summer as the day became closer to returning to my sophomore year as the Sophomore Class President, I found myself more and more unsure of my confidence in my leadership abilities. Certainly, the last thing I wanted to do was to let my class down. Once I found A-WOW, its ambassadors and volunteers who I met had nothing but encouraging things to say and great advice to give. Moreover throughout this tough year, they have been my support system. I still talk on a regular basis to the girls with whom I graduated. I don’t know what I would have done this summer without this program, and I want to make sure that any girl who feels even remotely close to what I was feeling has the chance to experience this great organization.
Three words to describe my experience with A-WOW are safe, opportunity, and wow. A-WOW allows me a safe environment to learn about my leadership talents. It let me strengthen the parts of my leadership abilities I was least confident in. Opportunity presents itself because I meet women who had nothing but my best interest at heart. They gave their advice from what they had learned from experience freely. By meeting these women, you have the opportunity to uses their knowledge and connections to open doors for yourself and they are more than willing to help you. My last word, wow, is at the very heart of the organization’s name. All of the girls in this program bring to mind nothing but awe from me and my gratitude for their acquaintance.
A-WOW envisions itself as the preferred girls’ leadership initiative, providing a global brand of high potential, responsible, positive, effective environmental and innovative leaders. In the future, I want to be one of the people that aids in the fulfillment of this vision. I will always feel this organization gave more to me then I will in anyway be able to give back, but
I know I will spend the rest of my life trying.
I committed myself to A-WOW because the organization helped more than can ever be expressed with words. This summer as the day became closer to returning to my sophomore year as the Sophomore Class President, I found myself more and more unsure of my confidence in my leadership abilities. Certainly, the last thing I wanted to do was to let my class down. Once I found A-WOW, its ambassadors and volunteers who I met had nothing but encouraging things to say and great advice to give. Moreover throughout this tough year, they have been my support system. I still talk on a regular basis to the girls with whom I graduated. I don’t know what I would have done this summer without this program, and I want to make sure that any girl who feels even remotely close to what I was feeling has the chance to experience this great organization.
Three words to describe my experience with A-WOW are safe, opportunity, and wow. A-WOW allows me a safe environment to learn about my leadership talents. It let me strengthen the parts of my leadership abilities I was least confident in. Opportunity presents itself because I meet women who had nothing but my best interest at heart. They gave their advice from what they had learned from experience freely. By meeting these women, you have the opportunity to uses their knowledge and connections to open doors for yourself and they are more than willing to help you. My last word, wow, is at the very heart of the organization’s name. All of the girls in this program bring to mind nothing but awe from me and my gratitude for their acquaintance.
A-WOW envisions itself as the preferred girls’ leadership initiative, providing a global brand of high potential, responsible, positive, effective environmental and innovative leaders. In the future, I want to be one of the people that aids in the fulfillment of this vision. I will always feel this organization gave more to me then I will in anyway be able to give back, but I know I will spend the rest of my life trying.
AWOW really had transformed my life. It truly helped me to unlock my potential inside. For years I struggled with self confidence and self worth. Now knowing that I had a group of young women who were exploring just like I was made the journey not as hard. I am still in touch with many of the girls to this day. One of my favorite things I appreciated was the morning walk. At first it was so difficult to walk in silence, but I became more aware of noticing things that would have been overlooked otherwise. I also began to appreciate sisterhood, and mentorship. So many of the speakers were strong women and each had a unique story to tell. Thanks for the opportunity; one all young women should experience.
Azaria Lanig
I will tell you my story.
I feel every teenage girl has to face that change in her life. That change is called growing up. When you realise you are 20! (OMG! I still can’t believe it) and have to take all the responsibilities. I was just not yet ready for it.
AWOW has beautifully moulded me from just a girl to an Ambitious Women who wants to do something in life. I have realised that YOU are responsible for yourself, your life. It’s you who can give your life a meaning. It’s YOU who can take yourself to great heights and its only you who can help yourself come out of difficult situations. Well, it’s easy to say that but every spectator I met in the summit had something to share. Something that I keep reading and reminding myself again and again. It’s like I have pasted them in my head.
The Early morning walk taught me there is so much in our life’s that we haven’t noticed but exists. I felt peace even with people around me. The silence calmed me. I would think of so many things during the morning walk like what I learned in my last session or about the human trafficking project we were tasked with. I would also think of how I would apply the things that I learned in the sessions. I was just waiting to get back home and start applying them. I also loved the campus (Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas)! Someday I will design such beautiful campus for my country.
The sessions that we attended every morning contributed little by little in creating that confidence that I have today. It has helped me in understanding various aspects of leadership. This thing will help me become a strong leader in my community. I also remember one thing is that “a great leader helps everyone”. You just cannot become a great leader if you don’t help people around you. So if I know something I share it with people around me. I shared my experience with them and they were amazed. They are willing to be a part of the summit in coming years.
One most important thing that I learned there was WRITING. I never knew writing helps us so much. I used to feel so confused eventually I realised that the confusion is in the head and solution also. I already knew what I had to do to get rid of the confusion. And guess what? How did I realise it? Writing! I started writing journal during the summit. It was a part of the program. Trust me I will always treasure that journal all my life. I still write. While writing I realised there is so much more that i can do. I list down things that will pull me closer to my goals.
WE DID SO MUCH IN A DAY! I realised that we have a lot of time. Where does it go? Is it being utilised in a good manner? During the summit I also founded that I have wasted so much of my time where as I could be using it in such a fruitful manner. I have plan out my day every morning. And make sure that I waste no time.
Working for the community-
I am in awe of you MISS CAROLYN WRIGHT. I respect her for the work that she is doing for the community. I have also realised that there are people in this world who need us more than anything. The satisfaction you get by helping someone is immense. As of now I help my dad for the rotary projects. I go with him on the weekends and help him. I go and talk to people. Maybe I am not contributing in helping my dad supply water to them but just by talking to them I realise their needs. I teach them few things about cleanliness and its importance. This might not be that great but it gave me satisfaction of somewhere I have contributed. As I start working professionally I will always keep those needs in my mind and help them. After all True secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all details of life.
Since the very first day you must have found me very quiet and shy. I am more of an observer and a listener but somehow I feel I have started opening up to new people. I have realized the importance of interacting with people. Talking to people and sharing my ideas has altogether given me a new experience. The experience I had during the summit is unforgettable and the things that I experience now as a result is just amazing.
I genuinely THANK YOU! MISS WRIGHT for inviting me to the summit. The experience is life changing. I miss her and the friends I made there. This summit has been an eye opener to me. AWOW develops the confidence, Motivates, helps them cross the barriers and also shows them the right way to do it.
I strongly believe that only thing more beautiful than a woman who knows what she wants, is a woman that isn’t waiting on anyone else to get it for her.
I once again thank you! It will be an honour to work for AWOW which is soon coming to India. Can’t wait to be a part of it AGAIN!
-- Miloni Dinai
WHERE I LEARNED TO WORK ON MY DREAM…
I remember the day when my father told me he was planning on sending me to the States for a whole week. Being an Indian, travelling to the states is not very economical for a middle class family. So I was super excited by just the thought of travelling that far all by myself. I wasn’t aware of the programme back then and when I actually saw it I was like this is too good to be true. Following that came a little disappointment when I asked for permission to go off campus after the scheduled programme was completed and got denied for the same, the reason for which was my own safety but I still was disappointed you know. However my parents managed to persuade me to go and I must say I couldn’t thank them enough for this.
I have been to quite a few places around the world but always as a traveller. This time in the States I was entering as an ambassador of India. The title is as heavy as it sounds. 1250 billion people are judged on every single word you say and every small move you make. You should know how to walk, talk, sit, eat under such pressure and yet be able to lighten up the atmosphere. Sounds like a task for people who make a difference right? Well don’t worry if you don’t already know this because this is basically what Ms. Carolyn Wright will groom you into and if you do know any of this then she will put on this shiny new layer of perfection on you in such a way that would be hard to not notice.
This program, AWOW International Girls Leadership Initiative, crafted by Ms. Carolyn Wright helps you interact with people who make a difference in this world which influences you to be one of those who make a difference. This was my first time at an event of this level and I’d be lying if I told you it was like I expected. It was far better. This being an international event opens you onto a platform so big and you make friends with people from everywhere. If you ask me now I have friends living in Dallas, Plano, Anna, Houston, Lewisville, and Mexico!
We were always considered as a unit and we worked together throughout the week. On the very first day we were assigned with a project that would be presented for the closing ceremony. Every year it’s a different social cause that derives the project. This year we had Human Trafficking. So as a unit we researched all about it and we even made a short film of 8 mins. So basically we even got to showcase our other talents. We had some exceptional actors, writers, composers, and directors hidden inside us that actually got a feel of the limelight.
During this week I made so many friends and after everything that we did together it’s like we’re almost sisters now. Some of us shared common interests, common habits while some of us just happened to connect. With all our speakers we shared a different bond. They gave us lessons so important in life along with a friend and a willing mentor who is ready to guide us through whatever hits our path. I wouldn’t want to give you any specifics of the sessions we had but trust me if you are ever lucky enough to get into this amazing organisation you will know exactly how I feel right now and that the reason I‘m not sharing all the details is to let you work upon it.
You will find your own path to your goals with the help of Ms. Carolyn Wright and the wonderful speakers she gets in. Each of them has a different story to tell which is as powerful as the others. Some of these stories will teach you how to breathe so as to adapt to this society of today, some will teach you how to walk so that you can keep moving forward in life and then some will teach you how to talk so that the words you say cast an impact as a better citizen of this world.
If you ever do get the chance to participate in this don’t you miss out! Trust me, it will change your life for the best.
MS. NIHAR PATHAK
(AWOW Ambassador 2015)