Brave girls

Being one of two women in my college engineering classes did not seem brave to me at the time. It was just following what I had interest in...math, science and making things.

Joining the Peace Corps did not seem brave to me.  I was just following an interest in travel and helping others.

When I was in Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer, I saw real bravery.

Brave girls attending school for as long as their families would support them, then rushing home to fetch water and help their mothers cook.

Brave girls studying by candle light after everyone was in bed and the chores were all done.

Brave girls getting up early to start the fire and walk 2 miles to school.

Brave girls studying hard to avoid the corruption of trading money or sex for grades.

Brave mothers, toiling in small farm plots with a baby on their back and selling produce in the market so that their kids could go to school.

As a teacher, I recognized their bravery and wondered how I could help these girls. My Peace Corps assignment was only two years.  I was not a revolutionary and I did not have enough money to give them all scholarships.  I came to realize that by being myself, I was a role model for them. I was a female teacher from America. I had more education than most of their other teachers. I came to school every day on time and sober (unlike other teachers). I challenged them to think about science, rather than just memorize phrases.  I carried myself with confidence and spoke to the other teachers as equals.  I was successful in their eyes.

It was then that I decided to practice the skills that God gave me. To practice science and engineering. To share my passion and love for science and technology. To coach my future children to question the world and think scientifically. To be a role model as a practicing engineer...for other girls and women...for my kids...and for those girls in Africa that were so brave.

I will never be as brave as those girls and mothers in Africa, but I can continue to use the gifts I was born with and live my authentic self, bravely.