As March approaches, so does a month devoted to honoring and uplifting women’s importance and history. Many fail to acknowledge the importance of women in society and the irreplaceable role they play in empowering future generations and driving positive change. UC High is home to many women who are powerful figures within the community, including students, teachers, and leaders who continue to make an immensely positive impact at UC High and beyond.

   From STEM superstars to astonishing athletes, so many women at UC High have stood in the face of adversity and accomplished more than noteworthy achievements. One such student, Senior Kimberly Ng, has worked tirelessly throughout her high school career, playing on the tennis team, enrolling (and succeeding) in countless advanced classes, including the school’s biomedical program, and recently committed to the University of Pennsylvania, which is part of the Ivy League.

  Ng touched on what has spurred her to get involved in so many extracurriculars. “As a student who grew up without any opportunities to participate in extracurriculars, I took advantage of as many as I could in high school. I lead two teams in JROTC (colorguard and unarmed drill), collaborate with other staff to lead the JROTC program, work a part time job, am the president of key club, volunteer at Sharp Hospital, a part of first gen scholars, helped form and run a student led AAPI nonprofit, work with Make Us Visible, lead SPAC meetings, play tennis and badminton, and did various biotech internships during the summer,” said Ng. It may be difficult to imagine how one can take on so many responsibilities without getting overwhelmed.  Ng said, “Looking back now I think I definitely took on more than I should’ve, however, what kept me going through all of it was having a strong sense of direction and goals that I wanted to meet.”

   Of course Ng’s success did not come without challenges. She said, “ As a woman, particularly an Asian woman, I don’t fit the stereotype as I am not afraid to be direct or loud. I’ve been told far too many times that I’m too blunt, rude, or cold while I simply was just doing what a good leader is supposed to do – lead with purpose and passion. I’m sure plenty of people have doubted me but I usually turn a blind eye to it and continue to just do me. Being a woman definitely comes with its own set of challenges but peoples’ doubts only fuel me to do better and prove them wrong.” Ng has refused to let others’ doubts get to her, and instead continued with a laser-like focus on her goals.”

   According to the National Women’s History Alliance, which is the primary group responsible for the creation of Women’s History Month, they designate a theme to the month that varies every year. This year’s theme, “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations,” is one that may resonate deeply with our community at UC High, as so many of our female teachers have taken on leadership roles that stretch beyond their jobs as teachers, while simultaneously not only managing too, but excelling at, ensuring students receive both the best education and mentorship possible (nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org).

   English and AVID Teacher Jennifer Huszar is not only responsible for teaching AP English Literature and Composition, but also for running the school’s AVID program, which, according to the AVID website, is a college prep program that assists students who are looking to pursue college in the near future (avid.org).  Through AVID, Huszar is able to serve as a mentor, and empower students to overcome obstacles that stand in the path of their dreams. 

   Huszar touched on how she hopes to inspire students on campus. “I try to inspire by example, you know as a teacher, leader, and a woman I think I’m really unique in that my husband also works here, so students also see me as a wife and a family person. They can see that they can be professional and have a family as well. I guess I just try to be a good example by talking about how empowering it is to be a leader on campus,” said Huszar. Huszar shows students everyday that as a woman it is possible both to be a leader in the professional world, and a leader within one’s family.

   However, like everyone, Huszar occasionally experiences self doubt. “I think I have an occasional tendency to doubt my capabilities because I’m a woman. Sexism isn’t a fine line. I think there is a lot of bias we grew up with that we don’t even know we have. For me confrontation is really hard. I was brought up with the mindset ‘girls don’t yell at people. They aren’t mean, they’re complicit.’  So when problems arise where I need to confront and speak out I struggle with it,” said Huszar. 

   Another student leader on campus, Women’s Empowerment Club Vice President Addy Weathers, spoke on the importance of both her club and Women’s History Month. She said, “Women’s History Month shines the spotlight on women, and emphasises our collective appreciation and support for the women in our lives. Even with the progress that has been made, women are still dramatically under-represented in roles of leadership. Taking the month to learn about Women’s Suffrage and equal rights acts is a great way for allies to show their support and commitment. Women and their achievements should be something that’s celebrated year round, which is what the Women’s Empowerment Club aims to do.” On top of her club officer duties, Weathers is enrolled in numerous advanced classes such as AP Environmental Science and AP U.S. Government and Economics. She is also a key player on the Varsity Field Hockey Team.

   Weathers pointed out that now, more than ever, it is crucial to step back and truly grasp just how large of a role women have played in our society. “A lot of women right now are uneasy about the political climate in our country. I feel like women in government aren’t taken very seriously, and it falls upon our generation to promote equity in that space. This ensures that women can continue to have more of an impact on our society year after year. However, the current state of our nation poses an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come,” said Weathers. 

   The role women have played in our nation’s history has been undermined since the birth of our country. Women’s History Month is a prime example of how we can ensure the legacies of great women are remembered and appreciated. It is necessary that one takes time to genuinely appreciate the hardworking and powerful women in one’s life, whether that be a friend, a teacher, or a mother. The reality is that without the accomplishments of women, the world, and by extension UC High, would lack a large amount of culture, innovation, and leadership that it currently possesses.

1. As a student who grew up without any opportunities to participate in extracurriculars, I took advantage of as many as I could in high school without much regard to time management. I do pretty good under pressure so most of the time I would just plan everything out just right so all my activities would be back to back. Most of my mindset through high school was very “go go go” where I didn’t have much time to actually rest. I lead two teams in JROTC (colorguard and unarmed drill), collaborate with other staff to lead the JROTC program, work a part time job ranging from 12-30 hours a week, am the president of key club, volunteer at Sharp Hospital, a part of first gen scholars, helped form and run a student led AAPI nonprofit (RAYS), work with Make Us Visible (a non profit promoting Asian American school curriculums), lead SPAC meetings, play tennis and badminton, and did various biotech internships during the summer. Looking back now I think I definitely took on more than I should’ve, however, what kept me going through all of it was having a strong sense of direction and goals that I wanted to meet. 

2. I think for anyone in a marginalized group, to succeed is always more difficult. As a woman, particularly an Asian woman, I don’t fit the stereotype as I am not afraid to be direct or loud. I’ve been told far too many times that I’m too blunt, rude, or cold while I simply was just doing what a good leader is supposed to do – lead with purpose and passion. I’m sure plenty of people have doubted me but I usually turn a blind eye to it and continue to just do me. Being a woman definitely comes with its own set of challenges but peoples’ doubts only fuel me to do better and prove them wrong. 

3. I hope that I’ve been an inspiration to the girls in JROTC. When I began the program the highest ranked positions were filled entirely by women which gave me hope that I would be able to reach those positions as well. Now as the person with the highest position in the program I hope I can inspire cadets the same way as my former leaders. I’ve grown very close with a lot of the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen in JROTC and I hope that they look up to me as a leader they want to learn from.