A Note To Me, From Me During Women’s History Month
Dear 13-year-old Nicole,
I know that you are so over the middle school and can’t wait for life to really start in high school. You read the biographies of Eleanor Roosevelt, Angela Davis, Harriet Tubman. I know you wonder when it’s your turn and when you too, can be a woman of excellence.
Here’s the secret, 30+ years later, being a woman of excellence is who you are every day. You may or may not have that public moment. Your name may not be known across the world. You may never be Oprah but excellence is an action. Excellence is holding yourself to the highest standards, keeping your word, being accountable and responsible for others. This is excellence.
True excellence may not be valued publicly but if you slow down, stop worrying about your 5 and 10-year plan, you would realize how many women of excellence you know. You are surrounded by great teachers, who expect the best from you every day. Excellence is modeled by your mothers, aunts, and cousins who live with integrity, pride and never bow their heads down. The women of excellence you don’t even know but see, who are unapologetically who they are. This is excellence.
But to save you time, I wish you would see that the truest examples of women of excellence are survivors. Survivors who have overcome and addressed their trauma, do not identify as victims but use their life and values to protect others from harm. Their strength may be demonstrated by public disclosure or simply, having the faith and courage to rise again, even when they would rather hide and stay home. Excellence is standing against critics, being wrongfully judged, and not being believed. Excellence is the decision to live your life on your own terms. So, if you want to be a woman of excellence, support survivors but most importantly believe them. This is true excellence.
From,
A slightly older you
PS- Lose the camo skirt, it’s cringeworthy and not doing you any favors :)
