An inside feature of our very own Girl Up Club at Timber Creek High School!
By Arielis Pertuz
We can do it! At Timber Creek High we have a club dedicated to women empowerment, positioning girls in a leadership initiative in the movement for gender equality around the world. Interested in gender equality around the world? Sounds like Girl Up Club is the right fit for you! Girl Up’s club sponsor Katherine Gonzalez is a Spanish 1 and Latinos in Action teacher who helps run the club! Girl Up meets every second Wednesday of the month after school. Come down and join the club if you’re interested!
“I realized that it was something I really enjoyed and I liked the message of female empowerment so I stuck around,” said club secretary junior Ariana Owens. The message of female empowerment is so strong it brings people together to learn and contribute more about it. “I wanted a bigger role, so I was like I’m already seeing what goes on already I might as well be more involved,” said Owens. The main goal Girl Up stands for is allowing girls to take leadership initiative to get more involved with female empowerment in the community. Miss Owens is a prime example of their cause. “ I feel as if [female empowerment] is something that is overlooked. It’s not something a lot of people talk about. So if you make a club, hopefully people will start talking about it,” said Owens. In order for a conversation to reach people, action needs to be in order to get the message across. Creating a club dedicated to women empowerment is a great way to educate people about the overlooked issues.
“I know women are dope but I didn’t know how far the potential goes, so I’m like you know what…I wanna be in a club to support women,” said Girl Up member junior Tracy Tran. No matter what knowledge you have about powerful women in society, Girl Up teaches it’s members the role of these women and how the potential and growth of women is endless and empowering. “I joined the club in order to help other women either to boost confidence or to gain them their bare necessities such as menstrual products and clothes,” said Tran. Girl Up makes it a point to give girls inside and outside of the school the confidence to feel like their best selves and make women feel appreciated. “I believe women aren’t as equal as men in the bare necessities, like why are we so expensive? My main reason for joining this club was to help other women, period,” said Tran. Girl Up gives people the opportunity to fulfil their desires in improving the community and questioning big problems women face in society. For example unequal wages for women in the workforce and the inequality of prices on products for women compared to men. Girl Up allows you to present these problems in the community. Those interested in changing the world, this club is for you!
“We just did mirror messages, where we put positive affirmations and positive messages on all the girls’ bathrooms and I love when people see it because they’re like oh my gosh it’s Girl Up,” said Owens. Positive affirmations to young girls in high school can really uplift their spirits. These are the times in their life where we’ll look back and have good positive memories from the girls at the school. Love to see what you’re doing Girl Up! “And then we have done a drive for women like toiletries and femine products,” said Owens. It’s amazing to see that in this club, they are able to provide women in need, bare necessities that should be provided by the government. “We raised money one year for women and girls and I wish I remembered the country but it was for a third world country that gave girls bikes to go to school,” said Owens. With their efforts around the world, Girl Up has given young girls a passage of transportation to get to their education! Learning is incredibly critical and valued especially when living in dire circumstances. The relief of the bikes given to girls will be greatly appreciated by them for years to come. “We have a freshmen brunch every year and it’s to welcome the new 8th graders now and welcome them into high school,”said Owens. This is a great way to help nervous or newcoming 8th graders get ready for high school! Any new coming freshmen interested in women empowerment? Girl Up is the right fit for you!
“We have meetings once a month, so far we are building connections with the members in the club in order to be able to work outside the club,” said Tran. Team building is vital before you go out and make the world a better place. Connections with the girls make the club enjoyable and fun to learn more about women. “We talk about empowering other women and boosting other women in the club first and in the school. For example We posted cute, nice comments in the bathroom mirror first, ‘like youre pretty you got this’ to boost their confidence.”said Tran. It’s amazing seeing how girls around our school are supporting other girls. High school can be a difficult time, so Girl Up makes it a point to lift up and boost the confidence of girls around the school. Tell someone they look lovely today. Kindness can go a long way. Good job Girl Up! “In the future I think we’re going to do drives. As of right now we are working within the school and club to support women and then later on we’ll work outside of the school,“said Tran. Improvement happens when the people who are creating the change are connected within themselves and others they are involved with. Change starts with you! “We have already done a thanksgiving drive with feminie products and food and I think later on we’ll have a fundraiser in order to do the women’s drive,” said Tran. Girl Up works hard to improve the community of women who are in need, especially during the holiday season. Having a Thanksgiving drive is a great opportunity for not only women but their families as well.
“Now this year especially it’s been organized very very well, like compared to other years, and also because of our club sponsor, Mrs. Gonzales, she knows what she is doing,” said Owens. Great organizations have made the club a great success so far because of their great club sponsor, Mrs. Gonzales. More and more members have joined the club over the years due to new leadership and organizational changes. “On the membersheet I want to say we have around 40 members..which is crazy because last year there weren’t that many…there were like 10,” said the Girl Up secretary. With new organization and changes to the club, Girl Up is increasing in size as more and more girls want to be involved in the change. “Some of the bigger clubs at our school find it hard to keep it super organized. But..hopefully we’ll get more people and…still stay organized, “ said Owens. For Girl Up, organization is a major component of how they run things and set up their events. Organization for this club will prevail even when they increase in size. “I think we are currently doing different things. I wanna do more events and get more opportunities for service hours especially and we’re trying to do that right now, so it’s like a work in progress,”said Owens. Girl Up will continue to strive for the better of their club making it a safe and helpful place for its members to get together and change their community.
“It’s hard for me to make friends, but there are some girls where I saw potential but I didn’t have the confidence to talk to…but I do feel comfortable asking them for help and talking to them,” said Tran. Girl Up creates a safe and comfortable space, even for those who are shy. Girl Up has a full room of young ladies there to support and care for each other. Don’t be shy when Girl Up is here to support you, come down and join the club! As a junior Tran plans to take up leadership roles the following year! “I am striving for Vice President next year!” said Tran. Good luck! Girl Up inspires young girls to take up leadership roles, thus being one of their goals they strive to give to their members and the community. If you are interested in joining the movement for gender equality and learning about our powerful women in society, Girl Up is right here waiting for you! Don’t feel discouraged, and become a member!
