This past Wednesday was International Women’s Day, a day where the world is meant to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. For me it was a day of reflection, and I thought about what it’s like to exist in this world as a woman, and what I have learned through the years.
I wish I could pass this knowledge onto my younger self. If I could speak to her today, I would tell her to be unabashedly proud of who you are. To never hold back, and be strong, but to remember that it’s okay to ask for help. Never let anyone make choices for you or tell you how to be. No one can tell you that you can’t do something. You are the keeper of your spark, and no one else should be allowed to dim it. And if I have learned anything, it’s that girls are fierce. We are powerful, and we have diverse ideas that can change this world.
Though I can’t go back in time and tell my little self these things, the best that I can do is to pass on what I can to the next generation of young women. Every day, women and girls are exposed to harmful messages: how to feel, how to act, how to look, and how to think. As I wind down my time at UFV and at The Cascade, I am reminding myself that I have the duty in my next chapter to try and make a difference. I ask myself what is my role as a graphic designer in the world, and what if I hold the power to change these harmful messages? In reality, all of us do, regardless of our position or status.
The smallest interaction can have the biggest impact. We all have the power to promote positive messages, to call out injustice and inequality, and to stand up against these harmful messages. Though women have made great progress in the world there is still so much more we need to do. These last few years alone we have seen a war on our reproductive rights, the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran, and still too little action on the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. It’s time to really make a difference out there and reflect on the choices we make.
It’s important to surround yourself with people who are your supporters and who you know will stand up for injustice. I am thankful for all the supportive and uplifting women in my life. I am inspired every day because of them, and can only hope I do the same.
I am also thankful for the opportunity to express my work through this publication and all that I have learned here. The power of free speech is a great privilege, and we shouldn’t take it lightly. These past two years at UFV have been a huge growing experience and I am so grateful for it. Never be afraid to take risks because it all might pay off in the end and open you up to things you never could have dreamed of! So long UFV, and don’t forget — who run the world? Girls.
