The Empowerment of an  All-Girls’ Education

By Riley McGlynn, Class of 2028,  Notre Dame High School, Belmont

During Women’s History Month, it is so important to recognize the impact that an all-girls’ environment has on women.

Riley McGlynn

“Support each other, and you have that support system behind you that girls will help girls rise up into higher positions in workplaces, sports, college, anything in the leadership area,” said senior Autumn Deetz-Rodriguez. “So it’s just good to have a big family.”

Whether a person attends an all-girls’ school or works in an all-girls’ environment, it can lead to significant personal growth. Such a supportive space can lead to the empowerment of young women, inspiring them to work hard and reach high goals.

“It’s just given me more sense of . . . leadership that I can use going into college,” said Deetz-Rodriguez.

“I hope that an all-girls’ experience helps you understand how not to be embarrassed, to not be shy, to raise your hand,” said Admissions Associate Carri Alegri ’96.

All-girls’ environments can often lead to advantages that many may not have experienced in another setting. When  you place yourself in this environment, it is easy to see the opportunities they open for young women.

“People are really starting to understand the advantages, and maybe it’s not for everybody, but they are really starting to see that there are so many possibilities,” said Alegri.

A community focused on creating all-girls’ atmospheres can give women a place to grow and encourage them to rise higher. These communities deserve recognition for the leaders and role models they create.

This story, previously published in The Catalyst, is reprinted with permission and has been edited for Sowing Goodness.