Awesome: Like a Girl
by Stacey
I was in Providence for a few days this week and drove by my school as I often do when I am home. I attended Lincoln School for Girls from 5th grade until I graduated. At the time, I didn’t think too much about going to all girls school beyond the annoyance of it as a teenager sitting around a lunch table.
As an adult, I feel so very lucky to have had the experience of growing up in a community of girls. Of course, it wasn’t all rosy but there was an awful lot of support. We were all leaders and students and athletes. We did it all and never questioned that we were the ones to do it. My years at Lincoln were just as empowering as any brochure about single sex education claims the experience to be. In college and beyond, I never questioned my ability to lead and to think. I participated in classroom discussions and questioned professors. I never even considered dumbing myself down to impress a boy.
I was in a bit of a rush when I drove by Lincoln earlier this week and hadn’t intended to stop but a series of banners demanded to be photographed. Lining the street in front of Lincoln are banners celebrating the wisdom, leadership and intelligence of girls. With a hat tip to the “Like a Girl” video that I wrote about earlier this year, Lincoln clearly knows how to celebrate all the awesome things a girl can do.
I love this. As you know my mother is a proud Lincoln alum and I am totally sending her this link. SO marvelous!
Thank you! I love the fact that your mom went to Lincoln too 🙂Â
Oh, I love hearing stories like this. There is a small all girls school in our city for grades 6-12, and while I’m totally NOT deciding about that now with her being only a first grader, I must admit that I do sometimes wonder about the idea of sending her there someday. I envision a more focused way of studying and learning without the distraction and unease that can sometimes come with having boys around during puberty and that awkward age of discovering oneself. Who knows how it will shake out for her, but reading things like this make me want to give it some meaningful thought when the time comes and not rule it out. (And you were so close! Maybe next time I can meet you halfway for a cup of coffee.)
You should definitely think about it… The only all girls schools here are catholic which is not an option we would consider. I wish there was something like my school here. And I do wish we could have visited! We are going up the day after Christmas but only for two days so I don’t think we’ll be able to squeeze it in then either but hopefully soon!
Love it – I work at an all girls school, attended the very same school, and my daughter now goes here too. Can’t say enough about all-girls education. Especially after volunteering at my son’s coed school, where there are only 2 girls in the top 4th grade math class (out of 16!).
Oh my gosh! I kind of want to send my daughter to that school, or maybe turn back time and go there myself 🙂 What an AWESOME way to turn that (awful) phrase, like a girl, on its head. My father, who was and continues to be so supportive of me, and has never made me feel lesser b/c I’m a “girl,” uses that phrase to describe my son running (um, he’s 3! and I love his sweet flapping arms) and it puts my teeth on edge.Â
I love love those posters and now I’m off to read that older post of yours.