Why I Joined Girl Up

Our VP Admin

When I was about six years old, I told my mom I wanted to be a singer. She told me it was a great idea, and signed me up for our city’s children’s choir. At eleven or twelve, I developed a passion for math and wanted to be a mathematician. It’s pretty safe to sa

y that a lot has changed since then, but at the time, my dad and I would discuss “cool” mathematical concepts like there was no tomorrow. When I entered high school, I recognized that I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. My parents each told me they thought I could succeed in anything I set my mind to, as long as I worked hard enough.

I’ve always been a pretty introverted individual. In the past, I have shied away from countless opportunities to join clubs, attend events, and make my voice heard. One thing that has always rung true for me, though, is that like so many other people, I want to make a positive impact on my community and the world around me. As a global initiative, the Girl Up community encourages young changemakers to become leaders, strive towards social change,

and make their voices heard. Club members are making waves around the world by learning, fundraising, sharing, and developing personal skills that help us to positively impact girls near and far.

Somewhere in the world right now, there is a six-year-old girl who wants to become a singer - but extracurricular enrichment opportunities, like voice lessons, are too expensive for her family to afford. Somewhere in the world, there is a brilliant preteen girl with enormous potential in STEM - but the commute to school is extremely long and dangerous. She misses out on day after day of her education and is unable to graduate. Somewhere in the world, there is a young woman just like me. She has the very same aptitudes, work ethic, and ambition that I do - but because she is a BIPOC woman, she faces very different obstacles along the path to success.

I was told that if I worked hard enough, I could achieve anything I wanted. But no matter how hard many other girls and womxn work, they encounter barriers which, in many circumstances, make it much more difficult for them to fulfill their potential. As a Girl Up club member, I am not only working towards a world where these barriers have been knocked down; I am also building my own power, confidence, and accountability while I do it. I am improving myself as an individual with potential to make tremendous social change. 

Girl Up’s mission entails lifelong advocacy for girls and women - but the battle begins with the realization that there is no country in the world with complete gender equality. With this insight, we need to support our BIPOC sisters in a culturally safe and informed way. We need to advocate for the unequivocal acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community, including individuals who are marginalized in an intersectional manner. We need to join the fight for the elimination of gender-based violence, pay inequity, and child marriage. We need to motivate young leaders by showing our support for self-confidence and girls’ education. In doing all of this, we are helping in a way that seeks to lead, support and empower individuals worldwide. The bottom line is, if we want to make a difference, the time is now - and that difference begins right here in our community.

That’s why I joined Girl Up – and you should, too!

by Abby Simpson'23 (Girl Up McMaster VP Admin)