MEHER  DHALIWAL / ASST. FEATURE EDITOR

March marks Women’s History Month, a month to celebrate the history and accomplishments of women. Historically, women have frequently been kept out of leadership roles,  but times have changed. Women are no longer behind the scenes. They  are  shaping the world on their own terms. As our female student-leaders  at USD have shown us, they are more than a woman. 

Women are dreamers

Every great leader, changemaker and trailblazer began with a dream. Christina Waltman, USD senior and the president of the Women in Business club, explained how the seeds of her dreams were first planted in childhood. 

“My  father   worked as a wealth manager at Morgan Stanley, and whenever I was off school, I would go into the office with  him just kind of hang out  and  help organize,” Waltman said.  “From then on,  I always dreamed of working in a skyscraper   in  Chicago like he did.”  

Not only does she have her own aspirations, but Waltman continues to water the dreams of other women that share the same vision as her, showing how the process of dreaming is cyclical.

“I was interested in joining Women in Business to uplift women and join a community of women who want to pursue business like me,” Waltman said. “Being a good example of having that passion as a leader has really helped my team stay engaged and want to work hard as well.”  

It’s clear that new dreams can grow from the ones that came before them. Morgan Pheng, USD senior and the president of the Associated Student Government, explained her motivation for taking on a leadership role. 

“I noticed gaps in student engagement, school spirit and representation that called out for someone to step up and make a difference,” Pheng said. 

Her mindset encouraged her to act on these gaps.

“I’ve always believed that if something can be better, why not be the one to help change it?” Pheng explained. 

Pheng’s incentive to step up shows change begins with the individual.  

Morgan Pheng, the president of Associated Student Government, speaking at the Tree Lighting Ceremony.  Photo courtesy of @morgan-pheng-430051279/LinkedIn

Women are inspirations 

Many women expressed the importance of representation. USD senior Jordan Libunao, the co-president of the Black Student Union (BSU), recounted how many women inspired her to become a leader.

“Any woman of color in a leadership position inspires me,” Libunao said. “Someone who really inspires me is Michelle Obama. She was the first person that [left an impression on] me as a young biracial girl. Seeing the way that she carried herself and always kept calm despite what was thrown at her inspired me. She embodied somebody I wanted to be like. Seeing women of color in positions of power is very important especially to little girls. Representation matters more than people think and I’ve  come to learn that as I’ve gotten older and come into a position of power myself.” 

Even without personally knowing Michelle Obama, seeing a woman of color as the first lady resonated deeply with Libunao. However, the greatest inspirations often  come from those closest to us. 

Libunao continued to explain her other inspiration.  

“My  mother  is my biggest role model,” Libunao explained. “She embodies what a strong woman is. She raised two kids on her own. Never really let us see what  the struggle  was  behind that. Always  kept a  smile on her face.” 

President of the Panhellenic Council and USD junior Sophia Skubic shared a similar admiration for her great-grandmother. 

“Through all the stories I have heard, she has inspired me so much,” Skubic said. “She fought in WWII. She was a welder in an all male shipyard. When she interviewed with her boss, he said go do something else, this is not for you, and she was like, ‘No it will be. I’ll show you.’ And then she ended up teaching all the other men. She has been a huge inspiration because she paved the way.” 

These women, influenced by  strong figures in their lives show that who an individual surrounds themselves  with and looks up to can shape who they become.

Women are fighters 

Celebrating the stories of women  is not just about inspiration, but it is also about acknowledging the battles fought and barriers broken. Izzie Ramirez, USD senior and a leader in University Ministry, believes that leadership is not just about personal success but also about lifting others up. 

“The only way we can be leaders,  particularly  as women, is if we continue to lift each other up,” Ramirez reflected. “Being able to not only be a leader, but also empower the women and women leaders who have gotten you to the place where you are today is one of the most important qualities. Leaning on the women who have come before us and been trailblazers in the journeys that we get to embark  on can be an empowering way to look at leadership   as something that is way more attainable and understand that this is something we are meant to do together, not alone.”

These leaders not only spread their own opinions, but also amplify the voices of others on the behalf of those that cannot speak themselves. 

Kai Hopkinson, the co-president of BSU, explained her view of leadership. 

“Leadership is not necessarily about the label,” Hopkinson said. “Sometimes, the best leaders are not the ones that seek the position, but who just take the opportunity when it arises. Leadership comes in all different forms.” 

Pheng expressed a similar sentiment about taking the steps to become a leader.

“It can start in a classroom discussion, by supporting a friend in need, or by organizing a small initiative,” Pheng said. “Leadership is as much about the everyday actions.”

Waltman offered some additional advice for those looking to become a leader. 

“Sometimes your ideas will not be taken seriously until they are echoed  by someone else, but it is important to learn how to stand your ground,” Waltman said. “You must be your number one advocate.  If you  don’t believe in yourself, you can’t convince  others to believe in you.” 

Anyone  can  be a leader. These women, like so many others, are redefining  what it means  to   lead. They are not living in someone else’s world. They are creating their own. These  leaders send  the message to every woman out there that they too can be and are more than a woman. 

USD senior Izzie Ramirez singing on a University Ministry trip to Tijuana. Photo courtesy of Joshua Feingold