Maria Shriver

Are You a Trailblazing Woman?

By Annie Delgado

Are you a woman who is helping to change the world? Do you want to be an inspiration to young trailblazers and thus reshape the nation’s, and possibly the world’s, future?

I teach a class called The Role of Women in Society & U.S. History. The course began in January 2008 with 25 students. We now have 120.

The goal of the class is to imagine the potential the human race could achieve if each gender were encouraged to put their strengths to work in a collaborative effort. By appreciating the strengths of everyone, students strive to learn who they are at their core and to create a strong and healthy path upon which to move forward. Students come to understand that no one is limited by their past choices. Instead, everyone has an opportunity to define themselves and their trail.

In many ways, this class is a huge success - enrollment has more than quadrupled since its inception, and the alumni have taken the message of women’s empowerment out into their communities. But something is missing – we need more trailblazing women to come talk to this class – to show our students how women are making a difference – and how our students can make a difference!

I have extended invitations – many of which have been met with standard rejection letters. But two women have shown my students just what women can do. In January of 2010, the first female White House Press Secretary, Dee Dee Myers, met with my students when we visited Washington, D.C. Then in December of 2010, Maria Shriver, as First Lady of California, agreed to meet with my class. How inspiring it was to see someone committed to working with women reach out to the next generation. Her thoughtful and honest answers to questions posed by the students left them feeling that the world held endless possibilities. Meeting with these women not only strengthened the resolve of my students, but also brought new life to the program.

So my plea to you is – if you are a woman changing the world – or you know someone who, like Dee Dee Myers and Maria Shriver, is changing the course of history, will you consider spending an hour of your precious time – in person or by Skype or satellite -- passing it on to the next generation, my class at Buhach Colony High School in Atwater, California?

The students will inspire you and touch your life. They will ask questions that push you to places you don’t usually go. They are eagerly waiting to learn from you and to grow from your knowledge and experience.

If you are interested, please email me at …. adelgado at muhsd.k12.ca.us or respond in the comments, and I will get in touch with you.

Thank you.

Annie Delgado is a teacher at Buhach and adjunct professor at Chapman University who believes in her students and their ability to bring about positive changes in our world. Visit the Buhach Role of Women in Society Class Facebook page to learn more.