Kamala Harris and That Dose of Self-Confidence

I opened my eyes and looked at the clock, it's 6:30am. I am still exhausted and want to stay back in bed but I look at my phone and I'm screaming because of the US election results. 

Not many people believed that Kamala Harris would become America's first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president-elect of the United States of America.

Reading a story today about Kamala Harris made me think again about the importance of teaching every young girl what it means to be self-confident and what happens when preparation meets opportunity. I always chip in words of encouragement (especially on building one's self-confidence) for young girls during InspireIT workshops because majority of these girls especially in rural areas lack self-confidence as a result of what the society has conditioned their minds to believe.  

In most cases, as a young girl and as a grown woman; you need a lot of self-confidence to thrive in a family/village/community/society that says you cannot be what you want to be, that cannot support you, that places you as a second citizen to a man no matter how experienced, educated or hardworking you are. 

In 2016, Hilary Clinton vied for the highest position in America and even though she did not win, it set a pace and made many women all over the world believe that it was possible for a woman to achieve anything and contest for any position she desires.  Indeed, Kamala Harris has shattered "that glass ceiling" for all girls and women. I know there will be many more "glass ceilings" that will be shattered in the future by many women as a result of her footprints.

Yes, we have Madam Vice-President! A woman being a vice-president in America is a "big deal" and we look forward to the day a woman will become the president.

It's not always easy as a young girl or as a grown woman working your way to the top but one message I always pass across is "Let your challenges spur you to greater things rather than make you wither."

God bless America.