Women across the world have done their part to make a difference. Whether that has been to start conversations about women’s rights, or to do what they can to make sure women of all backgrounds get represented properly in the media. But as important as that, more worldwide efforts are needed when it comes to women making a difference; more local efforts are needed and are just as important.
At Rowan University, there are a plethora of women who strive to make a difference in the world and in the local college community. Whether they are students or women in administrative positions, these are women who are involved in organizations that help their community, but there are also women at Rowan who make a difference in the smallest of ways.
One student who strives to make a difference in her community is Brielle Bland Turner, a 21-year-old psychology and radio, television & film major. She likes to make her mark in the smallest ways by being someone others can rely on, but also from her occupation as a substitute teacher.
“I feel like I try to make a difference by being there for people. I try to lead by example and build a sense of community with the people I have around me,” said Turner.
Turner also shared how she uses her position as a substitute teacher to make an impact.
“As I am a student here at Rowan, I also am a substitute teacher. I use my position in both of these spaces to try and show up the right way because the way you show up in the right way because the way you show up every day has an impact on the people around you… I use my position as a student to highlight the issues that are going on in society and create a sense of community,” said Turner.
Another student, Caroline Devero, a 20-year-old psychology major, states that she makes a difference by connecting with people in her field who need her support.
“In order to make a difference, I decided to pursue a career/education in psychology. I realized that this path will allow me to connect with people who need support individually, and depending on the amount of education I receive, on a wider scale as well,” said Devero.
Devero also shared how her classes have impacted her own views on society’s view of women.
“As a student at Rowan, I have enjoyed taking classes such as ‘Psychology of Women and Cultural Experience,’ which have greatly informed me on social problems relating to gender. I think a lot of women could benefit from learning more about how connected gender is to all social issues, and I love hearing new ideas about what I’ve taken away from those classes as well,” said Devero
Along with the number of women who are students at Rowan University who have gone out of their way to make an impact on the community, there are also women at Rowan who make a difference as part of leadership on the campus.
One of these women is Jessica Wolk Vattima, the Director of the Rowan Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship within the School of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Vattima strives for students to explore ideas, start businesses, and develop entrepreneurial mindsets.
Vattima shared that she has learned a lot from being in her position and used her findings to make an impact on her community.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that people, students especially, often have more potential than they realize. Some of the most driven and creative student founders I work with never thought of themselves as entrepreneurs at first. They just had an idea or saw a problem and wanted to fix it,” said Vattima.
Vattima also shared that a lot of the impact comes from the students that she works with, and tries her hardest to create safe spaces for the students to just be.
“A lot of the impact comes through the students I work with. I spend a lot of time mentoring students and helping them think through their ideas, challenges, and next steps. That might mean helping someone prepare for a pitch competition or talking through the next step when they feel stuck … I try to create spaces where students feel welcome and comfortable exploring ideas and taking risks. Entrepreneurship can feel really intimidating at first, so it helps when students know they have people around them who support them,” said Vattima.
Vattima also shared what she thinks is good knowledge to pass on to other women in her life, and in general
“One thing I’ve learned is that you don’t have to feel completely ready before taking an opportunity or a risk. A lot of the moments that shaped my career came from me saying yes before I had everything figured out. You learn by doing. It’s ok to figure things out along the way… I’ve also learned how important it is to advocate for yourself and your ideas. You have a voice, and you have to learn how to use it. Your perspective and experiences are valuable. I hope I can pass that on to other women around me and that they pass it on to others, too,” said Vattima.
Women around the world of all backgrounds have made their marks on society in some way, shape, or form, whether they realize it or not. Many women have shared the lessons that they have learned along the way that shaped their very psyche. There are many layers to making a difference, and for the women of Rowan, it’s best that they’re working within their communities.
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