Niles North collaborated with Nerdy Girl Success to host a successful event dedicated to empowering young women in leadership and exploring diverse career opportunities.
Nerdy Girl Success is a nonprofit organization that helps young women build confidence, leadership skills, and career opportunities through mentorship and educational programs.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Career Counselor Kia Pickett and the student-led project EmpowerHER, the Nerdy Girl Success program made its way to Niles North to inspire students. EmpowerHER is a student-led project created by Oluchi Ubawike, Sydney Springer, and Laila Williams.
“EmpowerHER is based on three core values: empowering female students, honoring female teachers, and raising awareness for breast cancer,” sophomore Oluchi Ubawike said. “We are a part of the female support ecosystem here at Niles North, because we want to uplift women and support their health.
Students who participated in the conference attended two breakout sessions led by women who have found success in their professions. There were three breakout sessions to choose from: “How to Introduce Yourself,” “How to Advocate for Yourself,” and “Confidence Building.”
The first presentation I attended was “Confidence Building.” Presenter Michelle Pecak explained various strategies we can use to enhance our confidence. I liked how the presentation was very interactive; not only did she ask many questions for us to answer, but we also practiced role-playing hypothetical scenarios we might encounter in the workplace.
“I want the people who listened to my presentation to have a really solid one-liner that makes them feel confident, that they practice over and over again so they can talk to anybody at any time,” Founder and CEO of Simple Smart Supply Chain Consulting Michelle Pecak said.
The second presentation I attended was “How to Advocate for Yourself.” We discussed what self-advocacy means, why it matters, clear strategies for it, and practical tips for everyday situations. This session was helpful because it taught me how to clearly communicate my needs, build confidence in speaking up for myself, and use practical strategies to advocate for myself in school and future situations.
I asked the presenter what she wanted us to take away from her presentation after it ended.
“They have a voice, and they should share it with the world,” Senior Vice President at Publicis Groupe U.S. Veronica Appleton said.
After attending both informative and impactful presentations, I then went to the career exploration event. Tables filled the Skyloft with career representatives stationed at each one, representing a wide range of professions. As students visited the tables, they could ask questions, learn about the representatives’ professional experiences and internship opportunities, and pick up free goodies.
The event closed with a panel discussion, where students had the opportunity to ask the three panelists questions about their professional experiences and leadership.
Overall, this was a great opportunity for female-identifying students to learn from successful women, build confidence, and explore future career possibilities.
