These past few years in college have really opened me up to a lot and have allowed me to have a new perspective on things.

College is a time when there is so much changing around us but we are still learning about ourselves at the same time. One of the most important realizations I have had involves what it really means to be a female college student right now.

On just one small college campus, I have seen the importance of empowerment, courage, and individuality and how it is affecting young women during this time.

Before I came to college, I honestly didn’t think too much on female empowerment. However, I started to slowly see how important is was and how uncommon it can be sometimes. This is so evident because I am confined to a small campus where certain situations are more personal and obvious. During this time, all of us are striving to accomplish the same thing. We want to graduate and get a degree and do what we love.

Now more than ever, young women should embrace and uplift the other young women in our lives. This sounds so simple and obvious, but it is surprising how little it occurs. It is so easy to compare our success to other girls therefore allowing discouragement and insecurities to take over.

Sadly, women are held to many expectations that sometimes make it hard to find positivity and self-love. By experiencing this first hand, I have realized that putting that love and encouragement in others has helped me find my own self-love.

We are young women who are struggling to live up to these standards and expectations, and empowering each other can create an amazing amount of love and change. I have to remind myself of this constantly in order to create an environment that builds me up and builds up the other young women in my life.