This election has brought out many different sides of Americans all over the country, leading to innumerable hashtags on various social media sites. #ImWithHer trended multiple times leading up to November 8th, and #ImStillWithHer started trending as soon as Trump's win was announced. While Hillary Clinton is far from my favorite person in the world, there have been many strong and powerful women who have done tremendous things, ultimately changing the world.
1. Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa is one of the greatest heroes of the 1900s. She dedicated her entire life to caring for the sick, the dying, and the needy, while founding the Order of the Missionaries of Charity. Her goal was to treat every single living person with compassion, proving that even the terminally ill possess dignity. She is a true embodiment of love and happiness that can be found within us all.
2. St. Joan of Arc
St. Joan of Arc is a martyr, saint, and military leader -- not to mention a complete badass. Acting under divine guidance, she led the French army to victory over the English, even when the French ruler did not fully believe in her. This was huge, as a woman being a leader in the battlefield was unheard of. Later, she was left by said French ruler to be put on trial for heresy and eventually burned at the stake. Her courage should inspire all of us to do what God is telling us to do.
3. Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman is best known for escorting over 300 slaves to freedom. She changed the world by escaping from slavery, becoming an abolitionist, and aiding other slaves in attaining freedom by working as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Contemporaries call her "Moses" in praise of her bravery and leadership. She risked her own life in order to better the lives of others, making her a true heroine.
4. Clara Barton
Clara Barton's most signifiicant accomplishment was founding the American Red Cross. Although she began as a schoolteacher, she ended up being involved in the Civil War, working as a nurse who aided the wounded soldiers. She spent much of her life in the service of others, not only nursing soldiers back to health but also teaching others how to do the same. She refused to be paid less than a man, which is still a relevant issue today. We should look to her for guidance in fighting for gender equality in America.
5. Helen Keller
Everybody knows Helen Keller as the blind and deaf girl no one could help, therefore leading to the obnoxious Twitter accounts that post "Helen Keller jokes." This is infuriating to me, a person who sees Helen Keller as a woman who used her disabilities to empower and fight for others. She helped blind and deaf people all over the world. Although at one point she was unable to communicate, she went on to right many books that helped her raise money for the American foundation for the blind. She goes to show that life is what we make of it, and our circumstances do not hold the ability to define who we are; only we can define who we are.
6. Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt transformed the role of the First Lady. She was a notable champion for women's rights and civil rights throughout the entirety of her political career. For example, she only allowed female journalists at her press conferences, forcing newspapers to hire women. She paved the way for future women of the White House to continue and further her outreach efforts.
7. Rosa Parks
Everyone knows who Rosa Parks is -- she's the one who said "no." She is considered the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, even though she had no intention of making history when she left her job as a seamstress to board a bus. She inspired Martin Luther King Jr. to lead the bus boycotts, fighting for the equality of all Americans.
8. Anne Frank
Anne Frank's diary is one of the most-read books around the world today. Her diary endures as a testament to the human spirit. She was incredibly courageous amid dangers and suffering, and we can read in her diary that she kept positive thoughts during her trials. She is an example for all of us to remain hopeful during the tests that life puts us through.
9. Mary Grace Henry
Many people do not know who Mary Grace Henry is, seeing as she is only 19. However, she began changing the world at the age of 12. This amazing young lady has funded the education of approximately 70 underprivileged girls in Kenya, Uganda, Paraguay, and Haiti by selling thousands of handmade headbands. She has changed the lives of these girls for the better, providing them with the ability to change their culture.
10. Malala Yousafzai
Malala is honestly a huge force to be reckoned with; her remarkable story should be shouted from the rooftops. After receiving countless death threats that led to being shot by the Taliban at the age of 15, she is still standing up for every person's right to an education. She is the youngest recipient ever of the Nobel Peace Prize, and she is still campaigning for girls' right to education all around the world with the Malala Fund. If Malala can peacefully change the world and forgive the people who wanted her buried six feet in the ground, then so can we all.
While there has yet to be a female President, there have been countless other women who have empowered and inspired me to be the best version of myself. We all need to love, support, and stand up for others. In regards to each one of the amazing, awe-inspiring women mentioned in this article: #ImWithHer. And I hope you are, too.