Before my sophomore year of college, I had never heard of Always’ #LikeAGirl 2014 campaign.

After seeing their ad for the first time four years later, I was blown away by how relevant it still is today in society’s fight to tackle gender stereotypes, empower women and instill confidence in young girls.

Within the first four seconds of the ad, I was hooked. Right away I knew this wasn’t going to be your typical 30-second advertisement about feminine products. The ad starts with seeing the “backstage” of what a commercial or photo shoot looks like: lots of lights, giant cameras and the must-need movie clapper before a take. Allowing an audience to be behind-the-scenes during the actual advertisement indicates to me that this ad is going to be a bit different than ones I’ve seen before.

"When did doing something 'like a girl' become an insult?"

This ad campaign from Always is going to stick with me for the rest of my life. Like a few of the girls in the ad said, growing up, being an adolescent and figuring out yourself is hard enough without others trying to humiliate you and put you down for acting “like a girl.”

How many times have I heard this term and haven’t thought twice about it? This ad challenged me to think of what it really means when people say “you run like a girl” or “you fight like a girl.”

It also made me think, has someone ever said this to me? Have I ever stood up to someone who said this to intentionally humiliate someone? Did I just laugh or ignore the comment?

"A girl's confidence plummets during puberty. But it doesn't have to."

For years I have been teaching swim lessons, babysitting and volunteering with young children. To imagine any of these little girls being stripped of their confidence and strength just because they are a girl breaks my heart.

I was raised by two incredible parents that have told me and continue to tell me I can do whatever I want in life. This ad sticks with me because that’s the kind of confidence I want to inspire in other young girls.

Become the next Michael Phelps. Go to the Olympics. Open your own bakery someday. Become a ballerina. Become a doctor. And do it like a girl.

You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it forever: Girls can do anything boys can do. Doing things “like a girl” is such a compliment.

"Yes, I kick like a girl and I swim like a girl and I walk like a girl and I wake up in the morning like a girl because I am a girl. That is not something I should be ashamed of."

It’s time to take back the “like a girl” statement. Being a woman is not something to be ashamed of nor should it ever be an insult. Everything I set my heart and mind to in life will be done like a girl because I am a girl.

"Let's make #LikeAGirl mean amazing things."

With advertisements like this, it’s apparent we’ve come a long way — but we still have a long way to go in empowering young women, building confidence in our little ones and breaking gender stereotypes.

Change starts with a movement and Always has created just that.

"Why can't run like a girl also mean win the race?"

Check out some of Always’ other #LikeAGirl campaigns here: Unstoppable (2015), Keep Playing (2016), Keep Going (2017) and many more.