These past few days following the election have been a rollercoaster of emotions for many people, myself included. It’s difficult for many to accept a man who ran a campaign that brought racism, sexism, and homophobia to the surface and cried of bias and the system being rigged whenever it appeared things might not be going his way. But as we settle down and process our emotions I want to make sure to give Hillary Clinton the thanks she deserves.
Hillary Clinton has always had a passion for fighting for children, women, and to make sure everyone has the opportunity for a quality education. She began her career working for the Children’s Defense Fund. Much of the work and research she did there was resulted in the publication of the report “Children Out of School in America”, which helped pave the way for education reform in elementary, middle, and high schools. Her commitment carried into her career as first lady of Arkansas where she carried on education reform in the state.
She has also continuously fought for health insurance reform. As first lady of Arkansas she was essential in passing the Children’s Health Insurance Program, abbreviated as CHIP. She was also heavily involved in devising the controversial Health Security Act as first lady of the United States, though it ultimately did not pass.
However, I want to thank her the most for the years she has spent challenging the public’s perception of women in politics. During her time as the First Lady of Arkansas and her time as the First Lady of the United States she took on a level of responsibility that far exceeded what was normal at the time. During her husband’s 1992 presidential run she was criticized for continuing to work while her husband was Governor of Arkansas. Her, now famous, response was, “You know, I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession, which I entered before my husband was in public life.” Her career made her perhaps the most qualified presidential candidate in history, working as the First Lady, a senator, and Secretary of State.
Throughout her career she faced criticism for being too ambitious, something I can say with certain that very few men have been criticized for. I want to thank her for never giving into the sexist criticisms against her. She herself has said, “I adopted my own mantra, take criticism seriously but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you."
Hillary Clinton has defiantly put some cracks in the glass ceiling, and for this I want to thank her. However, her presidential campaign and loss Tuesday night have shown how far our country still has to go to work towards shattering it. Thank you Hillary Clinton for your work during your career and knowing you it isn’t over. Thank you for inspiring a generation of young women to not give up their goals. Thank you for years of being grace under fire. I am grateful to have witnessed your presidential candidacy, as it has inspired women like myself to keep fighting.
