My journey began as a freshman at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, California. Early in my first year, I joined my school's Model United Nations team, where students research and debate some of the world's most pressing issues. My first conference focused on issues surrounding women's rights and gender equality. As I researched these topics, I was struck by the barriers that millions of women and girls continue to face, from unequal access to opportunities and leadership positions to persistent wage gaps and workplace bias. That experience inspired me to become an advocate for women's empowerment.

Wanting to turn my passion into action, I founded the Girl Up Club at my high school, an official chapter of the United Nations Foundation's Girl Up movement. Through our club, we organized volunteer opportunities at women's shelters, hosted food and clothing drives, raised funds for organizations supporting women and girls, and invited accomplished women from a variety of professions to speak about their personal and professional journeys. Listening to these women share both their successes and the obstacles they overcame showed me the incredible impact that mentorship and representation can have on a young person's confidence and ambitions.

As I spoke with classmates and friends, I realized that many high school girls have big dreams but don't always know where to begin. Finding mentors, asking career questions, and building professional connections can feel overwhelming, especially at a young age. I wanted to create a space where those opportunities were accessible teen girls.

That vision became the foundation for this organization.

Our mission is to connect ambitious high school girls with accomplished women across a wide range of careers who are willing to share their experiences, guidance, and encouragement. Through mentorship, career exploration, educational resources, and leadership opportunities, we hope to give young women the confidence to pursue careers they are passionate about and the support to navigate challenges they may encounter along the way.

While mentorship alone cannot eliminate issues such as the gender wage gap or the under representation of women in leadership, it can equip young women with the knowledge, confidence, and networks that help open doors. Every meaningful conversation, every role model, and every opportunity to learn from someone who has walked a similar path has the potential to shape a student's future.

My hope is that this community inspires girls to dream bigger, ask more questions, support one another, and become the next generation of women leaders who will continue creating opportunities for those who follow.