March was Women’s History Month and although I’m not technically a “woman” yet, and neither are these young ladies, we are the wildest dreams of our ancestors who live by a social standard of dressing a certain way and maintaining an ‘image’ that they felt was necessary. This generation of girls is becoming so unique that by the time that we are a woman, there will be no ‘image’ we need to live by. It’ll be something sweet that we won’t have to teach our little girls in the future.

Meet Trinity Ford @__2000

Trinity Ford is 17 years old and has always been in at least one of my classes since we met 3 years ago when we were freshmen in our Algebra 1 class.

What school do you go to?

Trinity: University Academy Charter High School.

Do you work or have any activities outside of school?

Trinity: Yes. I work in Newport Mall and at a bakery in Downtown called Cocoa Bakery. In Newport, I’m a sales associate at a store called Icing. Activities are limited depending on the season because I cheer but currently I’m not.

How do you manage all of that and school?

Trinity: I was taught time management last year. I usually do most of my school work in school or out of school when I’m off. When I make my schedule for work, I usually pick a day or two off specifically to do my work.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Trinity: I’ll probably be in college. Maybe like two cars and I want my own apartment. I want a Benz and a audio and I’ll probably live in Bayonne.

What’s one motto that you live by?

Trinity: Nothing is ever good enough. I just keep telling myself just keep pushing, keep trying and to make every day better than yesterday. Ms. Bruce [Assistant Principal] told me a quote, I’m not sure who it’s by. The quote stated, “Live in a way, that if someone were to say something about you, people would know it’s not true.” Like what to believe and what not to believe.

Give me 3 random facts about yourself.

Trinity: I’m very optimistic. I’m very hard working. I would say, I’m different. Like the way I work is different from others.

It’s Women’s History Month. Who’s one woman that you are inspired by? And why?

Trinity: My Grandmother, because she’s very caring. She cares for people that don’t even care for her. Even if you proved to her that you don’t care for her, she’ll still care about you. The way that she’s so hardworking and caring for people, she makes me want to be like that.

Meet Jenna Ariza

Jenna Ariza is 17 years old and ranks in the top 10 of my class. I’ve always admired her work ethic when it came to school. We also work together for our high school newspaper, she’s one of the copy editors.

What school do you go to?

Jenna: I attend University Academy Charter High School.

Do you work or have any activities?

Jenna: My personal, social, and work life is very mixed up. I am hoping that I could work someplace to gain experience of the workforce during the Summertime but at the same time, I always have events to attend and school-related work to do. As for the activities, I do not participate in as many activities compared to the amount that I have been involved in the first two years of high school.

How do you manage that and school?

Jenna: With school and schoolwork, I set certain timeframes for what I could accomplish. I have a planner to write down all of my assignments that are due. I have a chalkboard wall in my room that helps me study. Sometimes when I cannot sleep, I could stare at all of the formulas and remember them before I fall asleep. Then I wake up in the morning at a certain time to check if I remember what I studied. I also tutor my uncle’s girlfriend’s son after school every school day in English and Mathematics. 

I have to do chores around the house. I have to take care of my sister who is 5 years old when my mom cannot manage the household and her children (this happens the majority of the time).

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Jenna: In five years, I see myself being successful by finishing up my last years in college. I hope I found out what I truly wanted to follow as a career choice.

What is one motto that you live by?

Jenna: “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today” -Thomas Jefferson
(This basically tells you that the more you procrastinate, the worse it gets)

Give me 3 random facts about yourself.
– I was the student of the year either during my freshman or my sophomore years
– I enjoy painting and drawing (I do not have enough time to do this)… I am skeptical of including this as one of the subjects to study in college
– Although I may be Asian, I do not aspire to become a doctor and/or nurse unlike the rest of my family members

It’s Women’s History Month. Who’s one woman that you are inspired by? And why?

Jenna: One of the biggest inspirations in my life has to be my younger cousin, Tatiana. She constantly empowers women through motivation and advice in order to instill confidence. Recently, she stopped caring about the way that she looks and although everyone judged her, she still pushed through to convince herself that she would not be bounded to society’s lack of identity (which commonly affects youth everywhere). Without Tatiana, I would not be as mentally strong of a woman that I am today.

Meet Ariana O’ @aoz__

Ariana O’ is 17 years old. I met her in August last year through a mutual friend and then later found her on Instagram. You can see below that she always has that ‘chill vibe’ to her.

What school do you go to?

Arina: I go to High Tech High School in North Bergen.

Do you work or have any activities?

Ariana: I currently do not work, but in the summer I am a lifeguard and I do a few activities. I am the co-president of my school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. I am a delegate in my school’s Model United Nations. I am also a part of the Questionary club in my school. I run track for Dickinson High School, indoor and outdoor track.

How do you manage that and school?

Ariana: Doing all of those things, I am pretty busy. I do try to manage my time well. After school, I’ll go to practice, and on the bus ride there I’ll study or finish a little bit of homework before I actually get there. Right after practice, I go home, eat dinner, and after that, it’s just work, work, work. I try to finish my homework as quickly as possible. Then after that, I go to bed. I try my best to be productive. Sometimes it gets a little hard, but I manage.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Ariana: Hopefully in 5 years, I see myself graduating with my Bachelor’s degree. Hopefully, from Hayah, it’s a pretty good college. Hopefully entering dentist school and with a job after graduation. That would be the ideal place for me to be in 5 years.

What’s one motto that you live by?

Ariana: “To pick up and push through.” I know things get really hard, and I can say that just from experience, things get really hard sometimes. But to succeed, you gotta pick up and push through. You can’t let things weigh you down. If you do, then you’re just not going to get to where you want to be.

Give me 3 random facts about yourself.

Ariana: I’m left-handed. Last year I was the proud owner of 6 guinea pigs. Yes, you heard me right, 6 of those little things running around in my house. I currently don’t own them anymore but yeah, that was pretty crazy. Most people don’t know that. I was born in November, so I’m a winter baby but I cannot stand the cold.

It’s Women’s History Month. Who’s one woman that you are inspired by? And why?

Ariana: My computer programming teacher. She is honestly one of the smartest and one of the most successful women that I ever met. Besides the obvious answer of my mom, my grandmother, my aunt, besides any woman in my family, one woman that I’m inspired by is her definitely. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in computer sciences, I believe on a full ride from Rutgers University. Yeah, besides my mom, one woman that I’d love to be like when I grow up is definitely my computer programming teacher.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Ariana: Definitely to anyone who reads this: the only person who can stop you from doing whatever it is that you want to do or whatever do want to achieve is yourself. Truly.

Meet Rania Eman @eman_rony

Rania Eman is 17 years old, I saw how sharp she was when we both applied for the same job. Eventually, we connected on Instagram and now not only are we friends but partners in the same business.

What school do you go to?

Rania: Dickinson High School

Do you have any activities outside of school?

Rania: I work at The Jersey City Youth Court, I own my own business. I do track, I tutor, I’m involved in two clubs, and I babysit my baby brother.

How do you manage all of that?

Rania: I just recently started getting better at time management. With the mentoring program, with my business. It helps because, in the environment, it doesn’t feel overwhelming. I have a support system with me. My therapist also helps with that.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Rania: Hopefully, financially free. I really want to have my family own their own house. Already have them make a trip to Mecca for hajj. And almost done with my pre-med.

What motto do you live by?

Rania: “Treat people the way you want to be treated.” For example, if I just looked in a bad way they’d get offended. If someone looks at me in a bad way, I’m gonna get offended.

Give me 3 random facts about yourself.

Rania: My favorite color is yellow. My mom had a stroke when I was 10, it was just me and my little sister alone and I was the one that had to see that, try to cope with it, and try to call the doctor. I came to the US in 2011, when the revolution happened.

It’s Women’s History Month. Who’s one woman that you are inspired by? And why?

Rania: It sounds cliche, but definitely my mother. She went through a lot like I said, she actually had a stroke because my 3 older siblings came to the US [before us] and that created a whole shift in our lives since we’re a loud family and we’re a big family. Them just moving and her staying with the youngest two, it was like really quiet. We weren’t the kind of family that just goes out, so she had to have a change in her life and to try to keep to herself and keep us safe. When she came here, it was a whole different situation. She survived cancer in 2013-2014. Now she’s actually studying her butt off to get into a culinary school. Yeah, she can be judgmental but that’s just the culture she grew up in. Now she’s in a whole new culture, and she has to cope with us having both sides, instead of one. She’s a powerful woman, and I love her.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Rania: Honestly, everyone goes through stuff in life and it’s not that you’re going through the toughest, it’s just the toughest for you. Not everyone one will relate and that’s the most powerful thing. Don’t feel down if people don’t relate, then you’re special.