During the month of March — Women’s History Month — many students are taking the time to contemplate their places in society and history as women in and outside of classes. 

“Women’s History Month is important because it helps us recognize the people who have built up our world but don’t get enough recognition,” said sophomore Thea Pratt. “I do think that women’s history should be celebrated every day and shouldn’t be separated from general history, but this is a step in the right direction,”

Women’s History Month started as a weeklong celebration by former President of the United States Jimmy Carter and was only extended to a month of commemoration 7 years later, according to the National Women’s History Museum.  

“In the English department, we work hard to expose characters that are reflective of all students — we pick a diverse canon so that there is representation for everyone,” English teacher Emily Brenner said. “I also try to create a classroom environment which amplifies women’s voices and encourages my students to speak with authority,” 

The student council will hold chapel services throughout the month of March in hopes of empowering females through bringing the school together. Chapel is a crucial, uplifting activity which connects individual students to the student body as a whole, according to freshman Sofia Ponce de Leon. 

“Chapel helps bring the school community together, because we are all united in a shared experience,” Ponce de Leon said. “I am looking forward to what our school chapels will hold now that it’s Women’s History Month.”

The official theme for this year’s Women’s History Month is ‘Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories’ and will honor women who specifically devoted their lives to telling truth in all forms of media, according to the National Women’s History Alliance.

“As it is the beginning of Women’s History Month, I can’t help but notice how strong our female community is,” Liao said. “It is always great to see women working alongside each other and helping each other out,”

“Women have a lot of restrictions and traditional barriers on them, and I am hopeful, but that hope is nourished by action that I want to see in the future for women’s rights such as reproductive rights and affordable childcare,” Brenner said. “I teach because of the faith I have in this generation and I think there is a lot to be done within the realm of equality that this generation could accomplish,”

Women such as Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, and Marie Curie are leading examples of women defying the norm of society. Hearing about such strong female characters inspires the students to push their limits and become the best version of themselves, according to Pratt.

“Going to an all-girls school empowers me to use my voice and I feel like the skills I have learned will carry into my future,” Pratt said. “I believe that one day women will have equal rights to men and we have to continue to strive for that.”