Meet Janel, Ariel and Roya ...
/WriteGirl has helped thousands of young women write their way to brilliant futures. They are all over the world. We’d like to introduce you to a few ...
On Her Way: Janel
WriteGirl was a sanctuary for Janel during high school. “There were several times in high school when I became so afraid of failing that I missed school for days at a time, struggling to face my insecurities.” Janel Pineda is now a sophomore at Dickinson College exploring social justice issues. With the help of WriteGirl, Janel received the prestigious Posse Scholarship, which provided her with a full academic scholarship. Just before high school graduation, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti invited Janel to read her work at a women’s empowerment luncheon. Her poem was met with a standing ovation. “In that moment, I felt empowered and proud of my accomplishments.”
Out in the World: Ariel
“My very first experience with a newsroom was through WriteGirl,” Ariel says. Now, a decade later, Ariel Edwards-Levy is a political journalist with the Huffington Post working on national elections and overseeing the online newspaper’s polling in Washington, D.C. Ariel credits WriteGirl for introducing her to the world of journalism. “A mentor allowed me to shadow her for a few days and helped me write my first article that appeared in print.” Ariel says it’s not just confidence that WriteGirl provided her. “It’s not the ‘I believe in you,’ it’s more the ‘We will make sure you will write. What do you need us to do to help you?’"
Just Thirteen: Roya
Roya, 13, joined WriteGirl to meet other girls who shared her passion for writing and learn the writing skills she needs to someday become a novel writer. She is one of 60 new mentees who joined WriteGirl this season. “Usually anything inspires me to write!” says Roya. “I love writing because you can make your own new world, or explore old ones!” Roya says she has lots of journals and reads lots of books. “Every book is my favorite,” she says.
How will YOU help shape the future for a teen girl?
This year, in our 15th Anniversary Season, our goal is to match more girls than ever with their very own mentor and strengthen support for our programming efforts. Help us make it happen during this season of giving!
