Celebrating Women’s History Month: Voices of Inspiration and Strength

March is recognized globally as Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the contributions women have made throughout history and in contemporary society. This month serves not only to highlight historical figures but also to celebrate the women within communities whose influence, though not always recorded in textbooks, remains significant.

Within this spirit, members of the Cyclones community are taking the opportunity to acknowledge the impactful women in their lives. For Brigitta Vande Lune, a senior studying fashion merchandising and design, her inspiration comes from a deeply personal source. “I’m always going to look up to my mom,” Vande Lune stated. “She’s just amazing. She has been through literally so much. She is continuously so strong and so supportive of me and all my sisters.”

Reflecting on the influence of women in shaping personal identities, she emphasized the lessons learned from her mother: “If there’s one thing she taught me, it’s to never back down. To never doubt myself and to always love myself. I look up to her every day.”

The significance of Women’s History Month also lies in its ability to encourage reflection on the historical struggles women have faced. Maya Dirksen, a sophomore majoring in geology, acknowledged the importance of recognizing the path paved by previous generations. “We wouldn’t even be able to go to college. We wouldn’t be able to vote. We wouldn’t be able to do a lot of stuff. We’d just stay at home, dealing with the housework, which is not something that I would really enjoy,” she commented. “I think it’s good that we have a month to celebrate the history that women have given us.”

As the community reflects on these contributions, Grant Way, a senior studying psychology, shared his admiration for the resilient women in his life. He highlighted the determination of his grandmother, who faced barriers to education. “In my life, I would say I look up to my grandma because she wasn’t afforded the opportunity to go to college,” Way explained. “She started her own small business and did that for like 30 years, which I think is a very inspiring thing to do. She still did something and made something of herself even though she wasn’t awarded the same opportunities that I have.”

Women’s History Month also serves as a reminder of the often-overlooked achievements of women. Way pointed out that traditional education has frequently highlighted male accomplishments while sidelining those of women. “Especially in high school, I feel most history classes were extremely male-focused,” he noted. “It was like, ‘Here’s all this stuff men did and also, like, here’s some stuff women did on the side… But look at all the cool stuff men did!’”

The celebration of Women’s History Month is not merely an acknowledgment of the past; it is a call to empower and uplift women in the present and future. Vande Lune expressed the importance of recognizing women’s achievements. “I feel like being proud of our sex is super important,” she said. “I love the women that have come before me, and that will come after me. I hate the saying ‘You can do what a guy can do,’ because obviously, you can do that. You can do more than that. You can do things that they can’t, even if they tried their hardest.”

As March unfolds, the Cyclones community continues to honor the women who inspire change and resilience, ensuring their legacies are celebrated and remembered.