As the semester begins to wind down, the girls paused to reflect on what the girls learned this semester at Girlstart After School. From working as aerospace engineers and astronomers to geomorphologists or electrical engineers, it has been a semester full of learning new things and new experiences. Next, the girls took some time to dream about their futures. To do so, the girls were given six blank puzzle pieces and told to write or draw a goal for each stage of their life on a piece: one for goals throughout the rest of elementary school, one for Jr. High School, a goal for high school, college, graduate school, and for their career.
Like the puzzle pieces, their goals connect together to create a bigger picture and lead the girls to achieve their dreams. From striving to “read at least 1,000 books” in middle school to “passing all of my STARR tests,” and wanting to “make straight A’s,” our girls are dreaming big! Girls wrote that they hope to attend Texas State, UT, Yale and Harvard for college, “pass Med School” and “get 4 graduate degrees.” Many dream of being vets, marine biologists, electrical or mechanical engineers, to “be a doctor and save millions of lives from death;” others hope to “be a rock star” or “be the first girl president.” The girls got to take home their puzzles, to keep as a tangible reminder of what they are capable of accomplishing.
Next, the girls wrote letters to their future selves, reminding themselves of their dreams and goals, and the obstacles they plan to overcome. In ten years the girls can open their letters and compare what they have achieved with their previous goals. Our hope is that they never stop learning, never stop pursuing their goals, and never stop dreaming big!
