Women should influence, educate, dream, panel says
Women make a difference and can influence everyone, “Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility” panel members said Thursday.
The panel, sponsored by the Women’s Leadership Institute Class and USU Women’s Center, explored the theme for National Women’s History Month, which has been “The blossoming of hope brings the gift of possibility.”
Faculty members Tonya Caldwell, Diane M. Calloway-Graham, and child-play therapist SueZan Johnson came together to present that message.
Calloway-Graham, who has worked for 14 years in the social work department, told those present not to back down to people’s stereotypes. She told women to have enough self-awareness so that others cannot put them down.
“I’m proud to be a woman. I always have been,” she said. “Women have a lot to offer in this world. We have a responsibility, all of us, to encourage people.”
Calloway-Graham also said the way she developed herself was through having parents who encouraged her, a family background of USU professors, leadership opportunities and good women role models.
“I always knew I’d be successful because that’s how they made me feel,” she said.
Then she advised her audience to take the opportunity to get to know other female faculty members and associates that would help them become the person they wanted to be. She said men can help too, as well as anyone who will encourage a woman to do all that she wants.
Johnson said, “You have to find yourself. Sometimes finding yourself means having mentors.”
Johnson told women to find their dream and go for it, get out of their boxes and find out what makes them feel alive.
Caldwell, from the physics department, said going for your dreams may mean sacrificing but a woman has to decide what’s really important. She said there are tradeoffs to be made and a woman has to choose the things that matter and avoid the things that don’t.
Caldwell admitted to mopping her floor only once a week, but would rather have sticky shoes every once in awhile than give up her career. However, she loves her home, too.
“I’m happy when I go to work every day,” she said. “But I’m happy when I walk through my door, too.”
Johnson said a woman has to have balance because “no matter what work you do, it will be taxing.”
Johnson balances four kids, her husband and a career where she works mainly with women and children who have gone through trauma and abuse. She said women are lucky because they can do everything.
“We get to wear dresses, we get to give hugs, we get to give birth,” she said. “We can do anything we want. We can.”
Johnson said she has a great admiration for women, children and for men. She said she gets to work every day with amazing people “who get out of their boxes, and fly.”
She also said a lot of women don’t see how much potential they have and they don’t see what they can do.
“Be excited about what you are and what you can do,” she said. “Whatever it is, you’ll touch lives.”
-mnewbold@cc.usu.edu