What does it take to scale a mountain, free-fall out of an airplane, catch a killer wave? Are you ready to bungee jump, kayak the rapids, walk on a circus high wire? Ultimately, what are you made of? What makes strong girls?
If you look into the heart and soul of truly strong girls, what would you uncover? Passion. Courage. Determination. Perseverance. Boundless Energy. An incredible sense of adventure. Strong girls believe anything is possible. They are that rare breed of female who knows that no obstacle is too large and no dream is too big. These young women may come from different backgrounds and have very different interests, yet they all have one thing in common—they love what they do; and they'll do whatever it takes to reach their goals.
So where does their daring come from? How can you, too, feel the adrenaline rush that comes from taking risks and pushing the limits? How can you catch the strong girl fever (and maybe you already have it) and challenge yourself in ways you only dreamed about before?
- Get Your Mind in Shape: Positive thinking, better known as optimism, is a strong girl's best friend. You need to mentally prepare for your risk-taking adventure. Let's face itit's a little scary snowboarding for the first time. You need to think with courage and confidence.
- Exercise Your Body: Thinking you can do it is truly not enough. Whether you are exploring the wilderness, playing football with the boy's varsity team or vaulting over a 30-foot wall with ease, you need to strengthen and stretch your body so it works for you.
- Know the Risks: Only really strong girls can admit that they are apprehensive, maybe even frightened, about the prospect of challenging themselves physically and pushing themselves to the limits. A responsible, daring person is truthful about the risks and potential dangers in anything she tempts to accomplish. Honest strong girls are prepared strong girls.
- Set Goals: You have heard people talk about the journey being more satisfying than the final destination? Well, it goes double for strong girls. Ask your average 13-year-old runner or fossil hunter, and they will tell you that getting to the top is "no big deal," it's what you put into it along the way that matters.
- Visualize Your Dreams: Take action. Make lists. Read books. Dare to daydream. See yourself climbing the mountain, sailing the sea, floating through space. And then believe it could be you. So, strong girls have all the fun? Actually, not. There are many days when they feel discouraged, doubtful, and downright exhausted while they chase their dreams. But strong girls never give up.
Follow in the gutsy footsteps of these stupendous women.
1804: Alicia Meynell of England becomes the first female jockey.
1905: Nettie Stevens, through her study of mealworms, identifies the X and Y-chromosomes, which determine sex.
1909: Harriet Quimby becomes the first American licensed female pilot in the United States. In 1912, she is the first woman to fly across the English Channel, and the first female pilot authorized to fly U.S. mail.
1911: Annie Smith Peck conquers the 21,079-foot north summit of Mount Coropuna, Peru.
1928: Betty Robinson is the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field (100 meters).
1932: Amelia Earhart is the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
1942: The first group of female pilots flies for the Armed Forces.
1948: Alice Coachman is the first black woman and the only American to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field at the 1948 Olympic Games.
1966: Joyce Hoffman wins her second straight surfing championship in Sydney, Australia.
1974: Girls are officially admitted to Little League.
1983: Sally Ride begins a 6-day mission aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, becoming the first American woman to travel in space and the youngest American astronaut to circle the earth.
1985: Tania Aebi, 18, becomes the youngest person to sail around the world.
1995: Merrick Johnston, 12, becomes the youngest person to climb Mount McKinley.
1998: Women's ice hockey debuts at the Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan and the United States wins the gold.
PUT YOURSELF ON THE LIST OF STRONG GIRLS!
