YWiB SFU

Check out my article, "YWiB SFU: Building Stories with the Leaders of Tomorrow" in Issue 2 of SFU Beedie BASS's The Executive. Click here!

Women's Words of Wisdom

In honour of Women's History Month, International Women's Day, and the YWiB SFU International Women's Day Conference, here are a few words of wisdom from some remarkable women:

"We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better." - J.K. Rowling

Artwork by the YWiB SFU IWD Organizing Committee.

Dream. Balance. Love. Gratitude. Create.

On March 10th, YWiB SFU hosted the 2012 International Women's Day Conference, a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in our everyday lives as well as women around the globe. This year's theme of "Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures" encourages women to start making a difference by sharing their own stories and visions for the future with other like-minded and motivated women as a stepping stone towards overcoming the adversity and achieving their dreams.

Among the roster of speakers was the ambitious Anna Rice, whose great list of accomplishments include being a two-time Olympic athlete for the Canadian National Badminton Team, an ambassador for Right to Play, and a coordinator for Choose Again. During her keynote presentation on tapping into your strengths and unleashing the true and unique essence of who you are, she shared her five steps to 'Connecting with your Inner Olympian':

• Direct your DREAM. Remember that YOU are the one with the power to design your dreams and to drive towards your ultimate destination. When you get lost in what you're doing (as if you're 'in the zone' and time doesn't exist), you have discovered your passion. Investing yourself in what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.
• Find your BALANCE. Work and life should not be separate, but synergized! Maximize your happiness and potential by ensuring that you are enjoying what you are doing and are able to draw inspiration from all areas of work and life.
• LOVE yourself. Treat yourself as if you already are the person you strive to be. In tough times, recognize what others would want you to do. That is the true meaning of selflessness.
• Have GRATITUDE. Appreciate the opportunities you are presented with. Every situation is a gift. Whether good or bad, you will always take away an important lesson out of any experience. Be aware of the energy you attract by focusing on the positive.
• CREATE! Do not be intimidated to present your unique essence with others. When you share, you will grow personally and leave an imprint on those around you. Write your own HERstory!

The Pursuit of Happiness

What do you value? What do you want to give to the world?

Those were the questions that circulated in my mind during YWiB SFU's The Pursuit of Happiness workshop. The panel consisted of three driven women from various industries - non-profit, photography, and fashion and health - who shared their invigorating and inspiring insights on finding satisfaction in one's career with an engaged audience of young professionals.

Loretta Cella from The Passion Foundation opened the session with her definition of the word 'passion', which is an inner spark that tells you that you have to do something, and that the refusal to act upon this calling would be cheating yourself. This concept of authenticity and being true to who you are as a individual was a common theme among the discussions raised by all three of the panelists, who each presented a proactive challenge to the workshop participants.


Loretta advocates acknowledging your fears by trying new things, as every new situation provides one with a valuable learning opportunity. Even if the experience does not go as well as you had hoped, consider the positive aspects and continue to create and surround yourself with optimistic energy. For me, one of my greatest fears is motor-vehicle driving (and I just conquered my other fear of embarrassment by admitting this to everyone who is reading this blog). I have been postponing getting my driver's license for far too long now because of this fear of mine. As a New Year's resolution, I have been pushing myself to take more lessons and get more practice on the road, which will get me much closer to finally booking my road test in the Spring. Pass or fail, I acknowledge that I will only become a better driver with constant practice.

Photographer Gina Chong from Butter Studios has left pieces of her heart in many cities across the globe, and she encourages the act of exploration through traveling... alone! By venturing to an unfamiliar environment on your own, you will be forced to go outside of your comfort zone, follow your instincts, and find out more about yourself in the process. With new surroundings comes new perspectives and opportunities that you never even knew exists! I am a solitary person by nature. I am comfortable with going out alone - shopping, strolling downtown, seeing concerts, etc. Just recently, I have started going to the movies by myself. So why not venture out even more by dining alone and *gasp* driving to a new city alone? I think this is certainly a challenge to consider.

Blogger Monika Hibbs from Doctor's Closet is a supporter of the philosophy that if you do what you love, the doors of opportunity will open for you. If you are not doing what you love, well then, it's time to reevaluate the path you are on. Even if you are very skilled and knowledgeable in an area that you are not able to feel passionate and driven about, you will not be able to reach happiness and fulfillment in your life. Directional changes are nerve-wracking to make, but it is worth the risk if you consider the alternative - being stuck in a career that pays, but is a pain. I am fortunate to have always known that writing is my true passion in life, but I am also open to picking up new interests along the way - be it fashion, music, non-profit, human rights, and the list goes on...

I hope to incorporate these new ideologies presented by Loretta, Gina, and Monika into my decision making processes. As Loretta said, "Happiness isn't something that is gained or lost in a few hours." The pursuit of happiness is a life-long journey, which you can make worthwhile by approaching life's opportunities with a winning combination of vulnerability, confidence, and positivity.

Listen. Ask. Explore. Repeat.


YWiB SFU is hosting an International Women's Day Conference at SFU Woodwards on March 10. To find out more about this event, see this post.

23

How amazing still it seems, I am 23.

I have been anticipating this birthday since I first heard '23' by Jimmy Eat world over five years ago. This song motivates me to do whatever I am determined to accomplish and to always aim high. I plan to continue living by this mindset during my 23rd year. I'm here. I'm ready.

Thank you to my mom for the beautiful gift and other goodies, to the YWiB girls for the amazing cake, and to everyone for sharing their kind and thought birthday wishes. You are all rockstars!

- Elizabeth Rosalyn