Mount St. Dominic Students Celebrate International Day Of The Girl

Mount St. Dominic Academy recognized girls' rights and the unique challenges faced by girls around the world during the U.N. International Day of the Girl this month. 

The Mount observed the day on Oct. 11 in a moving fashion and was fortunate to have Sister Margaret Mayce, OP, the non-governmental representative of the Dominican Leadership Conference to the UN, address the students and faculty. 

In addition, six students shared their experiences from a momentous opportunity the night before in which they attended the New York City taping of CNN's "The Bravest Girl in the World," an interview with Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teen-age girl who was shot for going to school and has since become an advocate for girls' right to education. 

Mayce spoke about girl-related issues around the world, including poverty, access to education, and human trafficking (especially relevant since the Super Bowl has one of the highest incidents of human trafficking and is taking place in "our own backyard" this year.) 

She told the girls that each of them had been given the gift here at Mount St. Dominic Academy "to be yourself, and that as a gift is given, so should you give," encouraging them to use their voices to advocate for the rights of girls, especially to education. 

The group of students who attended the CNN interview shared their impressions and the impact that meeting had on each of them. 

The awe and delight in being given this opportunity was evident in their comments ranging from realizing that Yousafzai "was just like me — a 16 year-old girl who likes Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber," to an understanding that "I, too, have a voice and can use it." 

Following the evening taping on Oct. 10, Mount St. Dominic students were invited into a reception where they met and talked with Yousafzai, her father and CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour.

The Day of the Girl was a wonderful opportunity for The Mount community to learn about the global plight of girls and appreciate the circumstances of being in a supportive, educational environment and living in an area of the world where opportunities for girls exist.

Kathleen Youzwak, a religion teacher at Mount St. Dominic, coordinated the arrangements and accompanied the students at the CNN interview and reception. 

The priceless experience gained was inspiring for the girls in attendance as well as the entire student body who listened and were engaged in the retelling of the experience.