Eastern Washington's SHE Academy inspires local teens

“Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.”

Last week, Eastern Washington University’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion launched its first ever Self-Esteem and Higher Education (SHE) Leadership Academy designed to empower female high school students and give them tools for future growth and career success. And keynote speaker Tish Norman had some advice to impart.

“You’ve got to be strategic with your friends,” Norman told the 55 high school students in the room. “If your friends can’t celebrate your victories, then you better reevaluate who you hang out with.”

Norman told attendees at the SHE Academy’ first-ever conference to “guard their self-worth” and make the most of the opportunity to participate in a professional growth summit at such a young age.

The SHE Academy was created based on the theory that exposure to higher education, mentors and role modeling will increase high school completion rates and encourage college attendance.

The goal of the conference and subsequent mentorship program is to provide young women with “the self-determination to envision a future for themselves that will result in strong women leaders, strong family units and healthier successful communities,” according to a press release.

The heart of the academy is mentorship, with 10th and 11th-grade girls being matched up with successful adult women in the community who will act as personal and professional mentors.

The vibe in the room was celebratory as students chatted with mentors about their interests and goals, with occasional shouts of, “yes, girl!” and “you go!” lifting above the conversational buzz.

Both mentors and mentees had to apply to be part of the program, for which the conference is just the beginning. Each girl was paired with a mentor who will meet with her monthly until at least next March, with the possibility of continued mentorship beyond that time.

“Our hope is that these will mature into more informal mentorships and that some of these relationships could be life-long,” mentorship coordinator Laura Sanchez said.

EWU President Mary Cullinan thanked university employees and community members for their hard work in creating the academy and said she hoped to continue SHE Leadership Academy in the future. For more information on the academy, visit https://sites.ewu.edu/diversityandinclusion/she-leadership-academy/.

Shannen Talbot can be reached at shannen@cheneyfreepres.com.