Lean In Girls: Celebrating Voices and Stories
Our Lean In Girls club is dedicated to empowering women and girls within the Surval community. As part of their mission, members of the club have been conducting interviews with fellow students, teachers, and staff, highlighting the challenges, achievements, and inspiring journeys of women around them. In this edition, the girls share their conversation with Agnes (Swiss Gap, Russian), who reflects on her experiences, personal growth, and the lessons she has learned along the way.
“What were your hardest struggles, like judgement, inequality, etc?” Being an outsider and not being accepted by society, distinguished by others, rejected by others especially girls. Feeling lonely and having the urge to feel belonged in a community where people accept you. But it might not be possible because it’s hard to find people who are the same. Being constant and believing you can do it. Always try your best and believing you can do it. Always try your best and do things that make you happy. Sacrifice it. “What were the sayings or thoughts of you can’t do it?” Felt that it’s meaningless, upset because it’s hard work, mentally exhausting(Waking up early, yoga, going to the gym..). Understanding from a young age and questioning how I look and my appearance and how I am different from other people and how to be unique and special so people admire you. I want to do 99 percent of what people don’t do.
Long term differences, mentality. Be a women when you grow up to be desired and charismatic. It’s not about how you look or how you present yourself, but working on yourself and improving and growing. “How did you make your dreams come true (biggest achievements, goals that were met)?” The biggest achievement would be a national writers award.
Cyprus competition writing and got first place (took 3 months to finish).
Completed 8 years of musical education. Performed in orchestra concert stages, all certificates I’m proud of! My biggest is understanding and never disobeying my standards and being clear on what I want and never letting my standards down. A person who’s a champion never gives up; being a strategic person. The beautiful part of self development is working on yourself and enjoying the process, embracing the world. Be proud of what you do. Working on mental health and your body, moments of being belonged, magnetic and proud. Never arrogant; started very early, younger than 14. Plans for the future and to become my own person.
The biggest part of being attractive is being interested in people. Caring about people is the definition of attractive. Life is too short to be shy. To be truly charismatic is to have a specific image that is societed with you. Never be afraid to tell people about your achievements. Don’t need to suppress others or achievements or judge. Admiring people who are better than themselves is to be better and to improve to be like them or for them to be your influencer. “What problems did you face while trying to achieve your goals(complicated problems, pressure, negative thinking)?” Personal relationships with other people. I really put a lot of energy into thought. It’s not stress but it’s just present in my mind/thought. Not difficulty, just a challenge. If you want something you’ll never stop until you achieve it. Being determined on a specific thing and never stopping until you achieve it, if you incredibly want it then don’t be afraid to do it! Always see changes and see different ways on things that make you happy! The most important thing a charismatic person can do is Listen.
Story: A student asks a monk, “tell me sir, what is the key to wisdom?” “Listen.” The monk says, “Uhm, what’s the key to wisdom? Answer my question.” “Listen.” The monk responded. “Answer my question! What's the key to wisdom??” “Listen. The answer is if you just listened.”