Student council advisors Katherine James and Rachel Schypinski, Principal Nicole Carter and four students attended the Women’s Summit in Grand Rapids on November 12-13. This was the first time the field trip has been offered.
This is a statewide conference put on by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals for student and staff leaders that identify as female. This conference gives females the opportunity to meet with leaders and other attendees and to learn and discuss topics from a female perspective.
At this summit, there were keynote speakers and breakout sessions around different important themes of leadership.
“We met some game changers in the sports industry, in politics, and in the medical side,” senior Yuna Chung said. “That was very inspiring, as we got to hear their adversities and how they face those adversities to bring a change and inspire other girls who are looking to make changes in their lives.”
Those that attended heard inspiring things as leaders shared their stories on how they got to where they were. Several legislators shared how they succeeded in a world that was built for men. Another leader from the Detroit Pistons talked about how she got her position and what it took to get there.
“My favorite part was probably hearing how, even though each person’s story was different, they were all the same in the fact that they kind of shared the same experiences with the struggles they faced by being a woman, I guess, like in the world,” junior Sanna Mulay said.
The students from Novi that went had the opportunity to interact with peers their own age who had a strong desire for change and leadership.
Mulay said that she really enjoyed this summit and it was a really fun experience. She thinks it was very cool to try all the activities the summit had and hear all different types of stories from females whether that was the leaders or it was girls who were passionate about making a change.
James said the school is considering attending the summit next year as well.
“When we look at going next year, if people are interested in going they have to identify as female and then be interested in and have a current leadership role out within the building,” James said.
