My Symphony.

by Maya Shah, Sophomore, WLI Coordinator of Development.
Shared during Woman II Woman Talent/Creativity Session, 12.10.10

I’m going to pretend to like you, I’m only going to pretend to care.
Because you’re the only one that’s here. The only one that’s always been there.
Like those seven notes of music sprawled across those sheets.
Let me turn you into those seven notes of music.
No let me refrain.
Let me analyze you like the structure of a sentence.
Because I’m not Michelangelo creating the sculpture David.
You are already made and though there’s a lot of cracks on the surface. These flaws are placed in all the right places.
No I’m not a composer so that the world can listen to your beauty.
But instead I’ll be there like Microsoft word, there to point out all your typos, giving you the option to hit the change, replace, or ignore..
Because I honestly can’t invest into this. No I truthfully don’t know how it all even began.
It was like a capital letter letting me know who was in charge.
It showed up and found a home around my heart. It was a Brick Wall.
And it was cemented to the ditch too stubborn to move.
It’s subject surrounded you.
You and the way you trembled the wall a bit to fill up my holes, like filling in my voids.
Your ending predicate let the air escape out of me as if to think it was my soul.
I kept it in too long.
Questioned it’s run on sentences as it beat around the bush like a child refusing to take a nap.
But you held me, you laid with me counting sheep, spreading your warmth, singing me lullabies…
extenuating each of those seven notes of music.

Power. You write your own book.

By Janita Mercado, Freshman, WLI Class of 2011
Shared during Woman II Woman Talent/Creativity Session, 12.10.10

-Every individual has a story; their stories are all unique. That’s the obvious.

-Now does every individual understand the power that they hold within because I don’t think so

-Im not speaking about the physical power to let's say punch through a wall but the power they hold over the daily decisions they make, the power of overcoming certain challenges, the power to recover after every fail, and so much more.

-I don’t think everyone here, in this room, at this second fully understands that each and everyone of you are beautiful females, with strong wills, smart thoughts, talented, with great features, big hearts, and may I add females that hold power to control their own life whether it be personal, professional, or romantic life.

-See after spending some time with you girls, exchanging a handful of words with some of you and spending time with myself I have learned so much about my power. I have taken advantage of my power to write my own story.

Life is rough; deal with it and stop bitchin

Life is dumb sometimes, so what

Life tends to throw love at you at all the wrong times; ugh I hate boys

Life is so hard; oh well build a bridge and get over it

Life is complicated; yea that’s because you procrastinate so much duh stupid

I'm not smart enough. WOW WOW WOW, stop don’t you dare say one more word wtf are
you thinking? Never ever think less of yourself. Fuck that, you are more than smart and if you continue with life with the mentality that you're not smart enough, give up now. Say "forget this". Yea right, you know damn well life is not going to bring you down without you putting up a fight.

Life isn’t fair; yea well name one thing that is.

See one thing that I fully understand is that life will never be easy, it won't build a sign in the road that says “hey you, go this way, it’s the right way” or “yo, turn around stupid you're going the wrong way”

Usually, we have to learn on our own, we have to experience dumb things like love, dumb things like stress and complicated choices. But in all reality the experience is never dumb, it's only going to teach you something that you didn’t know before.

Life is not easy but be a woman and be strong, I'm sure you know you are strong, I'm sure you just need to find that strength to fight and never give up. So the fuck what you failed. The world is not going to end, the story doesn’t end, it's just beginning. Don’t give up, just brush your shoulders off and try again, and again if you have to… why?

Because you can, because you have the POWER to do what you wanna do.

You're beautiful and you're not the only one who sees you are; others do too. Don’t tell yourself you're not worth something and don’t let anyone treat you like you are a piece of shyt. You're not, and we all deserve the world like my mom used to tell me. I never realized why she used to go crazy on people that used to talk shyt about me or who told me I wont measure up to them. (I'm talkin bout she went all ganster on their asses sometimes) But now I see, she believed me from scratch, I now believe in myself. It takes someone else to see the beauty within you, point
it out, in order for you to see that it is true; you deserve the world. Love life and cherish it. Even the negatives. Do something that makes you feel beautiful.

As for now I'm going to do something that makes me feel beautiful; I'm going to dance!

I Promise (A Woman Keepin' It Real With A Man)

Poem shared during Woman II Woman, 12.10.10:

I promise
That if you give me a choice between a burger and a salad
I'll choose the burger

I promise
That I will react to you looking at another woman
With the stereotypical Latina fire

I promise
That I will complain about something at least once a day
Whether it's my weight, or the newest economic policy

I promise
That I will try not to interrupt you during the game
Unless "the game" turns into 4, or 5, or a whole weekend

I promise
That I will gain weight
But I'll try to keep it in all the right places

I promise
That once a month I will REALLY want to throw shoes at you for no reason
Give me chocolate, let it pass, and DON'T tell me it's "just hormones"

I promise
That when you take the garbage out
I'll say that was the best taking out of the garbage I've ever seen

I promise
That when you wear the same sweatpants so much they can stand on their own
I'll quietly put them in the washer for you, and put them right back where you left them (on the floor)

I promise
That, although leaving the toilet seat up is disgusting and selfish
I'll just put it down when I need to, and leave it down, just to make a point (quietly)

I promise
That I'll make your favorite dish
When you're mad at me (but not if I'm mad at you too; there's drive-thrus for that)

I promise
That when times are hard and I have to pay the bills for a few months
I'll still let you be "the man"

I promise
That when even your mother puts you down
I'll lift you up

I promise
That when even your homies doubt you
I'll have your back

I promise
That when you need to hear the truth
I'll say it

I promise
That, when all else fails
My love for you will never fail
My love for you will never die
My love for you will conquer all

I promise.

By Patricia Gonzalez, WLI Advisor

The Movement

In May of 2007, I began my current job as a college counselor and academic advisor. I was excited to work with college students after having spent the previous three years counseling in a high school setting (also known as "changing schedules" and "mounds of paperwork"). Learning a new job, however, is legitimate cause for anxiety. Although I had previous experience with college students, I was eager to do a great job, as this particular job was exactly what I had been wanting to do for years.

Very soon after I started, we hired an intern. My boss gave her the responsibility to start a new program for women, one that would help them learn leadership skills for use in running student organizations or obtaining leadership positions on campus. For some reason, he asked her to work with me. Not only did I have no idea where to start, I did not believe I was qualified to help coordinate a women's leadership program. I did not think of myself as a leader, and I never really liked being around groups of women. Many women have been socialized to believe that we are catty, dramatic, hypersensitive, and competitive. I felt the burden of having to change that belief while continually experiencing it firsthand. I was also learning my way around the college and wanted to be firmly planted in my own job duties before starting a new program. I was very skeptical about taking part in starting this new program, yet something about working with a women's leadership program intrigued me. In the past, I'd had the opportunity to co-facilitate a young women's support circle, and spent time mentoring young women individually both at work and outside of work. I wrote my Master's thesis about middle school girls' perceptions of body image and self-esteem. I was even the advisor of the high school girls' step team where I'd been a counselor. Somehow, I always seemed to find myself working with groups of young women, so although I struggled with the idea of starting this women's leadership program, I was unconsciously drawn to it.

The program became known as the Women's Leadership Institute, or WLI. During the first year, the program was primarily run by our intern, but I attended the sessions, provided planning ideas and support, and assisted in recruiting the first class of participants. We planned development sessions for the ladies, as well as networking opportunities. The idea took off, the college gave us support, and we became an entity. At the end of the intern's contract, it was assumed that I would be taking over the coordination of WLI with a team of women chosen from the Institute's first class. With the previous year's experience as well as my own interest in providing support for the young women, I instituted a support component to WLI, known as Woman II Woman. Since WLI development sessions only took place once a month, the Woman II Woman sessions were meant to bring the young women together more often, but in an informal setting. We talked about relationships, stress, our fathers (or lack thereof), we wrote letters to past or future selves, and we had fun. Anything that we felt was relevant to us as women was a topic for conversation. We truly became a cohesive, supportive sisterhood through Woman II Woman.

WLI is now in its fourth year, and if I had one word to describe it, both as a program and as an experience, that word would be: TRANSFORMING. I've heard young women say that WLI has changed their lives; that it saved them; that if it wasn't for WLI they would not have had a positive social network. I've seen the transformation in so many young women, and I look forward to incorporating the new class of 2011 into our sisterhood. WLI now has over 60 graduates. Each of these young women is making a difference, using her skills and the confidence she has developed to change lives.

We're not perfect; we are in a process. We are moving towards being women of strength, courage, power, and love. What began as a doubt and a struggle has truly propelled me towards my dream. I never knew how passionate I was about empowering young women to love themselves so much that their love would overflow and pour out on all those whom they come into contact with. I've discovered my love, my passion, and my dream. Women's Leadership Institute is not just a program; it's a movement. Move with me. Dream with me.

By Patricia Gonzalez, WLI Advisor

Women’s Leadership Institute Closing Ceremony Keynote Address - 4.30.10

At the close of the year, Women's Leadership Institute has a ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of its participants throughout the academic year. I am asked to give a keynote address. This year, I thought I would incorporate some of the activities WLI participants experienced during our Woman II Woman sessions. This is an excerpt from the speech given during the WLI Closing Ceremony:

"Good Afternoon Greatness!

Here is your 30 second commercial – Are you feeling insecure, unprepared, alone, and uncomfortable with your place in life? Are you feeling like you’ll never realize your potential? If so, we have the perfect solution for you!

The Women’s Leadership Institute is a program designed to provide emerging woman leaders with the opportunity to gain self-acceptance, learn the importance of reflection and self-evaluation, become emotionally strong, gain empathy, and build relationships while learning leadership skills that last a lifetime. Soon after joining the Women’s Leadership Institute, you will no longer feel insecure, unprepared, alone, and uncomfortable. With the Women’s Leadership Institute, you will find a place that is welcoming, supportive, and dynamic. You will find a place that will help you to grow and accept who you are. But wait, there’s more! The Women’s Leadership Institute will provide you with a new family – a family of sisters, mentors and friends – that will last a lifetime. We are so sure of this that we offer you a lifetime guarantee!

One of our wonderful ladies asked the following question during a Woman II Woman session: 'I love WLI, we are the best women on campus. What makes us so fabulous?' Well, I will tell you – I have a 'What Makes WLI Awesome' list to answer that question:

What Makes WLI Awesome!
• It is a place that helps you learn self-acceptance
• It teaches you not just to talk the talk, but also to walk the talk
• It helps you develop empathy for other women
• It decreases the level of cattiness between women
• It teaches you that knowing yourself is paramount to becoming a leader
• It provides a safe space for growing individually and as a group, disguised as “girl talk”
• It gives you the strength and confidence to stand on your own two feet

In short, Women’s Leadership Institute is beneficial, enriching, inspiring, powerful, and amazing! To answer the question, this is what makes WLI fabulous!

I want to thank all of this year’s participants of WLI for trusting us with your time, energy, and hearts. I want to thank you for these words that I have shared with you, because they all came from YOU.

Last but definitely not least, I want to thank the Program Development team for going above and beyond, for your commitment, for keeping me grounded, for allowing me to be myself with you, and for your dedication and commitment to the Movement that is known as Women’s Leadership Institute.

Thank you!"

Written by Patricia Gonzalez, Women's Leadership Institute Program Advisor
April 2010

Hope for the Future

During the Women’s Leadership Institute’s closing ceremony I suddenly became strongly aware of how significant this organization has been to me this year. Like Kisha and Maya related to during the ceremony, I too was very picky about who I was friends with if they were female because of bad experiences in the past. WLI not only challenged my assumptions of women as catty and competitive but gave me a whole new outlook; women as supportive and strong influences in my life. I can truly say anytime I am around a WLI member (or Ms. G!) my heart warms. They somehow make me feel special, worth something and encourage me to keep fighting the good fight.

Becoming a member of WLI could not have come at a better time. My Mom had been recently told she had several thyroid tumors and they were not sure if they were cancerous or not when I first joined. Seeing my Mom, who has always been a pillar of strength for me, be so afraid literally scared me to my core. If she wasn’t brave how could I be? Thankfully, this is when I started attending WLI Saturday programs, Woman II Woman sessions and started seeing WLI members much more often. Seeing all these young women like myself unashamed to be nervous of all the “unknowns” in their lives because they each believed in their own inner strength to carry them through, gave me the confidence I needed to have faith that my Mom would be okay. On my 21st birthday her results came back and no cancer! This was the best birthday gift I could have ever asked for. I remember sitting down as my Dad told me the good news and immediately praying. I thanked God for all those in my life who helped me through this, and unknowingly all the WLI women who gave me the strength to have faith in myself and most importantly…hope for the future.

Welcome!

Welcome to "Ambrosia Speaks", a blog created specifically for Women's Leadership Institute (WLI) past and current participants to share your stories, memories, letters, "What Makes Me Awesome" lists, and "30 second commercials". Whenever WLI women are given the opportunity to write, the results are eloquent, passionate masterpieces.

The blog is called "Ambrosia Speaks" because, in ancient Greek mythology, Ambrosia is known as the food of the gods. It comes from the word ambrotos, meaning "immortal". Ancient Greek mythology states that ambrosia was brought to the gods by doves, so it is thought of as a divine exhalation of the earth.

In our writing and the sharing of our thoughts, we are like ambrosia, in that our words become immortalized, and are the exhalation of the thoughts and feelings in our souls.

I hope you, the divine women of WLI, use this space to share your internal beauty with the world!

Love ya,
Ms. G