By: Emily Maybanks
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on 8th March 2018. It commemorates the movement for women’s rights. International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
In light of International Women’s Day, I thought I would share three of the most inspirational women who I genuinely believe that I am blessed to have in my life. They all play an enormous part in inspiring me to be the best that I can possibly be. It has to be said that I am lucky to know so many women who continually inspire me, but these three are the women who have had the most profound impact on my life.
Firstly, I definitely think that my own Mum is one of the most inspirational women that I know. Ever since my Dad passed away six years ago, leaving her widowed and essentially a single parent to me (seventeen at the time) and my then thirteen year old brother, my Mum has always done her very best to ensure that my brother and I were looked after. She’s always put us both first, like most parents would; even though we drive her up the wall sometimes and have made some questionable choices, she’ll still support us. My Mum inspires me because she’s strong; she’s caring and she’s honest.
The second woman who inspires me above all is my old school French teacher – Mrs Clayson (fondly known as Mrs C). Mrs C taught me when I first started learning French when I was just eleven years old, and then she taught me throughout the entirety of my A Level French course. She’s everything a teacher should be – passionate about her subject, caring towards her students (she made sure that she got to know all of her students as individuals), and she is always keen on developing herself, even though she’s been retired since the same year I finished school. We’ve maintained regular contact since then and she still inspires me every day with languages, with writing. She’s the most supportive woman I know, as well as being honest. One of the loveliest things Mrs C has done for me is when she played Il Divo during a very memorable A Level French lesson, and since then, I have been a huge fan of their music. Furthermore, she’s always eager to read my numerous Waterfront articles.
The final woman I wish to acknowledge as one of the most inspirational women in my life is one of my best friends here at Swansea University. Her name is Bronwen, and we’ve known each other for less than year but in that time, we’ve become great friends. Not only can this woman brighten up my darkest days, and turn my tears to laughter in next to no time, but she’s shared a lot with me about what she’s been through in her life and I honestly think she’s incredible to have gotten through it and now be at University, pursuing her dreams, working crazily hard and still being there for me at a moment’s notice. Bronwen is everything I could ever hope for in a friend. For the most part, she’s non-judgemental (except when I’m making a fool of myself), she’s honest, she’s incredibly loyal and she’s not afraid to be herself.
These three women all play an important role in inspiring me to be a better person. I think everyone – this International Women’s Day – should take a moment to reflect on the women who have been inspirational in their own lives and to take time to thank them.
