My grandmother is emblematic of the power of womanhood.

As a Peruvian woman, she

broke conventional stereotypes of femininity and gender roles. Her most notorious accolades
shine through her poetry which challenged women everywhere to reconsider their abilities to
thrive within patriarchal cultures. She was also a single mother who was able to bring her family
across the Americas and was the first woman to win the National Prize of Poetry in Peru. She has
left me in awe of her dedication and passion and has instilled in me a power to fight for my
beliefs, ideals, and freedoms. I now have the ability to fortify myself against prejudices and
obstacles in order to honor a heritage that celebrates humanitarianism, dedication to personal
growth, and intellectualism.
I have often felt like an onlooker in the background of her success watching a saint
materialize gold in their palm. I saw her as a humble celebrity rather than family member. As
wed talk after school, she would continually try to explain to me the issues she so valiantly
fought. The complexities made little sense to me as child, but the passion within her voice
couldnt be ignored. I knew, even at a young age, that she was a matriarch. She set the example
of a strong and charismatic woman and I knew I would be lucky to ever experience the
conviction she felt for her feminist cause.
After she passed, as a young adult, I would research my grandmother. I read her poems
and focused on their rhythm, meaning, and power. Her intellectual discussions of racism, sexism,
and sexual assault made me recognize the global importance of the issues she had explained to
me as a child. With every new stanza, my grandmothers voice, the one I had known so
intimately, slowly became a megaphone that advocated for women everywhere. As a teenage
girl, this voice was the motivation behind my dedication to overcome the pressures of teenage
hedonism and instead to prioritize a commitment to my personal development.
I felt her call to action and have used this to become a global student, volunteer, and
mentor. The Academy of Global Studies, a program dedicated to global thinking and
interconnectedness, has provided me with opportunities to travel and interact with a diverse
group of peers. This elite alternative learning environment has challenged me to address
prevalent issues with a global perspective by means of an interdisciplinary curriculum that
demands critical thinking, deductive reasoning, and teamwork. Coupled with my academic
courses, I have dedicated my time to work with multiple programs that have enriched my outlook
on my community's needs. The most impactful has been my work within PALS, the Peer
Assistance and Leadership Program, which has allowed me to be a constant in many children's
lives and help them attain their own personal goals. More than just the altruistic rewards that this
class provided for me, working with these children has reinforced to me my grandmother's
message of the invaluable contribution of humanitarian efforts.
Without an upbringing with such a wise and strong leader like my grandmother, I would never
understand the full capacity in which I can achieve. Her legacy has cast a broad light that has
followed me throughout my life and has emboldened women across the globe. My personal
relationship with my grandmother has provided me with an incredibly special outlook, which
contained her vehement ideals, ones which I am now confident that I will be carrying as I enter

my own womanhood. I am fortunate to be a woman who has the ability to see myself as a
mentor, a volunteer, a student, a leader, and advocate.