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In an effort to gauge the degree of this first meeting’s turnout, GenShe members raise their hands to indicate how many of them are freshmen. As a newer Westwood club, GenShe didn’t have many members in previous years. “[Clubs like GenShe are important for] encouraging women in STEM or young girls to know we can do it,” Vice President Natalie Ju ’26 said.
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Bella Wen ’28 and Dorris Peng ’28 make “word of the year” bracelets. During the meeting, members were encouraged to make a bracelet with a word that symbolized a goal or passion for the upcoming year.
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Standing at the forefront of the room, GenShe Vice President Natalie Ju ’26, President Josephine Sun ’26, Secrectary and StuCo Rep Ariana Fresques ’26, Director of Operations Samhita Nagarakanti ’26, and Director of Marketing Samymy Gorapalli ’25 (from left) present an informational slideshow about GenShe. GenShe officers presented a general club overview while members made inspirational bracelets.
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Excited chatter filled the room of Chemistry teacher Mr. Tom Nielsen’s Fun Friday Flex on Friday, Sept. 27 for the first meeting of the GenerationShe (GenShe) club.
As a women’s empowerment club, GenShe aims to educate and increase opportunities for women and girls in STEM and business. For this first meeting, the officers were thrilled to see a large turnout, with the room filled with girls laughing, talking, and eating Shipley’s glazed donuts, provided by the officers.
“I was a club member last year but we had max three meetings last year,” Vice President Natalie Ju ‘26 said. “I just wanted to be more involved and just make it a more fun club, and I was really excited because a lot of people showed up, and I’m really excited for what we’re gonna do in the year ahead.”
During the meeting, officers presented an informational slideshow to new members about the details of the club, as well as upcoming events, such as guest speakers and activities. The activity for this first meeting was for the participants to make “word of the year” bracelets, where members create a bracelet spelling out a word representing their goal or outlook for the year.
“[I decided to come today] because I love the positive environment and the women leadership,” Shreya Nair ‘28 said. “[I’m most excited] to grow personally.”
As a relatively young club, GenShe didn’t have much participation in previous years — a trend President Josephine Sun ‘26 wanted to change when she took over leadership for the club. Sun decided to become president because she believed GenShe had a lot of potential that wasn’t being used. She saw an opportunity to make the club into what she wanted it to be when she was just a member.
“I hope [GenShe members] learn that no matter how hard their future careers or educations might seem, that it can be fun, and as long as you can find joy in the things you do, it’s more fun and life is beautiful,” Sun said.
![Blending her bilingual skills and journalistic abilities to share the stories of American culture, Lena Boas ‘25 crafted a video package documenting American life for German audiences. “[A German TV station] wanted me to do this video diary so that I could show my personal life and what it's like going to school here [US].”](https://westwoodhorizon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Copy-of-Copy-of-Pink-White-Watercolor-Colorful-Landscape-Label-13.png)
