The fourteen year old girl in me was set free last night.

[Pacifist Patriot]

Last edited Fri Jul 29, 2016, 12:12 PM - Edit history (1)

When I was a high school freshmen, we had to write an essay on what we would like to be when we grew up. I wrote about a life in public service culminating in serving the US as its President. I already knew I was going to major in Politics, go on to law school, and it would just unfold before me as I worked my way up through local, state, and federal offices.

Instead of grading me on my grammar, spelling, and punctuation, I received a comment back from my teacher that it was nice to have dreams, but I need to be realistic as well. The United States does not have female presidents. Keep in mind this was the year before the Democrats nominated a woman on the ticket as VP and Margaret Thatcher was well into her term as PM in the UK, so confusion reigned. Mondale's defeat seemed to vindicate my teacher's comments in some way I suppose.

As confused as I was, I asked others about it and, with the exception of my awesome parents, the responses I got were unanimous. Don't set that unreasonable goal for yourself. Despite being a strong-willed individual who usually fights to get what I want (my sister marvels at my ability to do this without giving up), for some unknown reason, my younger self subtly shifted her aspirations and set her sights on working in the foreign service. Alas, I had a flu/strep throat with 104 degree temperature the day I was scheduled to take the foreign service exam and the federal government instituted a DOS hiring freeze for almost three years after I graduated from college with that Politics degree.

My life never followed the course that fourteen year old girl dreamed about, and I'm okay with that. I have a fantastic life, and have accomplished much I am proud of that I would never have been able to in another role. Frankly, I'm not convinced I'd make a good politician anyway now that I have a more realistic view of campaigns and the toll that takes. Kudos to the men and women who can put themselves through that!

Last night, watching Secretary Clinton accept the nomination for President of the United States, I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion to a degree I have felt only a few times in my life. I cried throughout her speech remembering that young girl inside me who was told no. Because now I know there are countless fourteen year old girls with dreams like mine who will see limitless potential in front of them.

I know she's not elected yet, but I have confidence with all of our hard work it will become a reality. And a child born on January 20, 2009 may very well turn fourteen never realizing the presidency was for far too long considered a white man's job.

[DinahMoeHum]

1. And then there's Malia Obama, who turned 18 this month. . .

. . .and is eligible to vote.

The oldest daughter of our first black POTUS ever has the opportunity to cast her very first ballot ever for our first woman POTUS ever.

Is this a great country or what?

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Didn't even occur to me. Awesome!

[MineralMan]

3. A pox on all teachers who tell their students that they can't.

I'm so sorry you had that experience. After this election, no sorry-assed teacher will ever be able to tell a 14-year-old girl that she can't aspire to be President.

I turned 14 in 1959, and the girls in my high school class were often told that they could not aspire to things. I remember it well. One friend of mine was told that she shouldn't study science, because she'd never be able to become a doctor. She was angry at that teacher, but it only strengthened her resolve and she did, indeed, become a physician. She and I were co-valedictorians of our graduating class and she was a wonderful friend.

That time is past, and I hope gone forever. Any 14-year-old girl today can aspire to be any damned thing she wants to be.

If it were up to me, any teacher who discourages anyone from following their path should be summarily fired and never again be allowed to influence youngsters.

Thanks for your post!

[Javaman]

6. Exactly. any teacher that doesn't feed a students hopes and dreams is not a teacher.

FYI I come from a family of teachers.

[MineralMan]

10. Yes. I had a teacher in HS who told me

just before graduation that I would never amount to anything. Being a smart-ass, I responded, "You mean I'm going to turn out like you?" Then, I simply turned and walked away from that man. He apparently simply didn't like me. I was co-valedictorian of my class and graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was a Merit Scholar. He just didn't like me, probably because I was also the class prankster and something of a smart-ass.

I've done just fine in my life, and followed my own chosen path. To Hell with sorry-assed teachers who harm kids through negative judgments of them.

[Javaman]

12. I had teachers like that. Never could understand that.

I had a similar situation with my 5th grade teacher, told me I would never get ahead in life because I was very shy and introverted because of a physical handicap I had.

it just crushed me. I never will forget that bastard.

years later, while walking with a friend, we actually ran into the old fuck. He was a raging alcoholic. I just couldn't say anything to him, but not my friend. The teacher tried to be nice to us, (he treated us both like shit when we were younger), my friend said, "oh your mr. so and so. I remember you". the teacher smiled. But then my friend unloaded on him. It was pretty amazing to watch the smile on that old bastards face vanish and him run from us trying hide his shame.

I will never understand why teachers behave like that toward their students.

My dad used to teach first time offenders (high school age) at a special school in my school district. If anyone should have been pissed and bitter, it should have been my dad, but no, he loved every minute of it.

[hamsterjill]

16. Oh, I've been there. Done that.

To hell with the ones who try to burst dreams.

I had one teacher who hated me. I was a straight "A" student and never got into trouble. But I'm white and I was dating a Hispanic boy. That was happening a lot in my small town school. But the white girls knew to "hide" their boyfriends.

I wouldn't hide. This teacher HATED me for that. Kept me out of the National Honor Society which hampered me getting scholarships for college. But I've done okay.

My understanding is that "Aunt Fran" is still alive. I hope to hell she was watching last night!

[MurrayDelph]

20. Two stories

The first from my life: 35+ years ago, I was a young, naive guy from L.A. teaching in Watts. The principal (Who understood education less than my third-graders) used to keep cornering me and telling me that my expectations were too high. "You know, black kids can't.. " And my usual response was "will you shut up before they start believing you?" I left after two years.

The second is from history. There was a teenaged boy in Portland who was picked on by his PE coach. The coach used to make fun of his name to attack him. "{Name}! That's what you are! A nothing! And THAT'S ALL you'll ever be!" He left Portland for California, shortened his first name, changed the spelling of his last name, and Melvin Jerome Blank became Mel Blanc, the most-famous voice actor of all time.

Make that three stories. My wife just reminded me of another teenaged boy, who was the Junior Rodeo champion. When he wrote an essay about what he wanted to do, he described owning a horse ranch. The teacher failed him for having unreasonable expectations. He grew up to be Monte Roberts (aka The Horse Whisperer), and The Flag is Up Farms is on the road between Buellton and Solvang.

[niyad]

21. years ago, when I first started reading about the WASP's, one of them told the story

of a young relative, who wrote an essay about her for some class. the teacher actually gave the child an "f", because, in the teacher's red, red handwriting were the words "women were never pilots, and this is a complete lie". I was surprised to learn that the teacher kept her job.

[JohnnyLib2]

4. Thank you for this!

I remember a civics teacher telling the class that a Catholic could not be president, a year before Kennedy was elected; gave me chills. Now I wonder how many girls had your experience. You expressed that vividly.

[Blue Idaho]

5. Teacher Fails...

That's what we in the trade call educational malpractice.

[bigwillq]

7. This is a fantastic post.

Thanks for sharing.

[Cracklin Charlie]

8. Hillary would never have told you that.

How dare people crush a child's dream. I will make sure to never do that to my grandgirl's, whose first knowledge of a president will be of a Ms. President.

[PeaceNikki]

9. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful post with us.

[Raster]

11. Oh my God/Goddess, Bless Your Heart.

Last night I had the wonderful privilege of watching Hillary's acceptance speech with a lovely 69-year old lady, who is a long-time, card-carrying member of the Democratic Party. She was in tears (we both were) throughout Hillary's speech, and emphatically rejoiced that she had lived long enough to see a woman nominated for POTUS. Her guileless joy was amazing, and quite infectious. She said several times: "I wish my Mother was here to see this."

[ancianita]

13. One more shared step toward freedom for more than 50% of us. Thank you for your thoughts.

[liberalnarb]

14. Thats an inspiring story.

Mines not as nice. I've been interested in politics since a very young age. Both my parents and most of the family are repugs, but I decided I was a Democrat at age 12, so I would consider myself a life long Democrat. I've been the black sheep in my family since then. Though I'm a male, so I've never been told I couldn't be president.

[ismnotwasm]

15. K&R

[hamsterjill]

17. Wonderful post!

I had some of the same sentiments and wrote about them in another OP.

I loved your thought - - "Because now I know there are countless fourteen year old girls with dreams like mine who will see limitless potential in front of them."

Exactly how I feel!

We made it, didn't we???!!!

[GumboYaYa]

18. I can't stop reading these posts.

It is just awesome to see how the women in my life are reacting to Hillary's nomination. Well done!

[nolabear]

19. Love to all us hopeful pioneers. It's a great time. Let's bring it home!