"I've had classes where I felt like I had to prove myself. And then I have had classes where I did actually have to prove myself. One time I walked into my Physics II class wearing a pink sorority shirt. My, all male, project group acted as though I was invisible until I loudly asserted myself. But there have been many women and men in the STEM fields who have encouraged me and told me that there is a place for me in Engineering. Though, I don't wear my sorority letters to my Physics class anymore." - Danielle Neighbor is a Truman Scholar studying Engineering at University of Arkansas. She attended the Truman Foundation 40th Anniversary Party that was held at Gracie Mansion earlier this month.
Victoria Maloch
"People don't expect a female Democrat from Arkansas to be working in Agricultural Economics. Blanch Lincoln is my role model. She was the first female chair of the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and by example showed that being from a rural place has value. She gave me the confidence that I don't need to leave behind my rural experience or my rural values in order to have a seat at the table. There is a place for me in this field." - Victoria Maloch is a Truman Scholar studying at the University of Arkansas and she attended the Truman Foundation 40th Anniversary Party held at Gracie Mansion earlier this month.
Cara Valente Compton
"I had a son that I gave up for adoption when I was 22 years old. It was the biggest heartbreak of my life, but now we are in touch and he has a child and get to sneak peaks at my grandchild. I have four more children who I have raised - three daughters and one son. Motherhood has really been the most empowering thing in my life. My youngest child, my son, is transgender and wants to be called Hazel. So I guess I really have four daughters." - Cara Valente Compton is a Truman Scholar and she attended the Truman Foundation's 40th Anniversary Party at Gracie Mansion earlier this month.
Wendy Piersall
note: While telling me her story of why she started her own business, Wendy broke down and cried. This is why I am doing me&EVE - to create a space for women to be seen, heard and respected.
"The whole reason I became an entrepreneur was to escape the sexism in the graphic design and marketing industry. The only way I would ever be in control of my destiny was to start my own business. I went back to work after my second child and my new boss was younger and less experienced than me. I knew I would never be fully valued. Instead, on my own, I was able to create a six figure income." - Wendy Piersall is an artist and author. See her work at WendyPiersall.com
Kali Blocker
"I have an amazing support group of women that has lifted me up when I needed lifting. Women are magical beings in how we support each other. As women we aren't judged for being emotional, or for going through our ups and downs." - Kali Blocker is the founder of Diosas al Natural, which celebrates the natural hair movement in Puerto Rico and around the world.
Lindsay Morris
"When I was in college I was being mentored for a competitive newspaper internship. During my interview I was asked," You are a beautiful girl, do you think people will take you seriously?" I wish I had said, "I never doubted people would take me seriously, until this minute." " - Lindsay Morris, Manager of Creative Content at Getty Images.
Rebecca Levy
"Having surprise identical twins was a life changing experience. I had to put nearly everything in my life and career on hold for four years. The co-founder of my business is also a mom of twins and we met online because we were both mommy blogging. We realized that the internet wasn't always a safe place for kids and there weren't safe places for them to create and share their ideas and opinions, so we created that space." Rebecca Levy is the co-founder of KidsVuz and the mother of identical twins.
Sandy Carter
"Early in my career I went to Japan as a tech expert with my boss. The Japanese client would only acknowledge my male boss and look at or speak to me. Eventually my boss excused himself and left the building so that the client would have to speak with me directly. I realized then that men can be great allies for women." - Sandy Carter, is CEO of SiliconBlitz.
Danielle Schäfer
"I hope there is a difference between what Donald Trump says and what he does. I hope he was just talking. Women should be strong and not accept this as a loss. Do your thing and don't let him stop you. I was just traveling in Iceland and the women there protested the 14% wage gap by walking out of their jobs 14% early. Then the next day they took to the streets with pots and pans. Don't give up." - Danielle Schäfer
Arianna O'Hara
"I wish I could have voted. If younger people could have voted the outcome would have been different. In my High School we had a mock trial and Hillary won. Our generation is next to vote and we have hope. After the next four or eight years we will have a chance to change and fix things. We are more progressive and we are more hopeful." - Arianna O'Hara
Lea Adams
"We have to stay positive, keep moving forward and keep trying. The issue that bothers me the most is that women don't get paid the same as men. It is based on a stereotype that women don't perform in their job as well as men. But that just isn't true." - Lea Adams
Michelle Medina
"I'm looking for the silver lining. People are so polarized right now that maybe the outcome of the election will help us come together. It is the unknowns that scare me but I hope I am surprised in a good way. Let's not feel like something has been taken away from us." - Michelle Medina
Eva Golinger
Samantha Galente
"Hopefully everyone else in Congress can keep him in control and not let him start a violent war. I will do the best I can do to be the best I can be and not let Donald Trump negatively effect me." - Samantha Galente
Gerda Vellore
"We have to accept the outcome of the election, move forward and keep fighting. Hopefully he will exceed our expectations." - Gerda Vellore
Andi Schreiber
"I spoke with my sons this morning. They are sad about the outcome of the election and they also always pick up what we are feeling. I really believe that change starts close to home. Now is the time for acts of kindness and introspection and finding ways to lift ourselves and everyone else up. We need to open our hearts more, even if we really don't feel like doing it today, we need to." - Andi Schreiber
Sally Kopstein
"I just got married last year. It's a gay marriage. I was at an event last night at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center and Edie Windsor was there. (United States v. Winsor) She really made it happen here. Things have changed so much about being openly gay." - Sally Kopstein
Nancy Shamban
"As a woman, what stands out as memorable is the first time I had sex with a man - and then also the first time I had sex with a woman. I imagine if I were a man these would have been very different experiences." - Nancy Shamban
Aruna Hollingshead
"I am fortunate that I am able to follow in my father's footsteps and actively participate in political events." - Aruna Hollingshead, who was born in SriLanka, is retired Canadian who took the train to NYC to volunteer for Hillary Clinton's Campaign.
Marlene Reisman
"I worked as a Human Resources executive at a company that had mostly male employees. Because I am understanding, the men felt comfortable coming to discuss with me their work issues. Being understanding helped me succeed in this role. I think if I hadn't been a woman, I would not have had as much career success." - Marlene Reisman is a retired human resources executive.