She inspires me: A young friend reminds me why I love being a girl Final Edition

• Published in: The Vancouver sun (1986)
• Main Author: Erin Schroeder, Senior Category First Prize
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vancouver, B.C Postmedia Network Inc 23.01.2001
• ISSN: 0832-1299

In its fourth year, The YWCA Real Story Competition is designed to encourage young women to share their thoughts and feelings about women. The 350 pieces submitted by teenage girls in Grades 8 to 12 in the Lower Mainland were stories on the topic "She Inspires Me." The top six recipients received cash prizes, framed certificates and their stories were read aloud by actors Patti Allan and Nicola Cavendish at a YWCA Recognition event. They included: Erin Schroeder (first place senior category) Wendy Wong (second place senior category) Sarah Johnstone (third place senior category) Maggie Joy House (first place junior category) Erin VanDerStarre (second place junior category) and April Klassen (third place junior category). She is with her friend, whose name is Destiny. Isn't that a grown- up, sophisticated name? They seem more grown up than I am. The two girls loiter in [Jessie]'s front yard, doing nothing. Nothing! Imagine what they could be doing! Anything from being mystical princesses, to playing in the neatly piled stack of leaves. Isn't that tempting to them? Why not jump in leaves? Their "hanging out" deeply disturbs me, but at the same time it is somewhat of an epiphany. They are dressed like 17-year-olds. Jessie is wearing dark denim pedal pushers with ridiculously large platform sneakers. Destiny wears flared jeans and a leather jacket with a leopard print collar. They talk about love.