For all those parents who wonder how their rapidly growing little daughters are going to make their way in an ever demanding and competitive world, there is help. “Girls should dare to compete,” writes Dr. Sylvia Brimm, in her book “How Jane Won: 55 Successful Women Share How They Grew From Ordinary Girls to Extraordinary Women.
A child psychologist, columnist, author, and former contributing correspondent to the “Today Show,” Brimm will lecture on the topic of how girls can grow into successful women on Wednesday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. at Rutgers’ Douglass College`s Trayes Hal.
After interviewing such luminaries as supreme court judge Sandra Day O’Conor, former New Jersey governor Christy Whitman, news anchor Jane Pauley, violinist Pamela Frank, and retired rear admiral Marsha Evans, Brimm offers advice and strategies for girls of all ages to prepare themselves for career challenges and help them become successful in their chosen professions.
Among the suggestions and bits of information that Brimm culled from her interviewees:
Girls should take risks: “Enter some competitions (in school or in the work world) where you feel confident so you can experience the exhilaration of winning,” suggests Brimm. While adding that awards are likely to look good on a resume, Brimm also suggests entering competitions where winning may not be so easy. “Not expecting to win will help you learn not to be too hard on yourself.”
Limit Social Activities: “20 percent of the women acknowledged that boys and social life affected their seriousness about school and learning in high school,” writes Rimm. Others also commented on social distractions in college as well. In addition, 40 percent of the successful women assessed themselves as less social than typical and 15 percent actually felt isolated. Befriending like-minded peers who value learning was a happy alternative.
Travel to broaden your outlook: Most successful women in Brimm’s survey ranked traveling as a positive experience. Independent travel with school groups during high school and college also had a dramatic effect on their sense of independence and broadening their outlook on life.
Let parents be a resource: Just because they are your parents doesn’t mean they are totally daft. High school girls should assume that their parents have their best interest at heart and can serve as a valuable support system as they try to establish themselves in school and a career.
Embrace obstacles as opportunities: All successful women overcome obstacles, writes Brimm. Many of the women that she interviewed struggled with poverty, health issues, learning problems, racial prejudices, as well as anxiety and depression. “They usually responded to these barriers by persevering through them or by changing direction in their personal lives or careers. Overcoming unanticipated obstacles was an essential part of their success.”
— Jack Florek
Dr. Sylvia Brimm, “How girls can grow into successful women,” on Wednesday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. at Rutgers` Douglass College`s Trayes Hal, 100 George Street in New Brunswick. The lecture is free and open to the public. Call 732-932-7084, ext. 615 for more information.
