This summer, SWAG (Strong Women Achieving Greatness) held its annual Transformation Camp, with this year’s theme: “I Am Empowered.” It was my first year as a mentor, which put me in a leadership role and gave me a chance to build on the impact of the camp’s message. More than that, this was the workshop that resonated with me most out of all the ones Mrs. Stacy has led.
On the first day, we explored what empowerment means – power, confidence, and the voice we all have, even if we need to find it. We learned about the foundations of empowerment and the different ways it shows up in our lives. We focused on self-awareness and confidence, and the importance of believing in and understanding ourselves. Challenges can shake our confidence, but we worked through ways to rebuild. One discussion centered on why people try to fit in. That conversation hit home for me, because I’ve often tried to downplay myself or change to fit certain spaces. I realized I’ve allowed people to treat me poorly because I lacked the confidence and voice to stand up for myself. I wasn’t empowered then, but I am now. Last year’s theme, “I Know My Worth,” helped me see what I love about myself, and this year built on that. Together, we shared what makes us different, our strengths and the things we’re proud of. By the end of the day, we all left feeling empowered.
Day 2 focused on social awareness and positive engagement. We each chose three acts of kindness to complete before the week ended and discussed what we see and feel in our schools, communities and neighborhoods – and how we can take action. Conversations naturally branched out into other topics, like anxiety and depression. Mrs. Stacy reminded us that at the root, it often comes down to fear – fear of failing, being alone, or not being enough. That resonated, since even showing up at camp was scary for some of us. We also talked about friendships, insecurities, and competition among girls, and even debated whether it’s easier to be friends with boys or girls.
Day 3 was about educational empowerment and financial literacy. We debated how schools would function if run by students, but ultimately agreed with Mrs. Stacy’s point: that school teaches critical thinking and skills we need, even if it feels rigid at times. Later, guest speakers from Numerica Credit Union taught us about budgeting and financial empowerment.
Day 4 centered on mental health and physical well-being. We circled back to fear, but also explored stress, signs of being overwhelmed, and strategies to cope. We discussed how to lift our moods and relieve stress, then put it into practice with physical activity – including a walk to City Hall.
On the final day, we tested everything we had learned with rock climbing. Many of us, including me, were afraid. But with encouragement, I climbed 40 feet to the top. That moment felt like proof that empowerment is real when you face your fears.
Leaving camp, I carried with me a deeper understanding of empowerment and the many ways to practice it. Every year, just when I think there’s nothing more to learn, Mrs. Stacy shows us there’s always room to grow – and she continues to teach us life lessons that I’ll carry into the future.