Girls sound off on the topics that matter to them.
What music are you listening to now?
What’s an issue you wished more leaders talked about?
What are you really good at?
In Assembly’s “Around the world” series, girls sound off on the topics that matter to them.
Want to share your thoughts? Use our submission form to be featured in a future issue!
“I learned that I can be wrong. I don't have to be perfect every time. I can make mistakes. It's alright to be negative sometimes. We are humans — we are meant to make mistakes and should take risks and enjoy life.”
— Dekshina, 19, India
“Homemade pasta bake with veggies, cheese and breadcrumbs. It feels like home — sitting around the table with my family on a Sunday, having conversations about anything and just being fully in each other's presence.”
— Ava, 17, Ireland
“I love both Arts and Drama because I am able to express myself without having to worry too much about making a mistake.”
— Dalila, 11, U.K.
“The power of mental health education: from silence to support. As a global mental health education advocate, I understand the importance of having the right knowledge about mental health. When we are aware of our mental health struggles, we are in a better position to seek help or ask questions. From my personal experience, I know that mental health ignorance and illiteracy are very dangerous. Mental health education is essential so that we can increase mental health awareness in our society and break the silence attached to seeking support for our mental health.”
— Rasheedat, 22, Nigeria
“The Japanese education system is so inflexible that it does not allow students to explore their interests even though they are required to decide whether they would like to move on to STEM or non-STEM fields during their sophomore year of high school. In addition, it focuses on exam scores and nothing else. I would like to change this process to something that allows students' passions and potentials to be considered.”
— Kanon, 22, Japan/US
“Learning to be grateful. Nothing is more important than appreciating the little things, from actions to words, that every day can enrich our lives and others too.”
— Sara, 17, Italy
“Tiana from “Princess and the Frog,” because I consider myself a determined and persevering person who wants to fight for a future where we all have the same opportunities, also because I always want to learn in order to help those around me.💖”
— Shirley, 18, Mexico
“😭— it’s versatile! Despite it being a crying face emoji, I use it when I'm having a laugh with my friends or when I am responding to good news. I reformed these tears to become something that’s positive for me, an expression of my outpouring of emotions.”
— Phyu, 18, Singapore
“I would definitely say Maria José de Castro Rebello Mendes, the first Brazilian woman to become a diplomat! She revolutionized the path of foreign affairs in Brazil and inspired millions of women to follow their dreams despite the social stigma associated with the career of a diplomat. As someone who plans on becoming one, I would do anything to sit down and drink a coffee with her!”
— Daniela, 16, Brazil
“I am grateful for my mother. She is my first role model. She taught me how to be independent and showed me that being a woman is not a weakness. I used to think that ‘acting like a girl’ is bad and that I had to behave ‘like a man’ for people to take me seriously. My mom showed me that I could be a girl and also be strong. She taught me that I did not have to get rid of my femininity to be taken seriously. Thanks to her, I am a strong woman.”
— Öykü, 20, Turkey
“I am studying media and politics abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark for a semester. It’s been one of the most eye-opening experiences immersing myself in a completely new culture, making international friends and overcoming hurdles I never imagined I would face. The best part of my week has been getting my new bike in Copenhagen. Bike is the new car over here.”
— Emily, 22, Australia
“After reading ‘Who is a woman in your life who you admire?’ I spent time thinking of how women are capable of bringing change, even in a patriarchal society, and how education is a powerful weapon. I also reflected on how the courage to believe in oneself leads to bright places.”
— Ishita, 14, India
“Young women need to be at the center of the fight for climate justice — when we center the lives and the voices of society’s most vulnerable groups, we all benefit. Their full and equal participation in the climate movement (and at climate events like COP27) starts with reimagining what it means to have expertise in the field of climate science. Young women and girls, and other marginalized peoples who are the most impacted by climate change, often don’t have the resources to achieve the academic qualifications necessary to be considered an ‘expert.’ But their lived experiences and their roles as organizers and leaders make them some of the most qualified individuals to speak about how climate change is affecting their communities and what resources they need to adapt.”
— Mariel, 19, Philippines and the U.S.
“A good friend is someone who will be with me through the highs and lows of my life. No matter what I share with her, she will always respect my decisions, understand me and give me advice when I make a mistake. A good friend is like a pillar of strength. One who can keep us motivated and keeps our secrets.”
— Trishita, 19, India
“I learned about the structure of the bones. The most interesting part is how muscles, tendons, joints and bones work together to produce our every single day movement. It is really interesting that our bodies can make very complicated movements without any failure. I love anatomy because it answers a lot of questions about the body that I have always wondered since I was a child. Studying anatomy is a step to achieving my dream career as a medical researcher!”
— Wint, 17, Myanmar
“After every test, my mom and I have this little tradition of going out to celebrate. It can be grabbing milkshakes or getting a late lunch. We go out, talk about how my test was, what we’d do for the holidays and watch a movie. I don’t remember when we started this, but it is what I look forward to after every test.”
— Akshata Kale, 15, India
“We used to watch documentaries during some of our classes but I have realised now that the emphasis was made on solely the individual. We have been made to believe that we are the biggest causes of climate change and that we can stop it by doing small changes. I believe that we can help, but I wish that our schools taught us that the real blame lies on the corporations who destroy our world for financial gain. There is no meaning of me reducing my already low plastic usage if big companies and factories keep polluting the earth.”
— Öykü, 19, Turkey
“My aunt is one of the women in my life that I admire the most. She had been working in a supermarket for 20 years and then three years ago, she decided to quit the job to start a new business on her own. Now she owns and runs a café. I admire her because she decided to chase and managed to realize her dream.”
— Cristina, 19, Italy
"Sometimes I feel really stressed about my own life. I have anxiety issues, and when anxiety attacks me I just try to breathe using the belly breath method. The belly breath method is when I stay still in a relaxed position (like laying down or sitting), put my right hand on top of belly, my left on top of chest and close my eyes or focus my gaze on one point. Then I begin to inhale through my nose for one to five counts (it depends on your breath length), filling my belly with air and pushing it forward. When I exhale through my nose I count twice longer than the inhalation, bringing my belly closer to the back and spine. Belly breathing has really helped me to calm down. I hope that it can be helpful for other young women to control their anxiety."
— Khansa, 16, Indonesia
“Intersectionality is such a vital framework for understanding systems of power because ‘woman’ is not a catch-all category that alone defines all of our relationships to power. We must acknowledge that everyone has their own unique experiences of discrimination and oppression and we must consider everything and anything that can marginalise people. For example, as a young Muslim woman from the Hausa tribe, I find myself among the few youths from my community who were able to acquire a master’s degree. This motivates me to help other girls in my tribe and teach them the importance of education and the effects of child marriage.”
— Maryam, 22, Cameroon
“My school never taught me what climate change is, what are its root causes, why it’s important and how we can play a part in stopping it. Over the course of 12 years of education, I never learned that I could help address the climate crisis and make an impact in my community. I believe that educators need to teach 21st-century skills in the classrooms — such as digital literacy, personal development and social entrepreneurship to ensure that the next generation of future change-makers is ready to change the world. If students discover these skills, they could address the world's most pressing problems like climate change.”
— Amna, 15, Pakistan
“In essence I want to be a female David Attenborough. I want to travel the world, learn and educate people about the natural world and its importance. It is something I am so passionate about and I don't think it would ever feel like work to me!”
— Aiofe, 17, Ireland
“Enjoy every moment and be present in every situation. I remember that I was mainly focused on becoming an adult instead of enjoying time with my family and finding pleasure in every step of my life. Nowadays I try to enjoy every single moment because nobody knows when our last time here on Earth will be. Now my mindset is: ‘Life is short, so live every moment and have fun like it would be your last day.’”
— Andrea, 18, Guatemala
“Throughout my life, I have always been an active person, which has been a significant complement to my academic career. However I have also had a rough time with injuries, which has made me stronger in the sense that I do not punish myself for it, I learn from the experience and work consistently to be better. That’s what I do with all the activism that I am currently doing. When something does not work out, I look for other ways to create an impact in concerns related to climate justice, human rights, environmental issues and social injustices.”
— Juliany, 21, Mexico
“I always had a passion for food, whether it’s cooking for my family or eating my mom’s food. I love cooking different kinds of pasta because I can do a lot of experiments with it and create my own recipes. And I love eating the Bengali traditional dishes my mom cooks, especially the dishes which contain fish — like shorshe ilish, a fish curry cooked with mustard. This is a dish that is passed on from generation to generation in Bengali culture; mom learnt it from my grandma and my grandma learnt from her mother. In Bangla shorshe means mustard and ilish (hilsa in English) is our national fish. Bengalis are absolutely in love with this fish.”
— Opshori, 17, Bangladesh
“Laying in bed and coffee in my hand, this is my favorite spot to spend time surfing my favorite site, YouTube. From TEDx Talks to watching vlogs from all over the world, YouTube has such a positive impact on my life. Through people sharing their stories, I am inspired, changing my mindset, habits and the way I look at things. Five years ago, I was struggling with my English. Now listening to videos repetitively made me master this language. And unbelievably, I am now speaking five languages (Arabic, French, English, Spanish and Romanian).”
— Sarra, 19, Tunisia
“Eating yeot. It’s a Korean sugar dessert. Hard and chewy, it’s absolutely delectable. I love both watching the making process and eating it myself.”
— Heidi, 17, South Korea
“My favorite slang word is ‘padre,’ which refers to something good, surprising and wonderful. It is a term I use with my friends when good things happen in their lives. For example: ‘What padre that you were admitted to the university!’”
— Victoria, 18, Mexico
“Five years from now I'll be 20 (wow, such a big age!). I hope I will still be writing my diary. I hope I have visited many places and I still read Assembly. I hope I know more languages. I don't have too many expectations because I know I will change. But I hope that I will be fearless and not pigheaded. And I hope I break some of society's old rules and traditions.”
— Samagya, 15, India
“When facing disappointment, I relish an album by Billie Eilish with a lovely pint of Ben and Jerry's The Tonight Dough ice cream. While I do like having this alone time, I later reach out for some advice from friends who are always there for me. I follow that up by saying empowering affirmations to myself in the mirror, like ‘I got this!’”
— Rachael, 18, U.S.
“Firstly, ensure the education of every girl because there are millions of girls who are out of school right now in Pakistan.
Secondly, ensure the safety and security of girls so that their families allow them to do different jobs and girls can pursue any profession without fear.
Thirdly, give proper health facilities to all girls in Pakistan because girls face many health issues such as menstrual hygiene issues and breast cancer and due to early marriages, many girls die while giving birth to children.
And last but not least, give opportunities to girls to play sports at both national and international levels. Although many girls in Pakistan play sports and win prizes at national and international levels, they face many hurdles in their way.”
— Nida, 20, Pakistan
“I love to go for a walk with my dog, it’s just a beautiful way to connect with myself, without any distractions (like the phone or TV). It’s just me, nature and my dog, Cooper. And also taking pictures! I love to do it, it’s a gorgeous way to express myself and it helps me to relax when I’m having a hard time.”
— Valentina, 19, Argentina
“In order to protect one’s mental health, from the effects of racism, I believe you should:
1. Talk with someone about your experience. Instead of keeping bottled up emotions about your experience with discrimination, confide in your parents, siblings, friends or even a counselor about what has happened. This will help you to free your mind from negative thoughts about the encounter, and just move on.
2. Don't think about the experience for too long and try doing what makes you feel great. It could be your schoolwork, spending time with friends and family, just anything that makes you feel happy.
3. Build up your mind and your self-esteem. Racism isn't something that is new, therefore, it shouldn't take you by surprise when you encounter it. Build up yourself in such a way that you won't be pulled down by it.”
— Amarachi, 16, Nigeria
“I have been a dedicated environmentalist for the past seven years. It is a part of my identity. I regularly participate in recycling initiatives, tree plantation events and clean-up campaigns and I hold environmental awareness campaigns at my school related to desertification, deforestation, food wastage, paper recycling, glass recycling, plastic recycling and energy consumption. I don’t feel that my weekend can be complete without going around my neighbourhood at least once to collect recyclable items, which I then take to the recycling station. Along with my younger brother, I have recycled 18,000 kilograms of paper, 600 kilograms of plastic, 200 ink cartridges and 610 kilograms of used batteries. The philosophy I fervently believe in is: ‘Whatever can be recycled, must be recycled.’”
— Mishal, 13, United Arab Emirates
“Murder mystery because it keeps me guessing until the very end. Every character seems suspicious, which leaves me predicting who the actual killer might be. You simply cannot get bored because just when you think you’ve guessed who the culprit is, there is an unforeseen plot twist.”
— Khwahish, 18, India
“I try to read as many articles from different perspectives as possible in order to become a better ally. I also have been trying to amplify Black voices by sharing information that I've read from reliable sources and by signing as many petitions as I can. Lastly, I speak up to anyone that I hear saying racist things or making micro-aggressions.”
— Angie, 15, U.S.
“I love science fiction stories so I’d like to see more women as crazy scientists or as captains of fictional starships, like the Millennium Falcon. I'm a programmer and in movies, programmers and hackers are always shown as shy men hacking NASA from the corner of their bedrooms and they’re always the supporting actors! I don't see myself in these characters...I love public speaking. And also I prefer daylight when I'm coding! I want to see a brave woman who is the hero of the story and who is always coding on her laptop to save her friends and change the world.”
— Isabela, 18, Peru
“On my Stories, I share information about climate change, my country and quotes that I’m interested in. I share the things that inspire me and can make a little change in everyone’s life for the better!”
— Farah, 16, Tunisia
“I would establish some sort of publishing company that would publish youth's ideas and opinions. We would also share their words at a museum under the name of the same publishing company where people will be able to learn about young people’s perspectives.”
— Kaushar, 17, India
“Exams, whew. I always make sure that I read through recommended textbooks at least twice, read through notes and past questions a couple of more times, attend study groups and listen to audiobooks while sleeping (who knows what my brain can absorb at that point!).”
— Moyinoluwa, 20, Nigeria
“The pandemic has impacted, not just my family, but my whole community. I know many people whose health has been affected by the coronavirus, including some of my friends as well as people in my building. While many despise being quarantined, it helps families bond and spend more time together. My family, specifically, has become closer by playing board games and watching movies together. Additionally, I live in an area near a lot of hospitals, so people are still going to work every day. I think that the stress and the workload for the hospital workers makes them tired and anxious. Also at 7 p.m. every day, a lot of people stand on their balcony and clap for the health care workers. I think the hardest problem for everyone is not being able to go outside and interact with their friends AND co-workers. I think quarantine has made the use of technology very much needed as people try to work from home or talk with their friends. I know that I, as an individual, set up Zoom calls and FaceTime with my friends and family so that I can stay in touch with them.”
— Anya, 12, U.S.
“With the 24-hour news cycle, it’s difficult to not constantly feel just a little worried or paranoid. I find that the best thing for me to do is to pick up the projects I’ve forgotten about and start new ones to keep myself occupied. Along with my mum and sister, I have started a little project to sew reusable sanitary pads for some girls in Zimbabwe. Lately, I’ve also started learning to make bread, it’s the kind of task that takes enough time to enjoy both the process and the result.”
— Raramai, 19, from South Africa and Zimbabwe, living in Denmark
“I was entering my last year of high school and trying to decide what to do in the future. I was lost. Then I met Leonor, my history teacher. I talked to her about everything — my dreams, my goals, my insecurities and the things that I want to change in the world. She told me one truth: ‘Sometimes we let our insecurities become bigger than our dreams. Sometimes you are the one who is stopping you from making your dreams come true.’ I realized that I was missing a lot of things in life because I thought I wasn’t good enough.”
— Gabriela, 18, Mexico
“My hijab. I love all my fabrics from chiffon and cotton crinkle to viscose. Every detailed pattern portrays a story of who I am and what I stand for. My hijab will forever and always be my favorite item of clothing.”
— Sama, 17, Iraq
“I'm a bookworm so this is difficult, I think the fictional place I would most like to visit would be Hogwarts because it would be so cool to learn magic. However, one of my favourite books is ‘Little Women’ so I think it would also be cool to go and meet the March sisters.”
— Danielle, 17, Scotland
“Beef nihari is slow-cooked beef stew that is popular in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in Bangladesh (where I’m from!) and Pakistan. As it is with most dishes, the best part in my opinion are the parts that are the worst for you — in this case, the fatty bits that fall off the bone. My mom typically prepares it on special occasions like when we finish exams, or when my brother comes home.”
— Raisa, 21, Canada
“When I had my first period it was really scary and very painful. When I told my mom and sister, they told me it was a gift. Since I was good in biology, I wasn't confused about menstruation and how to use pads. When I'm menstruating, I can't attend my classes and I don't listen to the teacher carefully because I think only of the pain. Sometimes I don't go to school. Even though it has its own negative impact on my education, I know my period is a huge milestone of my life.”
— Mekdes, 17, Ethiopia
“I like that I truly do everything with love and my heart, because I was taught to do so by my parents.”
— Aimée, 20, Suriname
“Someone who I consider to be very clever had once told me that our grades don't define who we are. I scowled at that at first because for many of us school and university is all the life we've known so far. However, all grades do is measure how quickly and efficiently you learn and memorise things. They don't measure kindness, empathy, love or loyalty — some of the most important values out there, in my opinion.”
— Julia, 20, Luxembourg
“Two years ago, my mother went through a very difficult time — through a mammogram it was discovered that there was a cancerous development in her breast. She always remained optimistic and looked at the positive aspects of life, like that the cancerous growth was found at an early stage. Her ability to remain strong and be a bright light through that taxing time inspires me to always look on the bright side of a situation in the face of hardship.”
— Katrina, 16, Jamaica
“When I grow up I want to be an actress and an industrial designer. Ever since I was little I’ve been intrigued by the arts. I like music, painting, drawing, dance, but what attracts me the most are theatre and construction, inventing things.”
— Paola, 17, Colombia
“For fun, I bake and do calligraphy. I like baking because I like seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they eat the food I make. I also like calligraphy because it helps me with anxiety and it relieves me from stress.”
— Annika, 14, Chile
“My class teacher in grade three is so open with her students and makes everything she does or teaches fun and enjoyable. She always makes us feel like she's a friend who we can share everything with, without students losing any respect for her.”
— Tiara, 16, Sri Lanka
“I wish presidents would be more forthcoming and frank about their country's social shortcomings rather than just the economic situation of a country. For example, if there is an ongoing genocide within the country, I wish presidents would at least be more open and truthful about the realities of such problem.”
— Taing Eaindray, 19, Myanmar
“'Because of You,' by Kelly Clarkson. It is one of my favorite songs because of its beautiful and tender melody. And because it shows a woman who wants to change her current situation and make a new life.”
— Sarah, 17, Iran
“Computers, photography and English. My favorite class is digital media because it allows me to express myself and be creative.”
— Moeun Channa, 14, Cambodia
“Reading, writing and coming up with new ideas for stories. I am so into books. They help me find new words and discover new things.”
— Tosin, 20, Nigeria
“There is one huge problem that our country faces and that is gun violence. Assault rifles are the biggest problem. A recent school shooting killed 17 people.”
— Rachel, 11, U.S.
“‘East of Eden’ by John Steinbeck. This is one of my favourite books. I cried a lot the first time I read it...For me crying at a book or movie is one of the best feelings ever, that means that it reached to my heart and that it will stay there forever.”
— Maria, 14, Romania