Introduction

Hi

My name is Ashleigh. I was born and raised in Ormond Beach, Florida. It is a small beach town about a hour away from UCF main campus. I am the oldest of three children. My two younger siblings are boys. A constant argument in our house is the double standards that are put on girls (aka me) in comparisons to my brothers. I am an elementary education major. After graduation I want to teach second or third grade. Eventually I want to teach high school science. When I was in high school my dance team coach was a huge role model to me. She was so active in our educations and our dance team; she also was a amazing mother and an overall inspiring individual. I hope to be a role model for my students once I become a teacher. I think that is the main reason that I am so interested in taking girls studies, my future as a teacher. I think that most teachers gender their classrooms without even realizing it. I want to take what I will learn in this class and make sure that I am not gendering my classroom and that I am giving everyone a truly equal opportunity to learn as much as I can teacher them. I am the officer in my sorority and that requires me to be a leader. In addition I have recently been asked to oversee the entire Hellenic Dance troupe at my church. The troupe is made up of group ranging from kindergarten all the way to college. Those are the two main things that I would consider myself as being in a leadership role. I believe that a leader is someone that guides a group to execute a goal. A leader should lead by example and be respectful. I want to learn about issues that directly affects girls. It is so common the girls get looped in with women or even with all children. But they are their own category. Young children are the future of society and if we focus on issues that girl’s face in their youth it may lead to changes in the issues that affect women. If we focus on issue that young girls face and understand them then we can set a solid foundation for these girls as they grow.

I have read and understand the terms and guidelines in the syllabus. I agree to follow them.

I am looking forward to this semester.