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| Photo | Courtesy |
A while back, I was
invited to be part of a mentorship session organised by the alumni of Daraja
Academy. The invitation was extended as a motivational speaker and I had a hard
time preparing my presentation.
As I reflected on my High School experience to
pick a learning point, one thing came to mind about the autographs we would
sign as we left school. There was one question that was common in almost all the
autographs I signed,, what is your ideal guy or girl? Just like that, I
got motivation from my own autograph. One of my friends simply wrote, Ideal
guys just like idea gases never exist!
Daraja Academy is a girls’ school and I wanted to be able to relate to the struggles of teenage girls which
are often related to becoming an ideal woman. These struggles can either be
from within or without. The portrayal by media and social standards of whom an
ideal woman should be has created an inner struggle in most young ladies.
Women both young and old
have been trapped in the paradox of being an ideal woman and it has become a never-ending
path. The cosmetics and entertainment industry has set a fraudulent image and
standard for women.
Then who is an ideal
woman?
This is a woman who has embraced
her image and identity. Image is not only based on physical appearance but on how you present and carry yourself as a woman. In the business world, image is equated
to a brand. To be an ideal woman you need to establish your own brand and rock
it.
Identity on the other
hand goes beyond your surname. Identity means you are aware of who you are,
your abilities, strengths, weaknesses, triggers, and personality.
There has always been and
will continue to be an endless debate on the place of a woman in society. As an
ideal woman, this is not a conversation you are going to engage in. You are the
kind that is aware of your roles and responsibilities in whatever stage you are
in life and despite the position you hold. Your focus is not on small wins
but on the bigger picture and greater harmony. You will not need to emphasize the
position you hold but your actions will precede you.
An ideal woman is not
afraid to dream. Even when you hit rock bottom you will stare at the light at
the end of the tunnel. Things may not always work in your favor, but you will
learn to make do with what you have. Life may throw you so much at you to the
point of you putting your dreams on hold but the dreams will never die.
To be an ideal woman you
need to understand that, ‘society’ will always have standards and expectations.
Nonetheless, your life is not determined by ‘society’ but by who you choose
to be. An ideal woman just like ideal gasses may not exist but you create
conditions for them to exist!
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