The Womenz had an opportunity to interact with Ms. Nakisha Varlack, President/CEO, Girl Power United, USA and here’s what she shared with us
In modern times there are many career options
to women. Why did you choose to become an advocate? What goal did you achieve
by becoming one?
Advocating for the empowerment of teen girls is simply more than
a career choice. As the President and CEO of Girl Power United, my position
serves as an opportunity for me to positively impact the lives of girls that
need the guidance, encouragement, and motivation to follow their dreams. I
believe that girls should always aim to reach for the stars and dream big.
What do you wish to achieve by inspiring girls
and young women?
By inspiring girls and young women, my goal is to use the
abilities that God has given me to guide them towards living a life of purpose
and to aspire to achieve greatness despite life’s challenges. My greatest hope
is that they have the full understanding and belief that their aspirations are
their possibilities.
As a cultural ambassador and teacher to
Japanese students, what has been your own learning experience?
Through my cultured background, experiences, and the opportunity
to work with individuals from around the world, it has enabled me to shape my
thinkingto embrace diversity. I use this ability when making both personal and
professional decisions in my life.
Tell us about the courage of your convictions
that finally led to establishing Girl Power United.
I established Girl Power United to reinforce to young girls and
women that we are a united coalition of empowered minds. Having become a mother
at the young age of 18, I did not allow my circumstances to prevent me from
achieving my goal of furthering my education, having a highly successful
career, and following my life’s purpose of serving others. I want to ensure
that other young girls and women are able to live a life of being self-empowered while
uniting with women and girls around the world.
You have strong knowledge of the pageant
industry. How do you look at female beauty contests from moral point of view?
I’ve had the privilege of serving as a judge for the Miss
America Organization for the past 7 years. Through this experience, I have
witnessed first hand that pageantry provides numerous intrinsic rewards. Often
times, there is a misconception that the pageantry industry primarily focuses
on the exterior, when in fact it is just the opposite.
The pageant industry focuses on character development, self-empowerment,
education, the teaching of values, public speaking, sharing their talents, and
assisting young ladies in developing their professional brands. I’m happy to
support an industry that provides these type young ladies with opportunities
that lead them towards having a bright future.
What are the positive benefits of mentoring
children?
Mentoring benefits children by aiding in their personal and
professional development and learning. This can be achieved at any stage of a
child’s life. Mentoring is relationship
based and built on having a trusted relationship with an individual that has a
genuine interest in the success of the child.
What valuable lessons have you learned as a
16-year-old intern in the federal government?
As a 16-year intern, working for the federal government gave me
an opportunity to have the first hand experience in being in a professional
business environment. I gained the knowledge, skills, and abilitiesthat aided
in securing a strong professional foundation. I also learned how to be
accountable for my work performance and the importance having the type of work
ethic that drives you to exceed expectations.
How did your high academic qualifications provided
a boost to your own personal life and professional career?
Furthering my education has definitely opened doors of
opportunity for me as I continue to pursue my professional and personal
goals.
What kind of advice and guidance teenage girls
need most in troubled times?
The best advice that I can give to teenage girls that are going
through difficult times is to try to have an optimistic mindset despite the
trouble that they are experiencing. There are lessons to be learned through
every experience in our lives. We must learn to use those experiences as an
opportunity to grow and to encourage others that may have similar experiences.
I would also encourage teenage girls to find a mentor or confidant that can
help them through the difficult time and provide them with the support that
they will need.
Would you like to tell us about a few young
women who became self-empowered as a result of you touching their lives?
I have worked with several girls and young and women over the
years to empower them with the ability to recognize their true potential and
find a way to work towards being the best version of themselves. I prefer not
to single out any one person and instead celebrate the fact that many have been
able to find the motivation to be self-empowered.
We The
Womenz team thank her for her sharing her story with us. We are sure that
her story will certainly inspire our readers.
Nakisha can be reached on Linked-in, twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Watch video of Wavy TV-10 "Kid Talk" Show - Girl Power United, Inc.
First Published: 10-Apr-2017- 17:31
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