Women’s Leadership Symposium

GCSU Women's Soccer Team pictured with Keynote Speaker
Pictured from left: Wendell Staton,Cecile Reynaud, Ada Bazin, Germaine McAuley, Awista Ayub, Joeleen Akin, Jennifer Graham and Kara Teresi

Georgia College & State University Department of Athletics and the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity's Women’s Resource Center held the first-ever Women’s Leadership Symposium Monday, March 15 in Magnolia Ballroom. The symposium featured six guest speakers including keynote speaker Awista Ayub, author of However Tall the Mountain, who discussed, “The Role of Sports for Women In Afghanistan.” Here is my personal story about the impact of Awista Ayub’s book. “I came across Awista Ayub on the littlefeet_com twitter page. Our GCSU soccer team partners with Little Feet, a non-profit organization that sends soccer balls to underprivileged children worldwide. Ayub has been a long time supporter of Little Feet sending soccer balls to children in Afghanistan. I clicked on a link that sent me to Ayub’s website, www.awistaayub.com. Instantly, I was captivated by her books cover that read, A Dream, Eight Girls & A Journey Home with an image of an Afghan woman holding a soccer ball above her head. Khaled Hosseni, author of The Kite Runner, gave a quote on the books cover that read, “These young afghan women are pioneers. Their story is one of resilience and courage. This book is a testament to the power of hope and the will to dream in a country where so many dreams have been cut short”. I purchased the book immediately and received it in the mail shortly there after; I read it during our long soccer bus rides and finished the book towards the end of our season. Our team was playing at home for conference game against University North Carolina Pembroke (UNCP) on October 21. It was this particular night when the book came full circle for me. I was standing on our soccer field with my teammates facing towards the Flag as it waved in the wind with the sounds of the national anthem playing behind us. I began to cry. In her book, Awista gives an image of these Afghan girls standing in Ghazi Stadium, where they had once witnessed the Taliban brutally murder many Afghans on this same field. It was right there in that stadium, on that field, where these girls would eventually play soccer and represent their country. I was filled with emotions of how blessed I was to be playing this game of soccer, and living in a country with freedom and liberties. I have never felt more privileged to play the game of soccer than in that moment. We won our game that night, and it sparked a passion within me to e-mail Awista Ayub and share how her book had changed my perspective.” Little did I know, that sending this e-mail would be the beginning of something greater than I had could have ever imagined. Over 60 participants attended the symposium, including 25 high school students. President Dorothy Leland gave a warm welcome and introduction for participants, and spoke of the progress women have made in Georgia College’s history and inspired future leaders to continue in this progress by leading with character and integrity. The symposium ended with Awista Ayub’s keynote address that included a 10-minute ESPN documentary from these courageous young women and their experiences playing soccer in Afghanistan. Below are some participant responses when asked to respond to the question, “What is one thing they will take away from attending this symposium?”

“To be a positive influence in others lives.”

“That I can do something worthwhile.”

“ The desire/goal to form a mentoring program at our school.”

“To get out there and not settle for the least, but to always try and never give up.”

“Appreciation of my personal freedoms.”

“How a small idea can make a huge difference.”

With the valuable impact of this Women’s Leadership Symposium for students, Georgia College hopes to make this a tradition for years to come.