If you received a letter from your adult self at the age of 12, would you have followed your own advice? I am not sure if I would have. One thing that I do know is that I wish I had received some news from the grown up me early on in life.

We see all kinds of girls in our Girls Inc. programs, and the best part about them is their appetite for knowledge. Most of our girls do not even know how hungry they are until they have the chance to ask a question and hear an answer from someone that is not their teacher, mother, or someone close to them. They just want to know more!

Each Girls Inc. program inspires girls to be strong, smart, and bold whether they notice it or not. January 18th marked the start of the winter program cycle, and as I began meeting a new group of girls at several schools, one thing stayed the same – they are all eager to see what their facilitators are going to say.

Every girl needs a mentor or someone they can look up to, ask questions, and share experiences. Have you shared your knowledge with anyone today? Last week, month, or year? If not, ask yourself, “why not?” Though many of the girls in our programs have someone to look up to, most still seek another example and source of wisdom. Think about what would have affected you greatly at age 12 – what “light bulb moment” would have helped you navigate through school? What advice would you have appreciated or used?

Since you cannot share it with your 12-year-old self, share it with a girl of that age and make a difference in her life. In the comments below, share with us what you would tell your 12-year-old self.