Women's Month

Women’s Month 2012

Lone Star College-CyFair is “Empowering Women to Be All We Can Be” with a variety of events throughout March in celebration of annual Women’s Month. The Diversity and Inclusion Council, with the sponsorship of Windows on the World, has collaborated with various organizations on campus and the surrounding community to bring awareness to this theme.

We recognize that this month is a celebration of women who have paved the way for freedom and who have broken boundaries in many areas where society seemed closed. We hope that all will enjoy the events planned and all will leave this month appreciating the women of our lives.

For additional information, please e-mail womensmonth@lonestar.edu.

Essay Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the Women’s Month 2012 Essay Contest! Their names and the winning essays are listed below.

1st Place: Christina Rosser

Women who Empower
My mother always stands strong during difficult times throughout her life. At twelve years old, her father passed away due to colon cancer. Even without a male role model to help guide her through the tough times she learned strong morals and developed a beautiful heart. I remember my mother working a full time job while going to school full time at night and still managed a household of six. Regardless of how busy she may have been during the day we always had a hot meal on the table for dinner and she never missed our extracurricular activities. Her dedication to the household instilled the importance of family in my heart. My mother’s ability to maintain the six of us and not explode taught me how to manage stress. Anytime I face a challenge in my busy life I remind myself of the woman who did it all. She has inspired me to become the loving and caring wife I am today.

Mom juggled more than I ever thought one should handle. That was until last year when she faced one of the biggest struggles anyone could ever experience, breast cancer. I honestly thought this disease would defeat her as it does so many others. She told the family she would not go down without a fight. Two surgeries and many medications later, she still stands strong with us today. This woman inspires me to live life to the fullest and never allow small challenges to serve as an excuse for mediocrity. Everything I involve myself in today is in honor of my mom’s strength and passion to never give up.

2nd Place: Dassalee Richardson

The Extraordinary Woman
When I look at my life and consider all the women who have empowered, inspired, and has left a significant imprint there is only one extraordinary woman: my mother. She once told me that, “knowledge is power”. The minute that statement was spoken over me, it was like something deep down inside of me took root. I knew that my destiny and purpose would not be in vain.

Not only was my mother planting seeds of greatness in my life, she was actually living and breathing the flowers. My mother always applied her words of wisdom to her own sense of persistence. At the age of 55, she decided to pursue a degree in Nursing, while working at Jack in the Box to support her family. Making less than $10.00 an hour, my mother knew that she needed to provide for her family and set an example for greatness. She was eager, hopeful and above all, persistent. She said as long as she is in good health and God woke her up to see another day then she can do anything she puts her mind too. What inspired me the most was the fact that no matter how hard things got my mother still held her head up high and shoot for the stars. Failure was not an option in her book. Even though some of her classes were not always the easiest and she was always the oldest student, she did not let those factors keep her from running the race. I commend my mom for her selfless act because her hard work and dedication made me into the woman I am today.

So all in all, my mother has not only empowered me, but she has inspired me to live a purposeful life with no limitations.

3rd Place: Vinnie Lam and Marian Liebling

Vinnie Lam’s Essay:
Every day when I wake up, I count my blessings and thank God for all the people in my life, because if it weren’t for them I wouldn’t have transformed into the human being I am today. When I look back on all the obstacles and struggles I have endeavored in life, only one person that has shaped my life stands out. No matter what I do, no one will ever show more unconditional love to me than my mother, Christi Lam. Realizing the struggles and hardships my mother persevered immensely impacted who I am today.

My mother is a survivor of Khmer Rouge (Cambodian Holocaust). Explaining everything she went through would seem virtually impossible. On one sunny morning on October 1, 2005 after Hurricane Katrina had annihilated everything we had owned, my mom once told me, “Never forget how far our family has come. Till this day, the agony, deprivation, and separation from my family from the Khmer Rouge still haunts and embeds a daunting memory stained deep within my head. With that said, I’m still alive because God has a purpose for everyone here on earth, and now I’m educating you to never give up on life. Believing and having faith exists as the perfect antidote to get far in life.” After hearing that, my views and perspective of life changed forever.

That deep conversation may very well be the framework of the man I am today. Through every struggle or triumph I encounter, I reminisce on how brutal my mom’s life was and how manageable my life is. My mother strained to survive with death calling, and I strain to satisfy and ease her by never giving up. We make our fortunes, we call them fate. I have one dream: to value life and live on.

Marian Liebling’s Essay:
Throughout history, quilts were used to tell the stories of women’s lives.  My life is like a patchwork quilt. It was stitched together by many women who empowered me throughout my life.

My mother Evelyn, who lived through the Great Depression, taught me to be practical and strong. Her common sense advice allowed me to value what is important in life. It helped me to be a successful wife and mother.

As a fifth grader, I read a book about Clara Barton founding the American Red Cross. Her story of unselfishly nursing injured soldiers during the Civil War gave me pause to think about what service I could contribute to society when I grew up. I knew I wanted to volunteer in my community and make a difference. In later years these thoughts empowered me to volunteer as a tutor in local elementary schools. I taught my young students about art, Spanish and reading. The students empowered me to learn more about the subjects I taught and about them.

On September 11, 2001, a day of epic historical proportions I lost a dear friend. I learned about courage and strength under the worst conditions from Terry Granados, who lost her husband that day. She has gone on to rebuild her life while cherishing and guarding the memory of her husband.

I came to Lone Star College as a fifty-plus student wanting to fulfill my dream of a college education. It was then I met Esther Robinson, who taught American History. Professor Robinson empowered me to pursue my education by her encouragement and advice. She opened a window on history I never knew existed.

My quilt could never be complete without the support of my sisters and friends. I am thankful for the roles these women have played in my life.