Final Post:

That's all she wrote folks! 15 posts.  I'm done, finished, outta here!

Okay, so before I go just a little reminder to all of you:

• Never take no for an answer
• Never stop trying
• Never stop being yourself
• Never stop dreaming
• Always stay positive
• Inspire others to make great choices
• Shine like the star you are!

You are capable of more than you know.  Go show the world what you're made of; or more importantly, show yourself.

Firsts: Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

Saint Frances Cabrini, sometimes called Mother Cabrini, was the first naturalized American to be canonized by the Catholic church.  She was an Italian-American religious sister who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1880 with six other women who had taken religious vows with her.  They took in orphans and foundlings, opened a day school in order to help with expenses, taught needlework and sold embroidery in order to make some money for the institute.  The institute was able to establish a free school and nursery and seven homes in its first five years.  All of this good work earned Cabrini the attention of Blessed Giovanni Scalabrini, Bishop of Piacenza and Pope Leo XIII.

Cabrini founded several institutes that helped many immigrants find homes and learn English.  She also founded orphanages and hospitals.  One such orphanage is still around today and is called the Saint Cabrini Home.

Cabrini was beatified in 1938 by Pope Pius XI and was canonized in 1946 by Pope Pius XII.  She is the patron saint of immigrants and hospital administrators.

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini had a good heart and was willing to help anyone she could.  She took it upon herself to help make the world a better place.  She showed men what a woman could do if she sets her mind to it and got recognition for it.  Be like Cabrini and give people the chance for a better tomorrow.

Firsts: Diane Crump

Diane Crump became the first professional female jockey to compete in a pari-mutuel race in the United States in 1969.  Crump was so unpopular at the first that she needed a police escort to walk her to the track so she wouldn't get attacked by the angry mob of spectators.  Spectators yelled at Crump to "get back in the kitchen" and "stay away from horse racing because she would ruin it for everyone".  Crump refused to listen.

Crump came in 9th place for a 12 horse race and won the next race two weeks later.  After winning she gained support from fans and from the track officials who told the male jockeys to leave Crump alone and act professional.  This had to be done because in 1968, male jockeys threw rocks at the female jockey trailers and threatened a boycott if female jockeys competed.

Crump was the first female to ride in the Kentucky Derby in 1970.  She won her first race on the underdcard and then placed 15th out of 17 horses on a horse named Fathom.  She ended her racing career in 1985.  She rode 235 wins, although, she is officially only credited with 228 wins.

Diane Crump ignored everyone who told her she wasn't good enough and that horse racing wasn't her place.  She persevered and it paid off.  Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something because only men can do it.  Keep on riding away from the negativity and towards what you want.

Firsts: Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.  Before she was able to do this, however, she was the first female passenger on a Transatlantic flight in 1928.  Earhart didn't argue being only a passenger because she recognized her limitations when it came to the technology being used for the flight.  She did, however, decide that one day she would fly across the Atlantic all by herself.

Earhart became quite famous for being the first female passenger.  Fame is nice and it definitely helped her career but she still wanted the world to recognize her as a topnotch aviator.  The world did just that when she completed the first female solo flight across the Atlantic in 1932.  Although she didn't reach her destination of Paris due to many complications with the weather and mechanical difficulties, she made it to a small village in Northern Ireland.  Earhart won many honors for being the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic.  She flew more solo flights and kept trying new challenges when it came to flying.

Earhart may have disappeared on one of her flights but her spirit still flies high.  Keep accepting new challenges like Amelia Earhart and let you imagination soar.

Firsts: Kathrine Switzer

The purpose of this post, as well as several other posts to come, is to give a shout out to some incredible women who have achieved some really big "firsts" for women.  In this post I will be talking a little bit about Kathrine Switzer.

Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to run a marathon.  She was told that a marathon was too great of a distance to run for a "fragile women".  She didn't believe that it was too much for a woman and so she trained hard and entered the 1967 Boston Marathon as a numbered entry.  She entered under the gender neutral name of K. V. Switzer; even though she has always done this and this was in no way used to fool any officials, it still fooled officials and that is how she was allowed to enter.

During the race, race official Jock Semple tried to stop Switzer from running by trying to push her off the course and grab her bib off of her shirt.  Switzer's boyfriend who was also running the race saw this and shoved the race official to the ground.  Switzer finished the race and proved to everyone that a woman can do anything a man can do.  Five years later women were officially allowed to run in marathons.

Switzer believed in her herself and showed everyone that just because a man says you can't because you are a woman doesn't mean that you actually can't.  You can do anything you set you mind to.  Be unstoppable like Kathrine Switzer and just keep moving forward.

100 Days!

No, I am not about to discuss Trump's 100 days in office.  I am about to discuss the fact that it has been 100 days since the Women's March on Washington!!

It is hard to believe that it has only been 100 days but it has.  I am proud to say that I was a part of the march on New York.  It was an incredible experience and I would definitely recommend it if you have never been to a march.

Even though it may not seem like a lot has happened since then, don't lose faith.  We got our message out there and that is what matters.  Keep speaking out and let your voice be heard.  Remember, you are not alone.  Happy 100!

Pro Women

While I was flipping through photos online, I stumbled across the following quote:

I really like this quote because I think that it is something more people have to believe.  I constantly hear accusations that any woman who is pro women, doesn't like men or totally wants to cut men out of her life.  This isn't true for everyone; just because you want a better world for yourself or for your daughter doesn't mean that you have to cut men out of it.  We must educate men on feminism so that they can better understand what we need and possibly even change their minds on the meaning of being pro women.  If we work together we can change the world for the better.