Women writing history: Texas State students making small changes for the greater well-being of their peers

By Marisol Camargo

Blog Content Contributor

SAN MARCOS — Two students from Texas State share how women role models have inspired them to strive for better while they balance their personal lives with their academic responsibilities.

Abby Myers and Grace Ting are both freshmen and part of the student council. Myers is a government senator, freshman council vice president and treasurer for the law society. Ting is also part of the student government and a senator.

As full-time students, they must keep up with their classes. Being part of the student council also has extra responsibilities like attending meetings, keeping up with campus events, and writing and passing legislation.

What motivates them?

Ting shares that she has been in student council since high school and wanted to continue throughout college. She heard about some issues within the dorms and did some research which is when she decided to join the student council.

“I also heard problems within the university that I wanted to better,” said Ting.

Ting helped pass legislation about putting cameras in the parking garages and dorms. Students had problems with people entering the parking garages, opening their car doors, and breaking things. No one could do anything about it until the legislation was passed.

There is a saying, “Behind a great man, there is a great woman.” For Myers and Ting, “behind a great woman is another great woman.”

Ting shared that two of her role models are her high school mentor and Abby Myers. She still stays in contact with her mentor and says that every time she feels overwhelmed, she goes to her, and together, they try to find a solution to what she is going through.

Ting expressed her admiration for Myers as well.

“I admire her so much, the way she helps others and the way she also cares about the university,” said Ting.

Myers’ role model is her mom. She described her mom’s upbringing as “tumultuous,” despite her circumstances, she managed to raise five children and homeschool them while working as a police dispatcher.

“It doesn’t matter what circumstances you’re born into. You are the one that gets to choose where your life path goes,” said Myers.

Women in the past were seen as inferior to men and meaningless. Some men saw women’s abilities to feel empathy or be caregivers as weaknesses, therefore not being able to participate in roles such as lawyers, news reporters or teachers.

Ting says that one ability she has as a woman she is most proud of is being an empathetic listener and a persuasive speaker. “I just want to see everyone come together as one and not be separated and learn from each other.”

Myers says her ability to empathize with others is her most proud trait. To say I have no idea what you are going through, but I am here for you is a valuable aspect of a woman’s emotional intelligence. Women in the past have changed history, but Myers said, “We are still creating it.”

Changing the world can be an overwhelming task, but anyone can make a positive change within their friend group, family and community.

“You are still operating in a movement even if you’re not the loudest one,” said Myers.