Richards High School marked Women’s History Month with a new initiative Wednesday as students gathered for the school’s first Women’s Workshop, an event designed to connect young women with professionals from a variety of career fields.
The workshop, organized by the Richards High School Feminism Club, took place during the final two periods of the school day and featured 18 guest speakers who shared their professional experiences and advice with students.
Joyce Cruse, moderator of the school’s Feminism Club and a teacher of AP U.S. History and AP European History, said the idea for the workshop grew out of a similar event held last year.
“Last year we did a panel of speakers for Women’s History Month, but there wasn’t enough time for one-on-one conversations,” Cruse said. “So we created a new format this year that would allow students to interact more personally with our speakers.”
Teachers across the school were asked to nominate one student to attend the event. After gathering in a large group for introductions, each speaker shared a brief overview of their background along with one piece of advice for the young women in attendance.
Among the panelists was Caroline Skender, senior manager of device marketing for T-Mobile, who encouraged students to have confidence in themselves and their accomplishments.
“Whatever room you find yourself in, whether it be a university classroom or a board room, know that your hard work and experience got you there,” Skender said. “Don’t second guess yourself and know that you always belong.”
Following the introductions, students broke into smaller groups organized by professional fields such as medical, business and law. The smaller setting allowed students to ask questions, discuss career paths and learn more about the day-to-day realities of different professions.
Cruse said the goal was to give students exposure to a wide range of possibilities for their futures.
“I think it’s important for the young women of Richards High School to be exposed to many different careers and to recognize what is possible for them to achieve with their lives,” she said.
The workshop also highlighted an ongoing mentorship initiative within the Feminism Club. Twelve of the speakers already serve as mentors to members of the club, offering guidance and support to students throughout the school year. The remaining six speakers were recommended by staff members or students who believed they would offer valuable insight and inspiration.
Students said the event offered a meaningful opportunity to hear firsthand from women who have navigated different professional paths.
Kennedi Hall, a senior and president of the Feminism Club, said the speakers shared valuable lessons about resilience.
“I learned there are many ups and downs, no matter what field you go into, but it’s always best to persevere,” Hall said. “If need be, you can always pivot and choose another path, but always where your heart leads you.”
Sam Watt, a senior and the club’s officer of records, said the workshop also emphasized the importance of support systems.
“I learned it’s important to be part of a community with strong people in it,” Watt said. “Talking about your future can be difficult, but if you have people with you who have been through the same experiences, that can help you along the way.”
Jocelyn Lemus, a senior and the club’s social media manager, said it was encouraging to see women represented in many different professions.
“I learned that, across all fields of work, women can generally do anything that they put their minds to,” Lemus said. “We had a carpenter and someone from the police force here today. That was really nice to see. As long as you put your mind to it and have confidence, you can do whatever you put your mind to.”
By shifting from a traditional panel discussion to a more interactive format, organizers said they hoped students would leave the event with not only advice, but also meaningful connections and a broader view of what their futures could hold.