Rosie, Aged 14

Being a girl means… Today I think so many girls read what they see on the media and think, I need that perfect body or I need to be perfect. But you cannot be perfect. With teachers at school demanding academic excellence on top of what you read in the media, I don’t think there is such thing as a ‘perfect woman’. And especially at my age, girls are so easily swayed by what they read. I think girls should just be happy in their own skin.

The positives are… Well there are the obvious positives like the amazing fashion and make-up and things, which I’m really into at the moment. But in this day and age, I think girls are just as good as boys, if not better. And there are so many more opportunities for girls now. Girls and boys are pretty much treated as equals. I think it’s important for girls to stick together, and have a good group of friends, and that’s what I have. Which I think is what makes being a girl so good, having a group of friends who stick by you no matter what.

The boundaries are… For me, personally, I don’t think there are any.

My ambitions are… To be happy and healthy in the future.

My hopes for the future are… To achieve something and feel successful as an adult.

My fears… Failing. I have never liked failing anything. Whether its just a vocab test in French or an end of year exam. I also hate the feeling of letting people down. That’s why I think I put so much pressure on myself. Everyone always tell me ‘you can’t be good at everything’ which I know, but there’s so much pressure to do well, especially in my school.

I look up to… My grandmother, Lizzie. She is independent, kind and strong. She has always shown me how important it is to be a strong woman. She’s 72 now, but she doesn’t look it at all. She still looks and acts so young, and she has always set an amazing example to me and my brother.

Girls are… Adventurous, challenging and exciting.

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