Abigail
“Wear the clothes you want to wear, eat the food you enjoy, and focus on becoming the best version of yourself you can be.”
Abigail is graceful, gentle and kind. Dance empowers her and compassion motivates her. She cares deeply about the wellbeing of others, so much so that she aspires to make a career out of it. Meet Abigail. This is her story.
P: Please introduce yourself!
A: My name is Abigail - some like to call me Abby! I love nature, biking, trying new recipes to cook or bake, coffee, the band Coldplay, and dance - specifically ballet! Currently, I am working at a child and youth mental health agency with the hopes of becoming a psychologist to help children and families in the community.
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
A: I consider myself to be a compassionate, kind, and positive person. I take kindness and an open mind into whatever I am doing. I care about the people around me and hope to continue to make positive and meaningful impacts on people in my everyday life and career.
P: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
A: My favourite thing about myself is my dedication and empathy. When I set out to achieve something, I persevere and face difficulties head on. I will always try my best to support my personal goals and the people around me.
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that has defined you or made you stronger?
A: Dance and ballet have made me stronger. I have been dancing since I was little. I always loved challenging my body to try a new movement or challenging my mind to remember the choreography and exercises. Ballet is a very frustrating and difficult form of movement and art. Often times it can leave you feeling discouraged and not good enough.
Throughout my years of dancing, I have always persevered and pushed through those difficult moments because dancing and practicing ballet makes me feel like myself. I stopped dancing for a few years, but in the last couple of years I have been able to take some ballet classes at my university fitness centre and now online. I always forget how much I miss it until I start dancing again. It is a hobby and skill I will always work to continue – no matter how busy life gets.
P: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
A: Just be yourself and take life one day at a time. Continue doing what makes you feel happy and be around the people that make you feel loved. Wear the clothes you want to wear, eat the food you enjoy, and focus on becoming the best version of yourself you can be.
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
A: To me, being a woman means to lift yourself and other people up. Women inspire, empathize, and persevere. Women are fierce and unstoppable. You cannot get in the way of a woman’s ambitions and goals. Being a woman means fighting for equality - women will never stop until all women can achieve greatness.
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
A: There are so many women that inspire me. I think that any woman who paves the way for other women is a true inspiration to me. Maya Angelou, Greta Thunberg, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are all women that inspire me.
If I were to meet any of them, I would thank them. I would thank them for their bravery, perseverance, and dedication to making the world a better place and inspiring women along the way.