Meet Ariel, a Girls Inc. alumna who shares how her experience at Girls Inc. helped her find her self-confidence and her career path!

When I think of the shy 10-year-old girl I was when I joined Girls Inc. of Dothan, Alabama, it makes me appreciate just how profoundly Girls Inc. has shaped my path in life.

At Girls Inc., I met several mentors like Dothan’s Executive Director Jaime Lewis-Hale, who helped me break out of my shell and inspired me to set bigger goals for myself. Before coming to Girls Inc., I wouldn’t have imagined going to college, much less attending Georgetown University for graduate school. 

Fun memories from Ariel’s Girls Inc. days.

Through Girls Inc. of Dothan’s annual job shadow day, I had the opportunity to meet Suzanne Woods, who has served as CEO of several hospitals in the area. Girls Inc. always taught me that women could be leaders in male-dominated fields and it was during this time that the message was solidified. I said to myself, “I want that career. That is what I want to do.” I was intrigued by business and medicine, so healthcare administration felt like a natural fit. 

Where I am now

Today, I am the Office Administrator at Trinity Research Group, which runs ophthalmology research trials. I also work part-time as the Physician Liaison and Marketing Coordinator at Surgery Center South. In meetings with different physicians’ offices and community members, I draw on the confidence I built at Girls Inc. Whenever I get nervous or doubt myself, I think back to the time I spoke in front of a packed ballroom at the Girls Inc. New York Luncheon. I tell myself, “If you could do that as a teenager, you can do this now.”

I am so grateful for the life-changing opportunities I’ve had through Girls Inc. from taking part in programming to volunteering as a teen to serving on my affiliate’s board of directors. It means a lot to be seen as a role model for girls, because representation matters; having someone you can relate to makes a huge difference in how you see yourself and your future. 

To every Girls Inc. supporter

Whether you contribute financially, share our messages on social media, volunteer at an affiliate, or simply believe in our mission—I want you to know that you are helping shape a girl’s future. Your support has made a critical difference in my life—and in the lives of thousands of other girls and young women like me.