Written by Emma Weber

Grandmother (n): the mother of one’s father or mother.

There’s a joke that the women in my family live forever. It seems likely; both my great grandmothers lived past 102, and my Mimi finally stopped whitewater rafting at 70. She lives with her boyfriend in western Kansas while my Grandma Williams moved into an independent living facility to be closer to friends after my step-grandpa, Martin, passed.

Grandma Williams and I walk around her building and talk about the food in her retirement home and the people she lives with. When I was younger, she took me to nature camps at the zoo where I explored different kinds of bugs. My favorite was always the ladybug.

Women even dominate the gene pool: I have five boy cousins and 13 girl cousins. Some of my craziest memories with my Mimi and cousins come from the ski trip we took when I was about seven. My cousin Gabi and I played a made-up ninja game while learning to ski. Gabi taught me the importance of sharing secrets and slowing down on the slopes.

Sister (n), 1: a woman or girl in relation to other daughters and sons of her parents.

I was the third daughter to my parents. My oldest sister Hallie is the one who directed the shows, and Laura and I were her minions. That was until I decided to give up the limelight and focus my efforts on my true passion: chaos. My sisters and I took a brief hiatus in our friendship when my older sisters got to middle school. I didn’t pursue close relationships with them until I was in college. Maybe this was because when we were kids we didn’t have the patience to translate our personal languages to other people. Maybe it’s because we were just kids and we didn’t realize the magnitude of being a sister. I am glad we found each other again.

Sister (n), 2: a close female friend or associate, especially a female fellow member of a labor union or other organization.

It is cheesy, but I truly met some of my dearest friends through the social club process. Even my friends that didn’t end up in the same jersey are bonded with me through sisterhood. My roommates, Ellie and Grace, are the women who motivate me most in life. One of my “littles,” Bailey, encourages me to exemplify Christ in all areas, even if I don’t want to. She calls me to a higher standard; she is one of my people.

If you ever have the honor of attending a Delta Nu meeting, you will feel the power of being loved and loving others.

Mother (n): a woman in relation to her child or children.

My mom and I have always bumped against each other. She has shaped me and my sisters into the strong women we are today. For most of my childhood, my house was filled with only women during the times my dad was deployed. I remember my mom driving all over town to take my sisters and me around to the different activities we were involved in. She gave up her time to make sure we had the tools to be capable and independent. She also exemplified what it means to wrestle with faith.

Sometimes when you uncover something about the world, it feels like the floor is being pulled out from underneath you. The other day, for example, I learned that the way we see colors is actually just a perception of the light waves that are being reflected by the object we are looking at. I like to think about the women who have paved the way for me and who have walked beside me. I absorb the lessons their love has taught me and reflect it out in the same way.

Women’s history month starts today. I hope you take time to reflect on the women who have shaped you and choose to embody their spirit in your actions.