Iranian Women Club

At Hawken, I have worked to raise awareness for Iranian women during the past year. I founded the club We Stand With Iranian Women at my school. The majority of our discussion focused on politics and the current situation in Iran. Mahsa Amini, age 21, was assassinated by the Iranian Morality Police on September 16, 2022, because she had worn her hijab incorrectly and some of her hair was visible. Protests then broke out both in Iran and all over the world. My dad, an Iranian, and my mother, a Colombian, told me about this. My parents are both immigrants, so I was exposed to political issues as a child and became aware of the world at a young age. We haven't spoken to some of my family members in 30 years; they are seeking safety as asylum seekers. It was disappointing that I hadn't had the chance to meet those family members sooner when we just were able to reconnect with them. As a result of war and politics, my family has gone through a lot and suffered. These personal connections inspire me to learn more about the world and what I can do to raise awareness, especially among those who are not personally involved. I hope that my involvement in clubs and interest groups will inspire students at Hawken to care about other issues in the world and not just think about the countries they are connected to.