Inspiring stories of female leadership and their lasting impact

WRITTEN BY Marlo Fong GRAPHICS BY Sarah Byrne Bautista & Zachary Neitz

// Did you know 90% of this year’s Las Lomas leadership officers are women? In addition, multiple clubs aimed at uplifting women in various fields exist in the Las Lomas community, as female empowerment plays a significant role at the school. A leader is someone who inspires others to achieve a common goal. Some inspiring leaders include seniors Hailey Nelson, Izzy Garcia, and Sophia Arietta, all of whom have leadership and have made an impact at Las Lomas.

Pictured: Hailey Nelson

Hailey Nelson is the Las Lomas Associated Student Body (ASB) president and a leader of the Female Athletics Board (FAB). She earned her position as ASB president from a lasting inclination towards leadership, which started when she first ran for class president in the fifth grade. Being motivated at a young age came with many challenges as an ambitious female leader. “I think the biggest challenge I face as a female leader is probably initially not having my ideas heard by people, especially in male-dominated settings,” said Nelson. Nelson’s work on the development of FAB has fostered a female-driven community of student-athletes. “I hope to leave a legacy of empowerment and inclusivity at Las Lomas, and especially through FAB, I hope it inspired girls to keep bettering the female athletic programs here at Las Lomas,” said Nelson. A project that her program is working towards facilitating is an event this coming year where young girls can come to campus and try out the various sports Las Lomas offers. “I think the hardest part about becoming a leader is initially putting yourself out there for others to like, listen, and follow,” said Nelson. She encourages everyone to pursue being a leader and not to doubt themselves if they have a passion. 

Pictured: Izzy Garcia

President of the Women in Engineering Club at Las Lomas, Izzy Garcia, showcases her leadership qualities through the club. Garcia has been a member for four years, becoming president in her junior year. During Garcia’s freshman and sophomore years, she felt the club lacked motivation. The club’s scarcity of meetings and activities inspired her to make a difference. “I kind of just wanted to make a change to how the club ran. And also, just like incorporating more engineering-like elements,” said Garcia. After taking charge, she implemented more experiments and hands-on activities in the club. Garcia wanted to create a space where women could explore their interests in STEM without feeling isolated. As a female in STEM, Garcia finds feeling unrepresented a challenge. “What I really want to do as a woman in engineering is just to bond a diversity because, like, that has been a challenge for me to just, like, be able to put myself into kind of like a male-dominated space,” said Garcia. She is passionate about promoting diversity and encourages other aspiring leaders to make an effort and advises students to take risks. Garcia admits to what most people can relate to: the feeling of not knowing what you are doing. However, she learned that leadership is essential in the learning process. 

Pictured: Sophia Arietta

Sophia Arietta is the President of the Women’s Wellness Initiative and Senior Class Treasurer. She was inspired to lead the Women’s Wellness Initiative in her junior year as she felt there was a growing need to address the women who lack access to their wellness needs. Her Vice President, Christina Wong, also played a big role in the club’s growth. “The mission is to promote women’s health and well-being at Las Lomas and then also in the Bay Area community as a whole,” said Arietta. The assumptions of being a female leader come as a struggle for Arietta and many young women worldwide. Oftentimes, she said, when female leaders show empathy or strong emotion, it can be misinterpreted as weakness. “Stay focused on why you’re passionate about this issue, and then don’t let anyone tell you differently or tell you that your impact is, like, not gonna be great enough,” said Arietta. She encourages all young female leaders to listen to themselves and surround themselves with people who support them. 

Becoming a leader requires passion, dedication, and responsibility. These young women at Las Lomas were motivated to make a change within their community and had to take a step out of their comfort zone. For future leaders wondering where to start, taking a risk is the first step to making change.