Stories from the Girls

“I started elevateHER this summer. At first I was a bit hesitant with starting this new program. I usually don’t like starting new things. I thought that this was just going to be another program that I would end up quitting after it finished. But, after my first week with elevateHER, I realized it wasn’t going to be another program I would quit. I felt like I was a part of a group. I usually never feel that way with a program. After the first month or less, I got more comfortable with everyone and started having more fun than before. Then came the day we were going to go rafting. Every since forever I have been scared of water. That fear had been making me super nervous and I had not been looking forward to it. Once we had gotten on the river, I was extremely nervous. As the day went on, I realized it wasn’t so bad. I was having lots of fun. As the rafting days went by, I had found that rafting had become one of my favorite things to do. If it wasn’t for elevateHER, I don’t think I ever would have gone rafting. One of the other activites we have done is rock climbing. This activity is another of my favorites. I have learned so many things from climbing. Almost all of it, I would not have learned if it wasn’t for elevateHER. elevateHER has been an amazing program and I am extremely thankful for it.” 

~Clarissa, age 14

“Girls are often portrayed as just pretty faces, meant to be seen and not heard. It happens far too often in our society. And so these women wanted to do something about it. They started elevateHER. I have been part of the program since the start and its already changing me for the better. This fall, they included younger girls, and us three high school girls got an opportunity to be mentors. Its an amazing experience to watch the younger girls grow everyday and teach them what we know. This program doesn’t just teach girls to rock climb or hike or raft. It teaches us that we have power, it teaches us confidence, and most importantly it teaches us that we are all amazing through and through. These wonderful women who have sacrificed free time, and sometimes their sanity, to be with us have been there for all of us, through thick and thin. They put up with our crazy days, or our bad days and everything in between. So ladies, thank you for creating such an amazing program. I’m very honored to say that I”m a part of it and it has changed me for the better.” 

~Melissa, age 14