During this election year, I've seen stories that young people may not turn out in large numbers for either presidential candidate. That's too bad.
I can't vote because I am too young, but I want to be a leader and Girl Scouts is helping me to do that. I think our country needs more and more leaders, and the next president of the United States should help girls reach their full potential because our country is going to need them.
So I want the candidates for president to know that we want their help. I want the candidates to know that there are some girls who are opting out of leadership, and we HAVE to take action. We have to support these girls by making sure they have adults to look up to when they need help. We have to support girls by encouraging them in preparing for a bright and happy future. We have to support these girls by helping them to succeed in whatever they choose to do in life.
I'm lucky. I found Girl Scouts and it has given me the chance to do things I could never have imagined. I got the opportunity to earn a Gold Award, the highest achievement there is for a Girl Scout, even though I am just 14, and to be part of the Rock the Mall, the big Girl Scout 100th anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C., that involved 250,000 Girl Scouts from around the country. It was awesome. I've gotten to do all of this and I'm not even 15 years old yet.
But not every girl has the opportunity to be a Girl Scout. Not every girl has the incredible leadership opportunities I have had -- but they should. Every girl should have the opportunity to do great things in her life. So I'm speaking up for all girls. I am calling on you now, Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney, when you are listening to what people want, when you are deciding what's important, when you are debating ideas: Make supporting and empowering girls a priority.
Girls are important. We are the future. We want your help and support to make the world a better place. And Mr. President and Mr. Presidential Candidate, we will. But only if you (and all of us) support girls across the nation and make them a priority because when girls succeed, so does society.
Hareem Fatima Abdullah is Girl Scout Senior from Sterling, Virginia, and member of the Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capitol. She was one of dozens of girls who produced public service announcements for the presidential candidates on the issues they should focus on as part of the Girl Scouts Speak Out project.
 |
 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
For example, the American economy. I can say from experience, in my high school, I have not. I have educated myself on the topic. Many people don't understand why or how these economic problems began. People are angry because they cannot support themselves and are trying to find a scapegoat. It has been shown time and time again that people will point fingers at whomever seems to be the reason for a problem, whether that person, group, or issue really is the source.
The education of women and girls truly is important. But by taking a step back and looking objectively, education of all Americans, regardless of age, is severely important no matter what the issue may be. These issues and facts will determine the future of all Americans, especially teens my age. We are entrusting our future to the voters this November. It is a little alarming to think that the people choosing the future President and making decisions that will dictate my life are not fully educated in the matters that will fall into my hands as an adult. The education of all American citizens is more important than just girls.
Systematic exclusion of women from access to schooling and the labor force translates into a less educated workforce, inefficient allocation of labor, lost productivity, and consequently diminished progress of economic development. Evidence across countries suggests that countries with better gender equality are more likely to have higher economic growth.
The benefits of women’s education go beyond higher productivity for 50 percent of the population. More educated women also tend to be healthier, participate more in the formal labor market, earn more income, have fewer children, and provide better health care and education to their children, all of which eventually improve the well-being of all individuals and lift households out of poverty. These benefits also transmit across generations, as well as to their communities at large.
There are some girls who are opting out of leadership, and we need to reach out to them. We need to let them know that we're here for them and to do that we need to turn ourselves outward and address the world about our movement.
This is not rocket science. This is not a problem that is unsolvable that we have to invent something new. It just takes political will. Women are not the problem, we are the solution. Because when girls succeed so does society and together we can make sure that the legacy of Girl Scouting will never end.