By Rachel Sotomayor 

Contributor

To be a woman in contemporary American society means being adaptable, independent, strong and intelligent.

I have found that there are many ways a woman can succeed in different areas of her life, but we must chose and carve out that path ourselves. As a veteran from the U.S. Military, I experienced times when I needed to balance physical and mental toughness, while also maintaining emotional clarity.

Despite my early concepts of what I thought being a woman meant, I forged a new way of thinking and developing into a woman. I do not need to suppress parts of my thinking, feeling or being just because I am a woman. In contrast, I can highlight my abilities and share my experiences with other females.

By being true to myself as an individual, I am better able to raise up and support other women in our society. Women in our society are threads woven into a beautiful tapestry, each brings their own influence and experiences to the masterpiece. To be a woman in contemporary America, it is critical that we lift each other up with equality, kindness and support.

Too often I’ve experienced situations where women felt the need to compete with each other for resources, validation or partners. When we belittle one another, we make it a harder struggle on us all. In American culture, we have the ability to validate ourselves and then be an example to other females, no matter what their age. As a veteran, student, partner, sister and friend, I can be the very best woman I can be, simply by believing in myself and continuing to strive to be the best me.