Meet Jane Zou

One of my fondest childhood memories is watching movies with my family, particularly 50s and 60s films from when my grandparents were around my age. Audrey Hepburn's character in Roman Holiday piqued my interest. I didn’t yet know the difference between fiction and reality, so I thought that she was indeed a princess, who knew how to balance responsibility and humor. When I discovered her UNICEF work as a children’s rights activist while researching for a school project, I felt hopeful that girls like me could appreciate a kind-hearted humanitarian’s commitment to bettering her community. Audrey Hepburn inspired my interest in history and advocacy in general.

In November 2008, when I barely understood the concepts of democracy and government, I scribbled a craft foam ballot for Barack Obama in our kindergarten mock election. Perhaps I was inspired by my love of the color blue or the fact that he looked markedly different from the previous 43 presidents. In retrospect, it was my admiration for Michelle: the strikingly confident woman I saw on TV, whose initiatives introduced a salad bar and 60 minutes of daily physical education to my school. I recently read her memoir, Becoming; I’m in awe of how vulnerable her soul-searching is and how much compassion she has. Michelle’s journey reminds me that pivoting and planning are two sides of the same coin, and that being hard-working will one day be rewarded when I value my education and happiness first.

The process of finishing a math problem is infuriatingly simple, yet I can never bring myself to complete it smoothly. I already know the answer, or at least an online search or a calculator does. However, that time spent at peak concentration is when I feel like my most authentic self. Whether it is a syntax error in my code or a drawer in my room that needs organization, I throw myself into the task because the thrill of completion and understanding is worth it. The version of me who is devoted and willing to explore all possibilities is the version who knows what I want and how to get it.

I look forward to mentoring girls from my community who feel unrepresented or unsupported. Coming from a city that values a holistic portfolio of extracurriculars and leadership, it can feel stifling when their network is of competitors rather than friends. I want to be the big sister I never had the opportunity to confide in, as well as an example of what kindness for others looks like and of the tangible results that come with mutual respect between collaborators. Exploring and appreciating works by women and people of color creates a mosaic of experiences that enrich everyone’s perception of what beauty the world has to offer. I encourage the next generation to go beyond the classroom and into the community, identify areas for improvement, and be the change.

Apart from school activities and swimming, opportunities for meeting girls my age were few and far between. But at Girls Inc., I met not only my classmates but peers from other high schools. Everyone in the summer externship program was motivated to explore their future careers; everyone in the advocacy program was inspired to learn more about how to make a difference. Though I‘d never thought of myself as the type to lobby or code, my experience with Girls Inc. proved that I am capable and driven. When I thanked my program coordinators for the care packages they sent to every local alumna after the College Bound shower, they responded that the Girls Inc. programming itself is not what I should be thanking. They said that all girls can realize their potential academically, physically, and personally when they take advantage of what makes them intrinsically strong, smart, and bold.

My mission is to illustrate how a girl’s perception of herself is crucial in how she evaluates success. Girls Inc. prompted me to pursue my passion first: storytelling through data science. Without that initial push to be introspective, it’s difficult to say whether I would be confident enough to live my own life. I hope that as a Brand Ambassador, my perspective on how adults can empower girls will continue the wealth of knowledge flowing to the future leaders of the world.