*Samantha Sheanin

NiSh’ma

This summer, I struggled to find space for myself as a woman whose voice and role as a teen community leader was challenged by a man. In seeking to be elected president of a regional youth group, I had given a speech encouraging female empowerment to the young women I was aiming to serve. Upon being elected, I found myself facing daily criticism and degrading comments from my male counterpart. This individual left no space for my work or input, and I allowed him to take that space from me.