Building Foundations in Middle School: Grecia’s Story
Standing in front of the mirror, Grecia adjusted her backpack straps for the tenth time, her stomach twisting with a mix of excitement and worry. She’d heard stories about the crowded hallways, the older kids, and all the new rules. She took a deep breath, hoping that today would bring more smiles than stares, more kindness than whispers. According to the National Bullying Prevention Center, 49.8% of tweens experience bullying at school, putting them at risk for mental health issues and lower academic achievements.
This was Grecia, nervous and shy, entering her first day of middle school. Now two years later, entering 7th grade and after two years of weekly PEARLS groups, those worries feel far gone. Your support turns nervous first days into confident first strides.
Donate today to help girls start their journeys with confidence and friendship by their side.
In middle school, girls often become more preoccupied with peer acceptance, learning to tolerate bullying and mask their true selves and interests for the sake of fitting in. This was almost true for Grecia, until she met her best friend in PEARLS. In group, girls are redirected back to themselves. They build self-confidence, gain tools to navigate complex friendships, and develop a sense of purpose. Instead of getting wrapped up in bullying Grecia shared how they like to spend time together:
Left to Right: Grecia and her Program Coordinator after winning PEARLS Girl of the Group. Grecia, her mother, and sister who is a PEARLS Alumna.
By empowering girls early, they are able to retain the confidence most girls lose through adolescence. They go on to challenge societal norms, advocate for themselves, and, eventually, lead with strength and empathy transforming our tomorrow.
Supporting PEARLS means championing that future, one girl at a time.
No one knows this better than parents raising young girls. Beronica is a single mom of four, two of whom are Grecia and Irlanda. After working as a laborer to make ends meet while raising her children, an unexpected cancer diagnosis stoked her to pursue her passions. She went back to school and is now working full-time in her dream career-- education. When asked if her daughters being in PEARLS had any impact on her, she said,
“Through their experience, I have a broader perspective on things. And because of their motivation from the program, the way I talk to them and the way I see them has shifted—I expect more of them. I also witness them seeing women role models that inspire them, and that helps them so much, which in turn, encourages me to show up, be there for them, and keep striving.”
By supporting PEARLS, you’re helping us expand our programming to empower more girls to realize their full potential. You’re supporting girls in learning how to set goals and imagine a future where they’re growing into leaders with a seat at the table—driven, equipped, and ready to make change.
Grecia is young yet she's already building a strong bedrock through PEARLS. When she grows up, she wants to be either a K-3 teacher to help build foundations in children or a criminal defense lawyer to help those who are underprivileged and underrepresented.
Imagine a world where all our girls have the support of PEARLS, encouraged to be true to themselves and to imagine a future where they’re living out their dreams and inspiring change in our community. The Women and Girls Index reports that only 2% of philanthropic spending goes to supporting our girls and women -- and we need this support now more than ever.
We urge you to put your imagination into action by donating to support Grecia and girls like her today, and know that you are transforming our tomorrow.
Thank you for your support,
Tiffany Tardy
President and CEO
PEARLS For Teen Girls