Darya. Senior. Sister. Rower. Future Olympian It was hard finding a time to sit down with Darya N. between practice, school work and senior year. For the last four years, Darya has rowed on PCR, Philadelphia City Rowing. With intensive practices, rain and other inclement weather be damned, everyday but Sunday, race day, Darya has a full schedule. She makes time for family and her shows like Scandal, but she's the kind of person who goes for a run on her day off. She's SLA's Lit Lab Yogi; Sun Salutations are her specialty. |
Darya inspires me. She sits calmly, smiling, blushing, and laughing at some of my questions, but the passion she has for what she does is immense and does not fail to burn through.
Her inspirations range from documentaries, Tumblr quotes, anything that makes her think and shows her a possibility.
I ask her what motivates her:
"Setting goals for myself , attainable, but also just far enough out of my reach to stay motivated, in everything, school, home, at practice is how I stay motivated and working."
She's on PCR's Varsity Women's team and she accredits their esteem because she feels they are most dedicated because they've had to work hard to be taken seriously.
Her inspirations range from documentaries, Tumblr quotes, anything that makes her think and shows her a possibility.
I ask her what motivates her:
"Setting goals for myself , attainable, but also just far enough out of my reach to stay motivated, in everything, school, home, at practice is how I stay motivated and working."
She's on PCR's Varsity Women's team and she accredits their esteem because she feels they are most dedicated because they've had to work hard to be taken seriously.
- "I’ve seen a lot of famous women rowers and they show how much a woman can do. Tougher and stronger than average men. That stereotype of women being fragile is completely broken."
In the same manner that these rowers disprove patriarchal society's notion of women, she feels that these "givens" in society should be called out and shunned.
"We don’t live in a time when women stay home and cook, so there are no connections to these stereotypes. Let them go."
Disclaimer:
Please understand that my definition of any true social acceptance is not assimilation. Yes, women are seen as homebodies in society , pretty fragile faces, and female athletes are a great counter to this belief, but women have a special magic about them (and so do men). When it is preconceived of how you should act or who you should be, the image of who you truly are becomes cloudy and may never shine through.
Athletics are a great way to stay healthy and push yourself, everyone should try everything and there should be no stigma. But that does not mean "womanly" things should be thrown to the side. Figure out what you like.
In the words of Janelle Monae, "embrace what makes you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable".
Please understand that my definition of any true social acceptance is not assimilation. Yes, women are seen as homebodies in society , pretty fragile faces, and female athletes are a great counter to this belief, but women have a special magic about them (and so do men). When it is preconceived of how you should act or who you should be, the image of who you truly are becomes cloudy and may never shine through.
Athletics are a great way to stay healthy and push yourself, everyone should try everything and there should be no stigma. But that does not mean "womanly" things should be thrown to the side. Figure out what you like.
In the words of Janelle Monae, "embrace what makes you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable".
More from Darya:
Fill-in-the-Blank Section:
Feminism will have worked its magic when_______
anyone can do anything do anything and it not be called a 'girl' thing or a 'guy' thing"
The most important thing I've learned about myself in high school_______
"Becoming more confident in who I am, SLA's projects forced me into public speaking, now I can stand in front of a class with ease."
When she's on the water,_____
"leaves the rest on land" (she told me not to put this one lol)
Funny story about rowing______
One time we flipped an 8 (8 passenger crew boat).There were these 2 girls that were kind-of new, they let go of their oars while we were turning and the boat capsized. We had to swim to shore and the entire river saw us.
Words to live by______
"Eat chocolate when you feel sad "
Works by Darya:
Darya's Modern Day de Tocqueville Chapter on Gender Equality
Fill-in-the-Blank Section:
Feminism will have worked its magic when_______
anyone can do anything do anything and it not be called a 'girl' thing or a 'guy' thing"
The most important thing I've learned about myself in high school_______
"Becoming more confident in who I am, SLA's projects forced me into public speaking, now I can stand in front of a class with ease."
When she's on the water,_____
"leaves the rest on land" (she told me not to put this one lol)
Funny story about rowing______
One time we flipped an 8 (8 passenger crew boat).There were these 2 girls that were kind-of new, they let go of their oars while we were turning and the boat capsized. We had to swim to shore and the entire river saw us.
Words to live by______
"Eat chocolate when you feel sad "
Works by Darya:
Darya's Modern Day de Tocqueville Chapter on Gender Equality