We asked UNC students: How do the women in your life inspire you?

Women’s Month is a time to recognize the inspirational women who have helped us get where we are today — but 31 days doesn’t seem long enough to memorialize and give recognition to women all around the world.

Rosa Parks didn’t surrender her seat to a white passenger when ordered. Amelia Earhart showed she didn’t need a man when she flew solo across the Atlantic. J.K Rowling inspired the imaginations of millions with the stroke of her pen. Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross and, in turn, saved thousands of lives. Michelle Obama impressed millions with her strength, grace, and passion as first lady of the United States. 

There are inspirational women surrounding us, and it only takes a glance to notice the difference they are making in the world.

We took to the streets to find out what women are inspiring UNC students.

---

Krista Bellamy 

Junior computer science and peace, war, and defense major from Longview, Texas 

“I feel like it’s just really hard to pick one woman because I just feel like the way life works in general is you’re influenced by many people, and I know personally I’ve been influenced by many women. My piano teacher (Jan Forester) — I went through some really hard things my senior year of high school between family issues and other things, and she was really inspirational with how she connected. She was an absolute inspiration just in general. I would love to be her one day.” 

---

Bailey Elrod 

First-year dramatic art major from Waxhaw, North Carolina 

“I guess this is a stereotypical answer, but I definitely look up to my mom — she’s a total badass. She’s been through a whole heck of a lot in her life, and she continues to encourage me to pursue my own dreams with what she does. She’s been in the horseback industry for a long time; she’s a horseback riding instructor. She teaches riding lessons and, like, feeds horses and clean stalls and does cool stuff like that. It’s an unorthodox career, but she’s made a point to make it her life so she encourages me to do the same thing.”

---

Samantha Cheek 

Senior biology major from Jonesville, North Carolina 

“(My mom's) really hardworking. She’s always taught me to be hardworking, dedicated, to never stop pushing for my dreams; she always pushes me. She’s always just set a really good example for me as a woman. She’s always taught me to put myself out there and not to be afraid of anything. I think that’s really important; a lot of women kind of get pushed aside and get put down and are kind of told to hide their potential.”

---

Bianca Wu

First-year health policy management major from Doylestown, Pennsylvania 

“I would also say my mom. I think she went through a lot. My mom came from China with no money and came to the U.S. looking for opportunities. She worked really hard, went to Temple University and got her master's and worked really hard to work at Bloomberg and Pennsylvania Stock Exchange. Yeah, she just told me hard work will get you somewhere successful."

Here’s to the women whose voices were silenced, here’s to the women who never had the chance to pursue their dreams, here’s to the women inspiring younger generations today, here’s to the women being inspired and here’s to the women who will continue to inspire for many years to come.

@JordanKatlyn97

swerve@dailytarheel.com