Mayor Strickland’s visit began with a small-group discussion with a number of Upper School girls over lunch, followed up by an 8^th grade through 12^th grade town hall type meeting, including a question and answer session.

 

A question she was asked by a student was, what factors made you validate your decision to run for office? “When you run for office, or are applying for a job, it is an ad campaign for yourself. Look at what you have accomplished, look at who has the job right now, and see how you stack up. If they are qualified, I know I am”, Mayor Strickland stated.

 

Upper School teacher, Bridgette McGoldrick asked Mayor Strickland if her gender has been an asset or a hindrance in her position of power. Mayor Strickland answered candidly, “You can’t deny gender has an impact. When people think about mayor, it doesn’t look like me. There is a different notion of what power looks like. When looked in the context in young woman, you must have a belief you are as qualified as someone else. Change the way you think about power.”

 

The message of empowerment is one that AnnieTalks hoped to receive from the mayor, “She is the face of our city where we all either live or attend school,” Alexis Sullivan stated, “She is inspiring as a woman in power who overcame many social prejudices.”

 

Mayor Strickland’s overall message to Annie Wright Students was one that any one of them could hold her position in the future, and that no one is predestined to any single path. “I am impressed with the level of expectations you all have for yourselves”, Mayor Strickland said. “So much in life is built on the expectations you set for yourselves.”

 

The opportunity for Annie Wright Schools Students to meet with someone with as much meaning in the local community as Mayor Marilyn Strickland is one that doesn’t come around often, and it was an opportunity enjoyed by all involved.