As the academic year is coming to a close, NeW wants to take some time to recognize our members who are graduating this semester to thank them for their hard work and dedication to our organization. This spotlight is highlighting Sonia Nemani from The George Washington University.
How has NeW impacted you and prepared you for your next steps?
I don’t think there are enough ways to express how much NeW has impacted who I am now and where I am going. I didn’t have a single conservative friend growing up, and when I moved to college I swore I would never tell anyone. When I saw that there was an organization for conservative women, I decided to take the chance and join. If I had never done that, I would not be the confident woman I am today. I have learned to believe in myself and in the ways that I think, as well as how to express those beliefs. Being on the e-board since freshman year and learning to grow our chapter into one of the biggest chapters in the organization has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career. I have learned so many skills that I am always trying to pass down to our new members who will be taking over the chapter now. I hope that I can always be someone who the younger members can look up to and feel more confident about themselves and not feel like they have to hide their conservative views. I have learned how to strengthen my relationships, my professional life, and my skills through NeW and I will always be grateful for every event I attended, every meeting I helped organized, every speaker event I helped make happen, and every person I met through NeW.
What advice would you give to a conservative woman starting college?
Take the chance and go to that conservative organization on your campus. I know it can be nerve wracking and especially in college a lot of women are scared to tell anyone if they are conservative out of the fear of losing friendships or having bad roommate relationships. But, you have to believe in what you do and give yourself the space to express your opinion. I promise if you go to one meeting, you will meet people who feel the same way you do, and you will also meet older members who learned how to overcome that and begin to become better at expressing your opinions.
