Congratulations to our graduating seniors and thank you for your work with NeW! We are pleased to spotlight some of our outstanding chapter leaders and members.
Meet Theresa Olohan, President of NeW at the University of Notre Dame and NeW intern.
What were some of your favorite events that you participated in with NeW?
This semester I participated in two NeW events and am looking forward to the rest that we have planned! The first event was hosting my sister Mary Margaret Olohan to come speak about her work as a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The second event was our Notre Dame chapter kickoff event, during which we offered free merchandise and cookies and had a “meet-and-greet” with all of the board members. I loved getting to meet so many nice and enthusiastic young women at the kickoff. It made me feel proud that we were able to start this club on campus and offer a community where like-minded women can come together in such a fun and uplifting way.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am interning at the Heritage Foundation in the Daily Signal department this summer. I am still looking into options for after my internship ends.
What advice would you give to a conservative woman starting college?
I think the most important advice conservative women starting college need to hear is to listen. You’ve heard this too often, but it’s so important! Going into college, I was quick to voice an opinion and get aggressive with people even when I didn’t know all the facts behind a situation. I was so sure that I was right, I didn’t bother to try and help them understand the complexity behind issues, or even try and understand them better myself. That’s why I would suggest conservative college women really study and think about issues before speaking. Learn to listen to what others are saying, hear them out, and be respectful in voicing why and where you disagree.
How has NeW impacted you and prepared you for your next steps?
NeW welcomed me into a network of strong, driven, like-minded women who have been so generous with their support, time, and advice the past several months. Getting to know them and work with them has been such a blessing, and their mentorship and advice have prepared me to lead my own chapter well. NeW has taught me a lot about the conservative cause and helped me to reflect on my own beliefs and why I hold them. Doing research for my internship, having conversations with chapter women and the NeW leadership has helped me think more deeply about the “why” behind important issues.
Through NeW, I believe that I have not only improved basic communication, organizational, and professional skills, but I have also benefited from the friendships and guidance of remarkable women across the country that I otherwise would never have had the opportunity to meet!
Why is NeW important to you?
NeW offers so much to young women. On college campuses, NeW plays a crucial role in creating communities for those who might otherwise be afraid to voice their opinions or talk about important issues for fear of losing friends. It tells women that they have a right to participate in politics and that thinking apart from mainstream values is a good thing. It welcomes women from different backgrounds, majors, and years and shows them that not only can they participate meaningfully in the political realm, but they can also have fun doing it!
I love NeW because it is the perfect balance of serious and fun, and it fills a void on college campuses by encouraging women to think critically, speak intelligently, and to use their skills to help others do the same.
The Network of enlightened Women (NeW) provides premier opportunities for young conservative women like Theresa. Learn how to bring a Chapter of NeW to your campus today!
