This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at App State chapter.
Name: Katie Hamilton
Major: Advertising
Class: Senior
(Katie featured on the left)
Q: How did you win the Glamour magazine contest?
A: Glamour was hosting a sweepstakes through their Twitter account and I simply retweeted a picture of Malala Yousafzai, one of their twelve Women of the Year honorees. Two weeks later I received a message from them that I had won their sweepstakes and would be going to New York City on November 11th!
Q: What events did you attend?
A: I got to attend to the 2014 Glamour Women of the Year Awards!
Q: What celebrities were there?
A: So many big names were in Carnegie Hall that night! A few that really stood out we’re Seth Meyers, Lady Gaga, Lena Dunham, Oscar de la Renta, Katie Couric, Lily Collins, Barbara Streisand and Hillary Rodham Clinton!
Q: What was your favorite part of the event?
A: That’s so hard to answer, every woman honored that night was remarkably inspiring. However, my favorite acceptance speech was given by Malala Yousafzai. She was only 15 years old when she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman while on her school bus in Pakistan. Now a 16 year old survivor and education activist, she has more wisdom than those three times her age. That night she said, “I believe that a gun has no power at all. Because a gun can only kill. But a pen can give life. A pen can save life.” Malala made me realize how lucky I am to be able to attend a four year university and taught me to value the fact that my country supports educating women rather than hinder it.
Q: What is one important thing you took from the event?
A: I left the event with even higher expectations for my own future. If these women could make such a difference in the communities surrounding them and even in the nation, why couldn’t I? They inspired me to continue being an optimistic person and always have a big heart even when the outside world can sometimes be cruel. I’ll never forget what Gabby Giffords said that night, “Strong women get things done! Be passionate. Be courageous. Be your best.”