“A lot of my life has been trial and error just putting myself out there seeing what works and if it doesn’t I have to find other ways to make it succeed.”
Genesis Gil is one of those name’s you know around campus for being so involved in anything and everything. She is a current senior who served on Senate, was Metaphonian Society president for a semester her junior year, and is currently Program Board Executive director just to name a few things. In everything that Genesis does, she puts a sustainable spin on it in efforts to leave behind a greener campus!
Bella: Hello thank you for joining! For starters can you introduce yourself by saying your name, major, and your involvement around campus?
Genesis: Hi my name is Genesis Gil and I am a fourth year and my major is Environmental Policy through the Whittier Scholars Program. On campus I am involved in many different ways: I am the executive director of Program Board, I am a member of the Methaphonian society where I hold E-Board position of treasurer, and I am Sandford fellow for the Center of Engagements for the community and I believe that is it.
Bella: You also have an on campus at the Office of Student Engagements
Genesis: Oh yes that as well!
Bella: Well definitely a busy gal! So clearly you are very involved around campus and hold many leadership positions. Have you always geared towards leadership positions even before college? Has that always kind if been something that has stood out to you, being a go getter of sorts?
Genesis: Ya I feel like I always have been; I’ve always wanted to be involved so like in high school I was also class treasurer and class vice president so I always made sure to be involved.
Bella: Definitely! Ok so with that being said does a leadership position seem like it would be a part of your future goals career wise, and if so what do those goals look like?
Genesis: Uh-huh so definitely ya because I feel I have always had that need of being involved and in these positions of leadership and mostly feel like I have done that because if I want to see something done in a certain way I want to be the one spearheading that, and I just want to see things actually happen. So in the future my career aspirations/ goals is to work in the government as an elected official, whether that be as a senator, as a government representative, but yes it definitely has translated into my future goals.
Bella: Big goals for sure! So with goals like that and aiming high that is definitely a quality needed for these roles because you have to know you are capable of making these things happen. Have there ever been any barriers for you, maybe not specifically gender related because I will touch more on that later, but have there been any barriers that have made it hard for you to get where you are trying to get in these positions?
Genesis: Ya definitely I feel like one of the biggest things with that would be that I am a first generation student. My parents don’t have any real education even from their own countries. They went to maybe like first and second grade but that was it; they didn’t finish elementary. That has been a huge obstacle for me. My parents don’t get how this all works or how to help prepare me for anything so that has always been one of the biggest challenges I have faced. A lot of my life has been trial and error just putting myself out there seeing what works and if it doesn’t I have to find other ways to make it succeed.
Bella: Do you feel like having that as an obstacle has also pushed you into these leadership positions and actively wanting to try different things?
Genesis: I would think ya. I feel like that has driven me to aspire for all these huge things and make everything worth it for them. I want to show them what they did, coming out here and putting their blood, sweat, and tears into this and is going to pay off. I am doing this for them and that has driven me to succeed.
Bella: Being a young woman have there been any disadvantages you feel you have faced in regards to getting where you want to be? Have there been situations where you feel you’ve been looked down on or faced any inequality based on your gender or being a woman with ambitions.
Genesis: So thankfully I feel like in everything I have done in my journey here I have been surrounded by other great women who are also very powerful and really made a name for themselves so that I have never really faced any huge obstacles or challenges. I feel like there is always that underlying factor where women are not believed in as much and they always doubt women’s abilities, their decisions, and their knowledge as well as being always undermined. There is always that sense of doubt where I’m like “can I do this?”. Thankfully, like I said, I have always been surrounded by amazing women and amazing people that I’ve never actually experienced something so bad like that.
Bella: That’s great! Also being that I do know you and who you are I know you wouldn’t really let any of things affect you or let them get in the way of what you are trying to do. That being said a lot of gender stereotypes come into play for women taking on leadership roles. Do you ever feel like you have to be more submissive when in a group of other leaders; like more quiet or held back? Do you find yourself conforming to any of these gender stereotypes of in reverse doing anything against these norms by being more out there or outspoken?
Genesis: I feel like along the lines of that. I often find myself being too quiet in order to avoid conflict and then not voicing my opinions. I have definitely found myself to be submissive in those instances where I’d rather just not talk about it and it just happens. Society has definitely conditioned me to act that way because I often think things and don’t voice them and then think about after how things could be different had I voiced my opinions.
Bella: I feel that is definitely one of the hardest issues women in leadership positions face because whether intentional or not it’s hard to speak up sometimes in a room full of people who aren’t interested in hearing you out
Bella: Ok lastly are there any women leaders in your field or in general that you look up to or look at for inspiration?
Genesis: Not necessarily in my field. I’d say Michelle Obama! Everything she does and everything she stands up for is so empowering and I really look up to her. I want to be like her and make a name for myself like she has for herself. Hmm who else?
Bella: I know others have brought women like AOC or activists that do work they are passionate about..
Genesis: Oh yes Alexandria Ocasio Cortez has definitely made a name for herself and she doesn’t give a f*ck about what others have to say about her or her opinions. She really is an inspiration for young women of color that anything is possible and I love her for that. She is just so radical
Bella: I guess that is all thank you so much for partaking today
Genesis has had to face many hardships to become the leader that she is today. Learning from trial and error she was able to learn how to stand up for herself in order to get her voice heard and get things done as efficiently as possible. With a passion for the environment, Genesis is actively trying to cause change in our everyday living and continues to strive for sustainability in every way possible.
