Somewhere out there, a little girl watching this inauguration will make history

On November 4, 2008 when Obama defeated Republican presidential nominee John McCain, I had just turned 14.

If you’re a woman, you know the formative years between the ages of 13 and 18 are some of the hardest to live through.

You’re not yet a woman, but you’ve started to recognize the difference between you and the boys you used to be friends with.

You realize you are no longer to hang out with them, but instead, work to impress them — to prove to them you are worth their time.

Now, 22, I sit at my desk in our newsroom watching Donald J Trump as he is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.

A news room I fear I would not be in, had I not spent those formative years under Obama.

Under Obama, I was taught to fight for what I knew I deserved, and that I was wildly capable of making any dream a reality.

Right now, there is another little girl out there. She’s watching this inauguration and dreaming of how she will do things differently.

Having Trump in-office does not mean it’s no longer worth the fight. Girls now will have to fight longer and harder than I did, but they will come out stronger in the end.

Obama taught me more than how to respect myself as a business woman — he taught me to own my sexuality. He reminded me that everything about me belongs to me.

When I was 13, I was horrified at the prospect of being a girl. Now, I wouldn’t give it up for the world. I love being a woman. I love knowing that when I achieve something, I had to work twice as hard to make that happen.

I look forward to watching these girls work three times as hard, and come out three times higher.

I’ll be watching, and I’ll be voting for you.