2024 BeYOUtiful Magazine

BEYOUTIFUL

2024 Edition

EMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS

About BeYoutiful

Empowering women through love, confidence, and awareness.

Our mission is to celebrate the strength and beauty found in every woman through our magazine.

Our pages are filled with inspiring stories, empowering articles, and captivating visuals aimed at uplifting and encouraging women from all walks of life Whether it's through personal narratives of triumph, interviews with unique women, or practical tips for self-care and personal growth, BeYoutiful Magazine is here to celebrate you.

We aim to build a supportive community where young women can embrace their uniqueness, celebrate self-love, and use their talents to make a positive impact in the world We want to ensure that every young woman feels seen, heard, and valued.

Be You Be BeYoutiful

EDITORS

Katie Churchill 25'

Claira Silady 25'

WRITERS

Ambre Autin-Roy 25'

Jordana Cashman 26'

Elle Churchill 25'

Lindsey Danganan 24'

Kiana Evans 24'

Blake Freeman 26'

Sarah Pingol 26'

Claira Silady 25'

ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS

Elle Churchill 25'

Marissa Ruffo 25'

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Angela Friesenhahn 28'

Editor’s Letter

Dear BeYoutiful Readers,

I first attended the BeYoutiful conference when I was 9. Now at 17, I have the privilege of being the editor-in-chief for this year ’ s issue

I remember leaving the conference feeling more confident and ready to take on the world Although I didn’t actually take on the world, that experience has stayed with me even 8 years later. This magazine was made with you in mind and I hope it gives you the feeling I had when I first attended the conference

Our theme is the Sky’s the Limit and that theme is fact as demonstrated by the inspiring women featured in this magazine

Love,

KATIE CHURCHILL 25' Editor in Chief BeYoutiful Magazine

IN THIS ISSUE...

This year ’ s theme for the 2024 BeYoutiful event is Sky’s the Limit! So when I was approached to write an article about the theme, I was immediately inspired by my fellow Pilots who embody what it means to chase your dreams regardless of how high you have to fly to achieve them. In today’s society, young girls and women are pressured to fit certain expectations and various status quo. These constant roadblocks that are initially used to tear us down and pit us against one another have prevented many of us from achieving our goals and aspirations, but that’s not always the case. Throughout history there have been trailblazing female role models who have led the way for future generations to believe that “the sky’s the limit” is just within reach. Women such as Maya Angelou, Malala Yousufzai, Ada Lovelace, Frida Kahlo, Alex Morgan, and many more paved the way in their own industries and changed the game for all. They are the ones who have inspired the people of today, how young girls should not be afraid of criticism when it comes to trying something new or to succeed in the things they do.

In the OLP community, we take these things to heart. Besides the legacy of those who walked through the green gates before us, there is a sense of pride as to what it means to be a woman and how we show that by being an OLP Pilot. In addition to this, by being a part of this community, we learn to build each other up and not let the roadblocks that others have built for us tear us down. As beautifully said by America Ferrera in the Barbie movie, “I am just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us, ” which is what comes to mind when we let people’s expectations get the best of us. Yet it can be utterly exhausting and quite degrading to try and push back and live out our true forms of expression and being. But with fellow Pilots by your side, this can be an easy obstacle to fly over as we all take off to chase our dreams, taking one day at a time.

“Put

Dr. Rebecca Silady is an alumna of The Academy of Our Lady of Peace class of 1994. Directly following OLP, Dr. Silady attended and graduated from the University of California, Davis with a Bachelor in Plant Biology. From there she attended Stanford University and earned her PhD in Biological Sciences. She is currently an Associate Professor at Southern Connecticut State University. She is looking forward to teaching at a private, Catholic college, Belmont Abbey College, in the Fall of 2024

Dr Rebecca Silady chose to go to OLP for Catholic education and the emphasis on prioritizing education for women Also, her older sister was in school at OLP at the time. During Dr. Silady’s four years at OLP, she was involved in many different aspects of campus life, such as Spring Sing, where she was in chorus, costumes, and dance during all four years of her high school experience. She was also involved in many OLP musicals, such as Oklahoma, Peter Pan, and The Sound of Music. She was elected to ASB her Junior year as Treasurer, and her Senior year in a position called Historian During her time on ASB, she looked up to her ASB moderator, Mrs Handlesman, who was also her Chemistry teacher Mrs Handlesman helped her grow and develop her leadership skills When asked about influential teachers, Dr Silady immediately recalls Mr Rauch, Ms Herb, Sr Joyce, and Mrs. Handlesman. All of these teachers were role models to Dr. Silady. Dr. Silady reflects back on how these teachers identified strengths within her and then helped her grow even more in those areas. While at the time Dr. Silady had considered becoming a historian, Mr. Rauch, her biology teacher, was a driving force behind her decision to become a scientist. Mr. Rauch’s class sparked Dr. Silady’s curiosity and love for science

Thinking back on her days at OLP in the early 1990s, Dr Silady recalls one of her favorite things to do was walking around the campus in her free time She loved visiting The Point and the Chapel Garden. She recalls feeling closer to God during these moments of peace, which deepened her relationship with God. Another way that OLP helped foster her faith was through her involvement in campus ministry and as an eucharistic minister at Mass. Dr. Silady was very involved in planning Masses and retreats for the student body. When asked what advice Dr. Silady has for young women today she responded with a quote that Mother Teresa’s Mom said to Mother Teresa as she was leaving home, which is “Put your hand in Jesus’ hand, and walk with Him Walk ahead ” Our Lady of Peace set Dr Silady up for great success by grounding her in the Catholic faith, teaching her study skills and time management skills, and forming her as a leader. Dr. Silady embodies OLP’s values as a woman of faith, heart, courage, and excellence.

WRITTEN BY

Claira Silady 25'

Isabelle Schlichting Soccer Star

Isabelle Schlichting is a current student at Our Academy of Our Lady of Peace in the class of 2025, she participates in the Fall Sports of Cross Country and Club Soccer and Winter Sport of Soccer. She discovered her talent in running like many of us, through trial and error.

Her parents placed her in all kinds of sports and extracurriculars to find something she liked. They all didn’t fit right with her, until she kicked that hexagonal blue ball for the first time. It matched perfectly ! Although she didn’t inherit her father’s height and was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes, (type 1 since 3 years old) she didn’t let it stop her from being good at soccer. Her dad has always been her greatest inspiration. He encourages her to try her best at these sports and she always sees him in the stands cheering her on, and in car rides on the way home he points out what mistakes she made so she can always be in a state of improvement She was proud and content to finally find something she was good at.

She is glad to be part of a community of players and coaches who support her no matter what. Her coaches and self-improvement through exercise outside of sports has raised her confidence in her abilities. Personally I would give all the credit to Isabelle for being awarded the Woman of Faith in both Soccer and Cross Country but she gave the honor to her coaches as they are the ones who challenge her everyday.

However it hasn’t only been clear skies for this pilot. A challenging part in her sports journey was jumping from club soccer to high school soccer, the change of team, change of people. She remarks communication as the forgotten main ingredient of success,”If you ' re not talking, you don't know what's going on. To be a good team it's really good to complement each other, like you did a good pass or a good goal and high five each other. “

She also faced a mental block with a pike. She was often stressed and too excited because of the game competition, and ultimately would miss and rush the movement. Since then she prepares herself to do her best every game through mentally preparing herself to get into the right mindset of positive thinking and to focus and remain calm and to never forget knee tape. She can never play without her knee tape.

Unfortunately she won’t be pursuing it through college sports so she will hold her most memorable moments of all the traveling to different far away big cities like Las Vegas and defending her team into the Championship. She will carry the lessons with her all throughout life, it has made her work harder academically and put more effort into friendships she wants to maintain

These are salient thoughts to hold with you, she also wishes for any other athletes to keep a positive mind set especially when those homework assignments keep piling up and then they decide to add a project on top of it and to never give up and continue to work hard especially outside of training days.

by: Ambre Autin-Roy 25'

o : A v i a t o r E x t r a o r d i n a i r e

The Thriving Sciences at OLP

What do you want to be when you grow up? A scientist? Doctor? Maybe an engineer or architect? It’s common knowledge that women are underrepresented in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) career fields, but OLP is working to change that. From the STEM certificate awarded upon graduation to the countless unique science courses that the school has available, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace is consistently working to make sure young women feel empowered in their decision to pursue the sciences and STEM as a whole. Starting as a freshman at OLP, new students have the option of either taking Biology or Biology Honors, taught by our wonderful faculty Ms. Ma’ake (Science Department Chair), Mrs. Coronado, and Ms. Hall. In these courses, students learn the essentials of how the world around them works; from cellular respiration to the captivating history of genetics, these students begin their time at OLP with an introduction they’re sure to remember. As they transition into their Sophomore year, students may take Chemistry or the Honors variation. Instructed by our resident cat enthusiast, Mrs. Wisniew, students participate in countless hands-on labs, demonstrations, and more. While only these two years of science are required at the Academy, a myriad of other courses are available to students who are sciencefocused, such as AP Physics, Marine Biology, and Anatomy and Physiology. It is through the unending support of faculty and tireless dedication to giving young women opportunities through which OLP students thrive. The blessing of education, and especially of education in STEM, continues to be a beacon of inspiration that young girls, with hopes of becoming surgeons or computer scientists, will soon be able to achieve their dreams.

by: Blake Freeman 26'

Breaking Barriers

The OLP Robotics Team Empowering Women in STEM

I want you to picture an engineer. Did you picture a guy sitting alone at a computer? How about a train driver? Or maybe a young guy in a hoodie who looks a little like Mark Zuckerberg? But did any of you picture a woman. Many of you probably didn’t picture a woman in STEM. Usually, when people ask, “Oh you ' re part of an all girls Robotics team?” they seem skeptical. Or they look at me and say, “Oh, woah, you must be some kind of genius!” But my personal favorite has to be when a little girl turned to me and said, “One day I want to be part of Robotics too!” with the biggest smile on her face This is the sole reason the OLP Robotics Team continues to break down barriers and challenge stereotypes by showcasing the incredible talent and capabilities of women in STEM. With our unwavering determination and passion for robotics, we prove that gender is no obstacle to achieving greatness in the field.

Did you know that only 11 percent of engineers in the U.S are women? But why does this matter? One of the OLP Robotics teams’ primary goals is to inspire and empower the next generation of female scientists and engineers, encouraging them to pursue their interests in STEM and providing them with the guidance and support they need to excel. We uplift and encourage one another, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered. This way, those little girls who look up to us won’t ever think, “Ew why would a girl like me ever want to be an engineer.” We understand the importance of leadership and mentorship in empowering women in STEM. We actively take on leadership roles within the team and serve as mentors to younger members, guiding and inspiring them to reach their full potential. Through our mentorship, we have created a pipeline of future talented female STEM professionals.

The team possesses innovative problem-solving skills. With their diverse perspectives and unique approaches, they bring fresh ideas to the table and find creative solutions to complex challenges. Their ability to think outside the box is a testament to the power of diversity in driving innovation. The achievements of the OLP Robotics Team are nothing short of extraordinary From competing in prestigious competitions to developing groundbreaking technologies, they continue to make their mark in the world of robotics. Their accomplishments serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for women everywhere.

The OLP Robotics Team is a beacon of hope and inspiration for women in STEM. Through their innovation, leadership, and dedication, they are breaking barriers and paving the way for a more inclusive and diverse future in the field of science and technology.

by: Sarah Pingol 26'

Being a Leader

According to Google, a leader is defined as “A person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country.” From this definition provided to the general public, it seems easy enough. One simply has to make demands for others and a leader they are. Nevertheless, being a leader means so much more than that. I am Kiana Evans, a senior at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace. I hold various leadership positions around campus such as; Varsity Cheer Head Captain, Senior Class Council as well as President of the OLP Interact Club.

As an individual in a place of authority, it is important to be mindful and considerate of others and their ideas. It is essential to understand that “bad questions” do not exist and that every voice deserves to be heard. As a leader, the individuals who elect you willingly place their trust in you, that is why it is important to be kind and have empathy for the people you are guiding. At OLP, being a leader is not hard. When a young woman is surrounded by other strong, intelligent, wonderful women, being considerate and resourceful is not difficult. All you are required to accomplish to be a leader at OLP is to follow your heart and never lose sight of who you truly are. That is what a leader truly is.

by: Kiana Evans 24'

Positivity Gallery

Art by: Marissa Ruffo 25'

Advice to a

How do I survive homework?

The key to surviving homework is to divide and conquer. By breaking up your assignments into categories based on difficulty, due date, time it’ll take to complete, or any other group of your choosing, you’ll avoid procrastinating and ensure that each task gets an equal amount of love and attention. Thanks to the OLP block schedule, for homework due the next block you’ll typically have both that night and the next day to work on your assignment. For longer term projects or essays, work on it a little each day and DON'T wait until the last minute. Make sure to take breaks from working and studying I personally reward myself by saying “Okay, once I finish this page of notes, I’ll take a walk” or “After I write two paragraphs I’ll take a stretch break, grab a treat, chill with the puppy, etc ” Make it fun for yourself! Once you find your rhythm with homework you’ll not only slay your classes, but you’ll have fun!

How can I impress my teachers?

*Cracks knuckles in academic perfectionist* Okay. If you think about it, all teachers want for their class is to have their students take something out of it. Your hard work, regardless of scoring or grade, is what means most to your teachers, so there’s a couple options.

If you don’t struggle in that course, then find time to talk to your teacher about related material, maybe extra resources, or if they think you have anything that needs improving Ask them any questions about that topic that don’t necessarily relate to the curriculum but to relate to that subject If it’s your all time favorite subject or class in the world and you are demolishing the course, let them know! For example, if we are discussing the unit circle in pre calc or calc and I happen to have found a super cool pattern for remembering the radians, I’m going to tell my teacher about it!

Showing your enthusiasm is a great way to let your teacher know that you ’ re taking their course seriously

On that note, if you ’ re struggling with a course, show your enthusiasm by attending office hours, asking questions, and most importantly not being afraid to ask for help. That’s what your teacher is there for! They will undoubtedly be super impressed with the level of dedication and professionalism you show by asking for help and being serious about improving. There’s a reason everyone loves a comeback story! By working with your teacher to improve your grades, you ’ re telling them that you ’ re not just slacking off

How do I make new friends?

As an introvert, I can only speak for myself and fellow introverts in this matter. I made a lot of friends my freshman year through other people and am happy to report that I’m still friends with them. Yet, my closest friends came through my experiences in clubs, dance, and theater. And so I say to you, do what you love and sure enough you ’ re bound to find new friends! Want to take that honors math class? Hey, now you ’ re sitting at a table with fellow pilots who you get to see every other day and work with! Want to join one of the countless clubs on campus? Now you get to hang out with girls across all grade levels working on something you have a genuine interest in. Take advantage of your classes and activities to meet new people. It’s hard at first if you ’ re not a social butterfly, but I braved talking to people by preparing some introductory questions. Leave wikihow behind as you have me now! Some personal favorites are:

“How’s your day been so far?”

“How’d you get interested in X, Y, or Z?”

“What do you think about X/Y/Z?”

“What’d you think of the homework?”

“Did you know (insert cool and interesting facts relevant to what’s happening)?”

“Are you doing anything exciting over the weekend/break?”

“That’s a cool pen/notebook/accessory; where’d you get it?”

As a final rule, once you get to talking to someone, if you ’ re struggling for conversation, just ask them about themselves. Being attentive and responding to someone ’ s experiences or stories not only gives them a super good impression of you, but they’ll be eager to talk to you again because you proved to be empathetic. Likewise, don’t be afraid to talk about yourself! Friendship is a two way street in all aspects, so letting someone else get to know you will only strengthen your relationship

by: Elle Churchill 25'

Sisters in Dance

My first ever encounter with the dance program at OLP was when I was in 6th grade. To set the story, it was spring of 2018 and I was at one of my ballet rehearsals at my dance studio and one of my teammates told me that she will be one of the first members of OLP’s newest dance team. When I was in 6th grade I never really thought about where I would attend high school, but I knew that I wanted to keep dance implemented into my life as I have been doing it ever since I was four years old. A year later in the spring of 2019, I was invited by one of my closest friends to watch OLP’s first ever dance showcase I immediately said yes and the opportunity of watching the OLP dance department create history. Watching the students perform at the dance showcase immediately sparked my interest in OLP and I knew I could find myself on campus taking part in such an incredible program

Finally it was my time to be part of the OLPDT legacy Initially, I wasn’t intending to attend OLP but my acceptance into OLP’s Junior Varsity dance team changed my course. During my freshman year, practices and dance competitions looked completely different. We were in cohorts, had morning practices on Zoom and in my living room, and had video taped competitions. Luckily I was able to participate in my first dance showcase through livestream Then came up my sophomore year where I fell even more in love with dance at OLP. During the summer of 2021, OLP hosted its first middle school dance camp for middle school students. I assisted my coach, Coach Kelly, with some of my teammates and we had the opportunity to teach dance to young students I was also given the opportunity to teach a lyrical combo (a short lyrical dance) that was entirely choreographed by myself. I had the opportunity to mentor dance to young students for two years; entering my sophomore year and entering my senior year. In my junior and senior year, I was promoted to the Varsity dance team which gave me the opportunity to perform at more school events. The varsity dance team performs at pep rallies, 8th grade visitation, open house, and Saints varsity football games at Mesa College. I have always loved performing in front of crowds as it brings happiness to people who are watching

Every time after a performance, students always express their amazement at the dance team which always makes me feel so happy that they enjoyed the performance. In my senior year I was given the opportunity to choreograph one of the sideline dances that we perform during football games My teammates decided to name the dance “Fangirl” as it reminded them of me. My friends gave me compliments about my sideline dance and it made me so proud to have contributed to OLPDT’s sideline dance lineup. Dance competitions with OLPDT have been so rewarding and fulfilling We spend nearly every day of the week, even weekends, learning the choreography and polishing it before we compete. Being on OLP’s dance team is no easy feat as it is a time commitment that most people might not know about But even with all of the tiring days, it is so worth it in the end. Competitions are so much fun and it always makes me so happy and proud to show our routines that we have put so much time and effort into.

In my sophomore and junior year at OLP I was able to take Dance ¾ and Advanced Dance Honors as my VAPA credit at OLP. These courses taught me more about the artistic choices that dancers can make in their choreography I had so many fun and collaborative choreography projects that also made its appearance into the dance showcase for those two years. I loved having dance be part of my class schedule because it gave me a break from the stress of my other classes. Dance has always been an outlet for me, and coming up with choreography for new projects always gave me the opportunity to express my creativity For my senior year, I was assigned to be a teacher assistant for the Dance ¾ class that I have previously taken. I was given the opportunity to choreograph the class’s lyrical dance for this year ’ s showcase I immediately said yes and it has been amazing to see my vision come to life. Being a T.A. has really shown me the importance of mentorship and how helping people whose shoes that I was once in really fulfills my meaning of serving the Dear Neighbor

Finally as I enter my last weeks of being on the OLP dance team, I want to express my gratitude to dance, my first love Dancing has shaped me into the person I am today With OLP’s dance program, I have learned the importance of perseverance and hard work, humility, discipline, passion, and dedication. I have grown so much as a dancer as I worked my way from the Junior Varsity level, to being a Varsity understudy, and into a Varsity level dancer myself My choreographing abilities have truly reflected what I have learned in my dance courses which led me to choreograph a whole routine that will be presented in the same dance showcase that inspired me to attend OLP From all the countless days, hours, morning practices, summer practices, etc to prepare for the dance season ahead was worth it. The blood sweat and tears helped shape me into the dancer I am today, and it is all because of OLP and the dance program. It is bittersweet that my time as an OLP dance team member is coming to an end, but I am so happy to have been able to leave my mark and to be part of the legacy that OLPDT has created.

by: Lindsey Danganan 24'

Finding Confidence

At some point in our lives, we have all lacked confidence I vividly remember a time in my fifth grade year, when both my teacher and mom teamed up on me and pushed me to do a graduation speech. Despite the ten-year old me feeling dramatically betrayed, I was extremely nervous and not at all confident in myself. But afterwards, I was proud of myself for doing it, for still committing and going through with the act. I realized that when they pushed me out of my comfort zone, it was key to developing confidence. I also learned that confidence can’t be taught. No amount of classes or seminars will be as cultivating as experiences that push us to confront our fears and uncertainties

You don’t need to be confident and courageous at all times. It’s normal to feel at times checked out, or lacking the energy to push past your limits. Being aware of your boundaries, comforts, and interests are important to developing your confidence. Being thrusted into a new and scary situation may help you make large bounds in your journey to self-confidence, but it can also overwhelm you. Starting small is okay and is the more strategic route to take. Join a club that aligns with your interests, like art, and try sharing your work and yourself with similar minded people When sharing, be proud of your work, know that it’s a safe place and you ’ re all there to have a fun time. Over time, as one becomes more comfortable in these settings, confidence naturally begins to blossom.

Contrary to popular belief, assertiveness is not the same as bossiness. It is essential to know that if you need help for a homework assignment, ask for help. Your teachers, parents, and classmates are all resources to help you improve and learn. They therefore won’t be bothered when you ask for help, it is a strength not a weakness to ask for help. The greatest hindrance is worry Worrying about inevitable situations has never helped anybody, it only leads to anxiety. I have seen many friends and myself, miss out on helpful information from fear and nervousness of asking questions, or approaching strangers

Practice speaking positively to yourself. Build yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, be your own cheer team! Being discouraged is the greatest obstacle to being self-confident. If you have no motivation, how can you expect yourself to feel empowered and proud of yourself? Self-confidence also allows you to be more resilient to everyday shambles because you create a shield of positivity and a sense of self. A lack of self-confidence generally can stem from being confused of who you are and therefore there is no self. But it can also be from being shy, but if you feel good about yourself, feel heard and understood, then there is no reason to change.

The objective of self-confidence is to know yourself, your worthiness. To know that your voice deserves to be heard, and therefore you shouldn’t feel ashamed to assert your opinion, to even simply exist. That you are not a burden. Self-confidence is meant to bring you into a state of mind where you appreciate yourself, that your value doesn’t depend on the perception of others. That it comes from you. You must have heard that spiel a million times, but is it wrong?

by: Ambre Autin-Roy 25'