Female high school students were encouraged to have audacity, take up space, not play small and learn how to say no. They were reminded by Senator D’Asante Small that they are not the future, but that they are the now.
Small encouraged the girls not to shrink themselves and to have audacity.
“I want all women and all young girls to have audacity because you are talented. You are amazing. But you need to believe it enough to at least try, because the worst they could say is no. But the best thing that could happen is they say yes,” said Small.
“That you show up in a space, and guess what — you are the smartest in the room. You are the brightest, the best, the most valuable, and be okay with that. If you aren’t, please understand there’s another room that’s ready for you.”
Small, who spoke to the students at the recent inaugural girls’ edition of BAF Financial inspiring girls’ day empowerment brunch, said the event wasn’t just about celebrating them, but preparing them. She told the young women that the truth was that everything in life will require an exchange.
“Nothing meaningful comes without sacrifice.”
The senator said that’s what it meant when they say give to gain, which was the theme for IWD 2026.
Speaking candidly to the high school students, Small admitted that she does not have it all figured out and that her “ducks are not in a row”. She said sometimes women just have to fake it until they make it.
“Sometimes, you have to accept that you just have to make it happen, even when you don’t feel you have it all together.”
She said she would have loved to be able to tell them things would shift and that they would grow up and stop having doubts, stop having fears and stop having insecurities. But she absolutely could not do that.
“At every stage in life, there will be moments where you pause, and it just creeps in … if you’re 15, 25, 40 or 75 [years old].”
Small spoke to the girls about how men often pursue opportunities they may not be qualified for compared to women who are oftentimes qualified but timid. She said her biggest fear in life is not trying. And opportunity will always introduce a person to a version of themselves they have not yet met.
“If I get to the end of this road of my life, and I have to look back, am I going to have regrets because I did not try? Because that’s all you can do each and every day,” said Small, co-owner of Oasis Bar and Bistro.
She also encouraged the young ladies to give up expectations, relationships and people who drain them, so they can have peace as they pursue whatever purpose God has for them.
“What I’ve also had to do is give up self-doubt to gain confidence and tell myself to shut up many days. Sometimes, you have to remind yourself who you are and how amazing you are. You have to write it down. I am that student-leader. I am that person who made things happen for many parts of my life,” she said.
“God did not create you to shrink and to be in the background. You are called to be light, and that means you have to shine wherever he places you. So, if you ever think that you have to ‘small up’ yourself, this is the time for me to tell you, you are to take up space. I want to encourage you to ‘run out’ about you. So, when it’s time to say who you are, what you do, what you’ve done, please stop trying to be shy.”
Nearly 50 girls from schools across the country attended the brunch, which was held Friday, March 27, at The Balmoral Club.
Mericha Walker, who also spoke to the teens, encouraged them to learn to say no and to put themselves first.
Walker said women are extreme and are either all the way black or all the way white. This, she said, means that women tend to not serve themselves and are always giving to someone else, which means they give their all and leave nothing for themselves.
“Everyone is used to relying on you, depending on you for everything. It’s time to choose you. Ladies, if you want to give to gain, and we truly want to be shaped by how we give and understand who we are, then we have to give to ourselves first,” said Walker.
“Set aside 15, 20, 30 minutes, an hour every day, and give to you. Only you know what giving to you looks like. You have to give to you.”
Sidelaine Fouquet, BAF Financial assistant manager, business development offered affirmations to the teens.
“I encourage you to give yourself permission to grow, to explore and to change. You don’t need all your answers today. Your path will be made clear as you take each step forward. Honor your uniqueness, your voice, and your dreams. You are worthy of success, happiness, and love,” said Fouquet.
At the same token, she encouraged them to support each other, believe in each other’s dreams, and give the world the best version of themselves.
Four girls were awarded summer internships during the brunch at BAF Financial, the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, and McCartney’s Dental.
Talisa Johnson, Andria Nash were recipients of summer internships at the Ministry of Tourism.
Asia Anderson and Skye Tinker were recipients of summer internships at BAF Financial and Insurance Services Ltd.
Johnson, 17, is a 12th-grade student and head girl at C.V. Bethel Senior High School, Nash, 16, is a grade 12 student and deputy head girl at C.V. Bethel Senior High School. Anderson, an 11th-grade student at Hope Academy, and Tinker, is a 10th-grade student at Hope Academy.
