Rio Hondo holds women's history conference

Rio Hondo College heldits 15th annual Women's History Month Conference March 5 in the Campus Inn."Women of Vision and Courage" was this year's theme as 300 young women from the Whittier Union High School District were welcomed by keynote speaker, Jeanette Salinas who spoke to the juniors and seniors about perseverance and striving for
their goals.

"Someone doesn't need to be the brightest person," Salinas said. "It is all about
perseverance and overcoming obstacles."

Adding that it was important to share her story and let the young women know that things are scary.

"Everybody gets scared and everyone has fears," Salinas said. "I know I did." Like all the young women in attendance, Salinas attended high school in Whittier.

"Look out at the girls, Irealized any one of them could have been me thirty years ago," Salinas said.

Many of the young women listened to Salinas and felt empowered by her words.

"[Salinas] really emphasized that you have to try your hardest and you will find your
way," Alexis Aragon, a senior at La Serna High School said.

The students attended 45-minute workshops that included topics of self defense, teen
dating violence, HIV, breast health, online predators, empowerment through personal
writing, Zumba, language of body and dress and scrapbooking.

"Everyone had a ball with Zumba," Director of Student Activites, Cathy Butler said.

Zumba is a fusion of Latin and International music/dance themes that includes aerobic/fitness effectiveness.

Self-defense was a favorite among the high school students.

"Jervi Dominguez, a senior at Whittier High School said that wearing high heels can only help with the "cheese grater," the act of using the foot to scrape down an attackers shin.

Self-defense Instructor, Carlos Gallegos showed the young women several hand
techniques as well as ways to break loose and get away from an attacker.

Gallegos stressed that awareness was a huge part of self defense.

"Your greatest defense if your brain," Gallegos told students.

A group of seniors from La Serna High School walked out of each workshop more confident and were excited to celebrate Women's History
Month.

"This is not a man's world," Alexis Aragon said."As women we can and will be successful."

Aragon agreed with classmate Jessica Baldwin that Salinas demonstrated that strive will lead to success. "This whole event pretty much has shown us to not let anyone hold us down and to expect and achieve freedom," Gabriela Coppola said.

"We've come a long way," Aragon said. "Women couldn't vote or receive an education in
the past and now we can and we have to be educated."

"We have rights," Coppola said.

After the workshops, the ladies were welcomed back into the Campus Inn for a
lunch and raffle.

At the tables, students talked loudly over the music about the workshops and panels
they had just come from.

Senior Elizabeth Zaragoza and junior Desiree Luis from Frontier High School especially
liked the discussion by college student parents in the Wray Theatre.

"Everything they said was so true," Zaragoza said.

Zaragoza and Luis, who are both teen moms, felt inspiration from the panel and said that they felt more self-assured about juggling motherhood, high school and the aspirations towards college after listening
to speakers.

"Everything I do is for my son," Luis said. "I want to go to college for him and I know I can do it."

As prizes were raffled off, the young women from California, Pioneer, Sanfe Fe, La Serna, Whittier and Frontier High Schools laughed and applauded, enjoying a celebration
of women of vision and courage, mothers, students and past and future leaders.