Jennifer Calvert - Teen Trailblazers--30 Fearless Girls Who Changed the World Before They Were 20

IVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED

EVERY MOMENT OF MY LIFE

AND IVE NEVER LET IT KEEP ME

FROM DOING A SINGLE THING

THAT I WANTED TO DO.

GEORGIA OKEEFE

TEEN
TRAILBLAZERS

30 FEARLESS GIRLS

WHO CHANGED THE WORLD
BEFORE THEY WERE 20

JENNIFER CALVERT

ILLUSTRATED BY

VESNA ASANOVIC

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I ALONE CANNOT CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT I CAN CAST A STONE ACROSS THE WATER TO CREATE MANY RIPPLES.

MOTHER TERESA

WE DO NOT NEED MAGIC TO CHANGE THE WORLD, WE CARRY ALL THE POWER WE NEED INSIDE OURSELVES ALREADY: WE HAVE THE POWER TO IMAGINE BETTER.

J. K. ROWLING

BE NOT AFRAID OF GREATNESS. SOME ARE BORN GREAT, SOME ACHIEVE GREATNESS, AND OTHERS HAVE GREATNESS THRUST UPON THEM.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, TWELFTH NIGHT

Changing the world sounds like a big, scary endeavor meant for the leaders of countries and political movements. But real change is simple. It happens slowly, a little bit at a time. Change is not an enormous snowball charging furiously down the hillits the snowflakes that drift softly onto the mountain. The snowball is nothing without them, and they are nothing without each other.

Even the smallest actions can add up to incredible change. auditioned for a movie and brought to life a beloved book character. Then she realized she could use her fame to help women all over the world, and the snowball started moving toward equality.

But change can happen only when someone imagines that things can be different than they are. Not everyone has the vision to strike out on a new path, or the strength to oppose the people who say it cant or shouldnt be done. Those who do are called trailblazers. They set the snowball in motion. And the world needs more of them.

Were lucky today: most women have the freedom and confidence to move in any direction we like. We also have those who came before us as role models. They paved the way. But the girls in this book were often the first of their kind, with no one to look up to but themselves. pioneered investigative journalismall in an era when women were told to sit down and be quiet. Society didnt expect much from these girls, so they had to expect more from themselves. Although weve come a long way, theres still progress to be made and paths for new teen trailblazers to forge.

The amazing young women in this book were different from each other in every wayplace, time, and social standing. Some had the benefit of supportive parents, or the gift of talent. Others just believed in something greater than themselves. Some set out to change the world, others did it almost by accident. But every one of them was smart, creative, resilient, brave, hopeful, and kind. And every one of them had to overcome obstacles like poverty, sexism, racism, war, and the inescapable specter of fear.

These teenage trailblazers are proof that anyone and everyone can change the world. The stories contained here are just the beginning. When you find someone or something that speaks to you, do what these brilliant girls did, and set out to learn more. Then take one small step in the direction you want the snowball to move. Start today. Start before youre ready. Just start.

THE LAST ACTIVE PHARAOH OF EGYPT

BORN: 69 BC DIED: 30 BC

Became queen of Egypt when she was 18 years old

Brought peace and prosperity to Egypt during her 22-year reign

Was a brilliant political mind and take-charge leader

FOR HER BEAUTY, AS WE ARE TOLD, WAS IN ITSELF NOT ALTOGETHER INCOMPARABLE, NOR SUCH AS TO STRIKE THOSE WHO SAW HER; BUT CONVERSE WITH HER HAD AN IRRESISTIBLE CHARM.

PLUTARCH, LIFE OF ANTONY

Cleopatra made history for her ruthless political tactics, sensational love life, and bold ambition. But these qualities were never without their qualifier: her gender. Those history-making attributes were most commonly assigned to men. They were applauded in men. In a woman, they were considered shocking and unbecoming. Women could be powerful, of course, but society felt (and still feels, in some circles) that their power should be quiet and understated. Cleopatra was neither quiet nor understated.

EGYPT: THE SOAP OPERA

For all of its murder, intrigue, and romance, Cleopatras reign over Egypt could put Game of Thrones to shame. But thats how the Romans rolled. (Egypt was part of Rome, off and on.) Family members marrying each other to keep bloodlines pure wasnt uncommon. Nor was murdering those same family members over money or power. What was a little treasonous assassination plot between friends?

Cleopatra was just 18 years old when her father died and she became queen of Egypt. She had 100 years of royal ancestry to live up to, and three ambitious siblings to contend with. One of those siblings, her younger brother, ran her out of the country just three years into her rule. She fled to Syria and began raising up an army against him.

EGYPT UNDER CLEOPATRA

Cleopatras first priority was always that Egypt flourish under her familys rule. That was her guiding principle in ousting her brother, in captivating Caesar and Antony, and in governing day to day. Although she had a cunning political mind, she was a kind and empathetic queen. When flooding from the Nile ruined food crops, she opened her stores of grain to all of Egypt. Although Greek by birth, she learned and spoke the Egyptian language of her people. For 22 years, she maintained Egypts independence from Rome and bolstered its economy. Her love affairs are fascinating, but her legacy as a leader and businesswoman is incredible.

At the time, Rome was becoming increasingly combustible thanks to a country-splitting spat between leaders Julius Caesar and Pompey. Pompey sought refuge in Egypt, where Cleopatras little brother didnt think twice before having him killed. But this is where Cleopatra and her brother differed: she gave careful thought to every action.