Chancellor Encourages Newark Girls to ‘Bring Your Very Best Self’

At the Camden Street School in Newark, little girls in tutus and tiaras lined up to tell Rutgers-Newark Chancellor Tonya Smith-Jackson what they do to help themselves feel poised and powerful.

“I like to run and do push-ups,’’ said one.

“I like to play with my friends,’’ said another.

“I like to share,’’ said a third.

The event, Poised and Powerful: Reflections of Inner Beauty, was organized by the Rutgers–Newark Staff Council in partnership with the Rutgers Police Department. Smith-Jackson was invited to be the keynote speaker at the annual celebration, held to honor Women’s History Month and empower girls at the school.

Also at the event was State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-29),  members of the Newark Police Department, and women entrepreneurs from Newark.

Yolanda Jackson, director of Rutgers-Newark One-Stop Service Center and the day’s “mistress of ceremonies,’’ described the purpose of the gathering. “Today is about your voice, your strength, your identity and your future. You bring your journey and your whole self into this room. We have generations of poise and power.”

Smith-Jackson took the microphone as Jill Scott’s anthem “Golden” boomed over a loudspeaker.

“I’m going to tell you about being your best self,’’ she called out. “You gotta have a hype song. One of things I do to help myself feel poised and powerful is play this song.’’

Smith-Jackson explained to the girls how she defined poise. “It means you feel good about yourself. You’re in control. You’re confident,’’ she said.

“And we all know what powerful means, right?” she added. “But to be poised and powerful, you need to bring your very best self to wherever you are. And I can see you brought your best self this morning.’’

She asked the girls and women in the audience to turn to the person next to them and name something that made them feel poised and powerful after sharing her own list: sleep, meditation, exercise and music.

The chancellor also stressed the importance of self care.

“A lot of us, we sometimes don’t take care of ourselves but it’s important for you to love yourself enough that you take care of yourself and that you do things you like and enjoy,’’  she said.

Later, the women, including Smith-Jackson, did some runway walking to Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)” and led the 7th and 8th grade girls  in reading an oath.

I am my sister’s keeper. I stand with strong women who support me and I uplift those who come after me.

Ruiz, the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the state senate, told the girls she believed in their potential and urged them to believe in themselves. “If you are incredibly prepared, if you work hard, if you cry hard, if you laugh hard, if you live hard, your opportunities are going to be undefinable,’’ she said. “And that’s what I can’t wait to see.’’