Ingrid

Ingrid Liff is one of the most successful seniors at Boston Latin School. She has achieved academic recognition, she is going to Smith College next fall, planning to major in pre-med and theater. Her extra-curricula's speak for themselves: She is one of the heads of the Drama Club, a Captain of the tennis team, a President of a Declaiming Society, an Arts Editor for the School Newspaper, a musician in band and a Peer Tutor. Her work with younger students in drama and tutoring has made her a role model at eighteen. When asked about one of her role models, Eleanor Roosevelt, she said, “like other strong women she's had an effect on me. Through example, she gave me a sense that I could have an influence on people. She took charge and changed the things that she felt strongly about.” In fact, when Ingrid was looking for speeches to declaim she looked for one by Eleanor. She was impressed by the fact that Eleanor knew she was the “female head of the country and that she used her role to work for social justice.” Ingrid plans to enter the field of medicine, one that is becoming more open to women but that is still dominated by men. Eleanor provides an example of a woman who entered a man's world (politics) and was tremendously successful in it. She is an inspiration!

Mrs. O'Malley

Mrs. O'Malley is one of the most socially conscious teachers at Boston Latin School. She is also an excellent teacher who cares both about her subject, English, and her students. Eleanor Roosevelt is her role model because she “broke traditions. She had real concern for people's lives.” She influenced Mrs. O'Malley by “speaking up against injustices, not just tolerating them. She didn't just say `well its just too bad.'”

Mrs. O'Malley also praised Eleanor as an exemplary First Lady because other First Lady's were “just concerned with decorating, flower arrangements. Eleanor, in contrast, moved into the uncomfortable zone of going against the grain. She took a lot of criticism for this. She was ridiculed.” The fact that Eleanor kept going even when she was subject to public ridicule is an inspiration to us all.

Ernani

When asked about Eleanor Roosevelt, Ernani immediately thinks of his mother. He explains that she was an immigrant. Although she has successfully learned English and found a job she “runs into the proverbial glass ceiling every day.” It is intimidating for her to be a Hispanic woman at work when most of her co-workers are white men. Ernani speaks fondly of Eleanor, saying that she “pushed the glass ceiling up and brought us closer to the goal of parity between the genders.” Eleanor has served therefore, both as an inspiration and an indirect aide to Ernani's mother.