Do you remember what it was like to be a young girl? Close your eyes and picture it. Breathe in the vivid smells and visit those places that bring back distinct memories in your mind. What emotions do you find?

The memories of my youth are filled with happy, ephemeral thoughts: picking out my tutu for the ballet recital, memorizing lines for the school play, chasing soccer balls during a game. My future seemed as wide open as those soccer fields, with my most immediate concerns about what was for dinner that evening and if I could remember my spelling flash cards.

Life was simple.

Fast-forward several years. As a young woman living in New York, I’ve seen a lot more since my tutu and soccer ball days. But, as I live the day-to-day of my life, one factor has become increasingly apparent: the opportunity I had to receive an education has made all the difference in my life. An education has helped me chase after my dream, and become the first woman in my family to live and work in New York.

I believe that all girls should have access to quality education, both in the US and abroad. That’s why I’ve started working with She’s the First, a media campaign and school directory that encourages young people to tap into their social networks to fundraise for sponsorships for girls around the world. An education is the key to giving girls the tools to become self-sustaining, while hand-in-hand changing the economic and cultural conditions of communities around the world. Girls who have access to an education build on the economic environment of their communities and are more likely to live healthy lives.

As the Beauty Equation eloquently expresses, true beauty stems from believing in oneself and finding your inner, unique voice. The search for that voice comes from an equal opportunity for an education and the ability to communicate your own thoughts. Education is the backbone of building that confidence, no matter where you are from.

The first graduating class from Shanti Bhavan.

That’s why I’m reaching out to Nigel and you for help in this cause. She’s the First is celebrating our one-year anniversary this November 1 by hosting a Soiree in New York City to raise funds for the She’s the First college outreach program and for girls to attend Shanti Bhavan in India. I am requesting that Nigel graciously donate a signed copy of the Beauty Equation to the raffle at the Soiree. The funds from the raffle will go directly to scholarships for young girls around the world.

Education provides the stepping stones for our young people around the world. Let’s give everyone the same chances to find their voice and true beauty through a quality education. We can help her become the first.

Young girls around the world deserve an education. Photo by Natasha Khanna.

If you live in NYC and would like to attend the Soiree, check out the She’s the First Soiree on November 1!

Every day, no matter where you live or what you do, we are bombarded with thousands of messages. “Buy this! Do this! Look like this! Act this way!” Living in New York City, I can walk a mere couple of blocks and find myself drenched in bright lights, messages and ads. Working in marketing myself, I know the struggles of breaking through messages to find the one that truly matters – your voice.

It can be hard to find your own voice amongst such strong messaging from worldly treasures and messages from acquaintances, co-workers, family and friends. We live such busy and rushed lives, that we sometimes forget that our voice, our inner-self, is just waiting to be tended to. We’re so busy going to meetings, getting together with friends and working on our ‘outer’ selves that we sometimes forget our inner voice. Most of the time, that inner voice is what is driving our compassion, zest for life and true beauty.

That’s the thing- true beauty doesn’t automatically appear. Sure, you can put on loads of make up, be dressed to the nines and have the most pristine accessories and feel beautiful, but deep down, you need to ask yourself this question: How are you respecting and nurturing your soul?

It is up to you, and only you, to design your life that has compassion and that emanates with joy.

It can be a lofty order, but I believe it is possible. I am right there with you- learning about myself, the world around me and the opportunities that lay ahead. I believe in taking small first steps to make small changes that amount to larger ones.

It’s not easy to find or listen to your inner voice, but it’s the only one you have. Let’s let our inner voices guide us to the first steps we need to take to live a more fulfilled life. I’m diving in. Join me.