Shippensburg University student, Madi Shively, attended the Pennsylvania Conference for Women (PACFW), held on November 7. The event was hosted at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, bringing together other 10,000 attendees – from business owners, motivational speakers, leaders and those interested in the theme of “growth, resilience and empowerment”.
One lesson that Shively took away from the conference was a stress management technique called “quick coherence”, a breathing strategy that helps focus on mental clarity and expressing gratitude toward loved ones. “It has been a game-changer,” Shively said. “I’ve seen exponential personal growth and feel better equipped to handle stressful situations.”
Shively was especially inspired by Sherlyn Lee Ralph, a singer, author and actress known for her role as Barbara Howard on Abbot Elementary.
“People don’t have to love you, people don’t have to like you, they don’t even have to respect you. But when you look in the mirror, you better love what YOU see,” said Ralph. These words stuck with Shively, and has helped her focus on “internal love and support rather than seeking it externally.”
Another speaker who left an impact on Shively was Robin Arzón, New York Times best-selling author and VP of fitness programming at Peloton. Arzón challenged listeners by asking, “What decision would you make if you were twice as strong and twice as confident?”.
Shively said that this question reshaped her decision-making process and helped motivate her to challenge herself more often.
Shively credits her role as a student employee for Shippensburg University’s Women’s and Gender Studies Program helped prepare her to network at the convention. “Working alongside peers who share a passion for gender equality has been incredibly rewarding,” she said. “Attending PACFW reminded me that what we strive for in our program is a shared aspiration throughout Pennsylvania.”
As a Communication, Journalism and Media (CJM) major she plans to take the lessons she learned and integrate them into her work and studies.
“The PACFW experience has prepared me to put my best foot forward as a resilient and uplifting presence,” she said.