Abraham Lincoln

My niece Ramona is a lovely little girl. She can sing like a bird, turn a cartwheel, dance ballet, and look as pretty as any picture when she wears a dress.

She also likes collecting rocks, and fishing, and recently ate an anchovy. But, I have also seen her flat out refuse to try something she doesn't want to do, such as go on a roller coaster, jump off a diving board, or let me braid her hair.

I used to be concerned when she wouldn't try something new, because as the only girl in the next generation of our immediate family, I don't want her to believe that she is limited in any way because of her gender. But as she has gotten older I see that she is perfectly fine at keeping up with the boys, and is confident in selecting for herself what activities she will or will not decide to participate in.

And I think it's great that there could now be a generation of girls growing up in a world where they not only can believe they can do anything, but can actually do it. In my case I think I had the believing part down, but when it came to the doing, such as being an automotive engineer, it was harder than I expected in a world where there were so many other people who felt that some jobs were just for men. By the time Ramona grows up I think that will finally have changed.

So maybe she really can do anything. Even be President of the United States. In fact, she already knows that. She can even be a specific President, such as Abraham Lincoln. All she needs is to make a construction paper hat, draw a beard on some paper, cut it out, and tape it to her face. Oh, and memorize the beginning of the Gettysburg Address. All because she read a biography for school, and decided to "add a little extra" to the presentation. Yes, she can.