I discovered this old photograph from my college days, a cherished memento hidden among the dust and pages of my past. As I gazed upon the picture, it served as an important reminder of the profound impact of education on my life, both as a source of empowerment and as a foundation for my later successes.
In that photograph, my fellow students and I were captured in our academic attire, for women, this meant long dresses with our blouses buttoned all the way up to our necks. We were an assembly of diverse and hopeful minds, all united by a common passion for knowledge, knowing that even as a small class of women, higher education was still important to us, despite what society may think.
My own expression in the photograph revealed a fire within me—a desire to gain the knowledge and skills that would eventually set me on the path to success. I was always focused on learning everything I could, but I had a particular infatuation with maths, and I always seemed to focus on only it.
Education became my ticket to financial independence and self-reliance. The knowledge I acquired during those years gave me the confidence and abilities needed to excel in the world. My passion for learning extended beyond the classroom, permeating every facet of my life, and even contributing to my eventual triumph in the realm of business.
The dreams and aspirations of that young woman in the picture continue to inspire my present-day pursuits and fuel my desire to break free from the constraints of society.
- Vivie Warren
I unearthed an old photograph from the college days of Vivie Warren. As I delved into her words and the photograph, a profound reflection on the enduring impact of education unfolded, revealing itself as both a wellspring of empowerment and the cornerstone of her later successes.
Vivie's emphasis on education as a source of empowerment is particularly striking. Despite the limited opportunities available to women in her era, she and her fellow female students were steadfast in their pursuit of knowledge. This is especially striking as at the time, there were still classes in colleges women were not permitted to even take, for example "at several colleges, women could not take accounting courses...[or] only in night programs" (Wooten, Kemmerer). Their academic attire, characterized by long dresses and buttoned-up blouses, speaks to the challenges and expectations placed upon women in higher education at the time. Still, they remained resolute in their conviction that education was essential, regardless of societal judgments.
Vivie's personal passion for learning, particularly her infatuation with mathematics, shines through in her words. It's a testament to her relentless dedication to self-improvement and intellectual growth. Her focus on math suggests not only her aptitude for the subject but also her desire to excel in a field that often requires great determination for women to succeed.
The journal entry underscores how education served as the foundation of Vivie's independence and self-reliance. The skills and confidence she gained during her college years paved the way for her achievements in the business world. Her story resonates as a powerful testament to the transformative power of education, particularly for women in a society that often undervalued their potential. At this time, "there was a widely accepted belief that women were well suited for 'routinized, dead-end employment" (Wooten, Kemmerer), and Vivie wanted to do more than just that.
In a contemporary context, Vivie's experiences continue to inspire individuals striving to overcome societal constraints and achieve their ambitions through education and perseverance. Her unwavering pursuit of her dreams, even when faced with societal norms, remains a timeless source of inspiration for those seeking to break free from the constraints of society.
Wootton, Charles W., and Barbara E. Kemmerer. “THE EMERGENCE OF MECHANICAL ACCOUNTING IN THE U.S., 1880-1930.” The Accounting Historians Journal, vol. 34, no. 1, 2007, pp. 91–124. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40698352. Accessed 17 Oct. 2023.