Cassie, 14 year old girl from Mammoth Lakes, CA

My name is Cassie. I’m 14 years old, and I live in the small ski town of Mammoth Lakes, California. I’ve been playing sports my whole life, from tee-ball to soccer, dance, basketball, skiing, snowboarding, and volleyball. I am also a straight A-student, play the violin and guitar, and act and sing in plays. Most people who know me understand how seriously I take everything that I do, and I stand up when something isn’t right. Last year, in English, we were supposed to write a research paper on something that was important to us. I couldn’t think of something just right until my mother told me about Title IX. She told me that she didn’t play sports and only had P.E. in school. I was surprised that I had never heard of Title IX especially since I was already in the eight grade! I searched the Internet and found how many people are supportive of Title IX and the wonderful opportunities that it carries with it. This inspired me further to write an “A” report, which my male teacher thoroughly supported.

My mother is a second grade school teacher, and my father is a school bus driver in our school district. They are both very involved in education and making the right decisions for future generations.

I have two brothers, both of which have influenced me in multiple ways. My older brother is 16, and he is a talented musician, earns good grades in school, and is also a gifted soccer player. My younger brother is 10, and he is one of the brightest parts of my life. He was recently diagnosed with a rare muscle disease, Stiff Person’s Syndrome, which he has been dealing with since the age of five. This disease does not allow him to run, and it has frustrated him his whole life. He is also a great student, a soccer player, and a fantastic baseball player, even though he is limited by his illness.

At my school, there are some ways in which girls are not treated as well as the boys. For example, in high school sports, the football team is made up of all males and they receive more money than any other sport in our school. Our soccer and volleyball teams do not receive as much money as we should because of the “needs” of the football team. As much as I support the young men who enjoy playing football, I want for our other sports, both girls and boys, to receive enough money to buy needed equipment, instead of putting new jerseys for the football team into the budget every year.

Most of the boys in my grade and school respect that I am a multi-talented young woman, but, on occasion there have been jokes and other words meant to bring me down. I understand that boys are built differently, and they may be stronger than many of the girls, but this doesn’t mean that we can’t play sports too! In fact, this year, for our P.E. testing, I did more push-ups than many of the guys in my class! It encouraged me to stay committed to all my activities, and strive to do my best, even when other people try to keep me down.

All in all, Title IX is the reason why I am who I am. Without it, I couldn’t be the person I am today. If we think that it is difficult to be ourselves in a world with Title IX, I can’t imagine what life was like before it was set in place, a life that my mother and her sisters had to live. I am enthralled to live in the time that I do, for without it, I would be a less enthusiastic and caring person.