No one has ever told me I couldn’t do something because I was a girl. I never really thought about sexism until I was older and learned that women get paid less than men for the same job, which is terrible. It’s never happened to me, and I hope it never does. A lot of women from the past have fought and fought to make it possible for girls like me to do whatever we want. I go to an all-girls school, so the viewpoint and attitude that boys are better than girls don’t exist at my school. I would say we’re told the exact opposite. We’re taught girls can do anything!
My parents also never said stuff like “Don’t throw like a girl” to me. They always say, “Just do your best, and whatever happens, happens.”
I want girls to know that it doesn’t matter that you are a girl or how old you are. If it is something you like and dream of doing, just go for it, just do it! Your age, your gender—they don’t matter. I wanted to be an actress since I was little, and I went after my dream. For my first movie role, I was nominated for an Academy Award. Since then, I’ve worked for a lot of great directors and starred alongside amazing actors. Years ago, I told my parents that I like writing and wanted to write books and scripts; now I have four books coming out. And I’m not done dreaming yet—when I grow up, I’d also like to be a veterinarian or a doctor.
I WANT GIRLS TO KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT YOU ARE A GIRL OR HOW OLD YOU ARE. IF IT IS SOMETHING YOU LIKE AND DREAM OF DOING, JUST GO FOR IT, JUST DO IT! YOUR AGE, YOUR GENDER—THEY DON'T MATTER.