Who are you?
My name is Meegan Bailitz and I am a freshman at OPRFHS. I am the oldest of four kids and have lived in River Forest my entire life! I played high school volleyball this past season, and also really enjoy hanging out with my friends.
What are the beautiful qualities within you that make you unique?
I think that some of the beautiful qualities within me that make me unique is that I am always there for people when they need me no matter what I am going through myself at the time – and I am very strong. No matter if I’m best friends with someone or not, I am always one that people can turn to and come to for advice or just someone they can talk to. In addition to being there for people, I am also very trustworthy and when people are vulnerable and share very personal information with me, I keep that to myself and only myself. Another quality of mine is that I am very strong. I am someone who doesn’t focus on the negative, no matter how truly awful it may get, and try to focus on the positive instead. There are some times when I can hold a lot in me, but still be there for others, and be the best version of myself I can be even when “behind the scenes” it might not be so pretty.
Tell us how the Dragonfly Girls experience was for you?
The dragonfly girls experience was a crazy, beautiful, inspiring time for me personally. Honestly I would be lost without this place and the absolutely incredible relationships with girls that were built during the workshops. This program has most definitely shaped me into a much, much better teenager and person in general.
What did you get out of it?
If I truly wrote out everything that I got out of this workshop, we would be here forever. I remember walking out of the first workshop with more confidence than I can ever remember feeling- and that was where it all began. To be completely honest, my mom forced me to come to the first workshop and I thought I was going to hate it. “A place where we share our feelings and talk about our problems” (as my mom made it seem like) did not seem the least bit appealing to me. But the moment I walked in there and from there on I knew that it was so, so much more than that. The activities that were planned for us and the way that everyone interacted with each other was something that I had never seen before. Each and every girl felt so comfortable sharing things they needed to, and the bond that we all built together was just so strong. Anyways, I would say that the main things I got out of this experience overall were what true, healthy relationships were, how to deal with ANY difficulties that I was experiencing, and one of the most important ones, how to deal with the anxiety and stress that just being a teenager in general brings.
What are some of the hard things you face as a teenager?
Some of the hard things that I face as a teenager (that I actually think many can relate to) is maintaining a good relationship with my parents, confidence- and always loving myself for who I am, and how to deal with the stress and anxiety that I face, whether it is with school, friends, or family issues.
Who do you turn to in challenging times?
During challenging times, I always turn to my best friend and my mom. These are two people that I have known for so, so many years, and I know will never leave my side. I trust them with information that I never thought I would say out loud and I know that they will always be there for me and help me when I need advice.
Who inspires you?
There are many people that inspire me. I have had coaches who have definitely inspired me, my mom, aunts, and some of my teachers inspire me each and every day, Jules has most definitely inspired me (SO MUCH). But honestly the people that inspire me the most are my best friends. They are some of the greatest, strongest, most beautiful girls that I have ever met. I can tell them anything and everything and they can relate to me on a whole different level. They have been with me through the thick and thin, and have helped me through so much. I would most definitely be lost in this crazy world without them, and cannot imagine losing some of my most favorite people.
