Atlanta

Local girls speak on how the election of the first woman vice president inspires them

ATLANTA — The swearing-in of the first Black and South Asian woman vice president was a big moment for girls across the United States and in metro Atlanta.

Channel 2′s Audrey Washington spoke with girls who said they are now inspired and feel like anything is possible after the historic moment for Vice President Kamala Harris.

“I feel proud that someone like me can grow up and be vice president,” said 8-year-old Osiya Sharma.

“That’s a big deal,” she said. “I feel like I could be vice president or maybe mayor or maybe president.”

Shanti Rodriguez-Pedraza, 14, said as a Latina, she hopes more women of color will run for office.

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“I think voters, especially, will see that women of color can run and achieve positions of power like this,” Rodriguez-Pedraza said.

Ryen Evans, 15, said knowing Harris is a graduate from a historically Black college only further inspires her to attend one herself too.

“You can achieve anything that you want with hard work. I mean, just look at Vice President Harris,” Evans said.

Jayda Clark, 12, hopes Wednesday’s historic moment will send a message to young girls and young boys as well.

“She worked hard, and people elected her. And we’re seeing that girls can do things as well as men,” Clark said.

Harris has said she’s been inspired by Shirley Chisholm, the first African-America woman to ever run for president. Now, Harris is carrying her inspiration onto the next generation.