Central alumnus Jillian Johnston hosts male and female empowerment workshops
March 15, 2016
She wears an ivory t-shirt with pictures of a butterfly breaking out its cocoon, several necklaces and a lavender rubber bracelet, similarly imprinted with a butterfly. When entering the auxiliary gym, girls were handed papers with the title “Self-Love” with a similar butterfly underneath. After sitting down in the small stands amongst approximately 100 other girls, a large butterfly was projected onto a screen.
It’s very clear: Jillian Johnston, author of “Love Letters To Yourself,” has a thing for these winged creatures.
“Butterflies are a symbol of change and transformation,” Johnston said. “As a butterfly breaks out of its cocoon, that’s what makes their wings strong enough to fly. I found strength in all the obstacles that I have overcome, and now I feel like I am flying.”
Johnston, a Central alumnus and self-proclaimed “Ambassador of Love,” held “Girl and Boy Empowerment Speeches” throughout all gym periods on Wednesday March 2 and 9. It was a student initiative to get Johnston to come to Central. Sophomores Ann Marie Gunn and Meridith Hannan, who are part of the JKB leadership program (which Johnston herself was part of during her time at Central), had listened to her speak at a training camp and wanted to share the message with their peers.
“They were extremely impacted by the time I got to spend with them and asked me to come here and do it for the girls that are here,” Johnston said.
During her speech, Johnston started off with an introduction to the audience, explaining how she came up with the idea of love letters to oneself. After having hit her “rock bottom,” she was in need of a love letter, but found that she did not want to rely on others to make her feel good about herself.
“And so I wrote myself one,” Johnston said in her speech.
Several years and eight love letters to herself letter later, Johnston has devoted her life to spreading the message of self-love, both in her community as well as abroad.
“I went to Peru to work with women and help start a women’s group,” Johnston said. “I fell in love with it, and I stayed; I canceled my ticket home. Self-love is what I live and breathe everyday of my life. Everyone I talk to, I bring the idea of self-love into it.”
In addition to hosting talks at Central, Johnston also spoke at the “Day of the Girl,” an event hosted by Central’s LIFE (Leading and Inspiring Female Empowerment) club on March 5. The event was held to promote self-love in celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8.
Johnston now co-runs a charity community center for women and children in Peru while continuing to host at home such as the one held at Central.
Currently, Johnston is also running a six-week empowerment program with 360 Youth Services for girls, sign ups are available on the 360 Youth Website.
