Kimaya Sharma

Girl Up was first introduced to Dulaney last year with a mission to work towards empowerment and equity for women. This year, Senior Marcus Lapinski proudly takes his position as the first male on the Girl Up officer team.

At his first Girl Up meeting, Lapinski was unsure of what his role would be or how he could help. However, those feelings quickly subsided when he was instantly welcomed and supported by other members. He decided to take his involvement to the next level by applying for a leadership position at the end of his junior year. As a senior, he now holds the position of Vice President.

Lapinski grew up alongside 3 older sisters, which he thinks has had a big impact on him. Being surrounded by women all his life has been a motivating factor for his interest in supporting them and their rights. He hopes that other students at Dulaney can share this interest so that the club can have a variety of members with different opinions and backgrounds.  

“I think it’s important to have diversity because that will lead to diversity of opinions, which is very important for being able to have constructive conversations and build ideas from each other,” Lapinski said.  

Girl Up has provided Lapinski with opportunities to get involved in the school community and gain new insight on social justice issues impacting women. For example, the club has covered issues such as Roe V Wade, which was able to give Lapinski a real sense of the issue.

“If you don’t think you’re going to fit in, I don’t think that’s true at all because the point of the club is to welcome anybody,” is Lapinski’s response to those that might feel hesitant about joining the club. 

As a member of the club last year, Lapinski says he was able to pick up on the “vibe” of Girl Up: welcoming, happy and inclusive. That’s exactly what he intends to carry on this year as he continues to advocate and contribute to Girl Up’s mission moving forward.

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