Tough topics approached at Expo

From career choices to things you can’t tell your mom, expo aims to educate young women

SPARTA — You are not alone.
That is the message, Amanda Martino, 18, a senior at Wallkill Valley Regional High School wants girls to know.
Whether you are 11 or 18, these crucial maturity years for girls are extremely tough. Dealing with everyday things such as school studies, volunteer work, sports and then throw in ordeals with bullying, dating, weight issues, self esteem... and you have what would seem a confusing mess.
Lending a helping a hand to young girls, the World Girls Expo 2012, presented by Straus News, coming to Sussex County, hopes to offer a comfortable, safe and fun environment for girls ages 11 to 18 to open up and talk about anything and everything.
"There are a lot of things, I feel that girls today, at this day in age, are combating that they weren’t combating 20 years ago or for that matter a decade ago," said Martino, who serves as Chairperson to the Girls World Expo. "It's good for girls to know, it sounds corny, but they are not alone. They are in good company when it comes to experiences they are going through, now in their lives."
Girls World Expo hosts expos across the nation centering on the educational and cultural development of young girls. The expo offers seminars that touch on a wide range of trending topics, such as body image, bullying, self-esteem and healthy relationships and self-defense.
Martino noted one seminar in particular that will feature a panel of girls to touch on things they can’t tell their moms. The panel will answer girl on girl questions and give answers point blank based on their own experiences.
Relating to the topics herself, Martino believes the expo will serve as a comforting place for girls to open up as they will be surrounded by other girls, their own age, that may be going through similar situations in their lives.
Along with the seminars, there will be a marketplace and science fair.
The Girls World Expo is Sunday, Sept. 30 from noon to 5 p.m. at Sussex County Technical School, 105 North Church Road in Sparta.
Tickets are $10 and available at girlsworldexpo.com.
For questions, e-mail info@girlsworldexpo.com or call Straus News at 845-469-9000.

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