International Women’s Day took place on Sunday and there were hundreds of events around the country to celebrate the occasion. Aleeya Gibson a second year Astronomy, Space Science and Astrophysics student has shared her thoughts about the day and featured former University of Kent female students who have gone on to achieve great things.

International Women’s Day is a ceremonious day for the power and influence in everyday life that women have. Women in early moments in history have been the back burner from their accomplishments due to people not believing them.

Luckily in the past 100 years or so women have been encouraged and are no longer put on the backburner. Examples of this include Ada Lovelace, a mathematician and writer who was one of the pioneers for the concept of the computer. Also Marie Curie, a woman who conducted research on radioactivity which has many uses today.

What some people do not know is that there are many influential women who have attended the University of Kent, such as Valerie Bloom who is a Jamaican poet who earned a Bachelor and Master degrees as well as being appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2008.

Then there is Jane Harper, a novelist of thriller novels which she decided to venture into 13 years after being an accomplished journalist, showing that there is never bad time for you to find what you are passionate in.

Even the well-known E.L.James, who penned the bestselling novel, Fifty Shades of Grey which have been turned into three successful movies. A woman who was able to turn her own alternative stories of Twilight into a novel that will be known for many years to come.

Probably the most known of all the women is Ellie Goulding, who is a charting singer and songwriter who was recently able to get her Doctorate at the University as well as her many accomplishment which include her song Burn, being a chart topper.

With all these accomplishments within our University and outside in wider society it is important to highlight things that you and the people around you have done and make sure that they are getting the recognition that they deserve, because you never know if their idea may become something phenomenal in the future.

Happy International Women’s Day everyone.