“I think I’m living my favorite memory…” Maryam’s Life@GWN

It’s important to savor every stage in life. For Maryam Oguntola, longtime Girls Write Now mentee and Library Information Assistant for NYPL, that means honoring the present and celebrating the people that make her the woman she is today.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month and Girls Write Now Day, we’re reminded of the strength in numbers of our community and the bridges we build towards hope by encouraging young writers to express their experiences of their gender, reproductive health, and the world at large. As Maryam puts it: “Being part of a community of women who support and uplift me as a Muslim woman—and having the opportunity to do the same for others—makes this my favorite memory of girlhood.”

Recently highlighted in Girls Write Now’s collaboration with LOLA, Maryam’s honest retelling of her journey with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in Here and Now: Girls Write Now 2024 Anthology reminds us of the multiplicities of experiences with womanhood and how sharing your story now can inspire others to tell theirs in the future.

Tell us about your life@GWN.

I am a mentee at GWN. I became a mentee in 2022, though I forgot how I came across the opportunity. However, I remember being excited because I loved writing and reading. Being in a space and program that supported my passion meant a lot.

At GWN, I have had the opportunity to attend various community studios and explore different forms of writing, my favorite being the poetry studios. I have also learned through the Perspectives on Public Policy Journey. Additionally, I get to share my writing—whether through the anthology, with my mentor, or out loud in the studio. It has been a wonderfully open space for growth.

What about doing that/those things gets you up in the morning?

I love to write; it is how I process and create. I love feeling inspired and eager to write and learn. I also aspire to be a change agent. Being able to do all these things as a GWN mentee is part of what motivates me to get up every morning.

What is it about the Girls Write Now work environment that you find so special?

Being among a diverse group of individuals and knowing that I can ask for help—where someone is always willing to answer a question or even meet with me to assist—is truly amazing.

What’s your superpower? How does that inform the work you do at Girls Write Now?

I do not have a superpower, but I love helping others. Whenever needed, I am always willing to lend a hand or a listening ear—whether at Girls Write Now or anywhere else.

The theme for our upcoming anthology is “Hope Lives in our Words”. What does hope mean to you?

Words have the power to tell the truth and inspire change. There is so much falsehood and propaganda right now, but with words—whether writing, talking, or other forms—we can create change, inspire hope, tell the truth, share our hopes for the future and the world, create smiles, joy, and laughter. Words help people see that there is more to the world than what we see or what we go through, So yeah, “Hope Lives in our Words.”

This month we’re celebrating Women’s History Month and Girls Write Now Day. What is your favorite memory of girlhood?

I don’t have one specific memory of girlhood—I think I am living my favorite memory of it right now. Learning to accept myself as a girl, as a woman, is empowering. Being part of a community of women who support and uplift me as a Muslim woman—and having the opportunity to do the same for others—makes this my favorite memory of girlhood.

At Girls Write Now, we uplift stories that go beyond the binary. Who is a writer or character who expanded your perspective on gender?

A writer who expanded my perspective on gender is Dr. Haifaa Younis. She is one of the most inspiring individuals I have come across. She holds many roles, and I am truly amazed by everything she does—from being a gynecologist to running her institute, delivering powerful speeches, and even traveling to Gaza to help those in need.

For last year’s anthology, Here and Now, you wrote a beautiful piece on living with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. How did it feel to tell your story? How do you hope to inspire others who might be going through something similar?

It felt interesting to share something so deeply personal. But learning that PCOS affects millions of women inspired me to tell my story. I wouldn’t have learned about PCOS if I hadn’t experienced it myself—and many people still don’t know much about it. Having the opportunity to share my experience and maybe inform others felt good, like perhaps I had done something meaningful.

I hope to inspire others going through something similar by reminding them that they are not alone. Having PCOS, or any other hormonal or reproductive condition, is a natural part of being a woman. I want to encourage them not to feel embarrassed about something so deeply tied to womanhood but instead to seek help and support.

What is the importance of storytelling and reproductive health to you?

Storytelling is a way to create change, tell the stories of the oppressed, inform others, and make the world a little better. We are living in a time when so many women are suffering from oppressive reproductive restrictions, lack of access to proper reproductive care, and many other issues that I might not even know about. Combining storytelling with reproductive health is much needed to showcase the stories of these issues and the experiences of women with reproductive health.

If you had to give a few words of hope to the next generation of writers, what would they be?

Just write—write anything. Writing began for me as a way to replicate the stories I was reading, but it has become so much more. It is one of my favorite ways to cope and express myself. Anyone can be a writer, but you won’t know until you put words to paper, Google Docs, the Notes app, or anything else. Just do it.