Girls with Courage hosts movie night

The lights are dimmed and the credits begin to roll on the projector’s screen. Twenty to 25 girls huddled around the ceramics tables ready to watch the romantic comedy“Begin Again” while munching on speciality snacks.

This was the scene of the movie night that was hosted by Girls With Courage in ceramics teacher Leah Aguayo’s room on Nov. 8. The movie night is one small example of how the group tries to provide support and friendship.

Aguayo first created the group  20 years ago, but it was inactive until the events surrounding then-sophomore Audrie Pott’s death in 2012.

“It really is about all of us learning the issues around campus and in [the] lives of all girls on and off campus and how girls as a whole could come together and gain courage,” junior Saia Ghelichkhani said.

Since its formation, the group has grown to 85 members. They have hosted workshops to improve the self-esteem of girls on campus as well as group breakfasts, a “Grow Your Garden Party” and other movie nights.

“Begin Again” shows the relationship struggles of a young couple and stars Adam Levine and Keira Knightley,.

“[The movie night] was really fun. We had lots of food and we all enjoyed the movie a lot,” junior Priyanka Kakkar said.

Kakkar said that the highlight of the evening was Aguayo’s spread of food, which included homemade tomato soup, grilled cheese, cookies and chips and salsa.

While enjoying the delicious snacks, the girls were not only able to de-stress by watching a movie but also learned valuable lessons.

“The movie taught us that you should do whatever makes your heart happy and that one should not change [yourself] for the sake of others,” Kakkar said.