Maggies

Maggies: Women in Leadership at Texas A&M University Maggies strives to support one another in all we do.

Maggies is an organization at Texas A&M University that celebrates women in leadership and our surrounding community. We are a service oriented organization, and enjoy participating in service activities to support the local community. We also strive to make a greater impact outside the local community through GLOW 5K benefitting New Horizons and Honduras. For more information:
Twitter & Instagram:
or visit our website maggies.tamu.edu

03/17/2026

For as long as I can remember, my parents have instilled in me the importance of spirituality. As we sat and prayed together every night, it practically became a part of my routine.

On a certain day, however, I remember questioning what exactly I was setting my beliefs in. Have I just been following what I have been told instead of thinking about what it truly meant for me?

Learning to question what I’ve been always told to follow was the belief that provoked the initial thought in me - that I too need to stop and think about what it is that I believe. Since then, I’ve learned to distinguish the difference between another person establishing a belief in me versus my ability to question standards and form what I would consider my own perspective on a subject.
- Varshini Artham, Blue Shirt.

03/16/2026

I am reclaiming masculinity. Not as something that belongs solely to men, but as something that lives within me, unapologetically.

Growing up as a dark-skinned woman who was tall and athletic, I was often labeled as “too masculine.” The countless hours of training I poured into my sport amounted to me being told I looked like a man. It hurt. It reinforced the idea that my strength, my body, and my presence were not feminine.

For a long time, I struggled with the shame associated with these labels. I felt that my identity didn’t fit the narrow boxes set for women, but now, I realize that my strength does not make me any less of a woman. Those qualities are just a part of who I am.

I am reclaiming the space where strength, confidence, and resilience exist side by side with grace, compassion, and softness. I am reclaiming the fullness of who I am: a woman whose body reflects the power she carries, whose spirit is not confined by what others think I should be. And in reclaiming masculinity, I am reclaiming the freedom to exist as my true self, beyond what others expect.

I am comfortable being exactly who I am. - Idara Akpaffiong, Red Shirt.

03/13/2026

I am a reflection of every person I have ever met. Every interaction leaves behind a mark. Over time, these imprints accumulate, shaping my perspective, refining my thoughts, and deepening my understanding of who I am. With every conversation, each experience, my voice grows louder, and the people I surround myself with amplify what I have to say.

People share their experiences willingly, sharing their stories and perspectives with me to deepen my own, so I carry these experiences with me. In their stories, my opinions take shape, and in return, I share my experiences with them. This knowledge ultimately shapes what I define as right or wrong, and so it is through my connections that my voice finds its strength, clarity, and purpose.
- Diya Rauser, Red Shirt.

03/12/2026

If you had asked me what I could offer the world when I was five, I probably would have told you that I was destined to create the next great series of watercolor paintings. My masterpieces were bold, imaginative, and taped to my wall with pride. At ten, I was convinced the world needed me as a right forward on my objectively mediocre soccer team. At eighteen, I had a new plan: my strong work ethic and perfectionism would pave the way for success in corporate America. I thought tangible achievements and academic success was the key to mattering in the world.

But then came some of the hardest, most existentially taxing, and unprecedented years of my life. And somewhere in the middle of all that chaos and quiet reflection, my understanding of what the world truly needs shifted. I’ve come to realize that the most lasting impact we can have isn’t measured in promotions or productivity. It lives in the small, precious moments of understanding and connection between people. Not money or success, but friendships. That’s the heartbeat of it all.

If you’ve ever written me a letter, a sticky note, or just a few words on the back of a receipt or napkin, I still have it. I keep them all. These little scraps of intimacy are my most treasured possessions. They remind me, every time I look at them, of what truly matters. They remind me that someone took a moment to reach out, and that those moments are what make the world feel less heavy and more whole.

So when I think now about what the world needs from me, the answer feels simpler and softer than I ever expected. The world and my community need my friendship and I need theirs, too. That’s not just what I can offer but what is needed.
- Sydney Gorski, Red Shirt.

03/11/2026

Future Maggies… this one’s for you!!💜💜💜

📍Aggie Park
🗓 March 16
⏰ 5–8 PM

We can’t wait to meet you!🤸‍♀️☮️🫶✨🪩

03/09/2026

Every now and then, there would be flowers on my bedside table in the morning. A small, pretty bouquet with a note that would say something along the lines of “Naina, we love you!” There was no occasion, no reason, just a simple, serendipitous offering of love. I would float for the rest of the day, and years later, I can say without hesitation that those Just Because Flowers have shaped my voice.

They taught me that sometimes, actions speak louder than words. The flowers were never a grand gesture, but they didn’t have to be; their presence alone was enough to remind me I was loved. My voice isn’t just in what I say, but also in what I do. The small actions that show I care. Small talk at the checkout line just to see how someone’s day is going, listening to my coworker rant about our supervisor, or even just remembering my best friend’s Taco Bell order.

The most meaningful things in life aren’t given with expectation, but freely, for the joy of others. Just Because Flowers are not anything more or less than what they are, and I’ve learned to do the same. Everything I say and do doesn’t need to be anything but a true representation of myself. I’ve learned to express myself freely; I exist as I am, without justification.
- Naina Vivek, Red Shirt.

03/08/2026

There are three main components of a story: the exposition, the characters, and the ending. As long as you can nail those, the other aspects can somewhat falter.

I think this is a direct reflection of how we view people and why stories have such an impact on us: people’s character, how we know them, and how they’ve left us all determine how we see the world. The world needs my storytelling. I’ve been telling stories for as long as I can remember.

My big break came in fifth grade when I wrote a book about me and all the kids in my class going on a wacky adventure. While the story was nonsensical, I loved seeing the pure joy on my classmates’ faces when I mentioned their names. Since then, I’ve written and vocalized more stories, both online and in person.

Regardless of whether the story is funny or sad, there is a connection in the audience of a story that I think the world is in desperate need of. With every story I hope to invoke something whether it’s a feeling, idea, or perspective that’s all you need to make a change.
- Marygrace Pelekamoyo, Red Shirt.

03/06/2026

Moments pass, Maggies stay.
🪻🎞️✉️🫧💜🤸🎲

We can’t wait to get our future purple shirts 🌟 Apply like it’s 1999!

03/04/2026

magzfaire spring sisterhood retreat was one for the scrolls 😉🧚🏼‍♀️🌞🍻💐

03/03/2026

Growing up, especially as young as elementary school, there was a negative connotation with being a young girl described as “loud”.

When I say “loud”, I am not necessarily referring to the volume of how I spoke, more so that I had strong opinions, and I respectfully let them be known when it was applicable. Being opinionated and taking up space that I had rightfully earned, almost became an embarrassing trait to possess. As I grew up, I read, and quickly realized, that my experience was not an isolated event.

For centuries, society had rigid gender roles that vilified those who went outside the norm (this absolutely would have been my case had I been born in the 19th century). Reclaiming what it means to be a “loud” woman is so important to who I am. It has never been a bad thing to be the most educated in the room, nor to share one’s opinions.

Reclaiming loudness is an act of empowerment. The more women who embrace their unique voices and speak out are laying the foundation for a world that celebrates the use of women’s voices. I can’t imagine a more perfect world. :’)
- Maddison (Maddy) Bradshaw, Red Shirt.

03/02/2026

The Egg is a story by Andy Weir that begins with a man passing away in a car crash. When he comes to the afterlife, he meets God, who discusses how he lived his life.

When asked about the “meaning of life”, God informs him that he is to reincarnate as someone in the next life. In fact, he is reincarnated across time, and all human beings who have ever lived and will ever be are incarnations of him. He is Abraham Lincoln, Adolf Hi**er, Jesus, and all of the people in between.

A quote from that story I like to think about often is “Every time you victimized someone...you were victimizing yourself. Every act of kindness you’ve done, you’ve done to yourself. Every happy and sad moment ever experienced by any human was, or will be, experienced by you.”

This philosophical reflection serves as a profound reminder of the interconnectedness of existence. The idea of everyone ever existing being a single soul altered my perspective on my relationship with the world.

I make sure to be intentional when I act towards others, as it truly could be me in their shoes. I remind myself to be in the pursuit of radical empathy in order to do the most good I can do in the world. I keep this truth in mind, knowing that in each individual I encounter, I see a reflection of my own journey.
- Vedanti Naktode, Blue shirt.

03/01/2026

“What truth do you live by?”

“Conclusión: si tienes la conciencia tranquila vivirás y morirás en paz.” My grandpa loved to make people smile. He was an incredible people-person, known by all for his big laugh and even bigger heart.

I still remember sitting at his feet as he shared outrageously heroic stories about his life. Hyperbolized? Sure, but influential nonetheless. Although he passed when I was young, I had yet to hear his last story; my grandpa had written a book filled with our family history and endless lessons from his life.

The very last line on the very last page translates to, “Conclusion: if you have a calm conscience, you will live and die in peace.” This is the truth that I choose to live by, and one I believe he lived by just the same: The truth that you will never regret doing the right thing.

My grandpa left no mouth unfed, no frown unturned, and no heart untouched, and to this lesson I leave no apology unsaid, no flower unwatered, and no friend unhugged. I hold myself to what I know is right, and in that way I maintain my peace.
- Andrea Valls, Blue Shirt.

Address

College Station, TX

Website

https://www.maggiestamu.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Maggies posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to Maggies:

Shortcuts

Want your university to be the top-listed University in College Station?