The Empowered Woman: Part 1
by M.C.
Shy, insecure college girl learns how to tap her inner strength

Sherry and Roy had been going steady ever since the 10th grade. The 
pretty, but shy brunette had never had a boyfriend before Roy and 
couldn't see herself dating anybody else. Growing up in a small town 
didn't offer them much of an opportunity to meet many other people but 
they seemed very happy together and even entertained thoughts of 
getting married after they graduated college. Roy was the local high
school football hero. Standing six feet three inches tall and weighing 
nearly 220 well muscled pounds, he was his team's star running back 
and expected to be offered a full football scholarship to a major 
university upon his graduation. Sure enough, when Roy completed the 
12th grade, the State University came calling. Sherry, though
apprehensive about leaving the small town she had always lived in -  
and somewhat intimidated at the thought of attending a large school 
with more than thirty thousand students -  nevertheless followed the 
love of her life out into the great wide world.

It wasn't long before things began to change between Roy and Sherry. 
Roy's success on the gridiron, coupled with his increased popularity - 
especially with the sexy cheerleaders - went to straight to his head. 
One day he came into their co-ed dorm room with Karen, one of the 
cheerleaders. Without the slightest trace of remorse, he informed 
Sherry that he was dumping her. He wanted her to pack her things and 
be out within the hour. Sherry was absolutely crushed. Perhaps it was 
her small town naivete', but never had she imagined that such a thing 
could possibly happen. She broke down and cried. It was only with the 
greatest amount of difficulty that she managed to gather her 
belongings and leave; shocked and humiliated. As she left, she heard 
Roy and Karen laughing in another room.

With no where to go, Sherry turned to her only friend, Amy; a girl in 
her biology class. " Of course you can stay here in my dorm room," Amy 
said sympathetically; " for as long as you want ". When Sherry told 
Amy what happened to her - and that she was seriously thinking about 
dropping out of the University and returning home to her small town -  
Amy gently took her hand. " Sherry, before you make any major 
decisions about your future there's someone I'd like you to meet...I 
think she can help you."

The next day, Amy took Sherry to a small gym located on the far end of 
the campus. When they entered, Sherry was surprised by what she saw. 
There were mats on the floor where college-age women like herself
were practicing martial arts. Off to the side was a weight room where 
other women were lifting weights. Next to that was a punching bag 
where a woman was pounding away at it. In the two months Sherry had 
been at the university, she wasn't even aware that this place existed. 
Amy guided Sherry over to a powerfully built woman who appeared to be 
the martial arts instructor and introduced them." Judy, I'd like you 
to meet my friend Sherry -  the girl I was telling you about."

Judy looked at Sherry and smiled, right away Sherry felt better. 
Motioning to one of her students to take over the Karate class, Judy 
led Sherry into a side room. " Well young lady," Judy began," I hear 
you've had some problems. Care to tell me about them ? " Sherry then 
told Judy the whole story, crying as she did so. When she finished, 
Judy put her arm around Sherry and said," well girl, it looks like 
you've come to the right place. Welcome to my class on Woman's 
Empowerment."

" Woman's empowerment ? ", Sherry asked, " Wha - what's that ? " Judy 
sighed, she'd heard it all before, many times; too many in fact. " In 
this course, I will teach you how to tap into your hidden strengths, 
show you what you're potential is and how to become the woman you're 
capable of being. It's not just for a grade, though there will be a 
final exam. The lessons you'll learn here will last you throughout 
your entire life. I'm going to teach you how to become an 'empowered 
woman', are you ready for the challenge ? " Sherry wasn't sure but 
there was something about this Judy, the way she talked, the 
confidence in her walk, her entire demeanor, which shouted," RESPECT 
ME  OR ELSE !!! "  Whatever it was, Sherry realized that she could use 
a strong dose of it. " Yes," she said at length," I -  I'm ready.... I 
think. "

Over the course of the next several months, Sherry would go to the gym 
almost every afternoon. She began to lift weights,study martial arts, 
and attend Judy's lectures on women's empowerment. The lectures were 
designed to wipe away the 'old fashioned' views on how a woman should 
think about herself and behave. The weights and martial arts were to 
build up self-confidence. Judy could be tender and sympathetic when 
she needed to be, but also a very hard taskmaster. She believed in 
pushing each girl to her limits in order for her to excel, and didn't 
tolerate slackers. Judy had been a Marine drill sergeant and fought in 
the Gulf War. She was decorated for bravery several times and, when 
she retired from the military, decided to use her skills to teach 
other women what they are able to accomplish if they really set their 
mind to it. Nothing gave Judy greater joy than to see one oher 'girls' 
overcome a serious hurdle - be it physical or psychological - and then 
realize that the 'sky's the limit' in what they can do in their lives. 
She believed that every woman has - within her - the potential to 
accomplish great things; she just has to believe in herself. And she 
despised people like Roy; people who use others - especially 
vulnerable women - for their own pleasure, and then discard them when 
they have no further use for them.

Sherry began to feel different about herself after only a couple of 
weeks. It was subtle at first, but it was there. As the time
went by she felt herself getting stronger, more confident, feeling 
better about herself. One of the greatest thrills of her life occurred 
when  - after only three months of karate training - she shattered a 
board with her fist. One day, as she was walking through the halls
of the university, she saw Roy walking in the opposite direction with 
his arm around Karen. Previously, when this would happen, Sherry 
would duck into a side room or turn her face so he wouldn't see her. 
But on this occasion - for reasons she wasn't quite sure of at the 
time - she held her head up high as they walked past. When, at her 
class later that evening, she told Judy about the incident; Judy 
simply smiled. It wasn't her usual smile however. Sherry sensed there 
was something more beneath it. What it meant though, she couldn't even 
guess.

One evening, about halfway through the course, Sherry asked Judy what 
kind of final exam she would be given. " Every final exam I give is 
catered to the individual needs of each girl. If, for example, one of 
my students is afraid of heights ( like Sherry's friend Amy)then I may 
have her do a rock climb or a bungee jump. Once a woman has conquered 
her greatest fears, then she'll realize that nothing can stand in her 
way; she'll become 'empowered' and can do whatever she sets her mind 
to ". Sherry thought about this for a few moments and then asked 
again," and what will my final exam be ? " Judy just smiled that 
cryptic smile again and said," you'll find out when the time is right."

It was June and the school year was nearly over. One of the by -
products of Sherry's newfound self-confidence, was a dramatic
improvement in her school grades. Though a bright girl, she never 
really applied herself to schoolwork before; she was always catering 
to Roy's wishes. Now she was on course to get straight A's . But as 
the semester drew to a close, she couldn't stop herself from 
thinking," what kind of challenge is Judy going to throw at me ? " 
That very night, while Sherry was bench pressing 275 pounds - nearly 
twice her bodyweight - Judy walked over to her. " Well Sherry, I guess 
it's about time isn't it ? " Sherry, didn't need an explanation to 
know what Judy was referring to. " When ? " she asked. " Tomorrow 
evening...are you ready ? " Sherry had no idea what Judy had is store 
for her, but after seven months of training she knew what her answer 
must be," BRING IT ON," she said with confidence. Judy smiled, that 
was the answer she was expecting to hear; Sherry was now ready for her 
final exam.

The next day: Sherry's final exam

Sherry left her dorm that afternoon and began to walk slowly in the 
direction of the gym. As she walked, she reflected on the changes that 
had occurred since she left her home town.  Nine months ago she was a 
shy, insecure girl, nothing more than an appendage of Roy actually. 
When he threw her out, she was nearly broken. But, thanks to Amy, Judy 
and the other girls in her course, she redefined herself and now 
walked with an air of confidence that she never would have thought 
possible only a few months ago. She thought about Amy who, after 
falling down the stairs when she was a little girl, was afraid to even 
look out of a  second story window. The week before, Judy drove Amy, 
Sherry and some of the other girls to a steep rock cliff that went 
nearly 200 feet straight up. Amy's final exam was to scale the rock 
face with nothing but her bare hands. Sherry watched in awe as her
roommate attacked the rock. In 40 minutes she reached the summit. For 
good measure, when she finished her descent, Amy went right back up 
again...in 30 minutes this time.

Sherry also thought of Jennifer. Badly injured in an automobile 
accident when she was twelve years old, she was deathly afraid of even 
driving in a car. Two weeks ago, Judy appeared at class riding her 
motorcycle. She had entered Jennifer in a motorcycle race as her 
final. Even though Jennifer had never ridden a motorbike before, after 
a few lessons from Judy she was ready to race. She finished in a 
respectable sixth place. So overwhelmed was she at her accomplishment 
that the very next day Jennifer went out and bought herself a Harley - 
Davidson motorcycle. The other day Sherry had seen Jennifer wiz by on 
the freeway at over 90 miles an hour - her petrified boyfriend, arms 
tightly wrapped around Jennifer's waist, clinging for dear life. Amy 
and Jennifer were but two examples of how Judy's course turned normal 
college girls into wonder women. And now it was her turn...

When Sherry arrived at the gym all the girls were already sitting on 
the floor. Judy greeted her with her usual smile.  " Sherry, somebody
hurt you very badly awhile ago. He treated you like a piece of 
property and when he didn't need you anymore, he cast you aside like 
you were a piece of garbage. Now, you are an empowered woman. And to 
prove it, as well as to pass your exam, I want you to even up the 
score." As Judy spoke, she moved over to a side room and opened the 
door. Sherry's mouth dropped wide open as a large,powerfully built boy 
stepped out of the room... it was Roy. He stared first at Sherry and 
then at Judy. " Just what the HELL is going on here ? " he said 
arrogantly. " You said you'd give me $50 if I showed up here for some 
sort of test.  What kind of silly bullshit girlie games are you chicks 
playing ? " Judy looked over at Sherry and smiled again," He's all 
yours kid...and good luck ."

End of part 1