There have been many changes in society in the past years. I know my grandparents talk about a time when women weren't even able to vote, and now women are given just as many luxuries as men are. Though there have been many upbringings in society there are still setbacks, things people can and cannot do.

When I was younger all I knew was what my father and brother did, sports. Playing and coaching is how I was brought up and I wanted to be just like my brother, he played sports, so as any younger siblings, so did I. I was never brought up to see men, women, and color as different, everyone was created equal. Therefore when my grandmothers talk about certain classes they weren't allowed to take and such things it was all new to me, I didn't know our society could have ever been so narrow-minded.

So women in sports is something my grandfather still isn't used to. When he saw pictures of me playing basketball, volleyball, softball, and soccer he was still amazed. What even got him more was when I went into an automotive class in high school, my grandmother thought he was going to have a heartattack.

Back when our grandparents grew up things that women are given today were just dreams in the eyes of a young girl, we are now given so much but you still see people take things for granted. All I know is that I was brought up that exact way, never take anything for granted. Anything I was given I knew I deserved it, I knew I earned it. Women earned the right to be given almost everything a man was given but not by sitting on the sidelines wishing, by acting on what they wanted and what they believed they deserved.

So when I see friends, or hear someone say that women should not do this because it's not a woman's place to be there, I don't just look at them in disgust, but I basically give them a debate on their point of view. But that's all it'll ever be, their point of view.

The Bush Administration, via the Department of Education, has launched an initiative aimed at destroying Title IX as we know it, making it nearly impossible to any plaintiff to bring successful litigation against a school lacking in sufficient athletic opportunities for females. Please visit and consider signing their petition attempting to stop this Dept. of Education action.

I???m glad that Title IX has had such a great effect on women???s sports. I enjoy the fact that more and more women are getting into sports. Basketball has provided so much for me and I hope that one day it will do the same for my child. No one should be denied the right to enjoy everything that sports have to offer.