*First published in HuffPost Canada I don’t know about you but I have had enough of this idea that a girl should be Super girl: talented at everything she tries and effortless achievement. Research tells us that girls are breaking through glass ceilings: they are succeeding academically, they are involved in every sport and activity they can cram into their schedules, and they are preparing for their future and the next stage of life colloquially called, “adulting”. Yet, there is a troubling paradox amongst the girls I work alongside. Yes, on paper they are exceptional and doing everything right. Good grades. Check. Activities. Check. Friends. Check. Volunteering. Check. Yet, when I ask them if they are happy, I am often met with hesitation and uncertainty. They whisper some sentiment such as, “Yes, I guess so” but their subtext tells me they are far from feeling satisfied with themselves. Why? My guess is that they have already been negatively impacted by the larger, more powerful cultural messages of success, that they are not enough, and that they need to push for perfection with all the superhero strength they can muster. Today’s girls are taught societal standards through media messages emphasizing beauty,…...