Last week I saw a story about a two-year old girl named Parker Curry. She and her mother went to the National Portrait Gallery and suddenly, Parker stopped and refused to move when she saw Michelle Obama’s portrait. The photo, taken by Ben Hines, clearly depicts that Parker is awestruck. In an interview with Parker’s mom, Jessica, she said that her daughter “believes Michelle is a queen and she wants to be a queen as well.”

This one moment, captured forever by an onlooker, represents the whole purpose behind Women’s History Month; the celebration of women that have paved a path for the next generation of women and girls. It is a celebration of women who inspire and who stand up for the rights of women all around the world; women who say, “Yes, I am a woman. Why should that affect what I can do?”

However, this moment also shows the importance of celebrating not only the strong, influential women who came before, but to also celebrate the powerful women of today. Women whom we can meet and change the world with together. For me, what was even more inspiring than Parker looking at Michelle’s portrait, is when Michelle reached out to Jessica Curry and met with Parker. The two had a dance party and Michelle tweeted a video of them with the caption, “Parker, I’m so glad I had the chance to meet you today (and for the dance party)! Keep on dreaming big for yourself…and maybe one day I’ll proudly look up at a portrait of you!”

When little girls, (or females of any age really) get to meet their role model, it’s amazing how much that can impact their life. They are able to express thanks, adoration, and ask for guidance from the person they look up to most. One simple interaction could change a person’s life and their goals. To me, that is inspiring, beautiful, and certainly a powerful way to change the world.

During the month of March, please do more than simply celebrate women of our past. Celebrate the women of today and those they inspire for the future. We are all connected and I’m fairly sure the progressive women of history wouldn’t want us constantly looking back toward their example. They would want us to build upon their example and look toward the female leaders of today, to inspire even stronger women of our future.