JAMIE VILLARREAL

Born and raised on the south side, Jamie Villarreal calls herself "a Chicago girl through and through." Currently gearing up to go back to school to pursue a degree in communications, Jamie writes about her passions on her blog, Oh! How Lovely!

Why this is so important to her: "When I was young, my mom handled the topic of periods by throwing a pamphlet my way. I think it is incredibly important to completely understand what is happening to you at that age. Being prepared and not being afraid to ask questions are something I wish I had."

On empowering women and girls: "As a blogger, I feel writing can be very empowering. You never know who you can inspire when you put something out there for all to see."

What excites her about this program: Jamie is looking forward to learning from the other panelists and from the young women who visit the site. "I feel we all have a lot to share and teach each other."

The best advice she's ever received: "Never be afraid to fail. Failure is no reason to give up. It's a learning experience."

The way to her heart: "Etsy, mac and cheese, slouchy berets and wine with pretty labels."

When she's not helping empower young women: You can usually find Jamie behind a good book, running around with her adorable Corgi puppy, Edie, or writing on her blog, Oh! How Lovely