Girls Right the World Turns 10

When the MHS literary journal Girls Right the World launched in 2016, its founders weren’t quite certain where their path might lead.

“Fortunately, the project did take off,” explains MHS English Teacher and Poet Emily Pulfer-Terino ’97, who guides the student editors who make Girls Right the World Happen. “The students used their networks, I drew on my experience as an actively publishing writer, and there was a lot of interest and excitement about young people joining a community of other creatives.”

Ten years later, stronger than ever, and now an on-campus Horizons site, Girls Right the World keeps rolling along. The online journal spotlights writing of all kinds — poetry, prose, fiction, nonfiction — and art from girls and gender-expansive creators worldwide. Issue 10 was published in May and features work from 33 states in the USA and 13 different countries.

“I really enjoy how many pieces are relatable, and I find a lot of inspiration and motivation in many of the submissions,” explains Yoyo Chen ’26, who returned to the journal in 2025-26 for a second year and served as student Executive Editor. The 2025-26 editorial team also included editors Bella Fisher ’27, Juliet Hopkins ’27, Suki Kam ’26, Lena Mugridge Neilson ’27, and Maia Roberts ’27.

“This is an opportunity to advocate for other girls’ voices around the world,” adds Yoyo. “It’s a privilege to take a glimpse into other girls’ minds.”

Fellow editor Juliet concurs. “Girls’ and women’s voices have often been ignored and not heard,” she notes. “We promote art and writing by girls in a similar age range, so it’s a comfortable space, and I don’t think it would be as special if it was not only for girls.”

Each year, Girls Right the World receives hundreds of submissions from contributors ages 14-21 worldwide. Typically, Ms. P-T reviews the submissions to make sure they meet the journal’s criteria, then the editors review the work, sometimes by themselves, but often as a group. The team meets during Horizons every Wednesday to discuss the week’s submissions, and, for many, it is their favorite part of the process.

“I like re-reading submissions after our discussion and after hearing others’ thoughts, because it gives me more insight into the pieces,” explains Bella, who signed on to GRTW to gain insight into how a literary magazine works. “To hear others’ opinions also opens my mind to possibilities that I might not have thought of.”

Lena agrees. “I enjoy the different perspectives, and the opinions can be pretty varied,” she says. “It’s also interesting to see which submissions we are in agreement on and which we are not.”

Maia pointed out that though writing can be a deeply personal and individual craft, she enjoys the community found in Girls Right the World. “Some of the pieces are also so creative, they stick with me,” says Maia, who, along with Bella and Juliet, served as a judge this year for the HerVoice 2026 Writing Contest, an opportunity that developed via the vast network Girls Right the World has developed during the past decade.

The contest is an initiative of EmpowerHer, which supports Afghan girls worldwide. The organization was founded by one of Issue 9’s published writers, a refugee from Afghanistan. Among other Girls Right the World connections, Ms. P-T notes, a young writer published in Issue 1 went on to launch her own literary journal, and GRTW contributors are actively publishing their writing and art in professional spaces.

“The pool of submissions we received for Issue 10 were by far the highest quality I have seen, and I am so proud,” says Ms. P-T. “I can’t wait to see what our next decade brings!”

Editor’s Note: This article includes reporting from the Horizons Media Team’s Natalia Boneo ’27 and Romee He ’27.