8th Grader Sparks Real-Life Change with New York Times Open Letter

Eighth grader Ella Ricard has earned national recognition as a Runner-Up in The New York Times Open Letter Contest, distinguishing herself among nearly 10,000 student entries nationwide. Ella is one of just 24 students recognized, and notably, the youngest among the honorees.

The contest challenged students to write open letters to individuals or organizations about issues that matter deeply to them. Ella’s letter, titled “White Uniform Shorts? Think Again, Girls Academy,” was addressed to the commissioner of the Girls Academy Soccer League. In it, she raised concerns about the league’s policy requiring female players to wear white uniform shorts, a rule that, for many athletes, is both impractical and uncomfortable. For Ella, the letter wasn’t just a writing exercise. It was the next step in a real-life advocacy effort that began long before the contest.

Ella’s activism started with a moment of frustration during a soccer match.

“I got my period during a game while wearing white shorts,” she recalled. “I was distracted, and I did not play to my full potential. I just had to deal with it that day, and I thought, this isn’t right. It felt unfair. I was angry.”

Motivated to spark change, she began circulating a petition at games and tournaments, handing copies to peers and referees and sharing it online with her mother’s help. Although her early efforts didn’t gain much traction, the open letter assignment from her RCDS Language Arts teacher reignited her determination.

“When he told us we could write about anything we felt strongly about, I knew this was my chance to try again,” Ella said. “It was my favorite writing assignment all year. I could use more of my voice in this type of writing compared to other writing assignments we've had. I thought that was fun.”

Ella’s letter caught the attention she was hoping for, not just from the New York Times contest judges, but from the commissioner of the Girls Academy Soccer League. The commissioner personally responded to Ella and has launched an internal review process to reconsider the uniform policy. The policy is now under final review, with a potential rule change expected later this year.

“When the commissioner told me there was only one more step before the rule could change, I thought, ‘I did it!’ I’ll be able to help girls who might never even know me. They’ll never have to experience what me and my teammates did,” Ella rejoiced.

Ella credits her confidence and communication skills to the exceptional educational experience at The Rumson Country Day School. Through a dynamic and challenging curriculum and a supportive community, students at RCDS are encouraged to grow into effective self-advocates and adept communicators. The School’s Portrait of a Graduate reflects its unwavering commitment to nurturing these critical life skills, and Ella’s achievement is a powerful example of those ideals in action.

“RCDS gives us so many opportunities to talk in front of people. We do a lot of classroom presentations, we speak at assemblies, even at lunch announcements,” she explained. “Our teachers make sure we’re not afraid to speak to masses of people. That’s helped me a lot.”

Ella’s teachers share in the celebration of her achievement. “Ella is a shining example of how young people can use their voices for positive change,” said Natalie Diehl, Interim Head of Upper School. “She took a personal challenge and turned it into an opportunity to make a lasting impact for others.”

Through her experience, Ella learned that age doesn’t matter. Courage and resilience do. Her advice to peers who are passionate about causes of their own: “Just try,” she said. “Nothing will change if no one tries to change it. Even if it doesn’t work out the way you wanted it to the first time, try again.”

While Ella is still deciding where she will continue her educational journey after RCDS, she has big plans for her future wherever she ends up. “I want to make change the next place I go. To make some sort of thing better for someone else in the world.”

Read Ella's Letter Below:

Dear Girls Academy League,

Every female knows it’s risky to wear white or light color bottoms on the first couple of days of their period. As a girl athlete, why am I expected to wear white uniform shorts when professional women athletes are not? It seems like such a simple, obvious request: ban white shorts from your league.

Women’s professional sports teams have recently succeeded in switching from white to dark shorts. Wimbledon, an event notoriously known for having a strict all-white dress code since 1877, recognized the obvious. In November of 2022, they changed their rules allowing women to wear dark undershorts. Ireland’s women’s rugby team switched to navy shorts for the Six Nations in March 2023. Orlando Pride was the first NWSL team to switch in the 2023 season. By February 2024, Nike released new kits for all 14 NWSL teams, none included white shorts. 

Society has influenced girls to be embarrassed and ashamed to talk about their periods, which could be a reason why this change has only been made for women, not girls. Well, I’m a 13-year-old girl athlete who has played in YOUR league with blood stains on my white shorts, and I’m talking about it! If national women’s sports teams have made the change, then why can't a youth league like Girls Academy? 

Being able to play without the worry of a red stain on your shorts allows females to play more confidently. According to the NYTimes, Hannah Wilkinson, a striker for New Zealand’s women’s national team, explained, “In the end it just helps us focus more on performance and shows a recognition and appreciation of women’s health.” Non-players like Nicole Melton, an associate professor of sport management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, used statistical studies to prove that women play better on their period with dark shorts than with light ones because they're less self-conscious. She argued that “boys have never been ashamed to wear a cup. A girl should not be ashamed to wear darker shorts when on her period.”

Uniform manufacturers (my team uses Capelli Sport) may argue that it costs more money to have different colored uniform shorts for their girls and boys teams. Well, here’s a no-brainer: boys and girls can BOTH wear dark shorts! Ever hear of Manchester City? Guess what! Both women and men wear burgundy shorts!

Speaking of making money, isn’t that really what the Girls Academy wants to do? According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, by the age of 14, girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys. You want to keep more girl athletes in your club for longer? Support their confidence.

The GA rulebook currently states, “Teams are not required to wear white shorts as a part of either their dark or light kits.” A little cowardly, don’t you think? You are a league FOR GIRLS! Take a stance and BAN white and light shorts from your league. PERIOD.

Thank you, 
Ella Ricard