Growing up, my mom told me I could be anything I wanted. Throughout the years, I dreamt of becoming a ballerina, as every girl probably did at least once in her life, a police officer and, as I got older, a broadcaster reading the evening news on national television. I always thought I could do whatever I set my mind to do and never thought my gender could stand in the way of that.

Unfortunately, many roles in society are still dominated by men.

We live in the 21^st century so restricting certain jobs because of someone’s gender should be ancient history by now. A woman has every right to be a firefighter, soldier, politician or police officer if she wants.

My aunt is proof that women can succeed in male-dominated roles. She previously served in the Army and later worked as a detective for a police department in Florida.

Unfortunately, the glass ceiling still exists. Two women are attempting to break through it by becoming the first female soldiers who will graduate from the Army’s Ranger School. This is the first year the Army opened the course to woman on a trial basis.

I’m not sure why it took so long for the Army to allow women the opportunity to undergo the intensive training, but it’s about time.

However, we’ve still got a long way to go, especially when it comes to gender equality within our country’s defense.

Unlike their male counterparts, the two women won’t be able to join the 75^th Ranger Regiment, a special operations force, after graduation.

The Pentagon is set to make a decision later this year about what combat roles women will be allowed to fill in the future.

In the end, we’re all human and should have the opportunity to prove ourselves in any role, despite our gender.