BRANDON, Fla. — Sasha Fowler is in her seventh year teaching at Brandon High School.

She teaches English and a college course focused on thinking skills. Growing up, she wanted to be a lawyer. But teaching is what she was meant to do.

“I’m doing what I’m called to do and I’m really happy to be here,” Fowler said. “I love the connections I get to make with a lot of the students. And that’s one of the reasons I started Bloom Girls Club.”

Bloom Girls Club is a faith-based empowerment club for girls at Brandon High School. Fowler says she saw a need for it on campus.

“Girls needed a space to feel empowered and welcomed and a space that makes them feel valued and heard and seen,” said Fowler.

This year, 66 girls are a part of the group. They meet once a month and can get help with everything from writing an essay to life advice.

“It’s impacting the girls in such an awesome way where we’re seeing girls who had a 1.2 GPA now leading the club as the president here, so it’s a huge impact,” said Fowler.

Her goal is to expand the club to other schools because she says girls everywhere need a space like this.

“They need that positive reinforcement in their lives,” she said. “They need that accountability, that mentorship.”

Fowler is working towards her master’s degree and hopes eventually to expand Bloom Girls Club beyond Hillsborough County.