Torch - Fall 2016

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| FALL 2016 • TORCH 3
Last year, I read an article about a Canadian doctor who was a
woman of true integrity and who had the confidence to stick to
her values, even in times of adversity. She was Frances Kelsey.
Back in 1960, Dr. Kelsey took a job with the Food and Drug
Administration in the U.S. and during her first month she was
asked to approve the drug thalidomide. She knew right away that
something was wrong and asked for more evidence of its safety. She
was under enormous pressure by the drug company to put it on the
market, as it was already being sold in Europe, but she held firm
and refused. One year later, medical studies revealed that the drug
caused devastating birth defects. Dr. Kelsey ended up saving the
United States a medical catastrophe that is still having an impact on
Canadians and Europeans.
Sadly, we lost Dr. Kelsey in August 2015, but I think of her often
when I connect the importance of instilling confidence in the
students at Havergal. When people are confident, they can see the
efforts of their integrity. We work every day to help our students
build confidence, so they make choices they can be proud of even
years later.
Confidence also helps students overcome hurdles and learn.
When a young person is faced with a difficult problem—in school
or in life—what often holds her back is the doubt inside herself.
Confident girls and women trust that they’ll figure it out, look to
their own resources and receive the support they need for a new
approach to figure out a math problem, climb a mountain or tackle
a community project.
To build confidence in our students, we also turn to another core
value: compassion. When girls are surrounded by people who listen
to them, support them and respect the way they learn, they can
grow confidence in their own way.
At Havergal, we make sure girls are supported throughout their
journey at the school, including when they might struggle with
friends, homework, family challenges or just growing up. And
we encourage girls to speak up about what they find hard and get
involved in on-campus and community projects that help others.
These initiatives help nurture a community where we can speak
about difficult personal subjects and seek help, if it’s needed.
In the classroom, our teachers work with the idea that education is
about learning how to think. Here, girls learn about themselves and
their learning style and they can take this self-knowledge with them.
#RealGirlThings encourages girls to have conversations about the
role confidence plays in their lives. At Havergal, we think the school
environment and the way we learn—not just what we learn—matter.
Self-exploration in a compassionate, meaningful environment
develops the kind of confidence that allows a girl to stay true to
herself, no matter what comes her way.
Supporting Girls to Stay True to Themselves
By Helen-Kay Davy, Principal
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When girls are surrounded
by people who listen to them,
support them and respect the
way they learn, they can grow
confidence in their own way.
Principal’s Message