Nationally acclaimed author and educator Rachel Simmons visited the Academy of the Sacred Heart campus this week to speak with students, faculty, staff and parents on building confidence and resiliency in girls. In a series of four presentations, Rachel described the increasing and evolving pressures facing young women today and provided research-backed suggestions for practicing mindfulness and self-compassion.

Rachel is the author of Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy and Fulfilling Lives, and the New York Times bestsellers

Odd Girl Out and The Curse of the Good Girl. Her advice for young women to build confidence by taking healthy risks and by investing time in the skills, hobbies and fields they love aligns with Sacred Heart’s mission to educating the whole child and offering ways in which students can explore varied interests.

“In addition to our comprehensive academic program, Sacred Heart offers an ever-expanding variety of opportunities and enhanced learning spaces for young women to pursue their interests, challenge themselves with support from faculty members and ultimately deepen their confidence in a formative period of their lives,” said Headmistress Sr. Melanie Guste, RSCJ. “Always attuned to the environmental factors that affect our students, all of our faculty read Enough As She Is and had the benefit of meeting privately with Rachel Simmons on our shared mission to shape women of courage and confidence.”

"I enjoyed hearing her speak on our level. Even if she or we can't directly change the environment or the pressures we're facing, it was good to hear an adult acknowledge them," said Sacred Heart junior Madison Maureau after the presentation Tuesday morning.  

Many thanks to the Sacred Heart Father's Club for enabling Rachel's visit, and to Rachel for sharing her story and the practical advice that educators, parents and students themselves can use to build confidence in the next generation of women leaders. 

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Rachel Simmons is the author of Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy and Fulfilling Lives, and the New York Times bestsellers Odd Girl Out and The Curse of the Good Girl. As an educator, Rachel teaches girls and women skills to build their resilience, amplify their voices, and own their courage so that they—and their relationships—live with integrity and health.