Model shares advice with students
Rebecca Hardy urges schoolgirls to follow their dreams
Kitchener, Ont. - It was the kind of advice these young girls have probably heard before.
Believe in yourself. Have confidence. Follow your dreams.
But to a group of students at a public school in Kitchener, Ont., the lessons they heard recently meant the world.
They came from a bona fide celebrity, after all, someone these children had only ever seen on television or gracing the pages of fashion magazines. And as five-foot-11 model Rebecca Hardy towered over the cross-legged kids, they hung on every word.
The former Schneiders worker, who traded in her job making hot dogs after being crowned Canada's Next Top Model last year, regaled the students at Country Hills Public School with stories about the reality television show and her new life in front of the cameras.
"I learned confidence is a huge thing in my business," said Hardy, who lives in nearby Mannheim, Ont. "If you have the confidence, you're going to move forward and do amazing things."
Hardy's visit came as a result of a chance encounter days earlier with teacher Darlene St. John at a local hair salon. St. John asked for an autograph for her daughter -- and then asked if Hardy would come to the school to speak to the girls' club that St. John and colleague Tara Roden lead.
The club is made up of about 10 hand-picked students, who meet weekly to build confidence and esteem and discuss the pressures facing young girls in society.
Hardy didn't hesitate, spending some private time with club members in the school library before talking to all of the girls in Grades 4 to 6.
"What an inspiration," said principal Evelyn Giannopoulos. "A local girl staying true to her desires and life goals and making that dream happen."
Hardy showed the girls photos from her portfolio, told them about meeting Justin Timberlake and Bono, and confided that her first goal was to play professional soccer.
"I kind of switched what I wanted to do," she said, and began modelling locally about five years ago at the age of 17.
"You never know where life is going to take you."
A tomboy growing up, Hardy said she was teased for her tall, lanky build, her crooked teeth and the subsequent braces.
"The same people who were really rude to me in high school are now asking me for my autograph."
She praised the club for its efforts in raising more than $200 for the children's unit at Grand River Hospital through the sale of bookmarks and lollipops the girls spent hours preparing.
"You guys are really doing an amazing thing," Hardy said. "You're helping people you don't even know."
An excited Faith Webber, 11, said it was the first time she'd ever met a real television star. "I learned you should not worry about what people say, you should not worry about people calling you names," she said.
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