Ravenswood alumni Julia Baird is a political journalist, television commentator and author of 'Victoria: the Queen. 

As the guest speaker at our 2018  Prize Giving Ceremony, she gave an exceptionally inspiring speech, sharing her ‘message to her 16 year old self,’ to inspire the current crop of Ravenswood girls to live well and with purpose.

Some highlights were:

·         Find friends with true hearts and love them long and loyally. 

·         Whatever you do, do the things that incline you to the big questions and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial (from author George Saunders).

·          In a world of over-sharing, carve out your own private space, drown out the voice of other people's opinions and have the courage to listen to your own inner voice and intuition.

·         Have the courage to listen to your own inner voice and intuition and cut yourself some slack.

·         Bad times will pass, they always do. Sometimes it’s deeply unfair and sometimes you’ve had a fair bit to do with it. What you can control is the way you respond to it, draw yourself to your full height, keep moving, learn your lesson, and know it will pass

·         Being a woman is a magnificent thing. There are a million different ways to be a woman - find your own and revel in it.

·         Carefully collect good-hearted people like shells on a beach. It's not an accident, find them and collect them. They will be there throughout your life.