Torch - Fall/Winter 2019-20

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ANNUAL REPORT

T he girls around the table in a classroom exchange to graduate, the topic of lifelong friendships plunges them into a state of nostalgia, and for good reason—Renee Chan, Joyce Riad, Lauren Rozenberg, Joanne Stavropoulos and Julia Tien have all known each other since Junior Kindergarten. “There’s a level of comfort because I trust these girls. I’ve known them for literally 14 years and I’ve grown up with them,” says Tien as she looks around the table at the faces nodding back. knowing glances when asked about examples of the friendships they’ve found at Havergal, and each piles on the others’ stories as they are offered. Grade 12s poised

It’s a sentiment shared not only between these friends, but also more widely by those whose long-term connections began at Havergal. And further good news is that the health benefits of friendship are well- documented. Research from the Mayo Clinic shows that friendships boost your sense of belonging, purpose and self-worth, and reduce stress. They also help to get through life traumas such as divorce, job loss or the death of a loved one. 1 And the opposite is unsettling, too: an article published by the Harvard Women’s Health Watch quotes a study that examined data from more than 309,000 people and found the absence of strong relationships increased the risk of premature

death by 50 per cent, roughly comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and greater than obesity and physical inactivity. 2 In an attempt to explore these relationships and friendships from different perspectives, we not only sought out these upcoming Grads, but also a family that graduated multiple generations, a mentor who demonstrates a professional connection by giving back her time and expertise, and a couple of Old Girls from the tight-knit class of 1961 now planning their 60th reunion. Predictably, they all had a lot to share about the classmates they have kept in touch with since their time at Havergal.

1 Mayo Clinic. “Friendships: Enrich your life and improve your health.” August 24, 2019. Accessed via www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/friendships/art-20044860. 2 Harvard Health Publishing. “The health benefits of strong relationships.” August 6, 2019. Accessed via www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/the-health-benefits-of-strong-relationships.

“I feel like friendship is like knowing there’s someone in your corner when you need them.”

—Joyce Riad

FALL/WINTER 2019–20 • TORCH 17