How one high school teacher changed my life

Oct 11

*Me (Stacy Havener); two of the awesome teachers from Rogers High School in Newport, RI; and two incredible women from Havener Capital Partners, Alicia Purden and Kaila McGreal*

Last Wednesday felt like the first day of school. 'Cause it was. I got to do something I've dreamed of.

Teach a class.

Even better?
With some of my squad
Even better?
We're helping girls in public high school.

Girls who don't know numbers, def don't love 'em. Who might be afraid of math. Who haven't experienced the power of compounding. Or the freedom of good financial habits. Who aren't aware that there's a place for them on Wall Street.

Thanks to Rock The Street, Wall Street, we got to help girls learn financial literacy and see a career path in finance. We got to help girls who are a lot like us.

Being back in high school was a trip down all kinds of lanes.

*Clippings from my scholarship competition, Voice of Democracy*

I have had so many amazing teachers. In school, on the field, in the workplace, in life. Great teachers do more than teach you skills; they teach you to believe in a brighter future, in yourself.

My high school English teacher, Carole Smith, knew I was paying for my own college. She gave me a newspaper clip for a scholarship writing/speech competition, Voice of Democracy, with the words, "You can do this."

It changed my life. Not only because I won the scholarship. Not only because I traveled all over the U.S. Not only because I delivered that speech on the radio, on stages big and small. Not only because I was in parades or received letters from people all over the state. Or because my speech was placed in the Congressional record. All of those things, yes. But also because I saw the power of words and stories to move people.

And the words were mine.

“I don’t know where Ms. Smith is now, but she was wrong when she wrote me and said, ‘I truly never thought of myself as being very influential...’”

Her influence was the best kind. Teacher to student. For a girl who desperately needed a champion. And a chance.

Thank you, Ms. Smith, and teachers everywhere.

RTSWSRock the Street Wall Street

Stacy Havener

Blue-collar girl from the Berkshires who combined a lot of grit with a little glitter to become a successful female entrepreneur in the investment world. Founder of Havener Capital, raising capital ($8B and counting), stomping glass ceilings, and shaking things up.