Monique Howat
I grew up in B.C. where I spent most of my time as a child of the forest; building forts, inspecting bugs and completely secure in my wooded surroundings. My home life was not as serene though and by high school I was terrorized by an enemy without a face. It is known as anxiety and panic. The attacks were frightening and paralyzing but through youthful determination and optimism, I feel fortunate to have eventually found a genuine comfort in my own skin. At about the same time though, I noticed that many teen girls my age were just beginning phases of low self-esteem and self-loathing and I wanted to help.
By age 22, masses of hitchhikers were leaving Canada to see Europe on $5.00 a day. It sounded exciting so I chose to hitch-hike across Canada, accompanied by my ferocious German Sheppard dog Tanya. It was a wonderful feeling of freedom and within a week of my grand departure I was alone on a rocky mountain top with Tanya, seeing the world for what seemed like the first time. I could see that I had a choice to take charge of my life. I chose yes! I realized too that only I could choose to lead an extraordinary life. I took a deep breath and shouted my overjoyed answer out to the world. I chose yes!
I became a reporter at a large newspaper because writing was one of my passions. My assignments were often to write about successful people who had a common thread -- they were motivated and confident enough to challenge themselves. I became a humble student of everyone I had the privilege to write about.
At age 29 I married a wonderful man and over the next few years I had 3 fabulous daughters that have made my life absolutely exceptional. It was in my role as a mom that I found my most important purpose. What an honour it was to create fun with them while living, learning and teaching my daughters how to make the best of their lives by working hard and playing hard! Each June, for example, we would head north to tent camp for an entire summer, returning only the night before school was to start. It was beautifully blissful!
One cold January I received a desperate call that my 14 year old niece had taken her own life. At her funeral, sadly standing beside her coffin I realized that when I was her age, I had been lucky to find hope, rather than feel the hopelessness that would drive a child to suicide. I made a promise to my niece, myself and the heavens that I would do something to help young girls feel confident and hopeful about themselves and their futures. It led to Confident Girls and Guys.
I am honoured to be teaching youth how to believe in themselves before they prove themselves.
The world is lucky to have them. Confident Girls and Guys workshops help them see why.
"One should never consent to creep when one feels the impulse to soar." - Helen Keller
This site is dedicated to the memory of my niece, Temani.
Short biography:
Politicians and corporations have honoured and recognized Monique's work and recently she was named 'Woman of Success.' She has authored many articles
internationally and a book on how to raise confident and motivated kids in just minutes a day. Monique motivates audiences on Midday-TV as a third-year
regular and she has made appearances on popular shows such as Canada AM.
Monique at age 6, 16, 26 and 36
Letters
Monique was so encouraging and inspirational to our Intermediate students. She definitely boosted their confidence and did a superb job of showing them the true meaning of RESPECT and how they should always be proud of themselves for all that they are - from the inside out. "POSITIVE ACTION does indeed create POSITIVE REACTION." Through Monique's positive motivational efforts and actions - engaging activities, stories, cards, handouts, etc. - our students definitely have displayed Positive Reactions to what they heard, saw, shared, believed and felt. Thank you so much for leading our grade 7 and 8 students and giving them the opportunity to learn how to make positive decisions in order to walk with pride and determination to face the world ahead. You influenced many of our youth and really made a difference in making kids feel that they're a SOMEBODY.
Yours in education,
Michelle Wight
Pierre Elliott Trudeau P.S.
Precious Minds Resource and Learning Centre
Monique Howat, Youth Motivator and Founder of CONFIDENT Girls and Guys, facilitated two summer camp experiences for Precious Minds during the summer of 2004. The response has been overwhelmingly positive!
"She made me feel like I was awesome! I can't wait to go again next year."
- Alicia, age 13
"It was lots of fun and it made me believe in myself."
- Megan, age 14
"It inspired and motivated my daughter and gave her some great ideas for making good decisions. Each day when I picked her up she had big smile on her face and couldn't stop chatting all the way home."
- Megan's mom
"It was very exciting and it was a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be."
- Arthur, age 12
"The program helped to develop an awareness of my son's self and others. He left feeling good about himself."
- Arthur's mom
"Monique's "Confidence is Everything Camps" offered both guys and girls a unique experience that promoted lots of laughter and fun. The kids learned strategies to set boundaries and goals, overcome fear, earn respect, make good decisions as well as good friend choices. They learned how to believe in themselves!
With today's pressures our children need more individuals like Monique in their lives to foster confidence and build self esteem. Precious Minds is honoured to partner with Monique and we look forward to bringing more of her Confidence Camps to North Durham Region."
- Elisabeth Graham
Executive Director
Precious Minds Resource and Learning Centre
Ribbons and Rainbows
Have you ever had the chance to stand beneath the majesty of a double rainbow and witness the start and end of both arches? The first arc in all its glory, a full spectrum of magnificent colour and the second a gentler, softer shadow. One would believe that there must be a magical pot of gold involved, yet rainbows don't always bring riches, they bring other treasures tucked between each of the ribbons of colour.
My daughter, Tylor turned twelve this summer and has launched full throttle into all of the things that preteens do. According to which, we have either forgotten what it was like to be young or we simply "don't get it". Hers hasn't always been, nor will it always continue to be a story of glory.
From the get go we've had our share of challenges. Tylor has inevitably become a textbook case of labels and acronyms in a society often looking to tag imperfections. "Exceptional children" often come with invisible disorders. We can't see anything wrong on the outside, so it is assumed you are just like everyone else on the inside. Self-advocacy is a skill in itself and amongst your peers, somewhat futile.
Dealing with ones own limitations on a constant basis can lead to a downward spiral on the inner spirit. Until one day when someone comes along and actually touches that spirit. I'd like you to meet one ribbon from my daughter's rainbow, Monique Howat of Confident Girls.
Monique was able to reach inside a place that not even I as a mother could go. She lit a fire in Tylor that burns just as brightly today as it did two years ago. Today, Tylor can do anything and whether she is successful or not doesn't matter. I'm proud to have my daughter as one of my best friends and know that she is an inspiration to all who meet her.
Thank you Monique for allowing me this opportunity to touch others as you have touched us and the next time you see a rainbow take a moment to look for the Confident Girls ribbon.
- Brenda Hine-Pires August 2004
