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Dear Readers & Blogophiles – GEMS, Gender Equity in Math & Science, a Colorado-based organization that fosters math and science excellence in fourth- and fifth-grade girls, honored me with an invitation to participate in Exploration Day. Following is an excerpt from my presentation to the girls and their parents.

Good Afternoon, Everyone. I’m Heidi Olinger, president and CEO of Pretty Brainy, Inc.

Dear Parents:

One of my favorite stories is about Katharine Hepburn’s mother. The story goes that young Kate was out playing, climbing trees such that she was climbing high and shinnying out on limbs. Another adult present started to cry out to Katharine to be careful, that she was going too far, that she might hurt herself, but Katharine’s mother stopped this person cold, saying in effect, Your words and attitude will make that child fearful and hesitant- let her climb, let her be bold, let her learn the meaning of courage.

Our world is better for the spirit and example of Miss Hepburn and for the wisdom of her mother, Katharine Martha Houghton, who helped shape a woman many of us could be happy to emulate. In a 1991 interview, Katharine Hepburn said, “I believe there’s nothing we can know except that we should be kind to each other and do what we can for other people.”

Earlier this week, the father of a friend, another young Kate, told me their family had been in discord because his daughter had just been accepted to two schools for the next year. My young friend wanted to attend a school of the arts while her mother strongly was advocating for her to attend an international school. They argued. And at the end of the day, the dad simply told his daughter this: Whatever your decision, I support you. Knowing this girl a bit, I could feel in my heart the liberty and confidence she must have experienced knowing that, no matter what, Dad was behind her. The point? Experiencing unconditional love and acceptance can go a long way to helping a girl-at any age-maintain her self-confidence.

So, to raise a self-confident girl, in addition to telling her, “I love you,” here are the other things to say to her right now, everyday, for the rest of her life -

“Follow your passion.”

“Go for your dreams.”

“Whatever it takes, you can do it.”

“You are worth believing in.”

And Girls, here are five ways for you to be Pretty Brainy right now:

1. Believe in yourself. There is one person who you can count on to believe in you everyday of your life, and that person is you.

2. Say, “I can do it.”

3. To have something you’ve never before had, do something you’ve never before done.

4. Pay attention: what makes you happy? Take seriously whatever you naturally are drawn to and take joy in because it is the key to the work that you, and only you, can do in this life.

And, finally, here is what I have to say about the idea of “celebrity” —

5. hannah banana who? Be Your Own Beautiful Self.

I am honored to be part of this exploration day. And here is a short list of why I am qualified to address you:

I was kicked out of advanced math because the teacher, a Mrs. Majors, assumed I wasn’t smart. Another teacher did believe in me, however, and told me to go back to class and demand admittance. I did, and I feel compelled to add that my grade in the class, ultimately, was an A.

I am a former teacher, university lecturer, and girl advisor.

I am the former foster parent of a teen who was abused and neglected.

I am a daughter. I am, without apologies, daddy’s girl.

And I am the president and CEO of Pretty Brainy, Inc., designer of apparel for thinking girls and the grown-ups in their lives. And THAT’S YOU.

And two of you will win Pretty Brainy T’s today. These Ts put into perspective some of the math you need to know and how this information will be useful to you in real life. These Ts also introduce you to two of the women about to be your newest heroes in the world, Jackie Cochran, the first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound, and Babe Zaharias, the greatest woman athlete of the 20^th century and greatest multisport athlete of all time. And, if you win, we have your size. If you do not win this particular raffle, you’ll win something else.