Trafalgar was founded in 1871, and as many girls' schools from that time, the intention was very forward thinking: to provide opportunities for girls. There weren’t any universities yet admitting girls, yet, even so, Donald Ross, a businessman, gave a substantial piece of his estate to house the school. Other supporters of a like mind quickly followed. Times, happily, have changed, though a need to empower and inspire girls remains, something that Traf continues to do. The leadership of today’s school is notably consistent, as is the commitment to developing programs to meet the needs of today’s students. But the tradition is important too, and for many girls, the knowledge that they sit in the same space, conceptually, as so many young women before them, can itself be empowering and motivating. The ideal student is on able to thrive in a challenging, diverse learning environment, and preparing for post-secondary education.