The final nine weeks of the school year are here and of course Spring Break next week. While we all enjoy the time off, sometimes getting out of the routine makes it harder to get back into the routine. …and the students know there are still eight weeks of the school year, right? They need to recharge, not shut down. We want to end strong, never give up.
What is on my mind this week is how important it is to be self confident in order to have a strong ending, both adults and teenagers. I know I feel so different when I have confidence. I sleep better, I am more positive, I am more patient, I can concentrate and do higher quality work, and probably the most important, I am better able to help others be more confident as well.
Think about it: if you are nervous, scared, anxious, etcetera, how can you possibly be your best self?! If the brain catastrophizes, every action step taken includes the negative thought that one is being judged. When my brain does this, I cannot shut it off, and the actions I am able to take, I am doing them, trying to avoid making mistakes. That is unfortunately when I then probably have more errors, not fewer. I sleep worse, I become negative, I have no patience, I cannot concentrate so my work suffers, and probably the most important, my negativity makes others negative too or it pushes them away, all when I need others the most.
Why?! Why does this happen? Can I stop it from happening…at least to stop it from getting out of control? What can I do to get back in power and avoid losing my mental and emotional safety? While I have a minor in psychology, I do not have the degree nor experiences – besides it happening to me – to address the Why? But I do work with teenagers and developing brains, and I can tell you that when there is confidence, not only does it help keep everything more in control, it also helps good things to happen more frequently.
Helping teenagers’ developing brains to learn to be confident is a great investment. Confidence combats those negative thoughts as it prevents doubt from creeping in. If one believes that she has the capabilities to take on challenges, there is no need to be anxious. Leaning into prior experiences allows a foundation of knowledge of what to expect so no surprises means not being overwhelmed. Positive self-talk, even when the outcome has been “bad,” keeps the brain in check, helping to avoid or limit stress: I learned from this experience, and I now can have a plan of action if something similar occurs. Encouragement, praise, and processing with them ensures that their confidence is real and that with each passing event, it can grow even stronger.
The final quarter of the year is here. Final action steps to end the year well will soon be upon us. Whether your child is a sixth grader, a seventh grader, or a soon-to-be high school student, we will be working on building their confidence, to take the experiences of the year or years, both in and out of the classroom, and use them to create an even stronger foundation. When students leave SMS, they are sent off to take on their next challenges, filled with the confidence that they not only can handle them but that they will also be successful when they do.
Weeks at a Glance
- Monday, March 25 - Friday, March 29: No School - Spring Break
- Monday, April 1: No School - Teacher Professional Development Day
- Tuesday, April 2 - Friday, April 5: Reading MCA (6-8)