Transcript How Can I Improve My Self Esteem?

Promoting Self Confidence among
Middle School Students
By Dina Durnin, School Counselor
Hoech Middle School
Self-Esteem Issues in Middle School
The importance of self-esteem
Training your own thoughts
Striving for perfection
How to view mistakes
Goal setting
The Importance of Self-Esteem
The importance of self-esteem is a direct
reflection on one’s influence on their lives. Selfesteem affects relationships, academic
achievement, and living life to it’s fullest.
The developmental growth stage that preteens and young teens encounter during
Middle School are especially challenging when
trying to figure out who they are and where
they fit in.
Training Your Own Thoughts
When trying to change low self-esteem
students should focus on retraining their
negative thoughts into positive self-talk.
Steps to use, identify negative self-talk,
stop, think of a strength, and use positive
self-talk.
Striving for Perfection
Striving for perfection is impossible in life
and could be damaging to one’s selfesteem. A shift in thinking to setting
attainable goals and reaching them is a
healthier way to reach higher levels of
self-confidence.
How to view mistakes
Changing the way a student views
mistakes impacts their self-esteem,
retraining the thought process to view
mistakes as challenges or opportunities
to learn, are more effective when
attaining higher levels of self-esteem.
Goal Setting
Setting attainable goals for oneself is
important when reflecting on successes.
Many small goal successes lead to larger
goal setting and belief that you can
accomplish them.
Description of Self-Esteem Groups
Two Separate Groups Consisted of:
– One group of 10 eighth grade female students
– Second group of 8 eighth grade male students
Settings
Small group in a classroom
Once a week for 45-55 minutes
Six weeks
Time of day varied within school day
Interventions & Measurements
Weekly self-esteem lessons/activities
facilitated by the counselor and school
social worker.
Counselor generated pre and post survey
Measuring Student Change
Pre and post survey comparison results
Teacher Observation Feedback
Parent Conference
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
I control me
I often worry
about my life
I like myself
I have a
positive
I have at least
one talent
I understand
my purpose
I have high
self-esteem
I feel like I
have personal
Data Results—Girls Group Pre-test
Girls Group Survey Pre-Test
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Strongly Disagree
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
I have
personal
I am happy
with my life
I often think
of my future
I believe I can
achieve my
I have at least
one talent
I understand
my purpose
I have high
self-esteem
I feel like I
have personal
Data Results—Girls Group Post-test
Girls Group Survey Post-Test
Data Results—Boys Group Pre-test
Boys Group Survey Pre-Test
I control me and my decisions
I often worry about my life
I believe I can achieve my goal(s)
I have at least one talent
I understand my purpose in life
I feel like I have personal power
Strongly Agree
0
1
Agree
Neutral
2
3
Disagree
4
5
Strongly Disagree
6
7
Data Results—Boys Group Post-test
Boys Group Survey Post-Test
I control me and my decisions
I often worry about my life
I believe I can achieve my goal(s)
I have at least one talent
I understand my purpose in life
I feel like I have personal power
0
Strongly Agree
Agree
1
Neutral
2
3
Disagree
4
5
Strongly Disagree
6
7
Data Analysis
Graphed results from the pre and post
tests completed by group participants
Interviews from teachers with direct
observation/contact of group participants
Interview from parents/peers with direct
interactions of group participants
Summary of Self-Esteem Groups
According to self reported data by group
participants students gained:
– A better understanding of self-esteem
– A positive outlook on their future and
current situations
– Knowledge/skills they can use to retrain
their thought process and setting goals
Summary of Self-Esteem Groups
Teacher observations and reports
indicate:
– Students contributed more to classroom
discussions
– Students self advocacy increased
– Students made positive decisions in
classroom/peer interactions
Summary of Self-Esteem Groups
Parents reported:
– Students gained insight to importance of
decision-making
– Students understand the importance of goal
setting
– Students learned how their actions impact
their self image and how others view them
Implications for Future
Understanding that self-esteem in the
Middle School is a continuous problem
and future small groups are needed to
assist students in recognizing their true
potential in life.
Quotes
“Confidence comes from not always
being right, but learning to be wrong.”
~Peter T. McIntyre
“Each time we face our fear, we gain
strength, courage, and confidence in the
doing.” ~Unknown
Resources/Contact Information
How Can I Improve My Self Esteem?
Reviewed by: D’Arcy Lyness, PhD, March
2009, http://kidshealth.org/teen/
Dina Durnin, School Counselor
Hoech Middle School
3312 Ashby Rd.
St. Ann, MO 63074
(314) 493-6217
[email protected]