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BAYVIEW Newsletter ISSUE 36 Monday 18 November 2013
Jesus, to prepare for your coming, help us to act with justice and peace.
www.bayview.vic.edu.au
L-R Liam Nelson, Lachlan Murrell, Leighton Marshall, Harrison Sealey, Ollie Outtram, Laura Kelly, Tayla Falconer, Callan Gerritsen
From the Principal– Dr Michelle Kearney Resilience is the ability to work with adversity in such a way that one comes through it unharmed or even better for the experience. Resilience means facing life’s difficulties with courage and patience – refusing to give up. It is the quality of character that allows humans to rebound from misfortune, hardships and traumas. Resilience is embedded in a tenacity of spirit and hope; a determination to embrace all that makes life worth living even in the face of overwhelming odds. I am prompted to reflect on resilience at the moment because of the terrible situation in the Philippines and also seeing our students successfully manage the demands that come with the end of the school year. Some young people are resilient by nature; their temperament helps them to be mentally and psychologically strong. These are the young people who get straight back up after a setback or disappointment. Unfortunately, not every young man or woman has such natural resilience. The good news is that most of the research shows that resilience can be nurtured and developed. Resilient people share four basic skill sets- independence, problem-solving, optimism and social connection. To help young people develop their resilience parents and teachers need to coach teenagers through some of their more challenging moments and reviewing what they may have learned for next time. Parents and teachers can promote a lasting sense of resilience in young people by: 1. Maintain a positive attitude. Our attitudes as parents and teachers impacts on their ability to bounce back from some of the difficulties they face. We need to model a ‘you can do it’ attitude when young people meet some of life’s curve balls – which they inevitably will. 2. Look for teachable moments. Many kids’ learning opportunities are disguised as problems. Make the most of these opportunities so that kids can grow and learn from some of the challenges they face. 3. Encourage young people to be active and involved. Active participation in a family life, community organisations and school develops the self-help, problem-solving and independence skills that are necessary for resilience. 4. Build coping skills. There are plenty of strategies you can pass on to help them cope when life doesn’t go their way, including acceptance, getting away for a while, and normalisation. Encourage them to seek help. Talking about issues with someone helps us to develop perspective. Promoting resilience in young people is a not a single event but a continuous process that requires adults to be supportive and empathetic. We need to trust that young people do have the ability to cope. Much of our resilience comes from community—from the relationships that allow us to lean on each other for support when we need it. People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross