Wellbeing Officer

From the Student Wellbeing Officer

Here we are at the end of Term 3 already!  Time flies when you’re having fun 😊

As part of THE REAL ME! program I have been running with students in Years 3 to 6, we have looked at the concept of making mistakes.

We all make mistakes!  Unfortunately, it is part of being human.  The key is whether we decide we will accept our mistakes, learn from them and move on, or whether we’ll let our mistakes define who we are.

Students are encouraged to think about their mistakes from this perspective.  We talk about how it is perfectly normal and healthy to spend some time being annoyed with ourselves, but it is not ok to pitch a tent and decide to stay in this space forever.  We also talk about how making a mistake does not define who we are as a person.  Several of the students admitted that they become hard on themselves, beat themselves up and think negatively about themselves when they do something wrong.  Some have intimated that they feel like giving up; that they can’t do anything right; that people are going to think less of them, make fun of them, or not like them anymore.

This mindset is not unique to our students; it is also prevalent in adults.  Whether we realise it or not, when we make a mistake, it can impact our self-talk, our view of ourselves and ultimately our identity.

Students are encouraged to be proactive if they do something wrong – apologise, discover what they can learn from their mistake, accept that it is not a reflection of who they are as a person, and move on.  If someone chooses not to accept their apology or chooses to think badly of them because of their mistake, that is out of their control.  What is in their control – and our control too – is to do the right thing as much as humanly possible to right any wrong we may have done.  It’s not easy, but it is important for our students to understand that doing the right thing regardless of the outcome or how hard it may be, that making a mistake is a human condition that everyone has and it does not change who they are, and being the “bigger person” by choosing to do the right thing through accepting their role in a situation and being accountable will ultimately grow their characters and their resilience.

If you would like further activities to do at home and/or further information regarding the programs I run, please do not hesitate to contact me at traceym@suvic.org.au or at the school on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Have a wonderful term break and I look forward to connecting with you all again in Term 4!

Tracey McGlashan

Student Wellbeing Officer