Wellbeing Officer

From the Student Wellbeing Officer

We all have “given” names, which are the positive and negative names we inherit while walking in this world.  If left unchecked, these names or labels can dramatically shape the way we see ourselves.

Everyone wants to be liked and accepted by other people; it’s part of who we are.  But sometimes people have opinions of us or say things to us that aren’t positive or helpful and that can cause us to see ourselves a certain way, even if we don’t think it bothered us.  For example, some of the things which were said to me as a child were that I was a “no hoper”, “good for nothing”, “lazy”, “bad tempered”, and “wouldn’t amount to anything”.  And those labels stuck with me for a long time.

I’m sure you have heard of the saying “Sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt me”.  I believe this saying is so false!  Bones will heal but the scars left upon a person’s heart and spirit never completely go away.  And subconsciously we can begin to live as though these given names, these labels, are true.  We can think we need to look a certain way or act a certain way or that there is something wrong with us because of what someone has said to us.  These labels can intentionally or unintentionally cause us to lose touch with who we are and the potential we have.

Beginning next week, I will be running a five-week program with students in Years 3 to 6 which I’ve written called THE REAL ME!  which addresses this very issue.  The program will run over the remainder of Term 2 and into Term 3, starting with the Year 5/6 girls.  I believe it is important to be mindful of what we say to each other and to our children; it is so easy to say words in the heat of the moment and while apologies are vital, words cannot be taken back.  I have used the object lesson with some of our students of pouring a tube of toothpaste onto a plate and then asking the students if anyone could put the toothpaste back in the tube.  No one has yet been successful, though some have tried!  The point I have made with our students is that it is impossible to get the toothpaste back into the tube and even if we could get it back in, the tube would not be the same.  This is like the words we speak.  Once those words are spoken, they cannot be taken back.

Remember, labels are for jars, not people.

If there is anything I can help you with or you would like to simply have a chat, please do not hesitate to contact me at the school or by email at traceym@suvic.org.au.  I am at school on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Tracey McGlashan

Student Wellbeing Officer