Humans have an amazing capacity to blend in. We see children and teenagers dress alike, get similar hairs cuts, talk the same way, and claim to share similar interests. We assume that if we blend in, we will belong. But is this really belonging?
Author Brene Brown says, “Fitting in is about assessing a situation and becoming who you need to be to be accepted. Belonging, on the other hand, doesn’t require us to change who we are; it requires us to be who we are.” We know that we truly belong when we can be our real selves.
As parents and teachers, we need to have the important conversations with our children and teenagers about the dangers of fitting in at all cost. We need to teach them to be proud of who they are, proud of the things that set them apart. We need to value and celebrate diversity. We need to lead by example in ensuring that our students know that we love and accept them no matter what. They are worthy of love, respect and belonging. You can read Brene’s Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto here.
My prayer for each student is that they feel like they belong and that they have the courage to be the amazing person they were created to be.
Before I even formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew all about you.
Before you drew your first breath, I had already chosen you. Jeremiah 1:5 (The Voice)
Mrs Debra Cooper
Principal
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