middle school brain
For the past seven years, I’ve been in middle school world — and honestly, it’s my favorite place to be. As a middle school counselor, I have the opportunity to walk in a middle-schoolers shoes every-single-day, experiencing how they think, what they think, and what their common challenges and stresses look like. Let’s take a quick snapshot of a common middle school brain:
“At 6:00 am the alarm rings. Although the harsh sound wakes me up, my parents continue to yell up the stairs to wake up and get ready for school. I reluctantly sit up in bed and fear the day. I immediately look at my phone and scroll mindlessly through my social media feed, where I am instantly exposed to an array of content and emotions: my friends hanging out with me, a classmate who posted something very sad, endless selfies of beautiful friends and followers who (although edited and filtered) I think I will never look like, friends’ vacations, someone’s perfect test score, and more. Before my body is even awake, my brain feels fried from the daily information overload. Now, I have to go to school. I rush out the door without taking any time to think or sit still with my thoughts. Because, why would I do that? My day comes at me quickly: tests, presentations, deadlines, the dreaded lunch table dilemma, basketball tryouts, friend drama, social media comparison, the fear of confronting my best friend, the bus ride home, questions from my parents, homework, boredom, dinner, more social media/technology, bedtime, poor sleep. REPEAT.”
Although this rushed and often negative, fixed mindset is not every middle school child, it is certainly very common. In this fast-paced, technology-driven world, where everything is so instantaneous and I-need-it-now, children’s minds are constantly racing and they are losing focus of the present moment and who they truly are. Children are ridden with anxiety, overwhelmed by unnecessary information, insecure due to constant comparison, and unaware of the importance of sitting still, self-reflection, and the beauty and importance of hard work and struggle. Our middle schoolers are lacking self-awareness, peace of mind, and grit.
Middle School years can certainly be tough, but they do not have to be. Middle School is a critical stage in a child’s development, and it is evermore important to equip our middle school children with the knowledge and skills for how to live well and achieve total well-being. A child’s sense-of-self and mindset truly sets the foundation for how and what they will do in the classroom and beyond. Children’s mental and overall well-being needs to be primary to all.
As a middle school counselor, my role is to guide students academically, socially and emotionally, with their mental health always remaining at the forefront of my work. Throughout my work with my students, I see the severity of the common middle school brain and how a fixed mindset impacts one’s overall well-being. I am committed to teaching my students the importance of developing a growth mindset and the fundamental tools to achieve well-being. My students learn the importance of self-care, mindfulness, meditation, and much more. In learning these essential skills, students feel good about themselves, their world and their future. They are equipped with the tools and knowhow to work through challenges and see obstacles as opportunities for growth.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, children needed more guidance than ever - but not from a traditional standpoint. Children needed to dive deep into their mental health and wellbeing and learn how to look within and find peace within the chaos. Children needed coaches. Child Centered Coaching has given me the opportunity to expand my efforts in working with children to a global platform - and I couldn’t be more excited and grateful. I truly believe that with a strong sense-of-self and growth mindset, every child’s potential is limitless.
Now, let’s get to work.
