Do you find school daunting?

Do you wish you could speak up more in class and not feel so bad when you make a mistake?

If so, try to stop worrying for a while and read on………….

Everyone has felt worried by school at some time.

Yes, everyone, including the Principal and the teachers in YOUR school.

School is about learning, and learning is sometimes very challenging.

Everyone has had to face something at school that they didn't like.

It might have been a certain teacher, a certain subject, or another kid - but I can assure you that virtually no-one has gone through their whole school career without hating something - so YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

School is about pushing the boundaries from what you already know - to something that you don't know - and helping you to understand it - every day!

And that can be very hard.

You are being asked to learn a lot. It is hard, BUT you can do it!

Most teachers are kind and compassionate people - they wouldn't have entered the teaching profession if they weren't - BUT they are charged with a duty to EDUCATE you and that means sometimes taking you to places that you find uncomfortable - and, although it might not feel like it at the time - it is ultimately for your own good!

Unfortunately, a very small number of teachers and kids are bullies who think it is big and clever to hurt and intimidate children and young people.

If this is happening in your school - tell someone right away. Tell the Principal, or a School Counsellor or your Mum and Dad.

Do not suffer in silence.

If a teacher is abusing their position of power, then they deserve to be dealt with. If a kid is behaving like a bully - they also need to be dealt with and helped to learn other ways of behaving.

It may be easier to find a friend who will go with you to report what is going on - it will take confidence and guts - but it will be worth it for you, and for all the other kids who may pass through their hands if they are left alone.

Making mistakes is all part of the learning process.

All human beings learn by "trial and error". Don't ever be ashamed of making a mistake.

Don't look at mistakes as "failure" but regard them as "feedback" that gives you a clue as to how to do the thing better next time.

All the famous scientists, writers and mathematicians you can think of NEVER got things right first time - but what they had was PERSISTENCE AND DETERMINATION - they didn't get downhearted by their mistakes - they looked at what had happened, thought about it, and did something slightly different the next time - and so the process went on until they had the breakthrough that made them famous!

YOU HAVE ALREADY GOT PERSISTENCE AND DETERMINATION IN YOU - you probably don't even remember when you learned to walk - you didn't just get up and walk one day - you learned by trial and error - you fell down and you got up again - you held onto furniture and fell down again - until finally, one day, you stood up, wobbled and started to take your first steps.

That is what all good learning is like! Don't expect to get it right first time - and don't beat yourself up when you make a mistake - it's part of the learning process.

YOUR education is YOUR opportunity to learn, think, participate, reflect and ultimately use YOUR experiences and qualifications to make a difference in YOUR own life.

Your Mum and Dad have had their turn, your teachers have had their turn - they have already made their life choices.

It's YOUR turn NOW - seize the opportunities you are given each day and make the most of the learning that your teachers are providing for YOU.

If you don't understand something ASK.

If something is worrying you - tell someone. Find a few good friends that you can talk to - find an adult in the school who you can talk to.

You will find that there are lots of people out there who want to help YOU - they want YOU to succeed and they want YOU to be happy and confident as you learn and grow.

Look at some more of the articles on this site for more information and ideas that will help your confidence and inner-belief grow and develop.

Go for it!

Good luck.