CHAPTER ONE – PERSONAL GROWTHMR. MARQUIS

Child Development

Be Your Best

You have left childhood behind and are well on your way to independent living. Now it is time to think about your adult life and what you hope to accomplish. The choices you make will either positively or negatively affect your life, both now and in the future.

Your journey through life begins with an understanding of who you are right now. You can build on this understanding and make a plan to become the kind of person you want to be.

Your Personality

Your personality is the combination of characteristics that makes you unique.

At this stage in your life you may be or have already experienced the physical and emotional changes that come with adolescence.

As you get older, you may find yourself becoming more introspective, looking closely at your own thoughts, feelings and motives.

Your Personality

There are four main categories of personality characteristics:

Emotional Every person feels the same basic emotions, happiness, fear,

love, anger – yet each responds in their own unique waySocial

In society, people meet, interact and relate to other people. Some people prefer the company of others, while some prefer being alone.

Intellectual As you gain experience and knowledge, you learn to solve

more complex problems. Using your mind rather than your emotions to solve a problem is a sign of intellectual maturity.

Moral

Your Personality

Moral Morality is a sense of right and wrong that

guides decisions and actions. Morality is based on values. A value is an accepted principle or standard

held by a person or a group. Values guide you through life and help you make

decisions Teens who develop a reliable moral compass are

more likely to make positive decisions.

Your Choices

As a young adult you will make more and more decisions that deal with issues of right and wrong behavior

Although you may want to do what is right, sometimes it is not clear how you should act

For example, telling the truth and treating people fairly are commonly accepted standards of moral behavior

Lying and cheating are not

Self-Concept and Self-Esteem

Self-Concept is the way you see yourself and the way you believe others see you

It is based on your perception of your strengths and weaknesses, skills, talents and other qualities that make up your unique personality

When you have a positive self-concept, you like and accept yourself the way you are

Your self-concept is influenced by experiences you have and what you and other people say about.

Negative and positive comments help shape your self-concept

Self-Concept and Self-Esteem

Your self-concept is directly related to your self-esteem

Self-esteem is the value or importance you place on yourself

Self-esteem reflects how you feel about the picture you have of yourself in your mind

People who have a positive self-concept have high self-esteem. People who dislike the picture of themselves struggle with low self-esteem.

Self-esteem matters because it has a strong influence on your behavior and your well-being

Self-Concept and Self-Esteem

High self-esteem generally leads to more responsible behavior

It also gives you a positive outlook and enables you to make the best of your life

“Optimism – A positive attitude can make the difference between giving up and

achieving success. Count your blessings – not your misfortunes. Focus on the

positive for a brighter outlook.”

Thinking Map Time!

Create a bubble map in your notesIn the center circle, write “Boost Your

Self-Esteem”For each of the six steps listed below,

add an example from your own life Learn to accept praise Focus on your strengths Learn from your mistakes Accept yourself as you are Use your strengths to help others Take responsibility for your own life

Realize Your Potential

Potential is the capacity to develop, succeed or become something more than you are right now Suggestions for maximizing your potential:

Set priorities Consider interests and activities Develop supportive friendships Avoid procrastination – the tendency to put off doing

something until later Be health-smart Practice abstinence – the deliberate decision to

avoid high-risk behaviors including sexual activity, tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

Personal Growth and Maturity

Personal growth is learning and practicing new skills as you progress towards reaching your full potential

Growth is a life-long process. You are never too old or too mature change and learn

The desire to reach adulthood is a normal and important goal.

But the real goal is to reach maturity. Maturity means reaching full-development –

physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually and morally.

Make Positive Changes

Some of life’s changes are quick and easy

However, many changes are gradual, or taken one step at a time

Change can involve difficult or simple things (like organizing your room or moving away from your friends and family for a job)

The ability to make changes and adapt to change is an essential life skill

Barriers to Change

Trying to make a positive change is not always easy.

Barriers to change include Thinking you have to do it all by yourself Forgetting that change takes time Procrastinating

In order to help overcome these barriers Make a plan for change Set goals Be accountable or responsible for your own actions

and attitudesIdentify a change you would like to make and a barrier

that is prohibiting this change

Developing Competence

Competence is having the qualities and skills needed to perform a task or participate fully in an activity.

There are degrees of competenceIf you want to make a change, you need

to develop or improve your competence in a related area

Once you have a committed to change, brainstorm ways to improve your competence – school, books, magazines, websites are all resources that can help you.

Gaining Confidence

Confidence means you believe in yourself and your abilities

Common characteristics of confident people are: Self-assurance Self-control Willingness to take risks Positive Self-Concept and High Self-Esteem

Confidence grows each time you succeed

Your increased confidence makes you more willing to work toward building your competencies.

Learning from Disappointment

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career.”

“I’ve lost almost 300 games.”Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to

take the game-winning shot and missed.”

“I’ve failed over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.”

- Michael Jordan

Meeting Life’s Challenges

Change is a part of lifeSome changes are expected, like moving outSome changes are unexpected, like the sudden

loss of a jobThese changes create challengesEveryone faces challenges, some more serious

than othersDisabilities, poverty, discrimination are all types

of serious challenges people faceThey may seem impossible to overcome, but

there are examples everyday of people who conquer them

Challenges of Teen Years

Changes that occur during adolescence can make any teen feel insecure

One teen struggles to fit in at school, another is uncomfortable with their changing body, and yet another is sensitive about what people say about them

Every adult you know was a teen once and although it may seem like it at times, you are not alone

There are steps you can take to make things easier and better cope with the ups and downs of adolescence

Coping With Changes

Look aheadThink PositivelyTake advantage of new abilitiesGet help when you need itParticipate in physical activitiesEat the right foodsVolunteer in your communityLook for ways to make new friends

Positive Attitude and Sources of Support

Some people develop qualities that help them prepare to meet life’s challenges head on.

They are able to adapt and make the necessary changes

Resiliency is the ability to recover from or adjust to misfortune

Perseverance is sticking to an action or belief, even when it is difficult

Family, friends, religious leaders, school counselors and teachers are all possible sources of support

Do not be afraid to ask for help

“grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot

change; courage to change the things I

can;and wisdom to know the

difference.”