Firefighters were the main topic of discussion at the 2017 PTSD Conference. The event was dedicated to finding ways and means to help Texas firefighters (and all the firefighters across the globe, for that matter) reduce their symptoms of PTSD. It was also mentioned that these firefighters had shown similar symptoms with the military soldiers who manifested with moderate to severe PTSD, along with other mental health illnesses. This is because, like soldiers, they are obliged to respond immediately to emergencies and need to respond appropriately – all the time.
In relation to this, we will be sharing here some helpful information about PTSD and its development among firefighters.
The incidence of PTSD among firefighters has increased compared to other professions. Most of us, at some point in our lives, go through a traumatic experience. Not all traumatic experiences eventually lead to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, but those who have gone through multiple traumatic experiences are more likely to develop PTSD.
The trauma that these firefighters usually experience arises from their exposure to individuals they help that are DOA, severely injured crime victims, as well as too much stress from helping infants and children. Additionally, they reported that they also feel so depressed after medical emergencies due to vehicular accidents.
Risk Factors
There are several risk factors for firefighters developing PTSD. These include working as a firefighter at an early age, being single, previous treatment for another illness, near-death experiences, feeling intense fear when experiencing trauma, and pessimism, among others.
Preventive Factors
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It is undoubtedly true that firefighters have a higher likelihood of feeling over-stressed because of their job. Still, it is also important to remember that a majority of them do not develop Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In fact, some preventive factors were found to help decrease the chances of firefighters having PTSD, social support being one of them. Love and support from family, friends, and significant others are a big factor in helping these unsung heroes cope and overcome their traumas.
Also, getting help from a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or counselor, can guide the firefighter into facing his fears and learning how to handle them.
Teaching kids with ADHD is a big challenge. These kids have diverse ways of learning things that are entirely different from those of disorder-free children. That is why having them in the mainstream requires extra effort from the teachers. But instead of treating this as an inconvenience, teachers should view this as a guide on how to handle these types of kids. Parents are so stressed out by this issue and assistance and guidance from their ADHD kid’s teacher is a big help.
Due to the standards imposed by schools these days, children are expected to work hard and excel academically. “There’s tremendous anxiety in kids and we’re definitely seeing an increase” says by psychologist Dr Helen Clark, PhD in an article on Parent24 Struggling with an anxious Child. As a result, parents are inclined to get after-school tutorial services to help their kids not only regarding completing their homework but mastering their lessons as well. In the case of children who were diagnosed with anxiety, tutors have to exert more effort compared to the average students just to harness their academic and emotional skills. To help children with anxiety, a full understanding of the condition is imperative so that the tutor can design the lesson in such a way that can be fully grasped by the child.
Is your little elementary student ready to move up to junior high school after the summer break?
If you’re living in the same town where you or your spouse grew up in, there is a high possibility that you’ll wish for your child to have the same alma mater as his or her mom or dad does. In case it’s a new location, you may feel like it’s natural only for the kid to enter the nearest institution from the house. However, is that honestly the best decision you can make as a parent?
Here are the eight things to think about before enrolling your child in a school.
The Environment
Off the bat, you should take into consideration the location of the establishment. Do you think it will be safe for a teenage boy or girl to leave the place without getting mugged or harassed? You don’t want to act judgmental about the neighborhood, no doubt, but the amount of litter or vandalism surrounding any institution can be an indication of how good or bad it will be.
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The Curriculum
Since your son or daughter is about to go to middle school, it means you already have a fair idea regarding their intellectual prowess. If he or she shows great interest in science, math, or arts, there may be an educational institution that may accept them and nurture their genius. Assuming they’re still at crossroads about what they want to do in later years, then it’s alright to enroll them in a regular school where they can acquire different skills.
The Commute
How far the academy is to your home is another thing to study. Sometimes, despite having confidence with their kids, parents still don’t want them to travel for longer than 30 minutes to attend classes, regardless if they’ll ride the family car or a public bus. Other times, it’s the children who refuse to do that. Thus, have an honest conversation with your kid about their commute situation once they decide to enter this or that institution.
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The Child’s Special Needs
Let’s put out there that not only kids with autism or various physical or mental disabilities require particular attention. The ones with very high IQ or who came from a non-English speaking country have specific needs as well that your academy of choice has to be able to meet.
The Ongoing School Regulation
As you scout for a middle school, you should remember to ask for a copy of their existing regulations. Most academies have plenty of do’s and don’t’s, and you have to ensure that the institution you’re eyeing imposes some – if not all – the rules you want your offspring to learn. Redempta Maithya, Ph.D. and co-authors wrote, “Along with academic performance, school discipline ranks as one of the major concerns voiced by the public about schools and the school system.”
The Facilities
You also need to think about the newness of the academy’s facilities. In other words, are you cool with enrolling your child in a freshly built institution or a decades-old one? The former constitutes to current design; the latter speaks of history and perhaps long-lasting construction materials. Wan Zahari WanYusoff, Ph.D. says that, “School facilities have the important role to ensure the quality of teaching and learning with respect to achieve quality of education. The performance of school facilities significantly affected on student achievement.”
The School Feedback
Don’t be shy to talk to your neighbors, friends, and family members who ideally have kids attending the same school your child will likely join. More than the teachers or the principal, other parents can offer plenty of details concerning their children’s experience there without sugarcoating anything. That can help you resolve whether it’s still a smart decision to put your son or daughter in that particular school. Ismat Rahman, Ph.D. points out that, “There is a great importance of feedback in improving learning experience for the students.”
The Miscellaneous Fees
Finally, how’s the budget for the child’s education looking? In case you merely have a few thousand dollars prepared for one academic year, enrolling him or her in a public system where you just need to pay for books and lunch may be better. Considering there’s no financial limit, though, you can look into private – religious or not – establishments.
Personal struggles experienced by students can be administered by therapy treatment. School Counseling is known to find and provide students with the right help when at school. Every time a student walks inside the counseling office, a counselor knows that something’s up. For professionals, every day is a chance to encounter something purposeful, different, or sometimes something seemingly outrageous. Let’s discuss it.
Few Counseling Benefits
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What Is The Importance of Counseling In School Indirect Student Services?
“School counseling professionals” primary role is to improve your child’s collegiate success, career development, and personal/social health. As an integral part of this, the counseling specialists should be helping children overcome a variety of issues that affect school achievement and overall wellness,” wrote Janet Hicks, Ph.D.
The Role Of School Counselors
School counseling professionals can help students thrive socially, academically, and personally, while counseling experts assist them in exploring and considering their school options after they’ve graduated high school. According to an article that was previously published in The New York Times, the ratio of students to youth specialists is almost 500 to one, but that should not deter parents and high school students from getting the most out of the school counseling services they offer to lead fulfilling lives.
Probably one of the biggest misconceptions about high experts is that they merely exist for the youths’ schedules. Also, a lot of people, especially parents, have this notion that professionals are trained to therapeutically serve high school students and specific individuals.
The degree in school counseling requires national standards. The American School Counselor Association requires a comprehensive program as part of the profession.
Better Understanding Of The Treatment
Knowing Its Importance And Relevance In Students’ Lives
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Counseling experts can vouch that there are three significant benefits that high school students and likewise parents can get from high school counseling.
Experts Provide Full Academic Assistance
Collegiate support is essential in a student’s overall performance; however, those who are academically struggling in college are often unaware of how these counseling experts can be of great assistance. The treatment is often underused in this aspect.
One of the reasons might be because high school students are often embarrassed to seek help from experts about their school discrepancies, or maybe they have had a bad school experience with their mental helper.
Is It Essential To Take?
School counseling professionals assist students. Other times, counselors will let the distraught learner communicate with other school learners or school peers who are dealing with the same school struggles so students learn from each other.
Furthermore, counseling also addresses and conducts school seminars for freshmen school that mainly talk about establishing good school study patterns and school habits which incoming high school students can utilize throughout their school years until they graduate from school and once they go on to college and get master’s degree to pursue their academic careers.
Professionals Provide Parental Advice
School counseling advisors or counselors offer their students’ families individual states of effective strategies for parenting with beneficial advice on how to properly communicate and understand their children during school counseling sessions. Often, parents would drop by the high school counselor’s office claiming they don’t know what to do in handling their teenager in school.
More often than not, if things in school are going out of hand, school counseling consultants would recommend that the parents, together with their teenager in school, go into family therapy, especially if issues at home become complicated and even the student’s focus and school performance becomes severely affected.
Professional Experts Give A One-On-One Session
High school learners can seek out help from teachers or school counseling for an individual meeting to discuss academic concerns, school bullying, racism, or other personal issues that high school student is struggling with at school. Keep in mind that school counselors are only there to give academic counsel and support or school advice and not to deal with more pressing subjects like mental health issues.
However, thorough assessment of the high school student’s mental health problems, today’s school counselor can refer them to a qualified therapist.
“Many people would be surprised to know that much of the time we are working with students who may have mental health or other personal concerns,” said Brandi Lewis, MEd, LPC. “We have to provide individual care for those students—whether it’s referring them to a school-based mental health counselor or providing community resources.”
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Trust Your Counselor – It Matters
At the beginning of your school counseling program strategies with the school counselor’s efforts, the elementary school counselors and middle school counselors will immediately inform you that whatever is divulged or confided in your counseling conversation is strictly confidential unless the students will initiate giving out information that may put their interested safety at risk.
Be appreciative of these school counselors’ help with school-related or outside-school matters. Remember that counseling is there to connect, help, and make a difference in their student’s lives. So, as parents and students in high schools, it is in your best interest to make the most of your school counselor’s work efforts, time, and presence and achieve success.
“Effective counseling is a two-way street. It takes a cooperative effort by both the person receiving counseling and the counselor,” reminded Lynn Ponton, MD.
Try counseling and take advantage of its resources, and know why it might be the best decision to implement in your high school life. Learn how it helps with the demand for social development, social justice, skills improvement, educational success, professional development career, leadership knowledge, research, and education.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kind Of Obstacles Are Professional School Counselors Confronted With?
What Good Qualities Should School Counselors Possess?
How Can Counseling In Schools Be Successful?
What Is The Most Challenging Part Of Being A Counselor In School?
Why Is Having A Counselor In Schools So Essential?
What Are The Three Major Responsibilities Of The School Counselor?
How Does Counseling Help Students Improve Their School Performance?
What School Counselors Should Not Do?
What Is The Difference Between Guidance And Counseling?
An inclusive educational setup poses numerous advantages that will hone the students not just academically, but also as human beings. By being an inclusive classroom, the said teaching space houses various types of students—regardless of their differences or similarities. Together, this diversity of students interact with each other and are educated together.
Lilla Dale McManis, PhD defines inclusive classroom as, “The school and classroom operate on the premise that students with disabilities are as fundamentally competent as students without disabilities. Therefore, all students can be full participants in their classrooms and in the local school community.”
By opening the doors to diverse kinds of students, an inclusive classroom acknowledges the differences among these learners. Together with the educators, an inclusive education system develops a structure wherein students from general education programs and special education programs are placed together in a similar learning environment.
With the goal of enriching these students, different strategies and tactics are employed to ensure that all the needs of the students are met and that they are imparted and skilled with sufficient knowledge to nurture them and help them grow holistically as responsible members of the society.
The advantages presented by an inclusive educational system reach beyond academics. The following are some of the best benefits beyond the four walls of an inclusive classroom:
Understanding And Valuing Diversity
By being inclusive, the class is welcome to house different kinds of students—physically, mentally, culturally, and others—said learners can witness firsthand the varied diversity that exists.
By experiencing and having had direct contact with such diversity, students can understand the real differences between individuals, and in time, they will learn how to value and appreciate such diversity.
Melissa Gomez, EdD shares that, “In my class I ask students to investigate, question, and reflect on their own biases from a place of nonjudgment. Therefore, I must be willing to do the same and share the results of
my personal inquiries.”
Acceptance Of Differences
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The exposure of students to such a variety of population opens their eyes and minds that people look different, speak differently, think differently, and act differently, among other differences.
At a young age, students come to the realization that these differences are non-changeable. They learn to accept these differences and make the most out of them.
Patience
By being witness to such dissimilarities, students may realize that some of their peers work slowly or may need more time to understand the lesson. An inclusive classroom teaches that patience is a virtue and make these learners recognize that each individual employs his or her own pace in learning and that it is entirely acceptable and understandable. “Whether [the] child is naturally patient or not, you can do a lot to help her learn by starting early,” says Claire Lerner, LCSW
Increased Friendships And Social Interactions
An inclusive classroom significantly widens the network of its students. An interaction with physically, mentally, and culturally diverse people broadens the connection between the students and develops unique friendships among themselves. This helps to improve the student’s skills on social interactions and public speaking, among others.
Enriched Collaboration
Increased friendships and social interactions caused by inclusive education pave the way for enhanced and improved collaboration among students. Differing minds lead to a broader spectrum of ideas and open the door to enriched teamwork and group effort among students.
Respect
Finally, inclusive education teaches not only the understanding and acceptance of differences. It mostly highlights the importance of respect—most especially the respect for differences. It emphasizes that these differences, albeit sometimes uncomfortable and unfamiliar, can be the source of strength and power.
As a united group, we acknowledge each other and know that each and everyone is equally important.
The idea of inclusive education is viewed as a better way for children to put down barriers set up by racism. In an inclusive classroom, children with and without disabilities learn together the basic concepts and necessities of life. The goal is to avoid discrimination, where no one gets above the rule regardless of the physical or mental capabilities. “Successful inclusive education happens primarily through accepting, understanding, and attending to student differences and diversity, which can include physical, cognitive, academic, social, and emotional,” Lilla Dale McManis, PhD explains.
One of the challenges for teachers all the time is the shy and intimidated behavior of students once they hear the word ‘school.’ When it comes to inclusive education, there is an added burden. After resolving the “I don’t want to go to school” tantrums, the challenge is for these children to mingle with each other without the shyness and classmate-to-classmate intimidation.
Aside from the stereotypical look of a ‘teacher,’ what scares the children generally is the unfriendly setting of the classroom itself. In an inclusive environment, teachers should keep in mind the needs of special children. These kids are still learning. Inclusive education, however, doesn’t mean that they should be expected to perceive things like their normal peers.
Check the items below to find out what can make an inclusive classroom look more engaging, non-discriminating, and friendly.
Large Pads And Colorful Sets Of Papers, Pencils, Crayons
Children are generally attracted to colorful stuff, and this is a fact. Inclusive classrooms, however, don’t need too many bright-colored items as they may lead to the all-time distraction of students.
Large sets of crayons have been proven to be effective in engaging the children to be more creative and to unleash their artistic skills. These large and colorful materials get their attention to keep them occupied at times and avoid ‘bored’ tantrums.
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Elaborate Visuals
It is always much better to accompany lessons with something that will grab the students’ mindset. “Visual aids arouse the interest of learners and help the teachers to explain the concepts easily. Visual aids are those instructional aids which are used in the classroom to encourage students learning process,” Naqvi Hamad PhD and co-authors wrote. Visuals or manipulative teaching materials can ignite these children’s curiosity and show real interest in the subject being tackled.
Moreover, kids with special needs may have a hard time comprehending any verbal activity. A good set of visual or simulation is much better to demonstrate what needs to be taught – without prioritizing anyone from the mixed group of students.
Highlighter/Reading Strips
Aside from being an added attraction to invite a child to read more books, these reader trackers can help those with disabilities avoid skip lines and texts of a page. This can also aid in their reading comprehension ability.
Gadgets
There are a lot of available educational apps that can be found online for free! Technology can pass as visuals and more often than not, they have the power to engage a child in the usually dull subjects in school (Math for example).
Wall Decoration
As for the walls, it is best to keep it simple and not too cluttered with bright colors. Teachers can set up or post a reward bulletin on one side, giving each of the children awards for where they excel in. Moreover, educators can also post a set of short rules on one part of the wall.
Also, note that the color of the wall (or anything that will be put on it) will not give off any gloomy vibe or lousy lighting to the whole room.
“Young children spend a lot of time — usually the whole day — in the same classroom, and we have shown that a classroom’s visual environment can affect how much children learn,” said Anna V. Fisher, Ph.D.
It is also important to keep in mind that inclusive classrooms are not there to cater to the special children’s needs explicitly. There should be no segregation of kids – everyone gets the same instructions. Inclusive classes, after all, are the best miniature of a racism-less world.
Unfortunately, there is still no permanent cure for learning disabilities. However, there are still therapeutic ways to mitigate the effects of it. It is essential to detect early the condition for better academic coping of the child. When left untreated and unmanaged properly, the child may not cope, and it will affect his daily living. Also, the treatment programs for these children will depend upon the kind of disability and the severity of the issue on the child challenged by it.
Have you ever felt so stressed and anxious about an upcoming exam? You know you have spent time studying and pouring your heart to a specific course, but that dreadful feeling about this particular exam just won’t go away. Familiar, isn’t it?
“The worst thing for stress is trying to take control over uncontrollable things. Because when you inevitably fail — since it’s beyond your control — you only get more stressed out and feel helpless,” wrote Margarita Tartakovsky, MS.
Here are some tips from therapists that talk about how you can deal with exam stress to achieve the best possible outcome.
While your time and effort are a natural part of studying and answering exams, too much stress can damage your ability to do well. These methods will help you how to stay in control and how to obtain grace under pressure.
Reviewing Techniques
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For some students, exams are sometimes just like a breeze, and they can review and revise with their eyes closed. But for others, it is just a difficult thing to do. Here are some handy tips you can follow for reviewing before an exam.
Make a timetable. It will help you organize the subjects and topics you would need to study. Raychelle Cassada Lohmann, PhD, LPCS, advised, “Plan out a time each day to study, even if you don’t have an assignment due. By being one step ahead, you’ll be better prepared and feel more in control.
Try to read and memorize entirely. Memorizing gets way smoother, especially when you fully understand the context of what you are reading.
Create summary notes. Rewrite and reorganize them to a shorter version. You might think it’s a waste of time, but rewriting notes can be an effective way to clarify what we understand. Also, try listing keywords for each topic that would make you remember its meaning or context. Post-it notes usually help a lot.
Review with a friend or join a group study. It does not work for everyone, but for some, this method helps them exchange ideas and understand topics more.
Similar to the third tip, you can ask your friend to do a Q&A with you. This approach will help you recall information and answer questions just like an exam, but verbally.
Make flashcards. Write specific topics per card and write a short definition that would be easy for you to memorize or recall. Flashcards are handy and time-efficient because you can bring it with you even when you are just walking, on a bus, or just killing time.
If you are uncertain about a particular topic or subject, you may go directly to your professor for further explanation. At the same time, if money and time allow, you may hire a tutor to help you prepare for an exam.
Exam Preparation
Get a good night sleep. Your brain will need to rest to be able to absorb and digest all the information you have put to it.
Prepare all the things you would need the next day. Sharpen the pencils, and make sure your pen has enough ink. Arrange any other specific things you would need for a particular subject like calculator, compass, ruler, etc.
Set the alarm clock because the last thing you would want to happen is to be late on your examination day. In addition to that, eat a hearty breakfast. A full stomach helps you concentrate.
Before the exam, try putting things in perspective. Remember that it won’t entirely decide for your future and it will serve as your stepping stone.
To calm your nerves, treat the exam day just like any other typical school day. Don’t feed on the thought that this day is a different one and try to go with your routine.
Anticipate the end of the day when you will finally finish your exams. The thought that you won’t have to do any reviewing anymore will lighten your mood and calm your nerves.
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Managing Stress Levels And Mindful Breathing Exercises
If you are feeling stressed and anxious, don’t take it out on yourself. What you are feeling is normal. Give yourself what you would give to your friends – support, understanding, and love.
Try to maintain a mindful way of breathing. “Mindfulness can be of great aid in promoting self-compassion because rather than teaching us to ignore painful or worrisome thoughts and feelings, it encourages us to be mindfully aware of them – this enables us to be more self-compassionate with ourselves. At the same time, we learn to avoid being swept away by these emotions, so we can find positive outlets for them,” wrote Barbara Markway, PhD. When we get tensed or stressed, we tend to breathe in a quick and shallow way. Sit comfortably and bring attention to the way you breathe. Inhale and exhale slowly. If you focus on it, you would be able to have a sense of awareness of yourself and your surroundings.
With relaxed breathing, you would be able to feel the relaxation and calmness. It will help you focus more on how to answer and tackle the questions on your exam.
Remember, different reviewing techniques work differently for some people. It also depends on what subject is on the line. Try to develop your own set of method or approach that you think would best suit you.
Dealing with the hardships in learning is not often easy as it seems. That’s especially to those middle and high school students. Though some of them may find it encouraging at times, others don’t always feel that way. Other individuals’ immediate positive result from hard work doesn’t represent the totality of all students. And sometimes, even if they tried almost everything to learn, all else seem unworthy and slow-paced. A therapist online would agree that that dealing with the situation is the only ideal thing to do. But do these individuals have the characteristic to handle an unfortunate situation in school such getting rejected from a graduate school, bullying, social problems, financial inconsistencies, and relationship issues? Is there a possible way to overcome the difficult challenges to become successful in life?
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Significance Of Grit
A lot of people typically believe that success only happens to a few. That these individuals blessed with a unique characteristic such as having an above or high IQ, social intelligence, and good looks are the only ones to become successful. However, people often disregard the underlying reason why most leaders nowadays are successful. And that is because of their grit. It is the passion and perseverance for long-term commitment and goals. It involves working persistently hard towards every learning challenge whether at school or life experiences. It allows a maintaining effort into students’ interest in learning despite adversity, failure, and hindrance in progress. It’s notable to say that persons who are “gritty” picture and approach every situation as if it is a marathon. There’s a buildup of internal and external motivation where these individuals often look forward and believe on the end goal of the task they are taking on. But although passion and perseverance may be the top characteristic that leads to success, it is essential to know that other internal features help as well. These include optimism, open-mindedness, and mentorship. All of these get associated with individuals’ lifelong achievements.
Romeo Vitelli Ph.D. explains that, “There is also a strong correlation between grit and other traits such as psychological well-being, optimism, life satisfaction. People scoring high on grit are also much less likely to commit suicide. And, of course, grit is also strongly related to academic performance and lifetime career success. ”
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Growth Mindset
With all of these positive traits, how can most students become gritty? Well, that depends on these individuals’ growth mindset. “A growth mindset is simply the belief that our basic abilities can be developed and improved through dedication and hard work,” Tchiki Davis, Ph.D. explains. Since the ability to learn is not static, learning is fluid and can be attained by mostly anyone. Fortunately, those people with a growth mindset often believe that abilities get developed by hard work, practice, and perseverance. Therefore, individuals with a growth mindset understand the importance of failure and look at is a part of learning. As a result, this type of way of thinking makes learning more enjoyable and fulfilling. It also fosters and builds resilience. Alternatively, those individuals with a fixed-mindset only believe that abilities are stagnant and cannot be improved or altered. As a result, the negative state of mind creates an invariable urgency to prove their worth continuously. Fixed mindset feeds on negative emotional and mental traits. It pulls down every positive characteristic people have. Yes, developing a growth mindset is sometimes draining and challenging situation. But, it is not impossible to do. As long as people encourage themselves to change their way of thinking, all things will reach a positive result gradually.
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Things To Ponder
As learning challenges become part of every person’s life, every individual must always remember. The view they adopt for themselves can significantly affect the way they lead their lives. Meaning, the more they picture out failure, the higher the chance it can happen. But the more they build themselves up to reach success, the more they can find bits of solutions equally essential for overall development. And as long as these individuals love what they are doing, they will always seek out reasons to continue enjoying it despite difficulties and challenges. If there’s constant learning and improving, there’s a guarantee of success in the future. “Your values form the foundation of your life. They dictate the choices you make and determine the direction that your life takes,” Jim Taylor Ph.D. added.
There’ are two things that these students can get in life; that’s hardship and success. Valuing and enduring hardship is a vital process of living a dream. It is important to note that in every situation, whether negative or positive, all things come to an end. Everyone can experience setbacks. But, it doesn’t mean they have to compare their failure or successes to others. People may not be able to handle or control the situation they face, but they can always create a mindset that can help endure learning challenges.
