By Antionette Meeks of Cairn Guidance, a Dove Self-Esteem Project Partner
I have often sung the only line I know from the song, “Summertime and the livin’ is easy”. It was written in 1935. I can’t say I was around for it or even know the history of it, other than it was part of a renown, for its era, stage play and has been sung by Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin, and Billie Stewart – at least, that’s what I read.
More importantly, that George Gershwin melody and DuBose Howard single lyric stays in my head. I believe that is called an earworm.
Schools ease into summer during the months of May and June and students add a bit of pep in their steps as they envision no early mornings, no alarms, no adults telling them to get up, no homework, etc. It’s almost like the air smells fresher, there is the imagined feel of a light breeze, swaying flowers and leaves, and the wind pushing white fluffy clouds across the calm blue sky. Birds seem to chirp a little louder.
For teachers, there is a bit of sadness as some students move onto the next grade, school level, or move to a new location. There is that moment to recall how a specific student grew both as a student and as a human being. Laughter was shared and sometimes tears. Moments of surprise and the ah-has as the student caught onto what was being taught and ran with it. Nearly all of us have complained about “that one child”, but we loved that child and wanted the best for them. We were hopeful. We realize that sometimes the cards are stacked against them, and we may be the one person that believes in them and sparks the desire to be the very best. We leave an imprint. It is important that that imprint is positive.
There are many potential imprints, marks, or stamps on a child’s life. We know that a slight loss of learning occurs during the summer unless some form of enriching activity occurs – reading, summer camps, activities at recreation centers, neighborhood and church/synagogue/temple activities, organized experiences at city or neighborhood libraries, time spent with mentoring-type of adults, etc. COVID-19 has taught us a lot about isolation and loneliness. We also know there are negative imprints or influences voiced through social and professional media.
We should want that pure joy for the student, hopefully successfully, completing the school year and enjoying the fruit of the summer months. It’s important to help them grow academically, socially, emotionally, physically, and mentally. We cannot even make inroads with students academically or intellectually if there are social or emotional needs or barriers. Some of these needs involve body confidence and self-esteem. Every adult in the school leaves an imprint on students. Their teachers of record, likely leave the largest. We often through planned instruction, incidental instruction, and conversation can change a lot of negatives into positives.
We know, in addition to other impacts on their lives, both in school and outside of school, our students are bombarded with images and language that suggest they should look a certain way when viewing social or professional media. They are constantly being told how they should look and either directly or indirectly told their appearance does not fit. A student deserves to be their authentic self. The Dove Self-Esteem Project (DSEP) helps students to fight appearance ideas and appearance discrimination as potentially promoted in personal media and professional media. It’s important for students to understand that these appearance ideas are impossible to live up to and they give up their authentic selves when they strive to become someone they are not. DSEP’s single and six-lesson Confident Me! curriculum, including its newest lesson on appearance discrimination and additional materials focused on the Hispanic or Latinx student, students with curly, coily or protective hair styles and LQBTQ2S+ youth and allies help students to strengthen their body confidence and increase their self-esteem.
We play an important role, in support of the adults who care for each of our charges. We want students to achieve their academic best, to be happy, and flourishing. Supporting them in other areas, including their body confidence and self-esteem can go a long way in helping students be their authentic selves and active contributors in class discussions, participate in clubs or sports teams, and find their niche based on positive internal and external influences. You are one of those influences. Each of us desires for our students to have a happy and healthy summer experience. What we do contributes to those experiences as we greet and teach each student over the course of our 180-day annual journey with them.
May each of your students enjoy summertime, where the livin’ is easy because you helped them to love and appreciate who they are as they strengthened their self-esteem and body confidence. Have an amazing summer, whether you are teaching summer school, providing enrichment activities, taking a much-deserved break, retiring, or exploring the other adventures that life offers.
To learn more about the Dove Self-Esteem Project visit the website at www.Dove.com/selfesteem or email us at info@cairnguidance.com.
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