Frenship’s Mental Health Minute includes a monthly theme and challenge. The theme for March is centered around Resilience. The idea for this theme is that students and Frenship families will reflect on challenges they have faced and recognize the positive outcomes that resulted from those experiences. 

This month, students will be challenged to think of an obstacle they have faced this year and what they have done to overcome it. They are also challenged to think of three positive things that have come from overcoming the obstacle.  

Frenship families are encouraged to share a challenge that they have faced recently and how it was overcome. Similar to the student challenge, families are invited to discuss three positive things that have come from the challenge, such as lessons learned, new skills gained, or stronger relationships.  

Legacy Elementary School Counselor Valerie Llanas believes that resiliency is an important quality for life, especially in busy seasons of the school year.  

“Having that ability to bounce back from adversity is key for students to be successful in school and life,” said Llanas. “This is a great theme for this time of year because we are getting into the busy season for so many students academically and with extracurricular activities. We want to build resilient students that are ready to take on the day-to-day challenges that come with life.” 

Building resilience has lasting benefits for students' mental and emotional well-being. 

“Each challenge a student faces and overcomes has the potential to positively impact a student’s mental and emotional well-being," said Llanas. “Building resiliency builds self-confidence, self-esteem and the grit to take on the challenges in life. There are always going to be ups and downs in life but building resiliency helps you ride those waves.” 

Llanas encourages students to reflect on positive outcomes that come from challenges. 

“Sometimes it’s hard to recognize the positive outcomes of a challenge until a student has fully worked through it,” said Llanas. “Even then a student may not identify that positive outcome without someone to help them process through it. As students learn and grow, they will make connections and hopefully practice lessons they have learned from similar situations they have experienced.” 

Families can support their children in building resilience at home by encouraging them to face challenges head-on. Llanas recommends that parents and guardians guide their children through difficulties without immediately solving the problem for them. 

"In life, most of the time, the only way out of a tough situation is to go through it," said Llanas. "I would encourage families not to be too quick to try to solve or avoid challenging situations their children encounter. While it’s important to give them support in the situation, it’s also important for the child to learn to problem solve and grow through the process." 

Llanas also wants to highlight that school resources are available to families who need it. She also notes that celebrating the success of overcoming an obstacle is important to help cultivate resilience.  

“Families can also partner with school staff in helping a student move through a difficult challenge when needed. Equally important is pointing out the successes the child has made after a challenge has been overcome, this fosters and celebrates a child’s resilience,” said Llanas.  

Llanas also highlighted the positive influence of peer support. She has found that when students connect with others when facing challenges, it can provide encouragement and hope. 

“Friendships and peers can also serve as positive role models in showing students how to build resilience. Universality is powerful, knowing that a peer or friend has gone through a similar challenge and come out the other side can be very inspirational and encouraging,” said Llanas. 

In the classroom, teachers play a vital role in fostering resilience. Llanas explained that educators are skilled at pushing students to develop coping strategies and adopt a growth mindset. 

“Teachers and staff are great about recognizing how to push and encourage a student through academic and even personal struggles,” said Llanas. “The social emotional learning that takes place at school also helps students develop coping skills that help them work through challenges. Teachers also emphasize a growth mindset which pushes students into tackling new challenges. Teachers help students to set goals and develop the skills to be successful in reaching those goals.” 

Llanas added that teachers play a crucial role in identifying when students may need additional guidance and support. 

“Teachers also help encourage resilience when they recognize students may need a little more support working through those struggles. In those cases, teachers may need to refer students to other school services such as the school counselor or the Communities in Schools coordinator to help students get the support they need to face those struggles.” 

For students who struggle to find positive outcomes from their challenges, Llanas encourages them to seek support. 

"Seek out support when needed," advised Llanas. "We all grow weary at times when facing a difficult challenge, but it’s important for students to know they are not alone. Find a positive peer to share with, reach out to a trusted adult, and keep open communication with your family. Finally, take some time to give yourself credit and celebrate everything you have already overcome." 

The Frenship Counseling Department believes that by cultivating resilience in schools and at home, students can develop the strength and perseverance needed to overcome challenges. By embracing resilience, individuals build confidence, foster emotional well-being, and create stronger, more supportive communities. 

For more information on Frenship’s Mental Health Minute, click here.