Getting the Most Out of High School Belen Jesuit Preparatory School School Counseling Department

Where are they now developmentally? Less rapid physical development Less self-consciousness and more emotional stability Formal operational thinking more mature More multidimensional thinking and abstract thinking, and increased capacity to hypothesize and consider future events and consequences. Less likely to think in terms of either-or Lack of experience limits increased gains in the capacity to conceptualize Invincibility remains an issue, leading to risk taking behavior

Processes and Goals-next 4 years Concerned about achieving independence Explore various roles and responsibilities Self-questioning and experimentation to establish identity Increased self-confidence Peer relationships remain important but are more mature Will also become more important to them than their relationship with their parents. May not be as emotionally dependent on peers as they were in the past As intimacy develops new challenges emerge Level of maturity varies but generally more mellowed out and less turbulent times.

Satisfaction With Life Scale Below are five statements that you may agree or disagree with. Using the scale below, indicate your agreement with each item by placing the appropriate number on the line preceding that item. Please be open and honest in your responding. ____ In most ways my life is close to my ideal. ____ The conditions of my life are excellent. ____ I am satisfied with my life. ____ So far I have gotten the important things I want in life. ____ If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing. 7 - Strongly agree 6 - Agree 5 - Slightly agree 4 - Neither agree nor disagree 3 - Slightly disagree 2 - Disagree 1 - Strongly disagree

Scoring Satisfaction With Life Scale Extremely satisfied Satisfied Slightly satisfied 20 Neutral Slightly dissatisfied Dissatisfied Extremely dissatisfied

Defining Well Being Emotional Health Engagement Relationships Meaning Achievement

Emotional Health Why is this important?

Dynamics of emotional well being Biological Component About 60-80% of emotional reactivity is biological 20 to 40% is learned: Remaining is learned Explanatory style Pleasure vs. gratification Reflection

The way in which experience is interpreted Continuum between pessimistic and optimistic explanatory style Explanatory Style

Pessimistic explanatory style Perceive the causes of bad events as permanent Perceive the cause of good events as temporary Bad outcomes are perceived to have pervasive consequences Good outcomes are perceived to have specific consequences Tendency towards higher levels of hopelessness and lower levels of hope Primary cause of depression

Optimistic explanatory style Causes of bad events are perceived to be temporary Causes of good events are perceived to be permanent Bad outcomes are perceived to have specific and limited consequences Good outcomes are perceived to have pervasive consequences Associated with higher levels of hope and increased resiliency

Explanatory Style: Examples Permanence You made up after a fight. (good event) Causal Self-talk I forgave her/him (Temporary-pessimistic) I am usually forgiving (Permanent-optimistic) Which one is more temporary and which one is more permanent? Which one would you associate with a pessimistic explanatory style? You forgot your son’s birthday (bad event) Causal Self-talk I’m not good at remembering things (permanent) (pessimistic) I was preoccupied with something else (temporary) (optimistic) Your son receives a bad grade (bad event) Causal self-talk: “I didn’t study hard enough” “I’m lazy”

Example Pervasiveness Your son tries to get into a club and he doesn’t get in. (Bad Event) Because “I don’t get along well with other people” (pervasive) (pessimistic) “I don’t get along well with the people in the club” (specific) (optimistic) Your son goes to an event and has a great time (Good Event) Because “I usually enjoy myself at amusement parks” (specific) (pessimistic) “I usually enjoy myself” (Pervasive) (optimistic) You make your son his favorite dinner (Good Event) Because “My mom made dinner to please me” “My mom likes to please me”

Pleasure, Gratification and Reflection Pleasure: Instant. Happens while you’re doing it. Stops when you end. Savoring and Spacing. Gratification Delayed. Happens after you complete. Lasts long after you end. Acts of kindness Remembering / Experiencing Self

Reflection-Prayer ❖ Broadened Perspective ❖ Mindfulness ❖ Reduced Catastrophizing ❖ 7 Step Prayer Process-Examen

Engagement When your talents are being challenged at the optimal level

Achievement/Accomplishment Major source of self-esteem Achievement = Skill X Effort GRIT Scale

Relationships The highest component of the experiencing self Three o’clock question Is there someone you would feel comfortable calling at 3 in the morning to tell your troubles to? George Vaillant

Meaning To participate in a cause greater than yourself

Meaning- Ignatius of Loyola God freely created us so that we might know, love, and serve him in this life and be happy with him forever. God's purpose in creating us is to draw forth from us a response of love and service here on earth, so that we may attain our goal of everlasting happiness with him in heaven. All the things in this world are gifts of God, created for us, to be the means by which we can come to know him better, love him more surely, and serve him more faithfully.

Meaning Vocation Catholicism 1.What the world needs 2.What I am best at 3.What I like to do 4.What I can make a living at

References Seligman, Martin The Optimistic Child Learned Optimism Authentic Happiness Flourishing Re: Kahneman, Daniel Thinking, Fast and Slow ‎Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiMihaly Csikszentmihalyi Flow Creativity: The Psychology of Discovery and InventioCreativity: The Psychology of Discovery and Invention Charles Murray Human Accomplishment Vernon, Ann What Works Well With Children and Adolescents