Self-esteem is your overall opinion of yourself and research shows that self-esteem can come from genetics but is mainly based on who you are and the relationships and experiences you have had at home, in school, with friends, and in the community.
Students who have healthy self-esteem, will feel good about themselves and see themselves as deserving the respect of others.
Students with low self-esteem often feel incompetent, unloved, or inadequate which can lead to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. You may also develop unhelpful habits, such as smoking and drinking too much, as a way of coping.
How to boost your self-esteem as a student:
Identify Yourself
Knowing yourself and what defines you as well as what is important to you will help you figure out your identity and will boost your self-esteem.
Positive Mindset
Getting out negative thoughts and replacing them with positive thoughts will allow you to see yourself in a positive way. The more positive you feel about yourself, the more confident you will become and in return this will boost your self-esteem.
Stick With The People Who Uplift You
Be in the company of people who make you feel good about yourself and have your best interests at heart. Try being around people who are positive and appreciate you.
Recognise what you're good at
We're all good at something, whether it's cooking, singing, doing puzzles or being a friend. You tend to enjoy doing the things you're good at, which can help boost your mood.
Don't Be Afraid To Be Yourself
This works hand in hand with identifying who you are. If someone doesn't like you for being who you are, then that's their problem because there are people who appreciate you for being yourself. People who are not afraid to be themselves naturally will have healthy self-esteem.
We spoke to Ropa from SHAWCO to discuss self-esteem. Ropa also gives us 5 healthy steps you can take to feel good about yourself.
