Resilience is a fundamental skill that can greatly benefit students as they navigate the challenges of education and life. It equips them with the ability to adapt, bounce back from setbacks, and thrive in the face of adversity. Schools play a crucial role in fostering resilience among students, nurturing their emotional well-being, and preparing them to become resilient individuals.
What is resilience?
Resilience is the capacity to withstand and recover from difficult or traumatic experiences. It involves returning from setbacks, managing stress, and adapting to change. Resilient individuals possess emotional strength, problem-solving skills, perseverance, and a positive mindset. They view challenges as opportunities for growth and have the ability to maintain their well-being in the face of adversity.
Why is resilience important for students?
Resilience is essential for students as it empowers them to overcome obstacles, develop a growth mindset, and succeed academically and personally. It helps them manage stress, handle disappointments, and cope with the pressures of school life.
Resilient students are more likely to have higher self-esteem, better mental health, improved social relationships, and increased motivation to achieve their goals. Additionally, resilience prepares students for future challenges, as it is a valuable skill that will benefit them beyond the classroom.
Factors that affect children’s resilience
Several factors can impact a child’s resilience. These factors can be divided into three categories: family, community, and individual factors.
Family
Family factors mainly include the parents as the primary caregiver of the child. Good parenting sets an example for children to follow. Those with a healthy relationship with their parents are more likely to follow their healthy coping mechanisms and have a sense of safety. Likewise, those who grow up in an emotionally unstable household will see this as the norm and continue recreating an emotionally chaotic lifestyle wherever they go.
Community
It takes a village to raise a child. A child’s environment, comprising its community, heavily influences how a child interacts with people outside the family. A safe community encourages children to interact more with their neighbors, which, in turn, improves their social skills. Those who are part of a religious community also tend to follow the values taught in their religion. These values then shape a child’s thinking as they grow older.
Individual
The last factor, individual, comprises internal and external abilities that the child possesses. This could be empathy, sense of humor, adaptive emotional skills, self-esteem, temperament, and more. While children in their formative years have malleable mindsets and beliefs, each child is unique, and one value may not sit well with another. Individual factors set children apart, even if they are from the same family and community.
5 Ways D-PREP builds resilience in students
At D-PREP International School, resilience takes center stage in the educational approach. We foster a resilient mindset in our students, preparing them to thrive in an ever-changing world. Here are five key strategies that we implement to foster resilience:
1. Experiential Learning
We understand that stepping outside one’s comfort zone is essential for personal growth. Through experiential learning, students are exposed to new environments, acquire valuable skills, and become adaptable. At D-PREP, students go on fieldwork, where they go out of the classroom and gain valuable real-life experiences. Older students (middle school to high school) go on outbounds which are similar to fieldwork but include overnight stays. Through experiential learning, we ensure students experience hands-on learning opportunities that challenge them and expand their horizons.
2. Encouraging Activities Beyond Comfort Zone
At D-PREP, we actively encourage students to explore activities beyond their comfort zones. We do this by giving them opportunities to compete in international competitions and programs like XCL’s Got Talent and XCL Exchange Program. We also have diverse afterschool activities that allow students to learn new skills. By participating in these activities, students develop self-confidence, embrace new challenges, and broaden their perspectives.
3. Warm School Environment
A warm and nurturing school environment is important for building resilience. D-PREP prides itself on fostering a culture of support and inclusion. Students are encouraged to help one another, while bullying is not tolerated. Additionally, we provide a robust support system for students with special needs. With a dedicated school psychologist and specials department, students receive the care and attention they require, ensuring that no one is left behind.
4. Learning Expeditions
D-PREP believes that giving back to the community is a powerful way to cultivate resilience. Through learning expeditions, students actively contribute to the betterment of society. Every year, D-PREP holds several learning expeditions where students get firsthand experience working with NGOs and other organizations that help those in need. Just last year, our middle school students volunteered to help Bangkok Help Community, an NGO that donates food and other goods to the homeless. Inspired by this, the students created their own NGO called Fresh Hope Foundation to give whatever they can to the homeless and give them fresh hope for a better life ahead.
5. Self-discovery activities
Aside from helping others, D-PREP also recognizes the significance of self-discovery in building resilience. The school provides ample opportunities for students to explore their interests, passions, and talents. One of our most recent activities called the “Passion Project,” allowed students to embark on a journey of self-discovery through various activities, both within and outside the school.
The culmination of this project was an inspiring passion talk series reminiscent of TEDTalks, where students shared their passions and unveiled their plans to turn their dreams into reality. This initiative not only empowered the students to pursue their aspirations but also nurtured resilience by fostering a sense of purpose, determination, and self-belief.
If you are interested in visiting the school, please contact
Address :
D-PREP International School
38, 38/1-3, 39, Moo 6,
Bangna Trad Rd., Km. 8,
Bang Kaeo, Bang Phli District,
Samut Prakan, Thailand 10540
Email: info@lady
Google Map: https://info.dprep.ac.th/directions
Tel: 02-105-1757, 082-1515922
Website : www.dprep.ac.th
Facebook: DprepSchool
Line: @d-prep
IG : @dprepschool
