Promoting Self Confidence among

Middle School Students

By Dina Durnin, School Counselor

Hoech Middle School
Self-Esteem Issues in Middle School

The importance of self-esteem

Training your own thoughts
Striving for perfection
How to view mistakes
Goal setting
The Importance of Self-Esteem

The importance of self-esteem is a direct

reflection on one’s influence on their lives. Self-
esteem affects relationships, academic
achievement, and living life to it’s fullest.

The developmental growth stage that pre-

teens and young teens encounter during
Middle School are especially challenging when
trying to figure out who they are and where
they fit in.
Training Your Own Thoughts

When trying to change low self-esteem

students should focus on retraining their
negative thoughts into positive self-talk.

Steps to use, identify negative self-talk,

stop, think of a strength, and use positive
self-talk.
 Striving for Perfection

Striving for perfection is impossible in life

and could be damaging to one’s self-
esteem. A shift in thinking to setting
attainable goals and reaching them is a
healthier way to reach higher levels of
self-confidence.
 How to view mistakes

Changing the way a student views

mistakes impacts their self-esteem,
retraining the thought process to view
mistakes as challenges or opportunities
to learn, are more effective when
attaining higher levels of self-esteem.
 Goal Setting

Setting attainable goals for oneself is

important when reflecting on successes.
Many small goal successes lead to larger
goal setting and belief that you can
accomplish them.
Description of Self-Esteem Groups

Two Separate Groups Consisted of:

– One group of 10 eighth grade female students
– Second group of 8 eighth grade male students
Settings
Small group in a classroom
Once a week for 45-55 minutes
Six weeks
Time of day varied within school day
Interventions & Measurements

Weekly self-esteem lessons/activities

facilitated by the counselor and school
social worker.

Counselor generated pre and post survey

Measuring Student Change

Pre and post survey comparison results

Teacher Observation Feedback

Parent Conference
 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
I feel like I
have personal

I have high
self-esteem

I understand
my purpose

I have at least

Strongly Agree
one talent

Agree
I have a
positive

Neutral
Girls Group Survey Pre-Test

I like myself

Disagree I often worry

about my life

I control me
Strongly Disagree
Data Results—Girls Group Pre-test
 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
I feel like I
have personal

I have high
self-esteem

I understand
my purpose

Strongly Agree
Agree
I have at least
one talent

Neutral
I believe I can
achieve my
Disagree
Girls Group Survey Post-Test

I often think
of my future

I am happy
Strongly Disagree

with my life

I have
personal
Data Results—Girls Group Post-test
Data Results—Boys Group Pre-test
Boys Group Survey Pre-Test

I control me and my decisions

I often worry about my life

I believe I can achieve my goal(s)

I have at least one talent

I understand my purpose in life

I feel like I have personal power

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

Data Results—Boys Group Post-test
Boys Group Survey Post-Test

I control me and my decisions

I often worry about my life

I believe I can achieve my goal(s)

I have at least one talent

I understand my purpose in life

I feel like I have personal power

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

 Data Analysis

Graphed results from the pre and post

tests completed by group participants

Interviews from teachers with direct

observation/contact of group participants

Interview from parents/peers with direct

interactions of group participants
Summary of Self-Esteem Groups

According to self reported data by group

participants students gained:
– A better understanding of self-esteem
– A positive outlook on their future and
current situations
– Knowledge/skills they can use to retrain
their thought process and setting goals
Summary of Self-Esteem Groups

Teacher observations and reports

indicate:
– Students contributed more to classroom
discussions
– Students self advocacy increased
– Students made positive decisions in
classroom/peer interactions
Summary of Self-Esteem Groups

Parents reported:
– Students gained insight to importance of
decision-making
– Students understand the importance of goal
setting
– Students learned how their actions impact
their self image and how others view them
 Implications for Future

Understanding that self-esteem in the

Middle School is a continuous problem
and future small groups are needed to
assist students in recognizing their true
potential in life.
 Quotes

“Confidence comes from not always

being right, but learning to be wrong.”
~Peter T. McIntyre

“Each time we face our fear, we gain

strength, courage, and confidence in the
doing.” ~Unknown
Resources/Contact Information
How Can I Improve My Self Esteem?
Reviewed by: D’Arcy Lyness, PhD, March
2009, http://kidshealth.org/teen/

Dina Durnin, School Counselor

Hoech Middle School
3312 Ashby Rd.
St. Ann, MO 63074
(314) 493-6217
durnind@ritenour.k12.mo.us