Transitions as a Rider
One important thing that one must do during high school is figure out what areas you have trouble with and what areas you are good at.
Every student in every school around the world has things they are good at and things that they aren’t.
Sometimes in school, day in and day out, we forget about our strengths and just focus on the things that are difficult for us. But while it is important that you focus on your weaknesses in order to improve, it is also important that you think about the things you are good at also.
In your IEP there are discussions about your strengths and your weaknesses. You can also find this information on the accommodations form.
In addition, you have taken the Learning Styles survey. This survey is to help you figure out your best learning style, whether it be kinesthetic, visual or auditory.
Knowing these strengths, weaknesses and preferred learning styles are important.
They are important because not all teachers will take the time to find these things out about you; you have to tell them.
This is called Self-Determination
Self- Determination
This can be defined as the ability to fight for what you need. Think about it like a kid that knows his birthday is coming up and really wants the new Playstation. He can just sit back and hope that he gets it, or he can tell his mom once that he would like it, or he can make it known that he wants it, make a case for why he deserves it, etc.
Having self-determination is the difference between sitting back and thinking that you deserve something and stepping up and demanding what you think you deserve.
Teachers have to abide by your IEP and it is your job to make them do it if it’s not happening. . . then you talk to your Special Ed teacher if you are still experiencing problems.
Sometimes it is hard to know what we are good at. We sometimes feel like all we hear are the negative things. You hear it in your essays, you hear it in your report cards, parent meetings, etc. And while it is important to know these things, it’s also important to know what you are good at.
You have to think about the skills that you need in life these days. Back in the day the main skills that were asked for by companies and taught by schools were reading writing and arithmetic (basic math).
Nowadays the Fortune 500 companies are looking for students are looking for students who have good teamwork, problem-solving skills and interpersonal skills. You don’t have to be able to read at grade-level to have good teamworking skills.
So if you know you are a good listener, for example, then you can keep developing that as you work on things like teamwork.
It’s important to know 3 or 4 things that are your thing. Even things that you think may not be academic can be in your favor. Maybe you like to talk a lot, that can be good. Or you are athletic. Or you are pretty. Studies show that people favor pretty people, so that can be in your favor. Even babies like pretty people more than non symmetrically faced people. Just know what strengths you have and half the battle is over.
Everyone has their strengths. Everyone has their weaknesses. What you have to do is know your weakness and know your strengths
Strengths can be seen in listening, telling stories, reading, writing, able to control yourself during a long lecture, ability to stand up for yourself or others, drawing, dancing, singing, sense of humor, being a good sibling, a good son, etc.
Think about your strengths and be proud of them and develop them. These are the things that will help you get through life and be succesfull.