Fifth grade boys at Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School, at first, were unsure of what K-12 Administrator for Guidance Maribeth Corr meant when she referred to inner strength, confusing it with physical strength. They soon learned that inner strength refers to a person’s character, attitude and ability to cope with stressful situations or challenges.
The comprehensive school counseling program, “Inner Strength,” is one of several services offered by the Harborfields School District to help students learn important social emotional skills, develop self-confidence and better understand how to exercise mindfulness on a daily basis. The purpose of the “Inner Strength” program is to provide boys with the tools needed to recognize their own inner strengths and learn to become comfortable and confident when talking about and managing their feelings.
The three-part series covers topics on the importance of individual characteristics, recognizing inner strengths, developing self-confidence, building communication skills and problem-solving strategies to help boys communicate clearly and develop empathic skills.