We asked Ramita Anand, teacher, author and founder of tween mentoring service, Elevate RA, to give us her best tips for cultivating a positive Back to School mindset.
Whether you’re headed back to a favourite classroom or entering an unfamiliar school in a new area, the start of a new term can bring up all sorts of emotions. It’s exciting to have a fresh start, and fun to see all your friends after a summer pursuing your own adventures. However, feeling some anxiety, nervousness, and fear is normal, too.
Guides on how to prepare yourself for the start of term are everywhere. These resources, which often include lists of supplies to get and routines to adopt, are helpful, but don’t get at the root of the best way to prepare yourself mentally for a new term. To do that, you’ll need to focus on fostering a positive mindset that can help you cope with the changes that come with a new school year.
Here are some of my favourite tips for building a mindset that helps you handle change and stay steady through it.
1. Acknowledge the pressure before it becomes an issue
It’s an unavoidable reality that school brings some form of pressure (academic and social), which is particularly acute when you’re starting off a new term. There are so many unanswered questions about the academic workload, how you’ll fit into new social circles, and in which areas you’ll excel.
Take some time before school starts to acknowledge and accept that the pressure exists. It does no one any good to pretend otherwise. Process your feelings by talking to a trusted friend, family member, or even journaling. By naming your worries early, it’s easier to handle them when they eventually rear their heads.
2. Focus on what you can control
It’s easy to get stuck worrying about the ‘what-ifs’ of a new term:
- What if you don’t like your teacher?
- What if you can’t find your way around?
- What if your friends are in a different class?
Instead of spinning out on things you can’t change, put your energy toward what you can influence. This might mean:
- Making sure your bag is packed the night before
- Wearing an outfit that makes you feel confidently yourself
- Reviewing your timetable so you know where to go
Small actions add up to major confidence boosts.
3. Set small, achievable goals for the first week
Big changes feel a lot more manageable when you break them into bite-sized chunks.
Instead of aiming for admirable but vague goals like ‘make new friends’ or ‘get good grades’, choose one or two small goals to focus on in your first week. It could be introducing yourself to one new person, raising your hand in class once a day, or joining a new club.
The positive reinforcement you’ll get from completing each small goal helps build momentum that will propel you to greater confidence and ease in your new environment.
4. Figure out what success means to you
Success is so much deeper than performance. Before you start your new term, take some time to define what success means for you. Is it academic achievement, social connections, artistic activities, sport, or something else?
By defining success on your terms, it’s easier to make plans for how you want to spend your time once school begins.
Positive Mindset = Positive Outcomes
A new school term will always bring challenges, but a positive mindset can help transform these challenges into opportunities to learn, grow, and connect.
At Elevate.RA we believe in equipping students with the tools they need to thrive in and out of the classroom. Visit our website today to find resources designed to help young people build confidence, manage stress, and reach their full potential.
Your best school year yet starts with the right mindset. We’re here to help you make it happen.
Ramita Anand, is a trained teacher (with a Science and Special Educational Needs specialisation), mother, author, and podcast host who has founded ElevateRA mentoring services, aimed to empower and work with pre-adolescent girls on crucial life skills.
Further information on Ramita's work can be found here: Elevate.RA Mentoring Services, Her book Amazon Best Seller, Girl Elevated: 5 steps to empower girls in early adolescence to be their best, and the Elevate podcast, conversations with thought leaders, educators, creatives and activists on how we can best empower girls.
