Counseling Connection Archives

Dear Parent(s):

Now that the first quarter of the school year has come to a close, we celebrate all the wonderful things that have taken place in our school thus far:  meeting new teachers, making new friends, lots of studying, homework, joining clubs, celebrating spirit days, worshipping together at class Masses, and attending dances, just to name a few.

“Laughter is the best medicine”.  We’ve all heard it before, but what does it really mean?  How does laughter and having a good sense of humor actually help us to live a more virtuous and healthy life?  Check out some of the amazing benefits of laughter and humor at the link below and begin to enjoy life more fully by incorporating this virtue into your daily routine.  It just might be the best part of your day.

What clearer example could there be of a student exercising self-respect than to live her best academic life possible. Fulfilling the academic requirements of her courses also conveys respect to her teachers and her parents who have invested time, money, and energy into the success of their students.  Simultaneously, it is imperative that students be helped to acquire the virtue of hope in order to maximize their academic potential. 

No matter what virtue our young people are trying to cultivate, it is a given that they will need the guidance and help of their parents and other trusted adults to assist them in this endeavor.  In a world that has grown increasingly cynical and distracted from pursuing the eternal for the sake of the here and now, we might benefit as well from a few guiding principles to assist them.

Research shows there is a direct link between the way we feel and the way we think.  More precisely, the way we feel is intimately connected to those deeply held beliefs and convictions we hold to be true.  The simplicity of it is rather beautiful:  the way I think affects the way I feel which affects the way I act, and so on, and so on.  It should come as no surprise then that the way teens think about exams and the end of the year affects how they feel as they prepare to take their exams and make plans for the summer.  The link below will shed light on the emotional and physiological impact that exam stress can have, as well as ways to help combat that stress.  And, remember, when searching for meaningful activities to pursue this summer, you can look through the list of summer enrichment opportunities provided in your Naviance account.

In today’s world, young people tend to live the bulk of their social lives online.  Having grown up with modern technology, many adolescents have little experience having deep, meaningful conversations with others in person or even by talking on the phone.  While it might seem that this technology makes adolescents more connected, the truth is many young people feel more disconnected now than ever before.  With research indicating a statistically significant rise in the use of social media platforms during the summer months, it may be helpful to reflect on the way the young people in our lives are affected developmentally by all this posting, sharing, and tweeting and have honest conversations with them about how to use social media in more meaningful and positive ways.

St. Therese of Lisieux Prayer from “Story of A Soul”

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.

Research shows there is a direct link between the way we feel and the way we think.  More precisely, the way we feel is intimately connected to those deeply held beliefs and convictions we hold to be true.  The simplicity of it is rather beautiful:  the way I think affects the way I feel which affects the way I act, and so on, and so on.  In few areas of our lives is this cycle more clearly revealed than in the area of self-love.  Read along here to find out how our beliefs about ourselves in relation to our God-given identity can profoundly shape our emotional world. 

In today’s world, young people tend to live the bulk of their social lives online.  Having grown up with modern technology, many adolescents have little experience having deep, meaningful conversations with others in person or even by talking on the phone.  While it might seem that this technology makes adolescents more connected, the truth is many young people feel more disconnected now than ever before.  While social media has its positive sides, the information provided at the link below reveals some of the ways that social media can have an adverse effect on the development of a young person’s sense of self.  Interestingly enough, when the negative effects of online interactions lead a person or someone they love to suffer, it is then that we seem to know intuitively we need to reach out and connect, in person, to someone in our support network.  How much better is it to recognize this before problems arise and focus on developing those meaningful interpersonal connections that can actually help insulate young people from some of these effects?