Melanie is one of Meeker Middle School’s 6th grade All-Stars who has experienced significant growth this year! In September, Melanie was soft-spoken, shy, and struggled to express her needs to teachers, classmates, and All-Stars staff. In one of our activities, the program leader became concerned about Melanie, who was struggling to sit still, often drew on herself, and had difficulty following directions. During a one-on-one conversation with her leader it came to light that the student felt overwhelmed when directions were given too quickly, which in turn led to emotional reactions and misbehavior. Our staff began working on new strategies to help Melanie adjust, providing her with fidget toys and allowing more time for projects.
Fast forward a few months and Melanie has become more vocal, self-regulates her emotions, and participates in activities even when she feels hesitant to join in. She now expresses her opinions and shares her struggles, actively seeking help when needed. Furthermore, Melanie has learned to think independently; her counselors and friends have noted that she no longer just “tags along” with her peers but chooses clubs based on her interests, not that of her friends and readily joins other students when asked to pair up. Melanie has become more aware of her emotions; instead of crying or ignoring situations, she now “stops, thinks, and responds.” Her growth is a testament to the support she received from ASAS staff and the guidance provided by school counselors. While Melanie remains soft-spoken and shy, growth in self-confidence is evident as she continues to participate and learns to increasingly use her voice.