HOW TO USE THIS LESSON: The webpage below is intended to be projected for students to follow along. It includes basic instructions, definitions, etc. to guide students. Depending on your technology, you can have a student in charge of scrolling through the site, on your cues. Just have them try not to scroll past the thin purple dividers or thick colored banners until you are ready to start that next section!

You will also need to download and/or print this facilitator's guide. This document contains extra instructions, facilitator's notes, and other behind-the-scenes content necessary for the lesson.

What if I told you that you were born with your own set of personal strengths that are unique to you and the “prescribed” strengths are not the most important thing to predict success and trajectory?  In our activity today we will be “strength spotting” and identifying not what society says is important, but what you truly identify with as being your “gifts”. We'll discuss how you can lean into those gifts and find ways to use your gifts to succeed more as an individual.

Resilience is a positive mental health protective factor. This means that when resilience increases, you are less likely to struggle with mental health issues and more likely to recover from them. By definition, resilience is defined as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress—such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems, or workplace and financial stressors. 

Learning Activities: 

Take a look at the Via Character Strengths list.

There are 6 specific Via character trait virtue areas, choose one trait from each row/category that best describes your strengths, behaviors, or values. Think about not what you think others would value, but instead something that you currently possess. 

Identify that each of the strength areas listed are valuable and as a team member all of the things listed are value added and important in their own right.  

Share with a partner each of  your areas and give examples as to why you chose that as your one strength in that category.   

As we close today, think about how you will work to enhance, highlight, and share your personal strengths with others.  Let's take a few minutes to collect our thoughts together. 

When you work in teams, how can you help others identify/see/understand your areas of strength?

How might you be able to use this strength narrative when you face times of adversity in school? With peers? Family?