Self-worth for Students

Even before the pandemic, students were telling us how self-esteem was impacted by anxiety and non-stop evaluation. Covid has added additional burdens: such as isolation and uncertainty.

Here are some of the current issues, affecting students and young professionals:

 

  • Significant loss of traditional employment opportunities
  • Intense competition for courses, jobs, scholarships, grants etc.
  • Information overwhelm, exhaustion
  • Academic pressures, pressure from parents, social media and peers leaving young people feeling that they must constantly prove their worth via accomplishments
  • Even when surrounded with “resources” and “support”, being very much on your own with your choices and issues
  • Uncertainty about the future, how to navigate all the options ahead
  • Finding work that is meaningful
  • A bewildering array of choices and dilemmas: career/business direction, geography, relationships, identity
Self Worth Academy Associate Young People co-working
Self Worth Academy Associate Young People co-working

Here are some of the current issues, affecting students and young professionals:

 

      • Significant loss of traditional employment opportunities
      • Intense competition for courses, jobs, scholarships, grants etc.
      • Information overwhelm, exhaustion
      • Academic pressures, pressure from parents, social media and peers leaving young people feeling that they must constantly prove their worth via accomplishments
      • Even when surrounded with “resources” and “support”, being very much on your own with your choices and issues
      • Uncertainty about the future, how to navigate all the options ahead
      • Finding work that is meaningful
      • A bewildering array of choices and dilemmas: career/business direction, geography, relationships, identity

KEY SWA INSIGHTS / APPROACH

 

Detach from those evaluations and stories that define your self-esteem: instead learn to shape an unconditional identity

A fresh understanding of self-worth unleashes new energy and fresh perspective

Establish routines of self-care, study and exploration as an expression of self-worth

Find your own voice, rather than living the life that others want you to live. Bring this voice into work life, romance, relationships and leisure

“To love yourself is the beginning of a lifetime romance”

– Oscar Wilde

SELF-WORTH 

 

Self Worth Academy Self Illustration

A sense of loyal, unconditional, friendship with yourself…no matter what is going on inside or outside.

Unlike self-esteem, self-worth is not contingent on meeting expectations: neither those of others nor even of your own.

Self-worth is independent of your performance; it’s a fundamental, unconditional friendship with yourself.

Unlike the fickle friendship of self-esteem, self-worth is a faithful ally in the most challenging of times, on those grey days when you most need to be a friend to you.

A deep sense of self-worth brings joy and freedom to life. By stepping off the hamster wheel of self-esteem, we rebound better from setbacks and find new meaning in what we do.

Services for students and young professionals

The Self-Worth Safari

Key Elements:

– 7 week program with 7 modules which can be delivered in-person or online, preferably as a hybrid

– A teacher’s guide, accompanied by a 1-2 modules for teachers (again either in-person or online)

– Homework to be set between modules: practical steps for students to undertake

– A self-evaluation for students to complete at the beginning and at the end of the program (to be developed)

Self Worth Academy young woman at computer
Personal coaching with John or another associate
Webinars on self-worth and professional identity
Book a talk on self-worth for your student group
Download the first chapter of The Self-Worth Safari via this page

Skills for students, to improve happiness as well as performance

  1.    Managing stress and anxiety, nurturing resilience and energy
  2.    Building healthy routines for self-care and study, vs. being swamped by deadlines or projects
  3.    Choosing which feedback you take on board, and from whom
  4.    Bouncing back from setbacks, ending the energy-drain of self-reproach
  5.    Learning to communicate needs and requests respectfully
  6.    Implementing healthy boundaries, asking for help
  7.    Dealing with difficult people, strengthening self-worth
  8.     Packaging your strengths into insights, so that you can plan your career from a fresh perspective
  9.    Introducing yourself with impact, making the most of social situations
  10.   Having “explorer conversations”, the power of being interested rather than trying to be interesting
  11.   Systematically eliminating all conditions for self-esteem, instead making choices from a foundation of unconditional self-worth
  12.   Preventing a host of more serious issues, including addiction, self-harm and even suicide

For a confidential session with John, with no obligation, or a talk to a student group, book an exploratory call

BOOK A CALL

ABOUT JOHN NILAND

Self Worth Academy CEO John Niland
Book a call

In an age of AI and global upheaval, John helps people regenerate their professional identity from a foundation of self-worth—so that work strengthens identity rather than eroding it.

Identity regeneration is the work of reconnecting with what is most valuable and distinct about you, then bringing it more fully into your work, relationships and reputation. John’s approach helps people bring fresh value to life and work by:

  • communicating fresh insights rather than endless “me-stories”

  • replacing the need for validation with courage, confidence and creativity

  • turning the hunger for belonging into a deeper connection with oneself and others

  • building a reputation that opens doors, making work more sustainable and enjoyable

John is the author of The Self-Worth Safari and founder of Self-Worth Academy, an international community of practitioners exploring the power of self-worth.

His previous books include Hidden Value, Opportunity Conversations and The Courage to Ask, co-authored with Kate Daly. Since 2000, John has spoken at professional conferences and coached hundreds of professionals to grow their revenue and reputation through an approach grounded in professional identity.

He co-founded the European Forum of Independent Professionals and was previously CEO of Education for the Children, which works with families in Guatemala to help break the cycle of poverty.

John lives just outside Lisbon, after many years in Brussels, London and Ireland. He still talks about “settling down one day.”

“In the School of Business & Law at the University of Brighton, Self-Worth Academy’s discovery session is already now well-embedded into the Foundation Year curriculum and is piquing the interest of other colleagues also working on wellbeing approaches to teaching and learning. Anyone considering introducing this to their students should find it a worthwhile endeavour.”

Self Worth Academy Client University of Brighton Logo

DR CLARE FORDER

“If we can bring the sense of self-worth into schools, children will succeed better and have a better future”

Self Worth Academy Associate Frances Reynolds

FRANCES REYNOLDS