7 Essential ASCA Mindsets For Developing Resilient Students

If you’re a guidance counselor, you understand that raising the future generation is more than a job; it’s your purpose. While helping them excel in various subjects, you are also responsible for enabling them to build positive mindsets. 

With the ASCA National Model, you now have a reference for developing resilient students with positive mindsets. These standards are backed by research to enable students to develop attitudes and skills for career readiness and all-round development. 

In this guide, we have detailed the ASCA Mindset Standards to get you up to speed with the latest developments. Here are the essential mindsets for building resilient students for today and the future. 

1. Belief in Achieving Great Results with One’s Ability

Everyone dreams of attaining lofty heights in their respective fields or passions. However, only a fraction of the world’s population can do it. According to the ASCA mindsets and behaviors standard, kids must believe their abilities can help them achieve great results. 

Thus, no kid should believe any height is impossible due to age, physique, or background. Instead, they must trust that their skills or abilities are enough to achieve high-quality outcomes. 

2. Self-confidence in Their Ability to Succeed

Self-confidence is one of the most dominant traits of successful individuals in diverse fields. Self-confidence leads to success, which later builds more confidence in one’s ability to succeed. 

Although self-confidence works wonders, it is a result of mastering a skill. The best athletes build confidence from hours of dedication to training and improving their skills. They also accept advice from coaches, fitness trainers, and doctors. Thus, counselors must emphasize the connection between hard work and self-confidence in achieving success. 

3. Sense of Respect and Acceptance for Everyone

The golden rule of many beliefs is loving oneself and treating others how you want to be treated. This model is crucial for raising a generation of resilient and compassionate human beings. ASCA encourages educators and counselors to help kids develop a sense of acceptance, respect, and support for themselves first, then others. 

This mindset is similar to being on a plane with depleted cabin pressurization. After putting on yours, you can only help others with their emergency oxygen masks. 

Therefore, students must learn to accept themselves, including their strengths and imperfections. They must also learn to respect themselves and be their number one cheerleader. Then, they will be in the best condition to extend this sentiment to other kids at school. 

4. Belief in the Development of the Whole Self

To be resilient, students must have a mindset that believes in developing the whole self. Holistic self-development involves maintaining balance in emotional, physical, and mental well-being. 

In other words, students must not prioritize one aspect of self-development over another. To illustrate, they must also work on mental sharpness and social skills while planning physical or muscle development. 

Being physically developed can solve everyday problems, but it may be useless occasionally. On days when your physical ability can’t bail you out of a messy situation, your social or mental fortitude will come to the rescue. 

5. Understanding the Essence of Post-Secondary/Continuous Education for Long-Term Success

Despite technological advancement, there is a declining interest in post-secondary education. However, factors like high tuition costs, heavy student loan debts post-graduation, and alternative pathways to skill acquisition are the reasons. 

Due to the widespread misinformation on post-secondary education, there’s no better time to educate students on the importance of continuous learning for long-term success. Educators must instill the mindset of prioritizing post-secondary education through attending colleges or universities. 

They must also help the younger generation understand that learning never ends. Thus, continuous education is non-negotiable for attaining long-term success, competing with rivals, and keeping up with the times. 

6. Positive Attitude toward Learning and Work

Learning complex subjects or performing complicated tasks isn’t pleasurable as they take you out of your comfort zone. However, students must form a mindset that loves a challenge. To become a resilient individual, maintaining a positive attitude toward learning and work is crucial for many reasons. 

First, learning will enable you to develop skills to solve the world’s problems. Second, working extra hard, extra long hours, and extra smartly sets you apart. Thus, you must relish learning and working hard at a young age to become resilient.

7. Understanding That the Key to Greatness Is Solving Problems

The most successful individuals in every field have something in common: they are problem-solvers. From businessmen to scientists, the most famous, wealthy, and influential reached the summit of greatness by making life easier for others. 

For instance, tech geniuses invent robots and programs to make communication, transactions, and daily tasks easier. In addition to becoming celebrities and role models, they are also some of the richest in the world. 

These achievements came from a desire to solve problems. This mentality is crucial for future employees looking to climb the corporate ladder or entrepreneurs wanting to expand globally. Having this understanding can help develop resilient students who will revolutionize the future. 

Final Thoughts

Developing wholesome mindsets early is crucial for building resilient students who grow up to become successful adults. With the help of the ASCA standard, counselors and educators now have a guide for helping raise future leaders. 

The ASCA mindset standard involves teaching kids to develop self-confidence, belief, and a positive attitude for attaining great heights. They will also cultivate respect, acceptance, and support for themselves and others and an appetite for continuous learning. 

So, if you’re an educator, you can always refer to the ASCA guide while instilling these helpful mindsets. For additional help or useful advice on developing resilient students, you may contact the ASCA team.