Rachel:
My name's Rachel and I'm a member of the UK Youth Parliament. I'm passionate about issues that affect the local community. I think it's really important for young people to be present, in the moment, and to take notice of the issues affecting them and try to tackle it, because my tackling it they'll have a positive impact on their mental health.
They know that they're working towards a solution and I think it's really good for young people to see that other young people are standing up for things that they believe in. I think it has a really positive impact on me in terms of, like, my mental health and everything, because from like my campaigning and the volunteering that I do, I've learnt perseverance and resilience, which is atransferable skill that I can use in everything that I do.
Even if someone isn't really good at something when they first start it, a growth mindset is about having the drive to continue working hard. So to somebody who has an attitude where they don't wanna um, make mistakes or they're scared of looking silly, I would say we all need to learn to be more confident to take a leap of faith, to learn from ourselves as well as all the people around us, because I feel like everyone has something that they can offer and that's something unique. So from learning from your friends, your teachers, other people around you and other young people, you can really gain a lot of skills and a lot of knowledge.
I think my proudest moment would definitely have to be the Teen Awards and when I was presented with my Teen Hero Award, it was a really great moment emotionally for me. In terms of encouraging other people to live in the moment and really wake up to issues that are affecting them, what I would say is no one should feel like their voice is too small or their actions are too small to make a difference and whoever you are, whatever you want to do, everyone and anyone is capable of making a difference within their community and within the wider world.
Video summary
In this short film Rachel shares how she takes notice of the issues that are happening around her and how she tries to make a positive change.
Teacher Notes
Taking notice of the people, issues, occurrences and things around you can help you to be in the present moment, taking notice of the ‘here and now’.
Savouring a positive experience can help to increase feelings of positivity.
Reflecting on your own thoughts and feelings will help you appreciate what really matters.
Speaking out for the things you believe in can increase your wellbeing - feeling good and doing good are closely connected.
Using the film
This is one of five filmed interview about wellbeing and developing a growth mindset.
They can be shown in any order and are designed to encourage students to think about their own wellbeing, and how they can learn to build good habits to support their mental health and develop a positive attitude.
Classroom Ideas
Start a group discussion about people in the public eye that have taken notice to help make a change.
Discuss the different ways in which we can take notice to bring ourselves to the present moment.
Try a mindfulness exercise to encourage pupils to notice their breath.
Have a ‘take notice’ walk around the school and see if pupils can spot things they’ve never noticed before.
Dan - Connect with others. video
Dan has Asperger Syndrome, also known as Asperger's, and sometimes finds it difficult to connect with people. In this short film he shares his experiences of learning magic, using his growth mindset, and using magic tricks to help him connect with other people.
Kristana - Be active. video
In this short film Kristana explains how weightlifting has helped her to feel better about herself, develop confidence in school and overcome challenges.
Mjd - Give to others video
In this short film Mjd explains how he used a growth mindset to learn English, and how he 'gives to others’ by translating for his classmates and helping them learn.
Ethan - Keep learning. video
Ethan has cerebral palsy, a medical condition that affects his movement and coordination. He's also an adaptive surfer and is training to go to the world adaptive championships in California. In this short film Ethan shares his experiences of using a growth mindset to learn new things.
