High School Identity Essay

High School can be a difficult time for students. The pressure to find who they are, or what they may become is a pressure that exists in every student hitting their 18th year of life. At East Noble High school, the seniors are experiencing the identity challenge and are on the cusp of transitioning from identity confusion to identity achievement. It is crucial to address this issue and encourage the student so that their self-esteem is not hindered in the identity development process. As an applicant for an Art Teacher position, I hope to tackle and undertake the challenge of identity and how I could promote the healthy transition from one stage to the next.

Development and Learning Challenge: Identity

Seniors in High School are experiencing

With that being said, teachers play a vital role in the socioemotional development of a student because much of their relationships built during 18 years old is influenced by peers and teachers. Teachers have a significant impact on the development of identity and the relationship the instructor builds with the students is what ultimately helps them reach identity achievement. “For high school students, positive teacher-student relationships can reduce rates of dropping out by nearly half, help explore options for college, and provide support for further academic or vocational aspirations” (Dika & Singh, 2002). Two of the most significant aspects of a teacher student relationship is trust and respect. If the student trusts and respects their instructor, they are more apt to listen to the advice about identity/occupation for the student. One way to develop trust and respect is through strong classroom management and a safe environment. “By creating an environment that encourages feelings of belonging and support, teachers can simultaneously meet the academic and social needs of students” (Bernstein-Yamashiro, 2004). Making everyone feel important and equal in a classroom is imperative to building trust and respect. I encourage a classroom like this by having class discussions. Class discussions give everyone the chance to voice their opinion, become confident in their beliefs, respect others’ beliefs, trust others with what the