Why Confident Students Still Need Encouragement and Support

At Believe and Be Brave, we talk a lot about helping students understand their worth and believe in themselves. Confidence helps students speak up, try new things, and navigate challenges. But even confident students are not immune to the sting of unkind words or rejection. Confidence does not mean they’re unaffected, it simply means they respond differently.

Why Confident Kids Still Struggle with Negativity

Even students with healthy self-esteem can be deeply impacted by insults, mean comments, or being underestimated. That feeling of being disrespected or overlooked doesn’t disappear just because someone is confident. As Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, a leading researcher in positive psychology, explains, “Even people with high self-esteem are still vulnerable to negative feedback and criticism, which can affect their mood and self-perception.”

The difference is not in whether they feel the pain, it’s in how they handle it.

What Confident Students Do Differently

As students grow more confident, you may start to see subtle but meaningful shifts in how they respond to difficult situations:

• They speak up for themselves: When someone says something unkind or false, they are more likely to defend themselves instead of staying silent.
• They recover more quickly: They may still feel hurt, but the emotional sting doesn't last as long.
• They don’t believe every criticism: Instead of accepting mean comments as truth, they may simply find them annoying or unhelpful.
• They practice positive self-talk: You’ll hear fewer negative statements like “I’m not good at this” and more affirmations like “I’m learning” or “I’ve got this.”
• They keep going: Confident students still have setbacks, but they bounce back with an “I can” mindset and continue moving forward.

How to Keep Supporting Confident Students

Confidence is not a finish line. It’s a process that needs consistent support. Even when your student seems strong, your encouragement matters. Here are a few ways to offer that support:

• Recognize their strengths. Go beyond general praise like “You’re awesome.” Instead, say things like “I noticed how you kept trying even after the mistake—that shows determination.”
• Celebrate their effort. When they don’t meet a goal, honor the effort they put in. Ask reflective questions like “What do you think helped you the most?” or “What would you try differently next time?”
• Be a steady support. Listen. Encourage. Let them know you’re always in their corner, even when they don’t ask for help.
• Cheer for their wins—big and small. Whether it’s a high grade, a brave decision, or just trying something new, every positive step is worth celebrating.

 

Encouragement Is Always Needed—At Any Confidence Level

Support and recognition are powerful at any age. We all want to feel seen and valued. Confident students may not always show it, but they still benefit from kind words, specific praise, and knowing that someone believes in them.

By creating a positive and encouraging environment, we help our students build resilience and the strength to handle whatever comes next.

 

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Stacey Montgomery
Founder, Believe and Be Brave

 

©Stacey Montgomery, 2024. All rights reserved.
Last updated on April 19, 2025