Key Points
Back to top- Making space for, uplifting, and listening to what youth have to say is an important part of social and emotional learning (SEL) and creating welcoming and affirming learning environments.
- This roundup of blog posts written by students offers a variety of perspectives on how students have experienced, practiced, and benefited from SEL in their own lives.
Making space for, uplifting, and listening to what youth have to say is an important part of SEL and creating welcoming and affirming learning environments. By listening to students, we learn from their perspectives while promoting a sense of agency and belonging. In that spirit, here’s a roundup of blog posts written by students about their experiences with SEL:
1. We Asked High School Graduates What SEL Skills They’ll Bring Into Their Futures. Here’s What They Said.
In honor of their upcoming graduation, we caught up with seniors at Galena High School in Nevada, where SEL is a key part of school culture, and asked, “What SEL skills will you bring into your future?” Here are their answers.
2. If There’s a Poster Child for the Benefits of SEL, I Am That Person
A college freshman with disabilities shares his perspective on how SEL supports students like him. He writes: “I know firsthand that SEL makes a big difference for students like me. But this isn’t about gaining an advantage for one set of kids. When schools provide the right environment, every student benefits.”
3. SEL Helped Me Find Purpose, Drive, and Passion
A high school junior shares his experience with SEL and how it helped support him through the challenges of the pandemic. “One of my favorite elements of SEL is the deep self-reflection that it often ignites. …Through multiple reflective sessions and conversations with my peers and teachers, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of myself as well as greater confidence and self-worth.”
4. Leveling Up SEL With Gaming
A high school senior from Robert G. Cole in San Antonio, Texas, describes how she found a sense of belonging and agency through her school’s esports/gaming club. “With the right learning and training from sponsors, esports can be used as a powerful tool to help students learn social and emotional skills that get them ready for the real world.”
5. Why College Students Need SEL, Too
CASEL intern and USC student Kim Villard describes the enduring importance of SEL for all students. “While higher education has traditionally focused primarily on academic achievement and technical skills, the world that I will enter is not defined by test scores and letter grades. …The development of social and emotional competencies ensures that students are being shown where to look, not told what to see.”
Eleisha Malik, a student in Dubai, was a finalist in our 2023 SEL Day Storytelling Contest with her poetic tribute to an impactful teacher.
The views in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of CASEL.
Related Posts:
- How Can School Districts Elevate Student Voice? Check Out Three Case Studies From Across the U.S.
- From Feedback to Action: Using Student Experience Data to Transform Learning Environments
- SEL Through Art: The Get to Know Me Project
Write for Us
Back to topAre you interested in writing for CASEL’s blog, Constellations? Learn more about what we’re looking for and how to pitch your idea!