Starting a new school: dealing with emotions

Change can be exciting, it can present new opportunities and sometimes it can be an enjoyable experience. However, sometimes change can bring its own challenges. For example if the change has been unplanned, such as the death of a loved or being diagnosed with a serious illness, then a person can sometimes feel out of control and can get frustrated and feel resentful at having to adjust to change.

There are many life events that will challenge us and being able to manage our reactions and emotions to these changes allow us to develop personally. This also develops our self-concept as we understand how to manage and react to certain emotions.

What emotions would a young person feel when starting a new school?

The usual emotions that a young person would face in this life-changing situation may include:

• Anxiety

• Loneliness

• Stress

• Fear

• Sadness

• Excitement

How would a young person react to the life changing experience of starting a new school?

If the young person is not happy about starting a new school, they may:

• be nervous

• refuse to go

• be tearful

• make excuses not to go, like pretend to be sick

• find it difficult to sleep

• feel nausea

However if the young person is excited about starting a new school, they may:

• feel delighted and look forward to making new friends

• feel excitement about their new subjects and teachers

• be eager to explore the school environment

• feel happy about becoming more independent

• enjoy choosing new school supplies or uniform

• sleep well due to feeling calm and prepared

How could a young person positively manage this change?

A young person could:

• research what the change may be like. For example, if moving schools, finding out what the new school will be like will help to reduce feelings of anxiety and worry and help the person adapt to the change more easily.

• enjoy the challenges and excitement of the change to see what other opportunities may happen as a result of this change.

• talk to friends and family about how they are feeling, if they are finding the change difficult. Sharing and discussing what they feel could help them understand their feelings, manage and work through this change.

• talk to someone who has been through a similar experience as this can be comforting to the person that all will be okay and that someone has been through this before.

• seek professional support, by speaking to a GP, if the change is causing emotional health problems such as anxiety or stress. A GP could advise on the appropriate steps to take to help the young person.

• try to accept change through listening to music, exercising or using other complementary therapies such as massage or reflexology which could help the young person relax and not be so anxious about the change.

QUESTIONS YOU COULD BE ASKED ON THIS

Write down one positive emotion a young person may experience when starting a new school. (1mark)

Excitement

Explain one way that starting a new school could impact on a young person. (2marks)

Starting a new school could make a young person feel anxious because they are unsure about making new friends or finding their way around. This can affect their confidence and make it harder to settle in at first.