The Power of Positivity

I am amazed how positivity can affect a person.

When working in elementary schools with students, it is obvious how a smile can affect their day. Positive feedback, even for doing a small task correctly, can be the affirmation that a child needs to stay motivated and achieve within the classroom. Having positive reinforcements throughout the day for children who are on task and meeting expectations can be a great way to keep them engaged in the classroom and working harder to receive more positive feedback. Providing a child the opportunity to make a decision, no matter how small, can change a bad day to a good day.

It is an interesting transition that I have every time I go to an elementary school in the morning and then return to the college campus for the rest of the day. The positivity that the classroom thrives on is not seen in the college atmosphere as much as it should.

There was one day when I was working in a kindergarten classroom and I could tell one of the little boys was just not very happy that day. And so, I pulled this boy aside and asked him to help me with a favor – I had him pick out the book that I would read to the class. He chose a Dr. Seuss book and he had a smile on his face for the rest of the day. He came up to me before I read the book and he told me that he did not tell anyone what book he chose because it was our secret. This was such a small decision, but it changed that student’s whole day.

One day I returned to Creighton after spending the morning at an elementary school and I smiled at every person that I saw, whether I knew them or not, because that is what I do that when I am in elementary schools. The reaction that I received from the majority of people was positive. I did not go out of my way to do this action. Rather, if I made eye contact with someone, anyone, I gave them a smile. And I felt more positive at the end of the day because of the positive feedback that I received from strangers throughout the day.

I love smiling at a child and watching them smile back at me. And I am intrigued when I smile at adults and see more hesitation before they show their pearly whites. I am not quite sure what changed from childhood to adulthood, but for most adults, they do not share the happiness and positivity that they have.  But on any day that I connect with anyone, stranger or friend, I find that my overall mood increases. Sharing my positivity and my joy of being alive with the world just adds to my positivity and joy. It is simple and easy and yet, it can change my overall mood dramatically. 

Kindly,

Anne Daly

Junior, Elementary Education with an Endorsement in Special Education