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See Jane Win

Ladder to Success (8063 bytes)

 

Create a Strengths, Weaknesses, and Changes Chart

The first step toward accepting your strengths and weaknesses is to figure out what they are. (That makes sense, doesn't it?) Below is a list of characteristics that the See Jane Win women used when describing themselves as kids. As you look over the list, think about which characteristics apply to you. Of these, which are you happy about and which do you wish you didn't have?

adult-like
athletic
beautiful
bossy
book loving
brainy
cool
courageous
confident
creative
different
emotional
fashionable
fearful
follower
funny
gifted
good
happy
hard working
immature
independent
kind
lazy
leading
lonely
mean
modest
nerdy
perfectionistic
persistent
popular
princess-like
quiet
rebellious
risk taking
sad
secure
self-critical
sensitive
shy
smart
special
strong willed
sweet
talented
talkative
tomboyish
troublemaking
unhappy
very social
wimpy
Using these words, and any others that describe you well, create a
Strengths, Weaknesses, and Changes Chart
.
For two examples, Khana and Laura's charts are below.

Here's how to make the Chart:

  1. Open the chart by clicking here. Print a copy of the chart.
  2. Strengths. In the first column, list your skills and abilities and the personality traits and aspects of your appearance that you like. (Don't forget to refer to the list of characteristics above for ideas.)
  3. Things to Improve. In the second column, list areas you'd like to work on.
  4. Changes to Make. In the third column, list changes you could make that would help you feel even better about yourself. But be realistic. Some things (like height, skin color, disabilities, or living situation) are very difficult or impossible to change or control.
  5. Things to Accept. List the things that are out of your control-the ones you'll have to learn to live with-in the fourth column of the chart.

Do you see anything that can be grouped together?
Are you being too hard on yourself? Do you have strengths with a downside or problem areas with an upside? If so, how does seeing the two sides make you feel different about your pluses and minuses?
Can you use your strengths to help yourself in areas where you're weak?

Khana's Strengths, Weakness, and Changes Chart
Strengths
Things to Improve
Changes to Make
Things to Accept
Good Writer Average in Science Ask Manuela, who is good at Science, to study with me for our weekly quizzes.
Stop doing math homework in front of the TV!
My Height (Wish I was Taller)
Good Reader Average in Math
Friendly Sometimes forget Chores How Soft my Voice Is
Good Helper
Persistent Stubborn My curly Hair
Understanding of my friends A Little Shy
Create a Schedule showing when I have Chores to do.

Leader with some friends

Likes School

Accept that it's okay to change my mind sometimes.
Creative Thinker
Kind Person
Good Big Sister Speak up more in class. Could also audition for the school play, or join the debate club for practice talking in front of others.
Pretty Nice Looking
Good Coordination for Sports

 

Laura's Strengths, Weakness, and Changes Chart
Strengths
Things to Improve
Changes to Make
Things to Accept
Good Singing Voice Bad Student Ask to Get a Tutor Diabetes
Good Listener Lonely a Lot Join the Church Choir That my sister and I have to share a room
Good at Art Mean to my Sister Be Nice to my Sister
  Lose my temper Count to 10 and take deep breaths when I feel myself getting angry My freckles
Boys don't like me  
Girls leave me out
Too fat
Bad at sports Eat less junk food and exercise more
 
Find a sport I like

Read See Jane Win for Girls or go to www.sylviarimm.com for Dr. Rimm's many other parenting articles.

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