Category: Student Wellbeing

Why Family Involvement Matters for Teens

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Last week, I sat down to watch The Blind Side again, the 2009 Hollywood film starring Sandra Bullock and Quinton Aaron. Though I’d seen it before, this time it struck me differently. Perhaps because, as a teacher and mentor working closely with teenagers, I’ve come to recognise just how fragile the teenage years can be and how much difference a caring family or even one caring adult can make.

The movie tells the true story of Michael Oher, who grew up facing poverty, neglect, and homelessness before becoming a star in the NFL. While it’s framed as a sports drama, I saw it less as a football story and more as a lesson on the importance of family involvement. As I watched Michael’s life unfold on screen, I couldn’t stop asking myself: What does family really mean for a teenager’s growth and development?

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Why Is Teaching Empathy Essential in Our Classrooms?

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

How does teaching compassion to students equip them to tackle future challenges and adapt to new situations?

As educators, we often observe diverse forms of student behaviour within the classroom. One particularly noteworthy behaviour is when students support each other. For instance, when I asked a student, “Why are you not participating in class today? What is troubling you?” another student responded on her behalf, “Sir, she is not feeling well.” This spontaneous awareness of a peer’s emotional state exemplifies what is commonly referred to as empathy, the capacity to understand and share the feelings of others. However, the question arises: how can one truly comprehend another’s feelings? Is empathy an innate trait for some, or is it a skill that can and should be cultivated within the classroom?

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Self-Disgust And Borderline Personality Disorder Among Teens

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

New Research Highlights Self-Dissatisfaction in Adolescents as A Possible Precursor To BPD

Recently, I had a conversation with a former student who is now in her second year of medical school. She shared her career goals, which seemed promising, but then her mood shifted. She expressed ongoing dissatisfaction with her life and self, saying things like, “I don’t like how I am or how my life is going… It’s not what I expect… nobody understands me… I messed up my life… in fact, I have no life.” I listened patiently and tried to calm her as she began to open up. This encounter left me reflecting on why self-dissatisfaction develops and its impact on lives.

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Student Burnout – Academic Pressure Causes High-Level Anxiety

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Parents Beware: “If You Are Not Ahead, You Are Behind” Is Not a Healthy Mental Strategy

Today, high school is more challenging for students than ever before. The constant pressure to excel academically, participate in extracurricular activities, and prepare for the future often leaves students overwhelmed. Recently, at a parent orientation, a story was shared that highlights this struggle: a student who had fallen behind on several projects because of pending physics assignments. She still lagged behind, despite giving up her summer holidays to try to catch up. This chaotic academic pressure affected her social life; she became less engaged with family and friends, and suffered from irregular sleep and anxiety attacks over minor issues. Despite these warning signs, her parents insisted on extra evening tuitions, hoping she could keep up with the class. Unfortunately, cases like hers are becoming increasingly common, highlighting a worrying trend: students feeling burned out, exhausted, and unable to enjoy learning or life.

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