Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2014

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THE NEXT FRONTIER IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS’ WELLBEING

AUTHOR Mrs Jody Forbes, School Psychologist

SINCE 1875 WHEN THE DOORS first opened, Brisbane Girls Grammar School has held steadfast to its core: to provide the very best education for adolescent girls. In every facet of the School, Girls Grammar has sought to embrace innovation, excellence and creativity. We have readily assumed the responsibility and privilege of educating the next generation by providing a robust and holistic education. While every girl is unique, at the completion of five years at Girls Grammar, graduates share common qualities including imagination, wisdom and integrity. Independent, resourceful and capable, a Grammar girl readily navigates her world, embracing both success and challenge with persistence, creativity and courage. Laden with physical, emotional and social changes, our current generation of adolescents are facing challenges never before seen or anticipated. While most girls traverse their adolescence successfully, approximately a quarter of young people will experience a mental health disorder, the most common being anxiety and depression. Contemporary society is one of incredible busyness. Multi-tasking has become essential in a world where there never seems to be enough time. Students are juggling a multitude of academic, co-curricular, social and family activities and expectations. Parental hopes and increasing perfectionist tendencies, coupled with the loss

of confidence experienced by girls during adolescence creates an atmosphere akin to a pressure cooker. The emergence of technology contributes to this frenetic pace by allowing people to be in more than one place at a time and forever hyper-connected. Attention is splintered and distraction is rife within the day-to-day meanderings of an adolescent girl. Many feel obsessed with their iPhones and unable to separate from them. Social commentators have coined the acronym FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) to explain this phenomenon. There is no ‘off’ switch or space for reflection or quiet. Dampened creativity, reduced thoughtfulness and sleep deprivation are just some of the very significant consequences. Not only are girls struggling to manage their true world, but they are also managing one or more virtual worlds where great care is taken to shape online identities — photos are uploaded and the number of likes are carefully monitored. This means some girls are failing to savour and experience the present moment in favour of capturing the moment and experiencing it online via feedback from peers. As a leader in the holistic education of adolescent girls, eyes are upon Girls Grammar to pave the way, to provide insights and answers about educating girls in the 21st century. In our pursuit of an antidote to contemporary society’s busyness, mindfulness has emerged as an innovative approach to adolescent girls’ wellbeing.

GRAMMAR GAZETTE