{"id":15771,"date":"2023-05-05T14:52:29","date_gmt":"2023-05-05T13:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summerboardingcourses.com\/?post_type=blog&p=15771"},"modified":"2026-10-16T11:48:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T10:48:51","slug":"how-to-build-confidence-for-summer-school-activities-for-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.summerboardingcourses.com\/blogs\/how-to-build-confidence-for-summer-school-activities-for-students\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build Confidence for Summer School: Activities for Students"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Summer Boarding Courses<\/p>\n

\n How to Build Confidence for Summer School: Activities for Students<\/h1>\n
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Whether you are from a culture renowned for being expressive, or from a country where quietness and being reserved are more the norm, at summer school it\u2019s perfectly normal to potentially feel a bit overwhelmed.<\/p>\n

Meeting crowds of new people, speaking up in class, and presenting to your peers<\/a> are challenges which don\u2019t come naturally to everyone.<\/p>\n

And as such, summer school can pose a real test of character, which is a huge part of what makes it so special.<\/p>\n

With such a strong focus on social skills and public speaking, it would be easy to assume that the summer school experience is designed for those more extroverted in nature.<\/p>\n

The opposite is true.<\/p>\n

The unique magic of summer school is that it takes you out of your comfort zone in the most supportive and nurturing way and is designed to help you feel more confident in sharing your ideas, working alongside others, and feeling more comfortable in your own skin when meeting new people.<\/p>\n

Essentially, as a global learning community, we\u2019re all in it together, and to help build your confidence levels before summer school starts, we have put together a list of tips to help make summer school that little bit easier.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s begin with the scariest.<\/p>\n

Practice Public Speaking<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you have a fear of public speaking you are certainly not alone, as it\u2019s believed that three quarters of the earth\u2019s population are also affected by Glossophobia.<\/p>\n

So, what is there you can do to make this very common human fear just that little bit less scary?<\/p>\n

Firstly, the last thing you should ever be afraid of is the sound of your own voice and doing something as small as reading aloud memes off your phone, funny messages, or lines from articles to family and friends is a start in practising sharing aloud in front of others.<\/p>\n

How you practice, is entirely down to your personality and ultimately what works best for you. Some people try presenting in front of a mirror, others prefer not, and in the digital age many test themselves by filming themselves and watching it back, or by audio recordings.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, whichever you decide you can\u2019t go wrong.<\/p>\n

Taking part in guided meditations will help you to keep a regular breathing pattern, and to help you relax and to take your time when you speak aloud.<\/p>\n

Nothing can make you forget your inhibitions more, than genuine passion and interest. If you are totally consumed and knowledgeable about what you\u2019re talking about, then the speaking part really will take care of itself. Saying that first sentence is the hardest part.<\/p>\n

If you love videogames, a certain sport, or a particular writer or musical instrument then why not share that passion and knowledge somehow? And if you feel comfortable, why not even go as far as sharing it with others?<\/p>\n

Whatever you try, the biggest thing to take reassurance from is that most people find public speaking scary, and that most people whilst watching you, feel nothing but respect, or even \u2018I wish I could do what you\u2019re doing.\u2019<\/p>\n

As with most anxieties, it\u2019s not the doing, it\u2019s the thought of doing, and finding any means possible to practice public speaking is going to help make that anxiety less.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve got this.<\/p>\n

Set Personal Goals<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Goal setting is very motivating, and even by setting what may feel like the most minor goal, is going to help build confidence, especially if you follow it through.<\/p>\n

Before your first week at SBC, look out the window, scan the horizon and think specifically about personal goals which are going to help you get the most out of your summer.<\/p>\n

And once you have them, write them down.<\/p>\n

If your long-term goal is to be more confident in public speaking, or to feel more confident in taking part in group discussion or to learn more about a potential career path, why not try SMART goals?<\/p>\n

S \u2013 Specific<\/span><\/h4>\n

When setting a target, be specific about what you want to achieve. Focus on this as the mission statement for your goal.<\/p>\n

M \u2013 Measurable<\/span><\/h4>\n

What criteria will you use to measure your progress towards the goal? Because it gives you a tool to track your progress, this helps a goal become more real.<\/p>\n

A \u2013 Achievable<\/span><\/h4>\n

This focuses on how important a goal is to you and what you can do to make it achievable. It could also require learning new skills and adopting fresh mindsets. The intent is to encourage inspiration and not discouragement.<\/p>\n

R \u2013 Relevant<\/span><\/h4>\n

Relevance refers to focusing on something that makes sense with your wider goals. For example, if your goal is to improve a certain skill, it should be something that connects to your overall objectives.<\/p>\n

T \u2013 Time-Bound<\/span><\/h4>\n

Anyone can set goals, but if it lacks realistic timing, chances are you\u2019re not going to succeed. Providing personal deadlines is important.<\/p>\n

Try New Things<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The gift of summer school is that it really is the most welcoming of invites to try new things, and the last thing you want to feel when you\u2019re on the plane home is the regret that you didn\u2019t take advantage of everything on offer.<\/p>\n

Maybe back home, you\u2019re part of different teams, belong to different societies and are seen and treated by classmates in a particular way.<\/p>\n

At summer school the slate is clean, and as the Japanese saying goes\u2026.A person is whatever room they are in. Your past is far far away, and it can be the most liberating thing to find new passions and interests with the purpose of discovering more about yourself.<\/p>\n

For example, maybe you\u2019re tall for your age and were pushed into taking up certain sports early, and deep down you have an artistic side that you want to explore.<\/p>\n

Or maybe, you\u2019re naturally quite quiet and reflective and want to verbalize potential leadership qualities that people back home perhaps don\u2019t normally get to see.<\/p>\n

Being told encouraging things is one helpful part of building self-confidence, but nothing grows it more than surprising yourself, and it\u2019s always win-win. If a sport, activity, food, or new subject isn\u2019t for you, then you really won\u2019t know unless you\u2019ve given it a try.<\/p>\n

And summer school is the perfect place to try something new.<\/p>\n

Practice Positive Self-Talk<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One of the biggest factors in how we can quickly shrink self-confidence as opposed to helping it grow, is how we talk to and about ourselves.<\/p>\n

Positive self-talk can take many forms. Perhaps in your mind you are extremely self-critical, and when things don\u2019t go as planned, you lack patience and even resort to talking in a way that\u2019s not too dissimilar to a bully.<\/p>\n

When talking about yourself, if you\u2019re quick to using negative self-talk then it can restrict your confidence and limit your ability to act more confidently.<\/p>\n

Before summer school, why not monitor how you are talking to and about yourself and notice the difference in how you feel in your body when you are being more forgiving and approving, instead of potentially the opposite.<\/p>\n

Positive self-talk is a huge ally in helping self-confidence grow, and through even something as simple as starting the day with saying self-affirmations such as:<\/p>\n