Written by Isa Riano, Advertisement Manager
Many know February as the month of love because of Valentine’s Day, heart-shaped chocolates, and roses. However, few people know that February is also a time to help us believe in ourselves more, regardless of the struggles we may be facing.
Saint Leo students shared effective ways to keep their self-esteem up and why they believe it is essential to raise awareness in February, which is International Boost Self-Esteem Month.
To boost their self-esteem, some Lions embrace doing the things that they love. In the words of Noah Henry, a senior majoring in psychology: “I like acting, singing, and sports.”
Other Lions gain confidence by going to the gym and working on their fitness.
“To keep my self-esteem high, I wake up early,” said Jay Borst, a freshman majoring in marketing. “This is so that I can work out every day.”
Furthermore, in today’s world, it can be incredibly challenging to have high self-esteem because we can be our own worst critics. Additionally, when people have any type of disability, it may be even more difficult for them to have high self-esteem.
“We all have something that makes life harder for us, makes us different, or makes us insecure,” said the Assistant Director of Career Services and Accessibility, Mia Perez. “People with disabilities may underestimate themselves because of their perceived limitations.”
However, supportive friends and relatives always help people be more confident.
“We are often harder on ourselves than others are on us,” continued Perez. “We should strive to find people who do not judge us for our differences.”
When asking students if they knew February also brought awareness to self-esteem, most of them mentioned that they were only aware of Valentine’s Day, which shows that International Boost Self-Esteem Month has been severely overshadowed.
In all, International Boost Self-Esteem Month serves as a reminder to not be so hard on ourselves and to make sure we are surrounded by people that inspire us to be positive. Whether we have a Valentine or not, let us take the time to appreciate the qualities that make us unique.
