Don’t be limited by negative circumstances

Gabriel Manyeruke

SCHOOL is a place where young people go to learn and grow.

Education lays the foundation for a successful and fulfilling future.

The importance of a stable and supportive home environment cannot be overstated when it comes to a child’s success in school.

Unfortunately, many learners face numerous challenges back home, which often negatively impact on their ability to learn and thrive at school.

Common issues include instability in families and lack of access to critical resources.

Instability can take forms that include domestic violence and parents’ divorce, as well as drug and substance abuse or mental health issues in the family.

Children who come from unstable homes often struggle to focus on school work.

If the issues are not addressed, learners who witness violence at home or are subjected to parental neglect and abuse have traumatic experiences, which usually have long-lasting effects on their physical and emotional well-being.

This makes it difficult for them to productively engage in school and form positive relationships with teachers or their peers.

Poverty also affects a learner’s performance at school.

Children from low-income backgrounds may lack access to basic necessities that promote effective learning.

Inadequate healthcare, poor housing and limited access to technology and educational resources can contribute to a sense of hopelessness, passiveness and low self-esteem in learners.

Coping strategies for dealing with these life challenges are important for learners at school.

Learners can seek counselling/therapy to address their trauma and develop coping mechanisms.

Most educational institutions offer helpful counselling services and learners should not hesitate to speak and reach out for assistance.

Further, learners can seek support from trusted adults, such as teachers or school counsellors, who can provide needful comfort, guidance and encouragement.

Learners are also advised to form relationships with empathetic peers, who can provide emotional support; participate in extracurricular activities that foster a sense of belonging; as well as engage in creative outlets such as art or music to express their emotions in a healthy way.

This can help them overcome distress.

It is crucial for learners to recognise the challenges they face as a result of poverty and responsibly take proactive steps to address them.

They should not be afraid of expressing themselves to the school authorities, the church and other organisations that deal with such cases.

This way, they can get assistance that can be useful to them in navigating challenges.

Education is a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty.

Working hard towards achieving academic goals and perseverance can be rewarding in the long run.

Despite coming from unstable backgrounds, learners with a positive mindset can always succeed against all the odds.

After all, the most prominent intellectuals and stars in this world have passed through similar struggles but they still triumphed because they refused to be limited by their negative childhood circumstances.

Gabriel Manyeruke is an author and educator at Wise Owl High School in Marondera. Contact details: 0774122288, [email protected]