| "Many theorists have suggested the emotional | | | | 2000, p. 329), at a young age. |
| development of a child, or the core of one's self | | | | I did not come to restoring my self esteem until I |
| esteem needs to be understood and fostered at | | | | reached College. I started believing that I was a |
| home and in the classroom (Feldman, 2000, p. | | | | Beautiful person. No one is like me and God made |
| 329)." As a child, I never got the chance to feel | | | | me this way. I first tackled small goals like buying |
| good about myself. I was a healthy child with | | | | nail polish and inexpensive jewelry. |
| enhanced features. I was always picked on by | | | | Then, as I saw myself tackling little things. I aimed |
| the other children, from Kindergarten up to Junior | | | | at larger things like loving my hair or going to the |
| High. Self-esteem does start at home and in the | | | | hair dresser to get it styled. Next, I had to get a |
| classroom. | | | | new wardrobe, even though I was over weight. I |
| At Home | | | | still wanted to feel pretty, even though I wasn't a |
| There were five children in my home and my | | | | size 6. I changed my style. With looking good, you |
| parents couldn't show any one of us special | | | | feel good. |
| attention. They were both full-time working | | | | I never attracted a lot of men. So as my |
| parents. We brought our issues to them, but | | | | self-esteem rose from looking and feeling good, |
| there was little they could do, except tell us that | | | | Men picked up on that and started approaching |
| this was a phase and we would get through it. | | | | me for dates. I then joined the gym to really put |
| In the Classroom | | | | this thing into full gear and get into my mind that I |
| I waited for years and prayed that the kids | | | | am strong, beautiful, healthy, and full of life. |
| wouldn't tease me everyday for years. By the | | | | People still till this day try to come and disrupt my |
| time I got to high school I had little to no self | | | | self-esteem, but I am so confident in myself that |
| esteem. There were days I wouldn't even look in | | | | whatever is said, bounces off and I keep going.o |
| the mirror. I would get to school and people would | | | | Achieving goals is huge for self-esteem, because |
| tell me I had crumbs on my face or lint in my | | | | its believing in one's self.o Keep making new goals |
| hair. The Teacher would hear the kids taunting | | | | after you accomplish the old.o Nobody can be |
| hurtful names to me and would do nothing. I felt | | | | you. Only you can be you.o You are wonderfully |
| weak and couldn't take up for myself. No one | | | | and Beautifully made. |
| would hear my cries, even my parents. | | | | I wish I could have known this as a child, so I |
| Teachers and parents should focus on children's | | | | hope parents are embracing their children's |
| emotional development or the "feelings that | | | | feelings and teaching them to love themselves. |
| generally have both physiological and cognitive | | | | C.L. |
| elements which influence behavior" (Feldman, | | | | |