Lighting the Fire!

The Search Institute in the USA spent a number of years researching the health and wellbeing of young people. They placed a particular emphasis on positive youth development, most especially in regard to “making sure young people have the experience they need to develop to their fullest and become positive contributors to society.” It is all about helping them to ‘thrive’. The researchers concluded that the major component of thriving is the concept of “sparks” – ‘the interests and passions young people have that light a fire in their lives and express the essence of who they are and what they offer to the world.’


Five different studies of about 13,000 young people over an eight year period found that students who had sparks and support did better in areas such as attendance, academic results, avoidance of violent behaviour and adaptability. Two of the most commonly identified sparks for students are sports and the creative arts, with technology/computers a common third.


Again this research stresses what far too many parents fail to grasp, namely that ‘school success is about ensuring that all children are “healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged”’, thus clearly stressing the fact that this goes beyond ‘academic’ success.


Three key ways in which the sparks and the nurturing of sparks may promote school success through their effects on students’ physical, psychological and social wellbeing are:


1. Students tend to be and feel healthier and are, therefore, more likely to be engaged in their schooling.


2. Students ‘feel’ healthier, less depressed, less worried, more resilient and more satisfied with their lives overall.


3. Students who have deep interests and are supported by family, friends, school and community in the development of those passions have more interpersonal communication and friend-making skills, more empathy and understanding of others’ feelings, and a better ability to work in teams. They are more likely to be involved in service learning programs, volunteering and also display greater care towards the environment.


When teachers, parents and other adults working alongside our young people can support and encourage them to develop their sparks, we will contribute to the development of global citizens who are “confident, capable and caring young people who contribute even more to helping their families, schools, and communities thrive.” (Source: Search Institute Insights & Evidence, November 2010, Vol 5, No 1)