An Affirmative Start to the New Year

Photos courtesy of Sara Jane Larkin

Kilohana School first graders in Sara Jane Larkin’s class started the new year a little differently. Instead of resolving to change something about themselves, Larkin had the students create affirmations, recognizing the good qualities that they already possess.

The affirmations take the shape of three statements “I am,” “I can” and “I will” and are followed by whatever quality the students feel fits them best. The result is a combination of the poetic and the profound, as young students profess a mantra of self-worth.

“The brain-power of an affirmation extends beyond one goal,” explained Larkin. “It’s a commitment to a certain lifestyle.”

Larkin and her students started working on the affirmations earlier this year, but took their time fleshing out ideas and goals. They started with defining key terms, like what a value is, and how one lives their values.

“It can be hard to say something good about yourself,” said Larkin. So, she started the exercise by having the students say something positive about a classmate.

Eventually, she explained, “they were willing to embrace it.”

Now, Larkin has created t-shirts for each student with their personal series of affirmations. The class begins and ends each day by reciting their own affirmations, but Larkin explained the shirts help spread positive thinking.

“They’re putting all that positive energy, and not toxic positivity, but all that real positive energy into their brains,” said Larkin.

Larkin’s curriculum is a form of project-based learning, whereby students are given a real-life problem to work with and solve. Likewise, the idea behind the curriculum comes from Larkin’s own personal beliefs about self-esteem and self-discovery.

“It’s very much a belief system I was so fortunate to have been raised in,” she explained, which centers on the idea that everyone has something unique to contribute to others.

“We all have a gift to share,” she said.

First Grade’s Affirmations
Kili

I am a good person.
I can do creative things.
I will be silly.

Anna

I am strong.
I can make mistakes.
I will change the world.

Seane

I am excellent.
I can do hard things.
I will be amazing.

Grace

I am responsible.
I can do hard things.
I will learn!

Zayvin

I am happy.
I can do hard work.
I will help others.

Kolbie

I am a good worker.
I can work hard at school.
I will be helpful.

Kulia

I am kind.
I can be happy.
I will believe in myself.

Bodhi

I am a math machine.
I can fix my mistakes.
I will be a good friend.

Shannon

I am strong.
I can feel good.
I will be responsible.

Jycienn

I am responsible.
I can be friends.
I believe that I am a good person.

Xander

I am responsible.
I can plan for my future.
I will learn skills.

Skylynn

I am kind.
I can do hard things.
I will help people.

Koa

I am an excellent worker.
I can help the world.
I will be my best self.

Ms. Larkin

I am kind.
I can change my thinking.
I will keep learning.