Quick 9: Sydney S.

By: Sydney S., First Tee – Four Corners

1. Why do you think having a healthy mindset is important?

Having a healthy mindset is important because it sets you up for not just your day, but also the rest of your life. Making sure you have a happy and healthy mindset helps you to embrace every moment and take on life, not only helping you but everyone in your life as well. Without a healthy mindset, you can get caught up on one thing and not be able to see the beauty in others.

2. How do you keep a healthy mindset?

I keep a healthy mindset by making sure that I take time for myself. In the middle of all this craziness, it is important to take time for yourself and recharge. Without this time, it can be difficult for me to keep doing my best.

3. How do you prepare for school/work?

I prepare for school and work by making sure I get up and have everything I need for the day’s activities. Sometimes that means planning a day ahead or just getting a few items ready before I leave. Keeping a planner is a very important tool that I use to not only prepare for school but also write down thoughts I have throughout the day. By doing this I am mentally prepared to start my day.

4. How do you prepare for social activities (First Tee, other clubs, hanging out with friends)?

How I prepare for social activities depends on the activity. When I prepare for an activity for my Guide Dogs for the Blind club, I have to look at what type of training we are doing that day and what tools it requires. If I am just going to hang out with friends, it usually takes less preparation and only myself is required.

5. If you’re stressed, what do you do to relax?

When I get stressed some things that help me relax are drawing, coloring, watching TV, or snuggling up with my dog. All of these activities help me to forget about what is stressing me out and lets me focus on myself.

6. Who can you turn to if you need help?

I am very thankful that I have so many people in my life that I can turn to if I need help. My family is a big support in my life and are always willing to help me if I need it. I am also lucky to have a very supportive boyfriend and friends that help me every day even if it is something small.

7. If you make a mistake, how do you learn from it and move forward?

If I make a mistake I like to go back and look at what went wrong and how I can improve. By looking at what went right and what needs some tweaking I can implement improvements in the future for a better outcome.

8. If you see a friend or family member in need, what can you do to encourage them?

In these situations, I like to tailor the type of encouragement to that person because people have different reactions to certain situations. With some friends, I find that just being there for them to talk to is great because they just need an ear to listen. Other people respond well to validating their emotions and letting them know that it will be ok, and everything will work out. It is important to know who you are encouraging so you can best help them to get back into a healthy mindset.

9. What has First Tee taught you about a healthy mindset?

The First Tee and its core values have taught me so much about having a healthy mindset. Each core value has a lesson in it whether it is obvious or not. For example, respect tells us to respect ourselves, others, and our surroundings. Having respect for ourselves helps us to know our limits and to be sure we take the time to take care of ourselves, so we can have a healthy mindset. After this, we can then go on to respect others and pass on a healthy mindset to them. Together we can spread happiness and care to make everyone better.