In our Seasons for Growth program, our small groups have just finished the Season of ‘Spring’, which focusses on growth within ourselves.

Spring is a time of new birth and new beginnings; buds begin to open, there is more daylight, many animals bear their young and the world is coloured with new growth. Spring can bring freshness and hope to our life, it can also be a changeable season with remnants of winter still being experienced.

During our sessions on Spring, students have had the opportunity to recognise how important their feelings are and ways in which they can care for their feelings. An important element of understanding their feelings is knowing that it is normal to have feelings and that everyone experiences situations and feelings differently.

 “Feelings are neither good nor bad, right or wrong, they just ARE!”

 Some feelings are big and aren’t always easy to recognise or name; one example of this is resentment around the changes that have been experienced. It is important to consider the idea of forgiveness as offering one way forward in helping to heal hurt. Forgiveness is often a hard concept to put into action, especially when there is not always an apology, but it is important to think of forgiveness as a gift to themselves, the opportunity to let go of the resentment and heal.

We have also explored the concept of memories and the way they provide us with a connection to something or someone significant and the way that our feelings about a particular memory can change over time. Students had the opportunity to share memories with their special group and acknowledge the way that memories can make us feel loved, cared for and can provide us with hope and strength in challenging times.

Being able to recognise big feelings and identify things in which can help with de-escalating those feelings is a sign of growth within ourselves.

- Melissa Neit, School Chaplain.