My Strengths, My Shine

Welcome, amazing young women! Let's start by recognizing the incredible things about ourselves.

Take a few moments to think about these questions, then write your answers below. You can share if you feel comfortable!

1. What are three things you genuinely love about yourself? (It could be anything - your smile, your creativity, your kindness, your determination!)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. What are three positive qualities or strengths you possess? (Are you a good friend? A great listener? Super smart? Resilient?)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Why is it important to recognize these things about yourself?
   
   
   
   

Affirmation Mirror Activity: Reflecting Your Radiance

Today, we're going to create a special tool just for you: an Affirmation Mirror! This mirror will be a daily reminder of your worth, beauty, and strength.

What You'll Need:

• Small mirror
• Markers or colored pencils

Instructions:

1. Look into your mirror. Take a moment to really see yourself. What do you see? What do you like about your eyes, your smile, your hair, your skin?
   
   
2. Think of powerful affirmations. These are positive statements that make you feel strong and happy. Here are some ideas, but feel free to create your own:
   • "I am beautiful, inside and out."
     
   • "My skin glows with strength and beauty."
     
   • "I am worthy of respect and love."
     
   • "My voice is powerful, and I use it for good."
     
   • "I am intelligent, creative, and kind."
     
   • "I am resilient and can overcome any challenge."
     
   • "I am perfectly me, and that is enough."
     
     
3. Write your affirmations. Using the markers, carefully write 2-3 of your favorite affirmations directly on the mirror. Make them clear and visible. You can also draw small, positive symbols around the edges.
   
   
4. Decorate (Optional). If you have extra space or prefer, you can decorate the back or frame of your mirror with colors and designs that make you feel happy and strong.
   
   
5. Practice daily. Keep your affirmation mirror somewhere you'll see it every day. Each morning or evening, look into it, read your affirmations aloud, and believe in the words you are saying about yourself. This is your personal shield of self-love!

My Power Statement Journal

Today, we talked about self-love and how to stand strong when challenges come our way. Now it's your turn to create your very own Power Statement—a sentence or two that captures your strength, your worth, and your commitment to loving yourself.

Think about everything we discussed. What makes you unique? What qualities do you want to affirm every single day?

My Power Statement:

Reflect and Respond:

1. How does your Power Statement make you feel when you read it aloud?
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. When might you use your Power Statement in your daily life? (Think about challenging moments, moments of doubt, or simply as a daily affirmation.)
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Why is it important to have a personal Power Statement?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Confident Replies: Standing Strong in Difficult Moments

Teacher: Hello everyone! So far, we've talked about what self-love is and why it's super important. We’ve even started creating our affirmation mirrors. But let's be real – sometimes, even with all our self-love, people can say or do things that try to dim our shine. Especially when it comes to something as beautiful and unique as our skin color. Has anyone experienced a situation where someone made a negative comment or teased them about their skin?

(Allow for a few voluntary shares, validating feelings without dwelling on the negative experience. Emphasize that it's not their fault.)

Teacher: Thank you for sharing. It takes a lot of courage to talk about that. It's really important to remember that when someone teases you, especially about your appearance, it says a lot more about them than it does about you. Their words are often a reflection of their own insecurities or lack of understanding. But knowing that doesn't always make it easier in the moment, right?

So, today we’re going to practice some ways to respond confidently and protect our peace when faced with these kinds of comments. We want to respond in a way that shows we love ourselves and we won't let anyone take that away.

Scenario 1: The Confused Comment

Sometimes people might say things that aren’t intentionally mean, but they’re still ignorant or make you uncomfortable. Like, “You’re really pretty for a dark-skinned girl.” Or, “Why is your skin so much darker than your sister’s?”

How would you feel if someone said something like that to you?

What are some ways you could respond that are calm but clear? Think about responses that don't escalate the situation but also don't let the comment slide.

Student 1 (Role-Play): “You’re really pretty for a dark-skinned girl.”

Teacher (Facilitating Response): How could our student respond?

• Option A (Educate Gently): “My beauty isn’t defined by my skin tone; it’s just part of who I am.”
• Option B (Direct & Simple): “You don’t need to add ‘for a dark-skinned girl.’ I’m just pretty.”
• Option C (Question Back): “What do you mean by that?” (This can sometimes make the person reflect on their words.)

Let’s try role-playing these! Who wants to practice Option A?

Scenario 2: The Direct Tease

This is when someone is explicitly trying to be mean or make fun of your skin color. Maybe they say something like, “You’re so dark, you look like a shadow.” Or call you names like “burnt toast.”

How does hearing those kinds of words make you feel? What’s your first instinct?

When someone is trying to get a reaction out of you, sometimes the best thing to do is to give them no reaction. Your calm confidence is your power!

Student 1 (Role-Play): “Eww, you’re so dark, you look like a shadow.”

Teacher (Facilitating Response): What are some ways to shut this down without giving them what they want?

• Option A (Ignore & Walk Away): Simply turn and walk away. Their words have no power if you don't acknowledge them.
• Option B (Confident Stare): Look them calmly in the eye for a few seconds, then turn and walk away without saying anything.
• Option C (Short & Sweet Defense): “My skin is beautiful.” (Said calmly, then walk away.)
• Option D (Seek Help): If it’s persistent or making you feel unsafe, tell a trusted adult immediately.

Let's practice these! Who wants to try ignoring and walking away?

Scenario 3: Internalized Feelings

Sometimes, the toughest comments are the ones we hear inside our own heads, or when we compare ourselves to others because of what we’ve heard. For example, you might start thinking, “Maybe my skin is too dark.” This is where your self-love and affirmations are your strongest shields.

Teacher: If you find yourself having these thoughts, what can you do? Think about what we learned about affirmations.

• Option A (Affirm Yourself): Look in your Affirmation Mirror and repeat your positive statements.
• Option B (Talk to Someone): Share your feelings with a trusted friend, family member, or teacher.
• Option C (Challenge the Thought): Ask yourself, "Is this thought true? Where did it come from? Does it align with my power statement?" Then replace it with a positive affirmation.

Let's discuss. What would you choose to do in this situation?

Teacher: Remember, your beautiful skin is a gift, and your worth is inherent. Nobody can take that away from you. Practice these confident replies, use your affirmations, and always remember to reach out for support if you need it. You are strong, you are beautiful, and you are loved!

Cool-Down: One Word, One Hope

Great work today, everyone! Before we wrap up, let's take a moment to reflect on what we've learned and how we're feeling.

1. One Word: In one single word, how do you feel right now after our session on self-love and confidence? It could be empowered, calm, inspired, thoughtful, strong, beautiful, etc.
   
   
   

2. One Hope: What is one hope or goal you have for yourself regarding self-love or how you'll handle challenging situations in the future? Write it down as a personal commitment.
   
   
   
   
   
   

(Optional: Invite students to share their 'one word' or 'one hope' if they feel comfortable.)

Thank you all for your amazing participation and for bringing your wonderful selves here today. Remember to use your affirmation mirrors and keep your power statement close to your heart. You are all incredible!

Self-Love Bingo: Celebrating Our Strengths!

Objective: To reinforce concepts of self-love, self-acceptance, and positive identity through a fun and interactive game.

What You'll Need:

• Blank Bingo cards (one per student, with a 5x5 grid)
• Pens or pencils

How to Play:

1. Fill Your Card: Before we start, I'll give you a list of words, phrases, and actions related to self-love and confidence. You'll choose 24 of these items (leaving the center square as a FREE SPACE!) and write them in any order on your bingo card.

   Example List of Self-Love Items:

   • "I am beautiful."
   • "I am smart."
   • "I am kind."
   • "I am strong."
   • "I am worthy."
   • "I love my skin color."
   • "I respect myself."
   • "I speak my truth."
   • "I uplift others."
   • "I forgive myself."
   • "I learn from my mistakes."
   • "I am unique."
   • "I am resilient."
   • "I have a beautiful smile."
   • "I listen to my heart."
   • "I am a good friend."
   • "I believe in myself."
   • "I can handle challenges."
   • "I celebrate my heritage."
   • "I am creative."
   • "I am a leader."
   • "I am loved."
   • "I am enough."
   • "I stand up for myself."
   • "I practice self-care."
   • "I make positive choices."
   • "I express my feelings."
   • "I am growing every day."
   • "I value my voice."

2. Listen & Mark: I will call out these items one by one. If you have the item on your card, mark it off!

3. B-I-N-G-O!: The first person to get five marked squares in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) or to fill all four corners, shouts "BINGO!" They will then share their marked items and explain how those items relate to their own self-love journey.

4. Discussion: After a few rounds, we'll discuss which items were easy to find, which were challenging, and how we can incorporate these self-love actions and affirmations into our daily lives. Remember, every time you mark a square, you're recognizing a part of your amazing self!