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The Power of Positive Connections

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Lesson Plan

The Power of Positive Connections

Students will analyze and strengthen positive connections by mapping personal and professional networks, applying relationship-building strategies to real-world scenarios, and committing to leadership actions that enhance their social and emotional well-being.

High schoolers benefit from strong support systems as they prepare for college, careers, and independent life. This lesson deepens self-awareness, networking skills, empathy, and leadership to foster resilience and community engagement.

Audience

High School Students

Time

70 minutes

Approach

Interactive seminar, mapping, case studies, and reflection

Materials

Positive Connections Slide Deck, Relationship Mapping Worksheet, Chart Paper, Markers, and Sticky Notes

Prep

Lesson Setup

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

10 minutes

  • Tell students: “We’ll explore how positive connections fuel success in academics, leadership, and future careers.”
  • Prompt a think-pair-share: “Who in your personal or online network supports your goals, and how?”
  • Invite 3–4 pairs to share; record responses on the board under “Supportive Qualities & Roles.”

Step 2

Interactive Presentation

15 minutes

  • Use the Positive Connections Slide Deck to define key traits (trust, respect, empathy, reciprocity).
  • Ask for high-school-level examples: mentoring, club leadership, networking events.
  • Connect each trait to real-world scenarios (e.g., internship relationships, peer tutoring).

Step 3

Relationship Mapping Activity

20 minutes

  • Distribute the Relationship Mapping Worksheet.
  • Instruct students to map personal, academic, and professional contacts (teachers, coaches, mentors, peers).
  • Encourage color-coding for contact frequency and symbols for emotional vs. practical support.
  • Circulate and ask: “Which professional contact could help your future goals, and why?”

Step 4

Case Study & Discussion

15 minutes

  • Form groups of 3–4 and assign each a case study scenario (e.g., conflict in a student organization, seeking internship guidance).
  • Groups identify which positive-connection traits apply and brainstorm 3 strategies to resolve or strengthen relationships.
  • On chart paper, list strategies and underline any leadership roles involved.
  • Conduct a gallery walk: each group reviews another’s chart and leaves one sticky-note comment.

Step 5

Reflection & Action Plan

10 minutes

  • Hand out sticky notes.
  • Prompt: “Write one concrete action you’ll take this week to deepen a chosen connection or expand your network (e.g., reach out to a mentor, organize a study group).”
  • Post anonymously on the “Connection Commitment” board.
  • Recap main takeaways and encourage follow-up on pledges in the next class.
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Slide Deck

The Power of Positive Connections

Building relationships that support academic success, personal growth, and future career goals.

Welcome everyone! Introduce how strong networks help with college apps, internships, leadership roles, and personal well-being. Set the tone for an interactive session.

Today’s Objectives

• Define key traits of positive connections
• Map personal, academic, and professional networks
• Analyze real-world scenarios
• Commit to a leadership action to strengthen your network

Read objectives. Emphasize that this session will help them in academics, extracurriculars, and career planning.

Why Positive Connections Matter

• Boost resilience and reduce stress
• Enhance leadership and teamwork skills
• Provide mentorship and guidance for career planning
• Expand opportunities through networking

Discuss how relationships can lead to internships, scholarships, strong recommendation letters, and emotional support during stressful times.

What Is a Positive Connection?

A relationship built on mutual trust, respect, empathy, and reciprocity that supports growth, well-being, and future success.

Ask: “Think of someone at school or beyond who has helped you grow. What traits did they show?” Note their answers.

Key Traits of Positive Connections

• Trust
• Respect
• Empathy
• Reciprocity

Introduce the four traits. Explain we will explore each with high-school examples.

Trust

• Feeling safe to share ideas, challenges, and goals
• Examples: Confidential peer mentoring, honest feedback on college essays

Define trust. Ask students to recall a time they trusted a peer or mentor and what made that relationship trustworthy.

Respect

• Valuing boundaries, ideas, and diversity
• Examples: Listening actively in group projects, respecting different opinions in debates

Define respect. Prompt them to share how respecting differences has improved a team outcome.

Empathy

• Understanding and validating others’ feelings
• Examples: Supporting classmates during stressful exam periods, recognizing mental health needs

Explain empathy. Encourage students to describe a moment they showed or received empathy at school.

Reciprocity

• Balancing give-and-take in relationships
• Examples: Studying together and quizzing each other, sharing internship contacts

Define reciprocity. Ask how they’ve both given and received support in a club or team.

Case Studies: Real-World Scenarios

• Form groups of 3–4
• Each group will analyze a scenario
• Identify which traits apply
• Brainstorm strategies to strengthen connections
• Prepare to share your solutions

Divide class into groups. Explain that they will work on authentic scenarios related to leadership and career contexts.

Case Study A: Club Leadership Conflict

Scenario: The executive board of the robotics club is divided over project direction. Tensions have led to missed deadlines and low member morale.

Task:

  1. Identify which traits of positive connections are lacking.
  2. Propose 3 strategies to rebuild trust and collaboration.
  3. Highlight any leadership roles needed.

Encourage students to think about communication, role clarity, and team-building exercises.

Case Study B: Seeking Internship Guidance

Scenario: You want guidance on securing a summer internship but are unsure how to approach a potential mentor at your local engineering firm.

Task:

  1. Identify traits to establish a positive connection.
  2. Draft an outreach plan: email structure, meeting request, follow-up.
  3. Suggest ways to demonstrate reciprocity.

Guide students to consider professional etiquette, personalized outreach, and offering value in return.

Relationship Mapping Activity

  1. Use the Relationship Mapping Worksheet.
  2. Map personal, academic, and professional contacts.
  3. Color-code by contact frequency; add symbols for emotional (★) and practical (✔) support.
  4. Identify one professional contact to strengthen and why.

Distribute the worksheet. Circulate to prompt deeper reflection on college/career networks, teachers, alumni, family, and peers.

Reflection & Commitment

• Write one SMART action you’ll take this week to deepen a specific connection (e.g., schedule a coffee chat with a teacher, offer peer tutoring)
• Post anonymously on the “Connection Commitment” board
• Keep your commitment and plan to follow up

Encourage specific, measurable actions. Suggest they set reminders and track progress.

Thank You & Next Steps

• Positive connections require ongoing effort
• Review your commitment in one week and share outcomes
• Look for new networking opportunities in clubs, events, and online platforms

Summarize the session. Encourage students to journal their experiences and bring back stories to the next class.

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Activity

Relationship Mapping Worksheet

Instructions

  1. Draw Your Circles: On the blank space below, sketch three concentric circles. Label them:
    • Inner Circle (People you trust most and rely on regularly)
    • Middle Circle (People you feel close to but contact less often)
    • Outer Circle (Acquaintances and professional connections)
  2. Map Your Network: Write the names of individuals in your academic, personal, and professional life in the circle that best represents how supported you feel by them. Include family, friends, teachers, coaches, mentors, alumni, internship supervisors, etc.
  3. Color & Symbol Key:
    • Use a different color to indicate frequency of contact (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly).
    • Add ★ next to those who provide emotional support.
    • Add ✔ next to those who provide practical or professional support (e.g., career advice, internship leads).
  4. Reflection Prompts (Answer below your map):
    a. Which circle has the most people? Why do you think that is?



    b. Who in your Inner Circle helps you feel safe or motivated, and how?



    c. Identify one person in your Professional/Outer Circle you’d like to move closer. Why would strengthening this connection help your future goals?



    d. Write one SMART action you can take this week to deepen a connection with that person (e.g., “Email my internship supervisor by Friday to ask for a 15-minute chat about project ideas”).






    e. What resources or support might you receive from your expanded network that can help you with college or career planning? Provide an example.










(Use the back of this page if you need more space.)

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