Instructions
Welcome to your Strengths Journey! At age 11, you discovered your top three strengths: Caring, Relating, and Presence. Now, at age 12 and on the doorstep of 7th grade, it is time to reflect on how far you have come and how you will use these superpowers next year.
Follow these steps to complete this worksheet:
- Warm-Up: Match the real-world scenarios to the correct strength.
- The Strengths Map: Reflect on your 6th-grade year. Fill in the blank rows in the table with your own personal memories.
- Deep Dive Scenarios: Read the middle school challenges and write down how you would use your strengths to handle them.
- 7th Grade Goals: Set three actionable goals for your next school year.
Warm-Up: Strength Spotlight
Read the actions below and write Caring, Relating, or Presence next to the scenario that best matches that strength.
-
You notice a classmate sitting alone at lunch, so you pull up a chair and start a conversation that leads to a great friendship. Strength demonstrated: ___
-
Your teacher asks for someone to present the group's science project to the whole class, and you eagerly step up to the front of the room. Strength demonstrated: ___
-
You stay behind after class to help your teacher organize a messy supply closet because you know they've had a stressful day. Strength demonstrated: ___
Section 1: The Strengths Map
Think back over your 6th-grade year. Where did you shine? Complete the table below. The first row has been done as an example. Refer to your memories in class, sports, clubs, or at home.
| Strength | What This Strength Means | My 6th Grade Memory (When did I show this?) | How This Affected Me or Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example: Caring | Helping others in big or small ways | I noticed my younger sibling was struggling with their math homework, so I sat with them for an hour and explained fractions. | My sibling felt less stressed, and I felt proud that I could make their day easier. |
| Caring | Helping others and making the world better | ||
| Relating | Building deep, long-lasting friendships | ||
| Presence | Taking the lead, speaking up, and capturing attention | ||
| Bonus Combination | Using two of your strengths together at once! |
(Note for writing: Use the space in the cells above to write your real-life experiences in detail!)
Section 2: Deep Dive Scenarios
Put yourself in these common 7th-grade scenarios. How can you use your unique strengths to turn these situations into positive experiences?
Scenario A: The Silent Group Project You are assigned to a science project group with three other classmates. Everyone is staring silently at their desks, too shy to speak up or share ideas. The project is due next week.
- Which of your strengths would you use here? ___
-
What action would you take?
Scenario B: The Drama at Recess Your long-time best friend is upset because they had a misunderstanding with another student in your friend group. The group is starting to feel divided.
- Which of your strengths would you use here? ___
-
What action would you take?
Section 3: The 7th Grade Launchpad
Let's look forward! You are starting 7th grade soon. How will you intentionally grow your strengths? Complete these goal-setting prompts.
-
My Caring Goal for 7th Grade: I will show my Caring strength next year by: _____
Because it will help: ____
-
My Relating Goal for 7th Grade: I will build stronger, deeper friendships next year by: _____
One way I will widen my circle of friends is: ___
-
My Presence Goal for 7th Grade: I will step up as a leader next year by (e.g., student council, club leader, class presentation):
Answer Key & Exemplar Responses
Teachers/Parents: Because this is a reflective self-assessment, responses will vary based on the student's personal experience. Use these guide responses to help facilitate discussion and evaluate the depth of the student's reflection.
Warm-Up
- Relating
- Presence
- Caring
Section 1: The Strengths Map (Sample Student Answers)
- Caring: My 6th Grade Memory: I volunteered to help clean up the cafeteria after lunch when the janitor was short-staffed. Effect: The custodian thanked me, and I felt like I did my small part to keep our school nice.
- Relating: My 6th Grade Memory: When Maya was new to our soccer team, I introduced myself on day one and made sure we practiced passing together. Now we are best friends. Effect: Maya felt welcomed and less nervous about joining a new team.
- Presence: My 6th Grade Memory: During our English class debate, I volunteered to be our group's opening speaker and argued our points clearly. Effect: Our team won the debate, and my classmates said they liked how confident I sounded.
- Bonus Combination (Presence + Caring): My 6th Grade Memory: I stood up in front of the school during assembly to pitch a recycling drive project. Effect: We collected 500 cans and made the school greener.
Section 2: Deep Dive Scenarios (Sample Student Answers)
- Scenario A (Silent Group): Strength: Presence. Action: I would use my voice to break the ice. I'd say, "Hey everyone, let's write down one random idea each on a sticky note so we don't have to say it out loud first." This uses my leadership to make others feel comfortable speaking up.
- Scenario B (Drama): Strength: Relating / Caring. Action: I would invite both friends to sit down with me privately. Because they trust me, I can listen to both of their sides without taking sides, helping them see where the misunderstanding happened so we can keep our friendship circle strong.
Section 3: 7th Grade Launchpad (Sample Student Goals)
- Caring Goal: I will show my Caring strength next year by: Joining the peer tutoring program at school because it will help: 6th graders who are struggling to adjust to middle school classes.
- Relating Goal: I will build stronger, deeper friendships next year by: Inviting my friends to do regular weekend study dates, and I will widen my circle by: eating lunch with a different person once a month.
- Presence Goal: I will step up as a leader next year by: Running for 7th-grade student council representative or auditioning for the school play lead role.