Seletute Kinikini

WRITING 2010

Self-esteem and Higher Education

INTRODUCTION
Dont ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you
come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is
people who have come alive. This was once said by the American
Theologian, Howard Washington Thurman. Matt Stefan described Thurman as
the first African American dean of chapel at a traditionally white American
university, and a founder of the first interracial interfaith congregation in the
United States. He had a deep belief in the positive benefits the world could
possibly reap when one individual has the ability to believe in themselves.
Up to this point, I somewhat am able to understand and relate to Thurmans
proposed idea of an individual and their own contribution to the world. Some
may say one cant really make a difference, but I believe that one is all it
takes to be noticed. From individuals such as Helen Keller, Donald Trump,
Meryl Streep, Michael Jackson, even down to the individuals in our own
households, there is always something that someone can leave with us for
the rest of our lives. These mentioned people are all individuals who found a
way to bring themselves alive through what they love, believe, do or choose
to portray themselves as to the public eye. Either way, they have had a hand
in shaping todays society and the progression or regression of it. I believe
that you dont have to be a celebrity or the most popular kid on the block to
make a difference in the world. A positive difference is always made and

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WRITING 2010
marked by the kid who sincerely believes in himself. This is why the principle
of nurturing an individual is so important nowadays. Having a low selfesteem is sometimes muted by society and seen as a nuisance. Its almost
completely overlooked in various college campuses across America. In these
recent years the growth of mental illnesses has risen tremendously amongst
college students. Mental illness in general has increased greatly, but most
cases are found amongst students attending colleges. Regarding mental
illness trends among college students, the rates are more than twice as high
among individuals 18 to 25 years of age (29.9%) than among persons 50
years of age and older (14.3%) (SAMHSA, 2010)
Mental illness is defined as a wide range of conditions that affect
mood, thinking, and behavior. A few examples of a mental illness would
include the cases of major depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder,
dementia, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism, post
traumatic stress disorder, etc. These are all examples of disorders that would
fall under the mental health category. Sometimes a person isnt capable of
recognizing that they have a disorder and sometimes an individual is afraid
to come forward with it. This can cause harm to the victim and possibly those
around them if it escalates to a certain level. It isnt healthy to try to
overcome the disorder or manage it alone.
There are various factors that can cause an individual to be diagnosed
with a form of mental illness. Some of these reasons could include big

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WRITING 2010
changes in ones life such as a death of family member, a new family
member through birth or marriage. Maybe its a change in the location of
your residency or insurance company. We dont always know the exact
reason of why a person can feel the sudden pressure that can lead to a
mental illness. This exact research has been done amongst college students
because of the increase in numbers in the particular range of age. College
attending students across America have fallen victim to mental illnesses,
with higher rates now more than ever before. This could be because of the
dramatic lifestyle change of being a kid to learning how to become an adult,
or it could be possible stress or pressure from peers, parents, etc., on the
drive to do good or who knows? Maybe its marriage. Like I said, we dont
always know the exact cause of every case. The reasons are infinite. But
there are a few things that could be done that could help the number of
students with mental illnesses decrease.
There are many solutions that can ultimately help an individual avoid
the pressure of mental health. Not all solutions that worked for one individual
will work for their neighbor. Although this may be the case, I have seen one
thing that I believe can truly help any person. It doesnt matter who you are,
what youve done in life or what you have become. There is one shield that
can actually help individuals across the country become more receptive to
mental disorders. That shield is having a high self-esteem.

Seletute Kinikini
WRITING 2010
There have been studies that we will go over and get more into depth
with that will help us analyze the outcomes of having a high self-esteem and
how it can become a form of protection against mental disorders. Who
wouldve thought that? Its an interesting idea and it may even seem silly.
But with the recent recorded, increasing numbers of college students with a
mental disorder, something has to be said to bring this issue the proper
attention it deserves. Self-esteem actually plays a big role in the lives of
college students and can help boost or deflate their performance levels in all
aspects of their lives like school, sports, social life, etc.
In this paper, we will elaborate on major points about the correlating
relationship between rising rates of college students with a mental illness
and how having a high self-esteem can be a form of protection to students
who are pursuing higher education. Students who have low self-esteem are
more likely to have mental health issues than those who dont.
THE CONNECTION
Here is something to keep in mind as we evaluate self-esteem, college
students and mental health disorders. Harold B. Lee, a leader in the LDS
Church once taught, The most important of the Lords work you will ever do
will be within the walls of your own homes. We must never forget that. I
found foundation in this very principle for this paper. You may be a member
of the LDS church and have a strong testimony of this principle or you can be
an individual without the belief of God. Whatever it may be, this principle is

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WRITING 2010
applicable to every person in the world. It doesnt matter what background
or circumstance you come from, the building of self-esteem is 100% started
and founded upon what happens in the home. The effects of an individuals
home life are portrayed through their actions, beliefs and how they
ultimately choose to live their lives. I believe if an individual is taught to be
kind at home, they will be kind to the world. If they are raised around put
downs, hits and lies, that, in turn, is what the world will most likely receive
because it could be all an individual knows as far as surviving in this world. I
am not saying this is always the case, but it is common in many cases.
The process of building ones self-esteem can start from day one and
take the rest of your life trying to perfect it. G. Macdonald said:
The most basic task for one's mental, emotional and social health, which begins
in

infancy and continues until one dies, is the construction of his/her positive selfesteem.

He states that it starts from infancy. Parents are ultimately the primary ones
responsible for helping a child to feel like they are enough and they are
worth it. Michal Mann supports this notion in his own article on self-esteem
and health illnesses. He said, self-evaluation is crucial to mental and social
well-being. It influences aspirations, personal goals and interaction with
others.. This quote says it all. The way we see ourselves is a reflection of
the amount of belief or faith we have in ourselves. Ultimately it will be seen
in our actions. Its important that we take the time to evaluate ourselves and

Seletute Kinikini
WRITING 2010
reassure ourselves of the job we have in contributing to this world for the
better. Every single person is here to do good and to contribute good to
society. If we want honest political leaders who keep promises, artists who
promote education and non-violence, teachers who believe in every
student Promote such ideas in your home! Another statement can help us
understand this concept.
The beliefs and evaluations people hold about themselves determine who they
are,

what they can do and what they can become (Burns, 1982). Its crucial that the
student knows that.

An experiment conducted by Michael J. Stebleton, Krista M. Soria, and

Ronald L. Huesman Jr. on the mental illness effects on first generation
students was recently directed. They concluded at the end of their
experiment that,
most students, including first-generation students, strive to find
a sense of

belonging on campus; they want to feel that they

matter to others.
Its important that students really understand their role in this big world. Its
not impossible to achieve anything. Everything is possible. Most students
doubt their abilities due to comments from family members alone that build
up in their minds and eventually becomes a hindrance to the work in
progress. Mattering is important. Especially when being on campus and
completely surrounded by thousands who seem to look and be just like you,
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but arent. If an individual knows their own contribution and self-identity to
the world, they will be able to avoid trends and changing things such as
fashion, friends, schools, dreams, etc. The surety comes from knowing who
you are and knowing that that will never change. Mattering to someone can
boost self-esteem by miles. Mattering is an emerging construct in the
mental health literature (Kurpius and Dixon). These researchers support this
claim. Mattering is much more than just teenage girl drama. They elaborate
more by describing that high self-esteem can actually begin to affect a
person and help them deliver a better performance in tests and grades.
When low self-esteem occurs, we see a decreased level in confidence which
can cause the student to be more occupied by their social being and lead
them to pay less attention to the importance of school. Theres not only a
decrease in the level of confidence, but also in the level of performance with
school work including tests, assignments and homework.
IMPROVEMENT
The world would be a great place if everyone was raised to believe in
themselves. But lets face it. Not everyone knows that or grows up with that
mindset. Sometimes people grow up learning just the exact opposite. That
they cant do it. They arent enough. Things dont get better. These are they,
that are more receptive to mental illnesses as a college student. Because
this isnt a perfect world and we will always see many with a disorder, there
are possible ways to begin a recovery. Its not always easy due to the fact

Seletute Kinikini
WRITING 2010
that its not an overnight procedure that can suddenly rid you of your
disorder, but with proper care and help, it is possible to be set free from any
cords that may seem to bind you down from the mental health.
May I offer a few suggestions?
1. Positive thinking about oneself as a protective factor.
This notion is from Michal Mann. He also stated the following:
People have a need to think positively about themselves, to defend
and to improve

their positive self-esteem, and even to overestimate

themselves. Self-esteem represents

a motivational force that influences

perceptions and coping behavior. In the context of

negative messages

and stressors, positive self-esteem can have various protective

functions.

In society today, maybe thinking highly about yourself is seen as arrogance. I

think of it as the
very first step to becoming a confident college student. Its the first step to
improving your self
esteem. Everything starts with just a thought. Think of the famous quote by
Ghandi.
Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.

Seletute Kinikini
WRITING 2010
He couldnt be any clearer. Everything starts with a belief. A belief in society,
in you dreams, in your studies and hard work. Overall, the belief in yourself.
It will eventually lead you down the road of destiny. The ending result
completely depends on you.
2. Surround yourself around positive things.
This may seem like a common sense step. But why have we not
applied it? Steve Harvey counseled the youth today that they shouldnt share
their big dreams with small minded people. This is what came to mind as I
thought upon this step to improvement. Being around negativity all the time
will never result in success. Negative people, negative activities, negative
actions will all lead you down a road that wont be pleasant in the next 5-10
years.
3. Receiving the proper support and help
College campuses across the nation offer support for those who suffer
from mental illnesses. If in the unusual case an individual cannot receive the
proper help or support that they seek, there are always local therapists and
support groups or clubs that you can always join for your benefit. Colleges
have given more attention towards support groups for students with mental
disorders due to the rising numbers. Support doesnt only mean through
school. It also means in every environment you choose to affiliate yourself
with. Members of your family and close friends should also know what you

Seletute Kinikini
WRITING 2010
are going through. You arent required to share every detail about your
improvement process but they should know that you are trying to be better
about your self-esteem so that they too can contribute to the boosting of
your self-esteem.
CONCLUSION
Self esteem is sometimes overlooked. We tend to think that it cant be
that big of a deal. But studies show that a high percentage of graduate
students admit that they feel like they never had low self-esteem due to the
amount of care they received in their childhood years to high school
graduation. CB Staff, a college information resource, stated:
Tending to your sanity and developing a healthy self-image is just as
important as

anything you learn in a textbook. And maintaining a

positive outlook will help keep you out of the doldrums and allow you to
concentrate on learning and growing as a person.
High self-esteem could be the key to make you or break you. Kristen Lee
Costa, who is known to be Americas Stress doctor and an award winning
professor of Behavioral Sciences and Education, stated the following in her
recently published book, Make the Most of your Stress,:
Its no joke. A recent report from the American Psychological
Association notes
problems being reported amongst

sharp increases in severe psychological

students. Stress is a force to

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be reckoned with. It eats away at us. It erodes our

sense of

wellbeing. To say that it can disrupt the learning process is a dramatic

understatement. On top of being a major health concern, it is the
number one

culprit that impedes academic performance

and persistence. And this is true for

all ages and types of

students-from undergraduate to graduate. Stress can make

us sick and stop us in our tracks.
Kristen Lee Costa also puts great emphasis on what is currently going
on. This is current. This is now. Students suffer and fail everyday because of
the attack of low self-esteem. Giving into low self-esteem will eventually
direct one to behave at lower levels than usual. It is a dangerous factor
amongst college students. It can be avoided if everyone is aware and tries to
make and be the difference we all hope to see.
Parents also need to be aware of this. If home life and teachings can be
carried with them into college doors, they will be able to avoid certain social
activities that could ultimately lead to a mental disorder such as depression
or eating disorders. If the process of building higher self-esteem can begin
within the home first, rates would decrease because more individuals will
know and will have the ability to rely on what they have been taught rather
than what society tells them to be. They wont be as receptive to peer
pressure or things that try to tear them down, because that force is as real as

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WRITING 2010
the sun you and I see everyday. Boyd K. Packer, a religious leader and
follower of Jesus Christ portrays this idea. He stated:
True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study
of the

doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a

study of behavior will

improve behavior

I dont want to force religious beliefs upon anyone, especially the nonbelievers, but I want to compare this quote to the idea of mental health,
college students and self-esteem. Packer is addressing an audience of
parents who are struggling to raise their children in an environment today
that seems like it is constantly undergoing some kind of change. The parents
in this particular audience felt unsafe because they knew they could not
completely protect their children from the trials that were going to
unavoidably appear on their journey of life. In a loud world, how were they
going to help their children feel like they had the liberty to speak up and
make a stand, yet learn respectful boundaries to society. Packers response
was a simple one. He explains that if the child was able to study, learn and
sincerely incorporate the doctrine of Jesus Christ, which he himself taught
during his mortal ministry many years ago, in their lives, they would change
their own behavior. Their being and state of mind would naturally cause
some kind of conversion because of the deep understanding that came from
learning of the doctrine and knowing that it could be something true and
later in turn, becoming a testimony. I believe it is the same solution to low

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Seletute Kinikini
WRITING 2010
self-esteem. You dont have to believe in God to believe in yourself. Having a
high self-esteem can lift you up. If you sincerely believe and have a deeper
understanding of who you are, self-esteem levels will automatically be risen
thus helping college students to be more aware of how much they do matter
and how much they have to contribute.
Self-esteem has a strong connection to happiness. How many truly
happy people suffer daily from a mental disorder? Its not too common. This
is an issue we can solve today! This is an issue we can fix within our own
homes. We dont need to be on a stage performing for thousands or posted
online for millions to see. This is something that can be taken care of behind
closed doors. The doors of your own home with your own parents, children or
siblings. High self-esteem can protect millions from mental disorders and
cause a decrease in the rising numbers of today amongst college students.

WORKS CITED
1. "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee Chapter 14: Love at Home."
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee Chapter 14: Love at Home. Web.
18 Apr. 2016.
2. "Health Education Research." Self-esteem in a Broad-spectrum Approach for Mental
Health Promotion. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
3. Macdonald, G. (1994) Self esteem and the promotion of mental health. In Trent,
D. and Reed, C. (eds), Promotion of Mental Health. Avebury, Aldershot, vol. 3,
pp. 1920.
4. "A Quote by Mahatma Gandhi." Goodreads. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

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5. "Does High Self-Esteem Cause Better Performance, Interpersonal Success, Happiness, or
Healthier Lifestyles?" Does High Self-Esteem Cause Better Performance, Interpersonal
Success, Happiness, or Healthier Lifestyles? Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
6. Dixon, Sarah K., and Sharon E. Robinson Kurpius. "Depression and College Stress
Among University Undergraduates: Do Mattering and Self- Esteem Make a
Difference?" Journal of College Student Development 49.5 (2008): 412-24. Print.

7. Erb, Sarah, Jerome L. Short, Robyn Mehlenbeck, Jeffrey Pollard, and Keith
Renshaw. "The Role of Roommate Relationships and Family of Origin Functioning
in Students' Mental Health and College Adjustment Outcomes." N.p.: ProQuest
Dissertations, 2014. N. pag. Print.

8. Cleary, Michelle, Garry Walter, and Debra Jackson. "Not Always Smooth Sailing:

Mental Health Issues Associated with the Transition from High School to
College." Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 2011, Vol.32(4), P.250-254 32.4 (2011):
250-54. Print.

9. Stebleton, Michael J., Krista M. Soria, and Ronald L. Huesman. "First Generation
Students' Sense of Belonging, Mental Health, and Use of Counseling Services at
Public Research Universities." Journal of College Counseling 17.1 (2014): 6-20.
Print.

10. Costa, Kristen Lee (2015). "Your Mental Health Is More Important Than Your Grades."
The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 22 Oct. 2015. Web. 04 Mar. 2016.

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