Learning to Ask for Help

The Learning Support Department’s purpose is to accommodate those with learning differences. As a Department we want to highlight the importance of asking for help. It is the key to growing as learners or even as individuals. Suffering in silence is the biggest danger of not seeking help. Often in daily tasks we feel empowerment from having control over our work. I can speak from experience. It can be validating completing goals at school without asking for help. But this can come at an unnecessary high price of hours spent in preparation and anxiety whether it will all work out. Taking everything on alone will eventually lead to physical and mental exhaustion.

Identifying what you need and shutting down imposter syndrome can make asking for help a little less daunting. Be specific with yourself. What is your biggest hurdle? Will making a list help organise your thoughts? This will allow your teacher, counsellor, or classmate to better help you if you can express your needs clearly. You are helping them help you. Imposter syndrome makes us feel like seeking help is a sign of laziness or weakness. It is necessary to overcome this thought process. One way of doing this is not letting perfection hinder your progress. Holding yourself to unrealistic standards can make you forget what you’ve already achieved. Remember everything is a work in progress and acknowledge how far you’ve already come. There are also many systems out there that are there to support you. Just to name a few at our school - counselling, tutoring, and the Careers Department. You may not be aware of the other existing systems set up to help you. Just ask your whānau teacher. They might be able to guide you towards a support system. Many students in the Learning Hub were not even aware that they were eligible for support. Support systems are there to be used and enable students to have the best learning experience. So do not be afraid to take advantage of them.

Asking for help has importance in other components of your life. Especially when the mental health of young people is becoming one of the biggest concerns of our generation. Being high school students we can forget about this responsibility to ourselves. Many of us are used to being asked if we need help from caregivers, teachers, and so on. Moving into adulthood, help and support becomes something we need to seek. So next time, send that email when you're questioning yourself on that school assignment. Get someone to give you feedback on your CV. Small recurring steps towards seeking help can make it less daunting. Don't be afraid to ask for help, that's the kindest thing you can do for yourself.