Build Your Student's Confidence with a Simple One-Minute Trick

When it comes to grades, many students face a recurring, powerful emotion: fear. If you've seen Inside Out 2, you might remember "Anxiety," the character who reminds us that worry is a tool our brain uses to prepare for the unknown. Similarly, fear can actually become a tool—if we know how to break it down.

The root cause of fear, according to some theorists, is the threat of the unknown. Picture this: your student has been struggling to maintain their grades, and midterms are their last chance to turn things around. What emotion do you think they’re feeling? It’s not anger, sadness, or shame—it’s fear. Fear emerges when they’re wondering, “What if I fail?”

In our leadership program, the Emotional Intelligence for Leadership module teaches students how to understand and manage these emotions. The results are transformative. One of our 15-year-old students recently shared:

"I’m able to recognize when I’m feeling fear—like when my workload feels overwhelming. Instead of panicking, I focus on managing my time and getting things done.” - Nauni (15)

So, how can you help your student build confidence when fear creeps in?

Breaking Down Fear

Teach them to pause and reflect when fear strikes. Ask:

1. Is there an unknown factor causing this fear?

2. What’s beyond my control here that I can let go? These are distractions.

3. What one thing can I focus on right now to move forward?

This simple exercise shifts their focus away from the “what-ifs” and empowers them to take meaningful action.

The One-Minute Trick to Build Confidence 

Meditate with your student for just one minute a day.

Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. Contrary to popular belief, meditation isn’t about sitting still or clearing your mind. It’s a dynamic process of focusing, recovering, and refocusing—over and over again. Meditation teaches us how to return to what we can control, like our breath, and tune out the distractions.

Remember the example at the beginning of this post? That student who overcame their fear of failure by focusing on time management? Meditation works in a similar way. It helps students pause, identify what’s within their control, and take the next small step forward. With consistent practice, they learn to face challenges with confidence, whether it’s tackling midterms or managing their workload.

This practice builds confidence. Why? Because confidence doesn’t come from avoiding failure—it comes from recovering quickly and trying again. Over time, this habit translates into the ability to bounce back from setbacks, whether it’s a tough grade or a missed goal.

As the year ends, take this moment to teach your student the power of recovery and focus. A single minute a day might just make all the difference.

Here’s to a confident year ahead for you and your student!