Activity： How well you know yourself?

Age Group

Guides Section – 12-15 years old

Time needed

20 minutes

Learning Goal

Members learn that everyone has their own way and pace to grow. Even at the same age, the development on body and the way of thinking will not be the same. Members learn to appreciate their self-images and no need to envy the others.

Instructions

Materials needed: 3 sets of questionnaire, including “Self-image table”, “Review on self-acceptance” and “Table of Personality”(1 for each member)

Instructions:

1. Distribute the questionnaires. Reminder members to read carefully before answering the questions. (If time is limited, members could be told to do the questionnaire at home before the meeting)
2. Leaders can collect information on teenagers’ life style and growing characteristics; explain to members the value of self–growth.

Self-image table (Download)
                                                                                                                                   Yes /No

1. Feel nervous when communicating with people
2. Hesitate when expressing views
3. Feel unhappy sometimes
4. Not willing to meet new friends
5. Feel shy in front of people
6. Be picky
7. Believe that no one can understand you.
8. Low self-esteem
9. Love to compare with the others
10. Feel ashamed because of physical defects
11. Lack of courage and self-confidence because of limited skills and knowledge
12. Look down on ability of yourself because of low education level
13. Afraid of being discriminated due to bad academic results or poor family background
14. Strong self-consciousness
15. Bad temper and eager to win
16. Like to do unexpected things
17. Sensitive to the comments from others
18. Escape from the reality by dreaming of future
19. Be bluff
20. Nothing to work on
21. Be strange
22. Pretend to be humble
23. Love to give ideas
24. Reject to work with people of low ability
25. Make excuse
26. Blaming of limited chance

Review on self-acceptance (Download)

                                         Accept    Cannot accept    Uncertain

1. Appearance
2. Height
3. Body shape
4. Intelligence
5. Weaknesses
6. Strengths
7. Talents
8. Academic results
9. Interests
10. Emotions
11. Family
12. Parents
13. Brothers
14. Sisters
15. Friends
16. Manners
17. Behaviors
18. Attitudes to people
19. Attitudes to yourself
20. Schools
21. Teachers
22. Classmates
23. (decide yourself)

Table of Personality (Download)

“V” or “X” the terms which can/cannot represent your personalities. “?” represent the personalities you are uncertain.

1. Like yourself

2. Feel disappointed in life

3. Keen on face

4. Feel dissatisfaction towards yourself

5. Make mistakes very often

6. Waste time

7. Complete a job successfully

8. Understand your own feelings

9. Enjoy the time of work

10. Make good use of time

11. Self-restraint

12. Often speak improperly

13. Do not like yourself

14. Do not appreciate your own sex

15. Worth trusting

16. Your talent has not yet developed

17. Be glad of your own sex

18. Rely on others view

19. People like to make friends with you

20. Good at thinking

21. No interested in public issues

22. Feel confused

23. Do not enjoy your work

24. Trust yourself

25. In trouble

26. Fear of others or fear of being hurt by others

27. Do not like working with others

28. Speak in a proper manner

29. Fear the future

30. Try to solve social problems

31. Applied your own talent

32. People avoid to contact with you

33. Do not know yourself well

34. Enjoy natural environment

35. Cannot find a stable job

36. Enjoy your life

37. Appreciate others

Which elements of the method are used, and how?

☑ Learning in small groups – After reviewing their own personalities, members can introduce themselves to each other. They can make friends with people at different ages and backgrounds.

☑ My path, my pace – Everyone has her own way to grow. This develops members with different character, physical characteristics and appearance. Members should appreciate themselves at the current stage and improve their weaknesses.

☑ Learning by doing – Members understand themselves in a more holistic picture. They build self-confidence by appreciating their strengths and accepting their weaknesses.

☑Connecting with others – Members of different ages all participate in the activity. They can make friends with people in different backgrounds, characters and interests.

How does the method give youth members a chance to take the lead?

Members accept, love and respect the value of themselves. Then they can gain the respect from others. They gain the power to encourage others as well.

How can you connect this activity to the values of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting?

Members understand their own worthiness and discuss the differences between them and others. They also learn to respect others and appreciate the differences.