Student Responses
Katy Gray
Top 5 strengths
Relator, Achiever, Positivity, Focus, and Maximizer
Describe how your strength(s) are revealed in your life?
Everyday, I realize that I study and work so hard to get good grades because I am, at heart, an achiever. I also understand now that I desire good, loong-lasting relationships because, as a relator, those are my lifeline. I also always try to get the most out of my 24 hours every day. I want good people to become even better people and good students to become better students- that's my maximizer coming out!
How have you used strengths to build relationships? Give an example.
My positivity always comes into play when building relationships. I am constantly encouraging people around me.
What is one area in which strengths-based education has benefited you?
Strengths-based education has helped me to understand myself a lot better than I ever have. My education has become a little deeper because, not only do I now understand m behavior better, but I also understand and can identify the underlying reasons for my behavior. Why am I lonely after moving to a new place? Because I am a relator and I need deep friendships. Why do i stay up late working on papers and projects? Because I am an achiever? Why is it that I can concentrate on a conversation in a crowded and loud classroom? Because one of my prominent strengths is focus.
What advice would you give students who are new to discovering and developing their strengths? What should they know?
Dig in deeper than simply knowing the names of your strengths. Take personal leadership to understand what your values and goals are. Try to understand your top strengths so that you can know yourself better.
Levi Costello
Top 5 strengths
Connectedness, Belief, Input, Learner, Harmony
Describe how your strength(s) are revealed in your life?
Connectedness- love to connect with people through friendship, stories, and things we have in common
Belief- have an immovable standard by which I live
Input- need to know what I am doing before I do it (ex. go into a store knowing what I'm buying, not a "shopper")
Learner- love to learn new things in every aspect of life
Harmony- tranquility and peace desired in any situation
How have you used strengths to build relationships? Give an example.
Connectedness- Discovering my strength of connectedness has really helped me find out how I can build relationships in my own way. Unlike someone who has a strength of Woo, I am more interested in connecting with people on a more person-to-person level instead of a casual acquaintance. I want to get to know people on a more personal level and find out what makes them tick. I also find that I am drawn more to people who have the same strengths as me because that gives us a "connection" or grounds on which to build a friendship.
What is one area in which strengths-based education has benefited you?
Strengths based education has helped me better identify and apply different character traits that I have. For example, I knew that I enjoyed making friends and meeting people, put the only way I knew how to do that was to do it the "cheerleader" way, or to go up to everyone, introduce myself, and act all giddy. I'm just not like that, But discovering my strength of connectedness has given me ways to meet people in a different may, more of a one-on-one basis. Knowing this, I've met more people than I ever would have before just because I utilized a strength I already had instead of trying to develop one I didn't have. Anotheroneof my strengths, harmony, helped me understand why I hated confrontation so much. It's not that I am fearful or inable to handle stress. I just naturally try to make peace in every situation. So I did not have the weakness of passivity, but a strength in harmony.
What advice would you give students who are new to discovering and developing their strengths? What should they know?
What I would suggest is to see what your strengths are and in different situations you encounter, try and see how you respond by your strengths. Or, if you are trying to solve a problem, try and look at the situation through your strengths. But remember, your strengths have a dark side and if you let it, you're greatest strengths can be your greatest weaknesses. Try and balance the way you act with the positive sides of your strengths.