INDIANA – If you are anything like me, you have been glued to your television over the past few weeks watching the 33rd Summer Olympics in Paris, France. Growing up, I dreamed of standing atop the podium with a gold medal around my neck. Even though that did not become my reality, that dream has led to great passion and enthusiasm for the Olympic Games.
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games helped create a space to contemplate what I find so special about this time every four years. I heard the stories of the athletes’ hard work and sacrifice, what that moment of competition meant for them, and what it means to be part of a team. I admire what we all need: belonging, connection, and finding a passion for our lives. As a school social worker, I know these are key attributes for young people to build.
Belonging is being a part of something bigger than yourself; that feeling can fuel us when things are tough and can often lead to the greatest moments of our lives. Help your child find ways to belong: sports, clubs, church groups, girl/boy scouts, summer camps, technology classes/clubs…these are a few ways to connect with others and help your child grow a sense of belonging.
Cultivating connection is essential. Athletes don’t get to the top of their game without connection with others, including emotional and mental support, nutritional guidance, coaching, training, and medical assistance. It takes a team of people, along with their talent and discipline, to rise to this level. Encourage children to foster and purposefully create spaces in their lives that cultivate connection and seek support.
How do you find what you’re passionate about? I think part of it is exposure to elements of life. Whether going to an art museum, attending a professional sporting event, helping with a community service project, or reading an autobiography, seeing life through a different lens can spark a passion that can lead to your life’s work.
I have heard many athletes talk about seeing the Olympics for the first time, envisioning themselves as one of the athletes, and then, just like magic, there is the spark. That one defining moment changed the rest of their life! They dreamed the impossible dream, and their journey began. Until the 34th Summer Olympic Games, I leave you with this: go find your “Olympic Game,” your belonging, connection, and ultimately, your passion, and help your child find it, too.
Krissy Melhiser, MSW, LCSW, is a Youth First Mental Health Professional at Washington Junior High School in Daviess County. Youth First, Inc., is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening youth and families. Youth First provides over 100 highly trained mental health professionals (primarily master’s level social workers), prevention programs, parent engagement coordinators, and bilingual support personnel to 126 schools across 14 Indiana counties. Over 52,500 youth and families yearly are served by Youth First’s school-based social work and community programs that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and maximize student success.
To learn more about Youth First, visit youthfirstinc.org or call 812-421-8336.
