Page 33 - Waterfall City September Issue 2023

BUILDING COMPETENCE

AND RESILIENCE IN

ADOLESCENTS

By Dr Ilse Ruane

C ompetence is the ability of improved strategies that we can draw physically and emotionally available to

them. Teens rely on parents, teachers
having sufficient knowledge,
on in the future. Also embedded in
or carers to help them work out how to
judgement, skill or strength
these terms is the idea of adapting.
to be able to perform a task
safely. Resilience is defined as the Without adapting properly, a person interpret events.
cannot grow into a capable individual.
capacity to withstand hardship or to Unfortunately, we cannot protect
recover quickly from difficulties. So, when it comes to building our teens from the consequences of
competence and resilience in their actions, but we can assist them
For me, these terms also include the adolescents, and to helping them in becoming competent. The way in
process after bouncing back from process situations, the most important which we respond and the support
adversity – which, in turn, includes determinant of their success is the we offer a young person can make all
acquiring life skills as well as new and presence of a loving adult who is the difference to the aftermath of an

Waterfall City Issue 9 2023 31