Successful young adults are asked – ‘In your experience, what builds confidence?’
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol24iss2id130Keywords:
young adults, confidence, research,Abstract
This article summarises the findings from Karen Fagan’s research (Successful young adults are asked – In your experience, what builds confidence? (2010)) in which focus group discussions explored young adults’ perceptions of the concept of ‘confidence’, and the ‘building of confidence’, both in themselves and in others. The research participants were Year 13 students attending a co-educational state high school in a provincial town of Aotearoa/New Zealand during 2009.
This article outlines core components of the research journey, including underpinning philosophies, the research methodology and the research design. Key findings are then highlighted, research limitations are noted, recommendations are made and the emergent definition of confidence is proposed, namely that ‘confidence is knowing who you are, having pride in who you are (inside and out), and being able to portray who you are to others’.
In the words of the sixth-century philosopher Lao-Tse:
If there is radiance in the soul, it will abound in the family
If there is radiance in the family, it will be abundant in the community
If there is radiance in the community, it will grow in the nation
If there is radiance in the nation, the universe will flourish.
(cited in Pransky and McMillan, 2009, p. 257).
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