A Healthy Adolescent Learner
Jacquelyn G. Sowers, M.Ed.

• is eager (or at least willing) to get up and go to school
• believes his/her school is a safe, welcoming, supportive place .understands the importance of getting a good education, takes his/her schoolwork seriously
• communicates effectively and often with parents, extended family, and other caring adults
• has friends, builds constructive relationships with others
• is a good problem solver and smart decision-maker
• can locate information, resources, academic assistance, counseling, health services, coaching, a helping hand from peers and adults when needed
• understands basic human growth and development and where he or she is developmentally; prizes individual uniqueness
• eats a balanced diet, knows relationships between nutrition and health
• is physically fit, exercises regularly
• knows how and when to play
• regularly involves him/her self in team sports, art, music, hobbies, or other non-academic activities which demand rigor, perseverance, skill development, working to standards of excellence, teamwork, and/or accomplishment of a worthy goal over time
• is culturally competent; seeks to understand and relate to people who come from different cultural, religious, racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, or philosophical backgrounds
• recognizes and manages feelings constructively
• handles stress, knows a variety of stress reduction and conflict resolution strategies, keeps his/her life in healthful balance
• protects self and others from harmful use of cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs
• understands sexuality and manages sexual feelings and behaviors responsibly
• is a caring family member, actively contributing to the health and well-being of parents, siblings, grandparents, extended family
• is a caring community member, promoting the health and quality of life of peers and neighbors, as well as fellow citizens of the state, nation, and larger world; engaged in community service activities, values helping others
• can locate health resources as needed, use health care system with confidence
• is aware of social, health, political, and economic trends that can have an influence on his/her life choices
• can put media messages in perspective, recognizes hype and hyperbole, understands overt and subtle marketing techniques, separates "Hollywood" and "Madison Avenue" images from real life consequences of behavioral choices
• can understand and apply new research to personal choices; seeks out facts, asks smart questions, makes a point to be knowledgeable about important information that could impact his/her life, health, education
• recognizes environmental, home, street, highway, school, and worksite health and safety factors and influences; can accurately assess risks
• takes steps to prevent diseases, accidents, injuries, and violence
• has considered the responsibility or parenthood and thought about the optimal time in life for choosing that role for himself/herself
• has high expectations for himself/herself; has positive vision or self in the future; has "a dream" or "north star"
• is consciously planning a healthy future, making sound academic decisions, actively choosing positive, health promoting behaviors, always thinking about the long- as well as the short-term consequences of his/her behaviors
• links personal moral and ethical values to his/her lire choices; is developing a wellness ethic to guide lifestyle decision-making over his/her lifetime; acts on principles

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© 2003, J.G. Sowers, Sowers Associates, One Park Avenue, Hampton, NH  03842