In the article, Ms. Sweet also referenced two other First Ladies and their performance anxiety. For Laura Bush it was about public speaking. Hillary Clinton recalled that at age 4 she came home crying to her mother because a girl was pushing her around. Her mother taught her to stand up for herself: “My mother was afraid that if I gave in to my fears, it would set a pattern for the rest of my life.”

That’s what we can learn from these great examples: when we give into our fears, and not just during test preparation, we set patterns, a k a habits — of backing down and backing away. Our loss of confidence and feelings of self-doubt contribute to physical tension and we become distracted from our goals. These can become life-long patterns, where we end up achieving much less than we ought to (than we are really capable of), all because of performance anxiety. Each of the First Ladies learned new patterns and went on to achieve great things.

Performance anxiety is a pattern built on habits: physical tension, self-doubt, distraction. If you want to reverse the pattern you learn the tools to create a helpful, growth-ful, empowering pattern. You learn to be calm, confident and focused.   Remember the 3 legged stool (Chapter 3 in my book).

Here’s the link to the article.  And please, send in your stories about your own patterns and how you are turning them around.

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/11/18/what-made-michelle-obama-anxious-and-nervous/

As one year makes way for another my dream is that all students cultivate their highest, brightest, shining selves. May they all learn to be calm, confident and focused, and become active contributing citizens to a just, peaceful and thriving world.

While the First Lady spoke to a group of high school girls in Denver, as part of a new mentoring program she is kicking off, Mrs. Obama gave her listeners a bit of practical advice on test preparation: “You’ve got to prepare for the tests, take them seriously because they are part of the measures, they’re part of the system. But don’t let these tests defeat you. Don’t let them define you.”

Mrs. Obama is touching on two very important points in test preparation: 1) take tests seriously;  2) don’t let the tests defeat or define you.

I agree. Taking tests seriously means looking at the question: how can I grow from this experience (this test)?  Students I see in my practice often treat tests as something they have to get over and done with. “Just tell me what I need to know for the test.” Unfortunately this is wasting everyone’s time and energy. Tests are there for you to learn the material, not just spit it back. When you take on the challenge of really learning something (understanding it, knowing how it is relevant to your life). you will grow intellectually; and just as importantly, you will grow personally. You will take on the challenge, you will become stronger in yourself, you will be building your emotional and cognitive muscles to take on other challenges in your life, all the tests we all face every day.

Mrs. Obama is right, don’t let tests defeat or define you. Treat them as an opportunity to grow, to be a better, stronger, more knowledgeable, tuned in and resourceful person. You’ll become the kind of citizen the President and First Lady will be proud of. You’ll become the person you are proud of.

To read Lynn Sweet’s article go to:  http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/11/18/what-made-michelle-obama-anxious-and-nervous/

Send me your stories of how tests have helped you to grow. I’d like to publish them here.

Michelle Obama had test anxiety.

In a talk she gave to high school students,  First Lady Michelle Obama spoke about her own struggles with test anxiety.  “I was never a great standardized test taker,” she said. “So from a personal level, I would always get nervous and feel a great deal of anxiety over test-taking. So it was always a point of frustration for me personally.”

In talking about herself she is helping countless students across the country and around the world. Test anxiety is a very common problem and one that disempowers many students at all ages. For one of the most significant public figures in the world to be open about her own struggles with testing, and to have accomplished all that she has, shines a light into a subject that many students find hard to discuss and for which they receive little help.

In the next few posts I’d like to reflect on Mrs. Obama’s willingness to discuss her experience and how it actually can help many many others.  Thank you First Lady, for being so human!

And thank you, Lynn Sweet, in Politics Daily, for covering the story. This kind of sensitive, humane reporting is helpful to countless students, parents and teachers. To read Lynn Sweet’s article, go to   http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/11/18/what-made-michelle-obama-anxious-and-nervous/