The Sticky Note That Broke Me
There was a moment during one of our POAC sessions when I had to stop midway through reading a sticky note and ask Jamie to finish it for me.
As I have shared in other stories, we facilitate a powerful activity called What I Wish People Knew. There are no names, no pressure, just truth. Students quietly write something they wish others understood about them, something that, if known, might create more empathy.
The Note That Stopped Me
Her note read: "When I see my overweight self in the mirror, it makes me want to cry.
I wonder why I can't look like other people."-8th grade girl
That one note represents a reality many students carry every single day. Schools are designed to teach reading, writing, and math, with a strong focus on academic content. But here is the truth: we do not explicitly teach students how to love themselves, and that may be the most important skill of all.
What Research Shows
Self esteem is directly connected to mental health and resilience, helping protect students from anxiety and depression.
A strong sense of belonging reduces depression, anxiety, and stress, with effects that last into adulthood.
Students who feel connected and valued are more likely to succeed academically and emotionally.
What I Saw as a School Leader
I observed this firsthand as a high school principal, not only with my students, but with my own children as well. We ask students to perform academically while many are silently struggling with how they see themselves.
I recently listened to a podcast featuring Tony Robbins, who has spent decades studying human behavior. Through his work, he identifies six core human needs that every person prioritizes differently:
The Six Core Human Needs
Certainty — the need for safety and security
Variety — the need for change and excitement
Significance — the need to feel important and valued
Connection and Love — the need to feel accepted and belong
Growth — the need to learn and develop
Contribution — the need to give and make a difference
What I observed consistently is that these needs are rarely taught or even discussed. Students move through their K to 12 experience learning content, but very little about themselves or how they learn best. It is no surprise that so many students chase significance, because they are constantly being compared to peers, competing academically or socially, or measured against expectations at school and at home.
A Simple Step That Changes Everything
One simple but powerful step is to ask students, or even your own children, to share what they wish you knew. This conversation uncovers their 90 percent, what lies beneath the surface, and provides insight into how to better support them.
POAC is about creating awareness, but we do not stop there. We plant the seeds, and students do the work. When students begin to understand that they are not alone, that everyone carries something unseen, and that each person is unique and worthy, everything changes.
That sticky note did not just share one student's story. It revealed a much bigger truth: We do not always see what students are carrying, but we have the power to change what they carry moving forward. And that is the work of POAC.
About the Author
Dr. Tracy Platt President of Educational Strategies, POAC Succeed
Dr. Tracy Platt is an experienced educator and leader who has spent more than 25 years supporting students, staff, and school communities. Her work focuses on trauma awareness, student behavior, and building systems that help people feel safe, valued, and connected. Tracy has served as a teacher, principal, and district leader, and she now guides POAC Succeed’s educational strategy with clarity and compassion. Her writing reflects her commitment to helping students understand themselves and feel seen in their school environment.
