The national report on the State of Self Esteem reported that 7 in 10 girls believe they do not measure up in areas such as school performance, attractiveness and relationship success. It also noted that 75 percent of girls with low self-esteem reported engaging in risky behaviors, such as disordered eating, cutting, bullying, smoking or drinking.
On Saturday, February 21st, the Robert Crown Center for Health Education (RCC) presents “Happy to Be Me!” a luncheon celebration for girls and the important women in their lives. The event provides powerful tools to help girls develop self-esteem, led by Professional Health Educator, Barb Barrett, RN, BSN, who combines humor with thought-provoking challenges. She inspires her female audiences to believe in themselves, develop character and live a balanced life. This fun and energizing event includes the luncheon presentation, boutique shopping and raffles.
“Heroes in stories are heroic because they are faced with what seem to be insurmountable obstacles, and which they find the power to overcome. Heroes, like us, initially face challenges with hesitancy and fear.” said Barrett. “Being a hero isn’t about meeting the ideal or being perfect. It’s about creating positive thoughts and energy, tuning out negative feedback, and embracing opportunity.”
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Several national studies focus on girls’ self-esteem and the reasons for its decline in adolescence. According to a survey done by The Commonwealth Fund of New York, only 2 in 5 high school girls describe themselves as highly self-confident, while as many as 1 in 4 girls claim they either disliked or hated themselves. According to the NYU Child Study Center:
• Eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression are the most common mental health problems in girls.
• By 15, girls are twice as likely to become depressed as boys.
• Health risks that accompany girls’ drop in self-esteem include risky eating habits, depression, and unwanted pregnancy.
During her “Happy to Be Me!” presentation, Barrett reinforces the message that we all possess personal power. Participants learn that they are in charge of their choices and responsible for being the hero of their own journeys. The fundraising event costs $50 per person, with proceeds going to support RCC’s mission. The event runs from 11a.m.-2 p.m. at The Carlisle, Lombard, IL. Registration is available at http://www.robertcrown.org/events.php.
Judy Hsu, co-anchor of ABC7 News Chicago, will emcee the event. Many area businesses have contributed to the success of this initiative: Brandsma Family Foundation, DuPage Medical Group, Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, FROMM, Hinsdale Dental LLC, Hinsdale Magazine, MB Financial, Nellie and Ed McCarthy, Reflection Software, and R.W. Collins Co, Sarah Martinath - BHHS Koenig Rubloff Realty Group, Hinsdale. In addition to support by event sponsors, dozens of volunteers from Western Springs, Hinsdale, La Grange, La Grange Park and Chicago have donated many hours of assistance to making this annual event a meaningful experience for young women and girls.
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The Robert Crown Center for Health Education (RCC) is the nation’s first health education center and the largest provider of health education for school-aged youth in the Chicago region. More than 5 million students have learned from RCC’s science-based programs on healthy eating, puberty, human reproduction, tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse prevention. Last year, more than 90,000 young people and adults from eight counties received RCC programs. RCC educators customize learning experiences for audiences according to their age, gender and developmental levels. RCC operates facilities in Hinsdale and Chicago.
