IT’S OKAY TOIT’S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELPASK FOR HELP IT’S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP By Ilyana Natasha A story about growing, learning, and believing in yourself.

I really want to do my best. Aina was a 16-year-old student who always tried her best at school. She wanted to make her family proud and do well in her studies.

I studied so hard… why am I still struggling? Maybe I’m just not good enough. One day, Aina received her exam results. Some of her marks were lower than she expected.

Everyone is doing better than me… I got a really good mark for Science! When Aina saw her friends talking about their results, she started comparing herself with them. Aina began to believe that her grades determined her worth.Theory: Erikson — Identity vs. Role Confusion Developmental idea: Adolescents are developing their sense of identity and may become sensitive to how they see themselves compared with others. (Erikson, 1968)

I don't want anyone to think I'm weak. Instead of telling anyone how she felt, Aina kept everything to herself. She stopped talking about school and avoided asking for help.

Aina, you seem a little quiet lately. Is everything okay? I'm fine, Mom… You don't have to handle everything by yourself. Her mother listened without judging her.🧠 Theory: Self-Determination Theory Supportive relationships can satisfy the psychological need for relatedness and help adolescents feel supported. (Vansteenkiste et al., 2020)

One exam doesn't decide who you are. Let's figure out what you need together. I'm scared that I'll disappoint everyone. Of course.Can you help me make a study plan?

The next day, Aina decided to talk to her teacher about the subjects she was struggling with. Teacher, I understand some topics, but I keep getting confused during exams.That's okay. Let's look at your mistakes together.

Aina also started studying with her friends. Let's do this question together! Ohhh, now I understand! Slowly, Aina became more confident.Self-Determination Theory: Relatedness → studying with friends Competence → understanding difficult topics Autonomy → taking responsibility for her own learning (Vansteenkiste et al., 2020)

A few weeks later, Aina had another test. Her result was better, but it still wasn't perfect. Hmm… I still made mistakes. But that's okay. I know what I need to improve.

Aina now views her ability as something that can develop through learning and improvement. I want to improve, but I don't need to be perfect. I can ask for help, learn from my mistakes, and still believe in myself. Aina finally understood that her grades were only one part of her life.

Aina still had difficult days. She still worried about exams sometimes. But now, she knew that she didn't have to face challenges alone. And remember, we're always here! We're proud of you. Thank you. I think I'm learning more than just what's in my textbooks.

“Asking for help is not a weakness. It is part of growing.”