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Quotes to Help Us Stay Confident

Guest Contributor


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We all experience ups and downs, and for students, the tough times can feel especially heavy if they're buried under a big load of coursework and maybe feeling homesick. From grades to their social lives, they can easily lose sight of themselves and their own self-worth.

The college years can be stressful for parents, too. We worry about how our kids are adjusting to college and life on their own at the same time that we're dealing with our own personal challenges.

Sometimes a few well-chosen words are all we need to feel a boost of confidence. Here are some quotes to bring inspiration to both you and your student. A few ways to give them more impact:

  • Leave Post-It notes on desks, mirrors, the bedroom door and other places you or your student look often.
  • Make them your phone wallpaper.
  • Write them in your journal.
  • Share them on social media.
  • Text one to your student today!

Quotes for Students

  • “Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism.” – David M. Burns, Psychiatrist
  • “If you can't fly, then run. If you can't run, then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King, Jr., Minister and Activist
  • “We were not born with the unhealthy habits we carry. We had to learn them. So we can unlearn them, and help others do the same.” – Riane Eisler, Social Systems Scientist

Quotes for Parents

  • “It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves, that will make them successful human beings.” – Ann Landers, Columnist
  • “If you aren’t good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you’ll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren’t even giving to yourself. – Barbara De Angelis, Author and Consultant
  • “Whatever they grow up to be, they are still our children, and the one most important of all things we can give to them is unconditional love. Not a love that depends on anything at all except that they are our children.” – Rosaleen Dickson, Author

Let these quotes serve as a reminder to you and your children of what you can accomplish and what your true worth is.

Find more quotes related to self-worth and body positivity >

If you're a new college parent looking for resources and support, download the First Semester Guide for College Parents.

Lydia McAllister is a content creator covering topics ranging from business to lifestyle. She calls Texas home and enjoys digging into a great book, baking and traveling in her spare time.
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