Hello, wonderful readers!
I’m Dakta Eesher, and I am so excited to be starting this journey with you. Every week, right here in these pages, we’re going to talk about the things that really matter to you, the things that sometimes feel too big, too confusing, or too awkward to bring up anywhere else.
You see, being a teenager is one of the most exciting and most demanding seasons of life. Your mind is growing. Your body is changing. Your friendships are shifting. You’re figuring out who you are, what you believe, and where you fit in. Nobody hands you a manual for any of this. That’s where Growing Minds comes in.
Think of this column as a safe corner just for you, no judgment, no lectures, just honest conversations about real life. We’ll talk about how your mind works, why you feel the things you feel, how to learn better and stress less, how to take care of your body, and so much more. Some weeks we’ll dig into psychology. Other weeks we’ll talk about study habits, friendships, self-care, or things you’ve never had anyone explain to you properly. Every season, we’ll explore a new theme together.
A little about me: I’m an educator and psychologist at heart, and I’ve spent years working with young people, listening to them, teaching them, and learning from them in return. I also write, and I believe deeply in the power of understanding your own mind as the first step to living a good life. I’m not here to talk at you. I’m here to talk with you.
I come to this conversation from more than one angle. I’m a mother of four, so I’ve watched young minds grow up close, every single day. I’m also the eldest daughter among many siblings, which means I’ve spent a lifetime guiding, listening to, and learning alongside young people long before it became my profession.
Between family and career, understanding young minds isn’t just what I studied t’s what I’ve lived.
So here’s my promise: every week, I’ll bring you something worth thinking about. Something that helps you understand yourself a little better and navigate this exciting, sometimes overwhelming stage of life with more confidence.
This season, we’re starting with four big ideas: Emotional Regulation, Achievement Motivation, Self-Concept, and Locus of Control. In simple terms, we’ll explore how to manage your feelings instead of being ruled by them, why you want what you want, who you really think you are, and whether you feel in control of your life or controlled by it.
These aren’t just fancy psychology terms, they’re lenses that help you see yourself and your life more clearly, so you can adjust, improve, unlearn what isn’t serving you, and relearn what will.
Ready? Let’s grow together.— Dakta Eesher
