"Self‐Esteem Team, SET to our friends (as OC’s you may consider yourself part of that collective) began in 2014.


I affectionately refer to it as a hobby that spiralled out of control. What once slotted nicely in and around my galavanting worldwide with bands of varying genre now takes over the lions share of my existence. It has also taken the rock and roll edge away from my galavanting, schools tour seems to offer fewer late nights, bright lights and big cities, though where mayfield is concerned I was pleased to note much the same quantity of wine and cake!


out the best in me whilst simultaneously harvesting the worst.


I’d experienced episodes of depression from a relatively young age, not that I knew at the time what they were. It also turns out (I say that because I didn’t find this out till much later) that I’d experienced episodes of mania and/or hypomania too, which speak to my diagnosis of cyclothymia - a mood disorder that lives on the Bi-Polar spectrum. My lack of understanding as a youngster meant that after leaving home for university and throughout my years as a touring musician I had been cultivating an environment that was perfect for my episodes to not only exist but to thrive. I didn’t learn this or receive a diagnosis until I’d been delivering SET classes for about a year.


It goes without saying that these episodes held me back in terms of my potential, but I always feel that’s a flaky argument for why good mental health is so important.


I am human being, my contentment and ability to exist comfortably inside my brain matter. They matter enough to be the sole driver for me to want to evoke change for myself and others, because they deserve contentment in their brains too.


SET began as a way to offer teens the classes we felt we had needed when we were younger - the class that little old me needed when she didn’t quite fit; something to help teens feel comfortable in the skin they’re in, regardless of what that skin happens to be; a way to help them tap into the confidence that lives inside all of us somewhere; a springboard to helping them find their voice - it has become a far different animal. It has become something, we believe, that doesn't just strive to make the now palatable but that sets (pun intended) them up properly for life, so their futures can be full of contentment as well as attainment. I don’t think we knew then just how in demand those first classes would turn out to be. We certainly didn’t know then that SET would grow in size and in vision.


The Old Cornelian SUMMER 2017 SET Self-EsteemTeam


On the one hand I miss that old life, on the other SET offered some much needed respite. You see, I was a distinctly average teen. I got decent enough grades; I never caused a problem in class and you wouldn’t find me in the nurses office avoiding PE or searching for excuses to go home, but I didn’t enjoy school. I never quite felt like I fit there. I found my tribe when I moved out of that sleepy village at 18 and fell into the music industry. I found creatives everywhere, folk who dressed how they wanted; walked and talked the way they wanted; went to bed when they wanted; ate, drank and thought what they wanted and I wanted in! This exotic world of expression, talent and infinite possibility bought


It now strives to equip children from the age of eight right through to 18 with the understanding and skills they need to fulfil their potential. Whilst we have an ever expanding repertoire of classes (from porn to bullying to stress management), we use a few key drivers to do this: students must understand the world around them better; they must understand their brains and emotions so they’re able to notice if something doesn’t feel right; their schools and families must have the tools with which to create environments that foster good mental health and; students, parents and teachers must know where to go if they need more support than they can currently access. These themes run through every class we deliver and in the audience options we provide. Sprinkle in a little humour and compassion and we think you have the recipe for, at the very least, a good old fashioned confidence boost and, at the most, an emotional and mental health education.


I’m sure, as OC’s, it comes as no surprise to you that Mayfield have been keen to work with SET to offer this type of education to their girls but I must also mention that throughout my school tours of the UK I meet many students, parents, teachers and therefore schools and communities. I meet many individuals striving to make things better for the next generation and I meet many communities working towards getting that right. My time spent at Mayfield highlighted just how much of SET’s drivers are already shared with Mayfield’s. The proof of that pudding is in the activity and conversation you see in the grounds, and the wonderful youngsters I meet on each visit. This makes it a phenomenally exciting place to be and I feel privileged every time I return.


Of course, we hope you’ll join us in our mission to help make the world a more positive-mental-health friendly environment. I suppose the real purpose of this story is to remind you that whilst it’s easy to believe we don’t have much influence or impact when it comes to matters of this magnitude, in fact we do. In our interactions at work or home, with friends and with family, in the areas we chose to educate ourselves, in the things we click on in cyberspace and the newsletters we subscribe to via snail mail. In those moments that don’t always feel pivotal but in fact we are cultivating and crafting


the environment in which we and others must exist. With that at the forefront our our minds I believe we can make it a better one!


Please know that you are already on that mission, through your support of Mayfield, but if you’d like to go one step further, SET have a plenty of ideas.


Welcome to the family, don’t be a stranger! Grace and The Self-Esteem Team


OC 53


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