How Girls Can Build Confidence Before the School Year

The end of the school year doesn’t have to mean a pause on progress. In fact, summer might be the perfect time for young girls to build confidence, grow their skills, and return to school feeling strong and sure of themselves.

Instead of thinking of summer as just a break, it can be used as a season of renewal and reflection. For many young women, this time can be both exciting and confusing. There's freedom, yes, but also the challenge of what to do with it.

While the school year provides structure, summer creates space. That space can be filled with opportunities that shape how girls see themselves. Whether it’s through leadership workshops, reading, trying a new hobby, or building deeper relationships, each experience has the power to shift how a girl feels about her place in the world. YWEA believes that confidence doesn't always show up in loud ways. It can start quietly, in small steps taken daily, and in the belief that you are worthy of becoming more of who you already are.

Creating Space for Reflection

After a long school year filled with assignments, peer pressure, and nonstop activity, a little breathing room can be the best thing for mental clarity. Without school bells and deadlines, girls have time to ask themselves meaningful questions. What makes me feel happy? What makes me feel nervous? What kind of person do I want to become?

This self-awareness is the root of confidence. It’s not about being perfect or always knowing what to do. It’s about being okay with who you are, even when you're still figuring things out. Summer gives girls a chance to slow down and listen to themselves. Journaling, meditating, or simply spending quiet time outdoors can help them connect with their thoughts. That personal time, when protected and encouraged, becomes the foundation for stronger self-belief.

It's easy to think that confidence must come from external success. But real confidence often grows when no one is watching. When girls take time to know themselves, they can step into the school year not just prepared for class, but more aware of their own values, goals, and boundaries.

Learning Without the Pressure

During the school year, learning is measured with grades and tests. But in the summer, there’s freedom to explore interests without fear of failure. That’s a game-changer. Girls can dive into reading stories that speak to their spirit, explore creative writing, learn to code, or build things with their hands. This type of learning opens doors to curiosity and passion.

Some girls may feel like they are only “smart” if they perform well in school. Summer proves that this isn’t true. Intelligence is not just about academics. It’s about asking good questions, trying new things, and pushing through challenges. By choosing to learn during the summer, even in informal ways, girls send themselves a message: I care about growing for my own reasons.

Confidence grows when there is proof that effort matters. Whether it’s solving a puzzle, learning a new recipe, or picking up a book about women in history, every new piece of knowledge becomes a brick in the foundation of self-trust. And when fall comes, those same girls are more likely to speak up in class or take on leadership roles, not because someone told them to, but because they believe they can.

The Power of Mentorship and Connection

One of the biggest gifts any young woman can receive is guidance from someone who understands her path. That’s why mentorship is such a key part of YWEA's mission. Over the summer, girls often have more freedom to participate in mentorship circles, online workshops, or meetups that connect them with older girls and women who can share real-life advice.

Having someone to talk to who has been through similar situations brings relief. It removes the feeling of being alone in your experiences. Whether it’s figuring out how to handle friend drama, goal-setting, or making choices about the future, hearing from someone who gets it can shift a girl’s mindset completely.

Mentors are not just there to give answers. They ask questions that help girls think for themselves. And they offer support in a way that builds emotional strength. When young women feel seen and heard by someone who respects them, they often rise to the level of that belief. That is where confidence quietly begins to grow, in the safety of someone else’s steady presence.

Building Confidence Through Action

Sometimes confidence starts in the body. The way you move, carry yourself, and treat your health can directly shape how you feel inside. During the summer, there’s more time to try new physical activities without the stress of competition or school obligations. Dance, yoga, walking groups, hiking, and even gardening can reconnect girls with their bodies in healthy ways.

These activities don’t have to be intense or showy. What matters is the feeling they leave behind. A sense of calm. A rush of joy. A spark of strength. Physical movement reminds girls that their bodies are capable, and that message gets stored in the brain. When girls feel good in their skin, they are more likely to speak their minds, ask for what they need, and try things they used to avoid.

Taking care of your body is not about changing how you look. It’s about learning to appreciate what your body does for you. That appreciation shows up as confidence in the classroom, in social settings, and in moments of challenge.

Friendship That Builds Instead of Breaks

Girls face a lot of pressure when it comes to friendships. Summer break can be a time to reflect on which relationships feel real and which ones leave you feeling drained. Without the daily social shuffle of school, girls can take a breath and think about what kind of friends they actually want.

The best friendships are those that make you feel safe, supported, and excited to be yourself. They aren’t always easy, but they should never make you feel small. During summer, spending time with people who make you laugh and feel heard is like medicine for the spirit. These relationships don’t just bring comfort, they teach you what healthy connection looks like.

Girls can also use this time to meet new people. Volunteering, joining summer programs, or participating in local events can bring new friendships into their lives. And each positive connection becomes proof that they deserve good relationships. That is a huge step toward confidence.

Preparing for the School Year With Intention

Building confidence before the school year, as summer starts to wind down, it’s helpful for girls to think about the kind of year they want to have. Not in a pressure-filled way, but in a way that feels hopeful. What are you curious about this year? What’s one thing you want to try that you didn’t do last year?

Planning for the school year doesn't have to mean making strict goals. It can mean choosing a few small things that will help you feel more in control. That could be setting up a quiet study space, choosing your clothes the night before school, or deciding that you’ll raise your hand at least once a week in class. These small actions are like personal promises. And each time a girl keeps one, her sense of confidence gets stronger.

YWEA encourages girls to use the last few weeks of summer to prepare mentally and emotionally. This might mean organizing your thoughts with a planner, making a playlist that keeps you motivated, or writing yourself a note about how far you’ve come. These little rituals make the transition back to school smoother and more intentional.

Staying Connected to Your Purpose

When girls know what they care about, everything becomes a little clearer. Summer is a great time to ask questions about purpose. What excites me? What issues matter to me? What can I do to make a small difference in my world?

Confidence grows when young women see that they have a voice and that their voice matters. Whether it's through writing, art, speaking, or quiet acts of kindness, expressing purpose can be life-changing. It helps girls feel that their presence in the world is needed, not just accepted.

YWEA exists to support this kind of thinking. Through programs, events, and mentorship, we aim to make sure every girl knows that she matters. Not for what she does, but for who she is.

Summer doesn’t have to be a gap between grades. It can be a time of real strength-building. The kind that sticks. When girls use this time to reflect, learn, connect, and act with intention, they aren’t just getting ready for school, they’re becoming more of the strong women they are meant to be. Confidence isn’t a moment, it’s a mindset, and summer is the season to build it.

Sources

Girls Leadership: https://girlsleadership.org

CDC on Youth Mental Health: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm 

National Mentoring Resource Center: https://nationalmentoringresourcecenter.org

YWEA: https://ywea.org