Learning Unboxed 224. Aggressive Optimism with Jenna Edwards
Mar 25, 2024
Jenna Edwards, author of 'Aggressive Optimism,' shares her journey of overcoming PTSD and trauma. She discusses the crucial difference between aggressive optimism and toxic positivity, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in emotional healing. Jenna highlights how her novel serves as a resource for high school students, offering relatable characters and mental health tools. Educators play a pivotal role in fostering resilience, and Jenna suggests proactive strategies to support students facing challenges. Her insights aim to create a supportive environment for adolescents.
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Jenna's PTSD Journey and Book
- Jenna Edwards shares her traumatic experience of developing PTSD after an accident and losing her ability to sing and speak normally.
- She wrote "Aggressive Optimism" based on this story to help high school students relate and find mental health tools.
Getting Book Into Schools
- Jenna encourages educators to help get her book into schools by partnering to create curriculum and presenting to school boards.
- She offers to collaborate and adapt materials to overcome school board resistance, making the book accessible for teens.
Meaning of Aggressive Optimism
- Aggressive optimism means acknowledging current challenges without emotion and aggressively finding ways to overcome them.
- It's proactive resilience that refuses to let failure happen, adapting tools and approaches persistently.
