The key to student success lies in feeling like they matter for who they are, beyond their achievements. Research has shown that the instinct to matter is a significant driver of human behavior. Healthy strivers, who excel despite pressure, have a strong sense of mattering and exhibit positive behavior in the classroom and at home. Mattering is closely linked to solid relationships, which are essential for children to feel like they matter. While independence is valued, cultivating the skills of interdependence, the ability to rely on others and have others rely on them in healthy ways, is even more crucial.