High school students gathered in the auditorium on Thursday, January 8, for an inspiring assembly centered on mindset, gratitude, and resilience. Students heard from Rebecka Peterson, the 2023 National Teacher of the Year. Her message focused on the power of gratitude and the impact of finding one good thing each day.
Peterson shared her life-changing experience of intentionally identifying one good thing every day and journaling about it. She explained that this proactive habit of focusing on the positive not only reshaped her perspective but also inspired her to stay in the teaching profession during challenging seasons of her career.
As she connected with students, Peterson encouraged them to look at both sides of gratitude when journaling: What did I give today, and what did I receive? This reflective balance, she explained, deepens awareness and helps gratitude become a lasting habit rather than a fleeting thought.
Peterson also discussed scientific research that supports journaling by hand. She shared that brain research shows writing with pen and paper activates more areas of the brain and creates more complex neural connections than typing. “When writing by hand, brain connectivity patterns are far more elaborate than when typing on a keyboard,” Peterson told students.
Writing is a complex, multisensory process that requires coordination between thought, movement, and vision—perceiving the pen and paper, forming letters, controlling pressure, and organizing ideas. This integration strengthens memory and learning. Typing, while efficient, requires less cognitive involvement, according to a recent study by Marano et al.
Putting research into action, Pryor High School students will begin their own One Good Thing Journals during Tiger Time. Thanks to a grant from the Pryor Academic Excellence Foundation, every student received a journal to support the activity. PAEF founding board member Cathy Webster was on hand to welcome Peterson and witness the launch of the journaling project.
Through personal stories and thoughtful insights, Peterson challenged students to recognize the impact of small moments, kind actions, and positive choices. She emphasized that focusing on one good thing each day can shape mindset, build resilience, and influence how students move forward in their lives and learning.