Unlocking the superpowers in students
through via character strengths
“What do you want to be?”
It’s a question nearly every child hears. For some, it sparks imagination—dreams of being Eleanor Roosevelt or Amelia Earhart. But as students grow, that question often becomes a source of stress. Many don’t yet know what they’re good at, so how can they know what they want to “be”?
That’s where the language of strengths comes in.
Across the world, scientists have identified 24 character strengths with qualities like bravery, creativity, fairness, and curiosity that live inside each of us. These strengths are like superpowers, universal across every culture and community. The challenge is that students often don’t realize they have them.
A child who speaks up about injustice? That’s not “disruption,” that’s bravery. The student who never stops asking “why”? That’s curiosity. A child making sure everyone gets a turn on the playground? That’s fairness.
When we as mentors see, name, and connect these strengths to the real world, we flip the script. Bravery becomes not just speaking up in class, but a neurosurgeon making critical decisions. Curiosity becomes not just questions in school, but a journalist uncovering truth. Fairness becomes not just playground rules, but activism that amplifies voices.
As mentors, we are mirrors. We help students recognize what’s already within them. The challenge is simple:
1. Spot a strength.
2. Name it.
3. Connect it to the world of work.
When we do this, we shift the question from "What do you want to be?” to “Who do you want to be?” And in doing so, we unlock the superpowers every child already carries inside.
Want to help a child discover their superpowers? Just Say YES to mentorship
For more information on VIA Institute’s Character Strengths, see here.
About Anne Wallace: With more than two decades of experience across corporate, nonprofit, and startup spaces, Anne brings a unique blend of psychologist, organizational leader, consultant, coach, and social entrepreneur to her work. As founder of Coaching for Change, she is guided by the belief that the most sustainable transformations are rooted in human experience. Her approach, anchored in behavioral science, design thinking, and the art of human connection has supported executives, nonprofits, and social impact startups alike. Backed by credentials in coaching, positive psychology, and healing-centered engagement, Anne’s work reflects both a vision for systemic transformation and a deep respect for the humanity of every individual she partners with.