What Matters:
40 Developmental Assets
by Allison Heidorn
Fair is Fair
Photos by Beth Alden, Craig Cormier,
Kim Jones & Rebecca Bowmaster
When you look back at your life whatby Dan
will you
remember? Will it be the money you made, the cars you
drove or will it be the times you skipped rocks with your
children, laughed with a friend so hard it hurt, or comforted a
neighbor in need? The reality is that life is defined by solitary
moments that can’t be put into words, the relationships we
build with those who walk in our hearts.
Search Institute, a global leader in what youth need
Ladner
to become caring, healthy, and responsible adults, identified
the importance of relationships. According to their research,
there are 40 specific skills that contribute to thriving young
people including Support, Empowerment, Positive Identity,
and Positive Values. Search Institute termed the 40 skills, 40
Developmental Assets. Developmental Assets are about the
little things that come from our hearts such as supporting
a friend, volunteering and accepting differences in others.
According to Search Institute, the more assets young people
have