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Many people,
young and old alike, believe that individuals are either “smart”
or not. They believe that “smart” is something you are —
an innate quality that appears as a birthright
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When it comes to schooling, too many people believe that success in
the classroom derives mostly from intelligence and aptitude. They are
mistaken.
Success in school, and in life, comes from effort, not just ability.
In fact, students who work hard at a subject often learn more than bright
children who don’t put in the time.
The message carries over to the rest of a child’s life, as well.
Even the most gifted athlete can’t be a winner without training
hard every day. The greatest artists need to study throughout their
careers. Beverly Sills continues to take singing lessons to this day.
Professional football players practice continuously. Olympic runners
train year round. All these individuals have great innate ability. They
would not be able to perform at top levels, however, if they did not
build on those abilities through practice and hard work.
The highest achievers are always those who work the hardest and do the
most with the gifts they have. The famous quote will always hold true:
“Genius is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.”
Penn State’s legendary coach Joe Paterno said: “Everyone has
the will to win; winners have the will to prepare.”
Help motivate children by telling them that success in school is something
they can all achieve, if they work hard enough. And it’s something
they’ll miss out on if they don’t.
These simple facts help create an attitude of effort that can make a
real difference in a child’s success in school. Helping foster
the practice of hard work is a wonderful gift that parents and teachers
can give to children of all ages.
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