STUDENTS HAVE TO PERSEVERE TO DO WELL

STUDENTS HAVE TO PERSEVERE TO DO WELL

By Domenick J. Maglio Phd. Traditional Realist

Practically every parent of a preschooler will announce to the school administrator that his or her child is exceptionally smart. Usually they are correct since most children are very knowledgeable and talented in certain areas but not all. Young children at this early stage of development are able to absorb an incredible amount of material very readily.

Many early bloomers continue to find doing most activities easy and effortless but eventually they will “hit a wall” where things become difficult. For the first time they have to devise an approach to overcome something that challenges them. They have to learn the process of focusing their energy to find a solution. This usually takes time and stick-to-itiveness to grasp difficult material for these students. For the first time they need to observe, study, try to improve and teach themselves many new skills, which they never needed before. This decision to improve is a crucial challenge that either they accept and confront their personal difficulty or they pretend the problem does not affect them. If they do not address their academic weaknesses they fall further and further behind. When the previously advanced students give up by resting on their reputation as good students, the lack of urgency to do better does not bode well for these previously bright students.

Only 56% of college students graduate after 6 years in college while almost half of these do not although most have the ability to complete it in the traditional four years. The expression that you can do anything you put your mind to include graduating from college. The willingness to work hard for an extended length of time to reach goals is a better predictor of students graduating from college than standardized test scores, income levels or the parents graduated from college. In other words, effort, perseverance, drive, determination, passion, will power and “grit” or whatever you want to call it is the important variable of a student navigating the hurdles and obstacles necessary to graduate from college. Too many college students seem unwilling or unable to motivate and to do what is necessary to push to get across the finish line.

Researcher, Angela Duckworth of the University of Pennsylvania, studied thousands of public school juniors.  The study confirmed “grit” was the most important variable to successfully completing college. She noted that the same passion and perseverance was found in spelling bee contestants and West Point cadets to excel in a fierce competitive environment. The Navy Seal selection process is predicated upon the physical and mental tasks becoming extremely difficult so that candidates will self select to leave the program. The warriors who are left standing are the cream-of-the-crop possessing perseverance and are better able to successfully complete missions.

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” This phrase seems to sum up competitive winners in all aspects of life. These go getters figure out every angle to have an edge. Students who had to work hard to earn their grades in earlier years, unlike those who were naturally bright and talented, had to teach themselves how to do well. These previously average or failing students had to work hard to improve their standing. Failure is a great teacher. They realize the importance of time manage to optimize their available time and fill in many academic gaps. By carefully studying, analyzing any and all tasks they become more efficient in retaining information through specifically employing and developing memory techniques. Most of these striving students create and meet deadlines in keeping their own commitments to self and others. This produces positive work habits such as reading instructions thoroughly, following directions and studying difficult material until they comprehend the new concepts. Most understand they have to self-reward to stay motivated for the long haul of completing their academic studies using these techniques and others. By concentrated effort these techniques turn failure into triumph.

As the students find new methods to learn more effectively and retain knowledge they become empowered to set higher and higher standards and expectations for themselves. The work ethic grows. Reading more and attempting more complicated and complex problems stimulates more abstract thinking. These breakthroughs increase their drive to put more effort into conquering new academic challenges.

Regardless if a student has a great academic aptitude, once the young adult enters college, there will be many temptations to capture the student’s attention and time. Without the drive and discipline to give sufficient effort and time to their studies, assignments and meeting of all other personal reality demands the student is not going to be successful. They need a large dose of passion to complete their degree requirements. Many excellent, intelligent students lives will be less than their full potential if they do not develop these traits.

Graduates who did everything they needed to do to complete their requirements and more have proved to themselves they would successfully hurdle the next life challenge. Each accomplishment strengthens the discipline, personal goals and will power to complete one’s future personal goals.

They will expand their objectives by possessing the self-discipline, perseverance to obtain the abilities to be successful. They have programmed themselves to do whatever it takes, which is a winning formula.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio is an author of weekly newspaper articles, INVASION WITHIN  and a new just published book, entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.