As a 6th grader at Martin’s Creek Elementary
School in the mountains of North Carolina, there was nothing that I enjoyed
more than playing softball. I was fortunate that our small school afforded me
the opportunity to cultivate this interest during recess and PE. I soon began spending every spare minute
practicing or trying to get someone to “pass” with me. I continued to play for
the next 15 years. I commonly attribute
the development of my own understanding and personal commitment to hard work
and determined perseverance to the ongoing pursuit of proficiency and success on
the athletic fields. Put another way, I
learned “grit.”
Grit, or dedicated effort over the long haul, is important. In fact, many colleges and universities are
beginning to introduce “grittiness measures” in to their admission
considerations. College completion rates
are at an all-time low in the United States.
Too many students, it seems, just give up when the going gets
tough. Too many of them have never been
held accountable for committing to a pursuit or endeavor for an extended period
of time or to putting forth the ongoing effort necessary to develop proficiency
or mastery.
The idea that personal effort over time results in skill
development is expanded in Angela Duckworth’s book Grit: the Power of Passion and
Perseverance1. I am especially intrigued by her idea that, as parents,
we can foster grit by encouraging our children to participate in at least one
extra-curricular activity of their choice. She actually recommends that as soon
as our children are old enough, we sign them up for at least one structured,
extra-curricular activity outside of class and that we require that our
children stay with it for at least a year.
In fact, Duckworth suggests we require our children to stick with a
pursuit for two or more years during high school. As a social scientist and a
parent she believes that kids thrive when they spend at least some part of
their week doing hard things that interest them. Ballet, piano, karate,
basketball or any structured activity provide two important elements that are
hard to replicate in any other setting. First there is a supportive, demanding
adult in charge who is not the parent.
Secondly, committed participation develops practice skills and fosters a
sense of purpose and hope. Some coaches realize the importance and ask players
to take Duckworth’s Grit Scale linked below to partner with students to further
develop their perseverance or grit.
Duckworth shares that school can be difficult but it is not
always interesting. When teens are texting their friends or watching TV, it is
interesting…but it is not hard. Things like dance, acting, athletics or
learning to play an instrument can be both and it provides a wonderful
opportunity for challenge and intrinsic motivation. Duckworth also shares that
many long-term research studies indicate that students who participate in
extra-curricular activities end up with better grades, have higher self-esteem
and are less likely to get in trouble.
I agree with many of Duckworth’s ideas throughout her book
such as the importance of cultivating a child’s interests, developing a daily
habit of challenging practice, and that connecting to a purpose beyond yourself
increases happiness. The idea that learning to hope when all seems lost stuck a
chord with me as well. We will all experience failure and we must learn to pick
ourselves up and try again.
I can think of a number of friends, adults, and teachers in
my life who have encouraged me, provided guidance or challenged my potential at
critical times throughout my life. The
grit they unknowingly helped me develop along the way has served me well. I am reminded that we, too, must all be
cognizant of opportunities to invest ourselves in the lives of others. Our children will only learn those things we decide
to teach them. It takes time. It takes effort. It takes grit. Got grit?
1Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The
power of passion and perseverance. London: Vermillion.
2Duckworth, A. (2016).
Grit Scale. Retrieved July 08, 2016, from
http://angeladuckworth.com/grit-scale/
Note: Originally Published in Southern Distinction Magazine, Vol 4.4 2016
