Yes. I am your school counselor. I am also a parent of three elementary age students. A new year, new teachers, different friends, the same friends, the list goes on, things I think about and often worry about. I suppose my children worry but often I think I worry for all of us. "Ah mom, I'll be fine," my 5th grader reassured me as we were talking about fears of middle school. It's still a year away but he has been asking more and more about it. I still cringe in my head, "but what if it's not."
What if it's not fine?
That seems to be the million dollar question. What if my kids try and fail? From academic tasks to the social world ... what if they fail? They'd be crushed. I'd be crushed for them.
I've been hearing a lot about the word "failure". My summer realization is, failure leads to success. Failure Leads To Success! It's true for me, it's true for my children, it's true for all students.
Successful people fail. Henry Ford is quoted as saying, "Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." As I type, my oldest is pouring over the newest Harry Potter book. Oddly enough, J.K. Rowling was rejected by 12 publishers before her first book was accepted! Failure - a motivator for those who can see past their disappointment and learn. "All things are difficult before they are easy," Thomas Fuller. We call that a 'growth mindset'. Learning from our failures. When we struggle, accept the struggle learn from it.
I hope, as we approach this new school year, we can all develop a growth mindset. In all areas of life, there is failure. However, there is also success. As a parent, I must allow my kids to fail in order for them to learn and achieve success. As a school counselor I must encourage my students to learn from their failure.
What if it's not fine?
That seems to be the million dollar question. What if my kids try and fail? From academic tasks to the social world ... what if they fail? They'd be crushed. I'd be crushed for them.
I've been hearing a lot about the word "failure". My summer realization is, failure leads to success. Failure Leads To Success! It's true for me, it's true for my children, it's true for all students.
Successful people fail. Henry Ford is quoted as saying, "Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." As I type, my oldest is pouring over the newest Harry Potter book. Oddly enough, J.K. Rowling was rejected by 12 publishers before her first book was accepted! Failure - a motivator for those who can see past their disappointment and learn. "All things are difficult before they are easy," Thomas Fuller. We call that a 'growth mindset'. Learning from our failures. When we struggle, accept the struggle learn from it.
I hope, as we approach this new school year, we can all develop a growth mindset. In all areas of life, there is failure. However, there is also success. As a parent, I must allow my kids to fail in order for them to learn and achieve success. As a school counselor I must encourage my students to learn from their failure.