10-1-2020

 

“Focus on your strengths instead of your weaknesses, on your powers instead of your problems.”                                        

                                                                           – Paul Meyers

I have never been a coach or even played an organized sport, but I have heard coaches talk about the importance of not imagining the negative, but rather focusing on the positive result.  For instance, when shooting a free throw, a player steps to the line, visualizing the ball going through the hoop, not by saying, “Don’t miss it.  Don’t miss it.” 

I do think it is an interesting balance because we also realize that in order to improve, we need to be engaged in meaningful assessment of how we can improve where we are weak. 

This has baffled me with student learning.  If we have a student who is very talented in math, but struggles in reading.  Do we pull him from math class to offer extra help in reading or do we focus on his strength and let him excel in math?  As Einstein said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”  At the same time, we understand that we have an obligation in education and for our own growth to work on our faults and continually improve.  I would like to think that our major focus is on the strengths, and our secondary emphasis is on working on weaknesses. 

In high school, my Bill took what history courses he had to take to meet requirements and get a basic understanding, but social sciences are not his thing.  At Stanford, he is taking 3 or 4 math and physics courses a quarter, along with an occasional creative writing course if he can fit it in, but he is going to skirt through the core requirements without taking a single history course.  His focus is on his strengths and his passions.  Now, I am not proposing that we ditch the notion of a well-rounded education.  Obviously, K-12 students need to explore so they find their passions, as well as developing core skills.  The true excitement in learning and life, though, often occurs when students (and adults) find and follow their strengths.

By focusing on the positive -- both in the moment and in the big picture, we feel better about ourselves, allow ourselves grace, and accomplish so much. 

                                                         Have a great week!

                                                                            Mary