Failure *is* an option. Just ask MJ, J.K., and Walt

No one likes to fail. Failure brings with it an array of emotions that can leave us feeling less than our best selves. However, failure is a natural part of the learning and growth process. Michael Jordan didn’t make his 9th grade basketball team. Walt Disney was fired from the Kansas City Star newspaper because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was rejected by 12 publishing houses (whoops!). Each of these “failures” used their failure to learn, grow, adjust, and as fuel to achieve their goals and dreams. Similarly, our goal must be to help our students turn setbacks into valuable stepping stones on their path to academic success and happiness.  

Here are a few suggestions:

• Reframe failure:
  • Use language that empowers rather than discourages: Instead of saying “I failed,” say “I didn’t succeed this time, but I learned something valuable.”
  • Acknowledge the effort: Bring attention to the hard work, dedication, and courage they displayed just by trying. 
  • The positive reinforcement can be the fuel your child needs as motivation for future attempts.
• Learn from failure: 
  • Identify key takeaways: What knowledge or skills did they gain from the experience? Brainstorm together.
  • Translate those lessons into specific, practical steps for improvement for the next time.