Lean into resilience

In a recent blog post, best-selling author Seth Godin wrote of expectations: 

     When we raise our expectations for a student, a friend or a co-worker, we open the door to possibility. We offer them dignity and a chance to grow. We are offering them trust.

     But if we become attached to those expectations, if the expectation unmet leads us to distress or unhappiness, then that attachment undermines the very reason we created the expectation in the first place.

It’s an important point. Try and untether your emotions, celebrate the journey, and find the positive. It’s there if you’re willing to look for it. When we set a high bar, we need to understand that oftentimes the student won’t reach it. How adults respond will impact the student’s growth mindset and next steps. Will they shut down or be resilient? It’s up to us to model the latter.