Hope, the Summer Olympics, and a new school year

On Friday, Rio will welcome the world to the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics. As each nation enters the arena, each athlete will be brimming with hope and promise. The work to get there is complete; on Saturday morning it will come time to stand and deliver. Many students enter the school year the same way: with best laid plans in place to keep on top of their work, study in advance of exams, and conquer procrastination. As Olympic athletes know full well, hope is a great start, but it’s not enough. To find success, it takes consistent effort, practice, and follow through. As the school year gets underway, keep in mind that while your child may have every intention (hope) of following through on all of the goals he sets, he may not have the tools or skills in place to see them through to fruition. Remember: If he could, he would. If he can’t, the adults in his life need to help and guide him. Hope is a powerful motivator, but it’s only a preliminary step to being successful.