I keep a little notepad on my desk to jot down ideas that I want to share through this blog. I have a few there now, but for this week, I was inspired by something we shared in the First Year Experience 101 course at B次元 just this week.聽Each week, we share a Habit of Mind (expertly organized by our FYE Director, Barbara Ruslander!). These Habits of Mind help students to focus on ways of thinking and behaving that can help them to reach their academic and personal goals.聽This week, the Habit of Mind focused on persistence.
The idea that no one fails if they persist at whatever they have set their minds to is so powerful!聽We all get tired, frustrated, overwhelmed, and even bored at times, but we have that power within ourselves to 鈥渒eep on keeping on鈥 as the saying goes.聽
Barbara is a fan of Albert Einstein and the many words of wisdom Mr. Einstein shared including the following about persistence: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not that I鈥檓 so smart, it鈥檚 just that I stay with problems longer.鈥澛燭he founder of the Sisters of Mercy had similar thoughts about persistence. As Catherine McAuley noted: 鈥淟et us take one day only in hands, at a time, merely making a resolve for tomorrow, thus we may hope to get on taking short, careful steps, not great strides.鈥
There are so many real-life stories of persistence that have resulted in great accomplishments for those who 鈥渒eep on.鈥 One such story is that of a 1992 Olympic runner named Derek Redmond which I share with FYE students. to hear聽Mr. Redmond鈥檚 story of persistence; it is guaranteed to inspire you.
Until next time鈥
Anne