I resisted rolling my eyes and sighing with frustration. How often had I heard this excuse when a student doesn't want to put forth an effort or becomes disheartened when a new attempt is not easy?
"How many times did you try it?" I asked.
"Well....I tried the first two lines once...but it was really hard."
I probably did sigh out loud as I tried again to convince a child not to simply quit trying every time something is hard. "You're too smart to give up that easily," I coaxed. "Be more determined than that!"
But inwardly, I felt my conscience prick me at my own words because I have felt tempted to give up some of my efforts lately. But isn't my reasoning different, more logical? Being much older than my students, I have already spent years striving after goals. Perhaps I have reached the end of my capabilities and bumped into the dead-end of my own limitations. "I'm not 'giving up,'" I sometimes argue with myself, "just accepting reality." Don't people reach stages in life where they face the retirement of some of their dreams?
I think of all the times I have pressed kids to persevere through stages of learning music that seemed impossible to them. If I hadn't pushed, how many songs would remain untouched in their books, visible reminders that they "can't do it" every time they flip the pages? How many other times in life would they give up and shrink their own potential into an undersized compartment? How many times, when they become discouraged about learning another new piece of music, would I not be able to flip back and say, "See this song? Remember when you first tried it? Remember how you said you couldn't do it? But you DID?"
Yet still, I sometimes hear the same whispers they hear, those enticements to give in and quit expending energy on what may be unattainable. I might easily believe that a fresh, young child---without years of doubt and defeat tripping them up---is capable of almost anything. But me?
I'm older than they are.
I have tried for years.
I have moments of shyness and memories of failure.
Maybe I am just realistically assessing my own competency.
Or maybe I am packing up my potential in a box that is way too small.
What about you? What do you believe is the difference between honestly
appraising your own abilities or simply giving up too soon?
I think of all the times I have pressed kids to persevere through stages of learning music that seemed impossible to them. If I hadn't pushed, how many songs would remain untouched in their books, visible reminders that they "can't do it" every time they flip the pages? How many other times in life would they give up and shrink their own potential into an undersized compartment? How many times, when they become discouraged about learning another new piece of music, would I not be able to flip back and say, "See this song? Remember when you first tried it? Remember how you said you couldn't do it? But you DID?"
Yet still, I sometimes hear the same whispers they hear, those enticements to give in and quit expending energy on what may be unattainable. I might easily believe that a fresh, young child---without years of doubt and defeat tripping them up---is capable of almost anything. But me?
I'm older than they are.
I have tried for years.
I have moments of shyness and memories of failure.
Maybe I am just realistically assessing my own competency.
Or maybe I am packing up my potential in a box that is way too small.
What about you? What do you believe is the difference between honestly
appraising your own abilities or simply giving up too soon?
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