Too many students in America take education for granted. They do not have to work for it or fight for it, it is just handed to them. I am not suggesting that students should have to struggle to get a good education, but it is helpful for us to remind our children periodically that what they have is a gift, and this gift is not given to everyone. It was eye opening for my daughter to read Mala’s book about being shot in the head by the Taliban, simply because she stood up for her right to get an education in Pakistan.
There is a lot of apathy today among students regarding their education. Students expect learning to always be “fun” and for teachers to create games to engage and entertain them in the classroom. Perhaps the digital generation growing up today is spoiled by the instant gratification and feedback they get from social media and video games.
As parents we need to stress to our children that life is not all about fun and games. Sometimes life is hard, and we have to buck up. Resiliency and hard work will see us through when life gets challenging in school, at work, and in our relationships. If we give our children permission to give up when things are difficult, then we do not teach them the critical skills they will need to succeed in life.
Students who work with us on private school admission put in a lot of hard work over an extended period of time (usually a year or longer) in order to achieve a goal (admission to private school). We get a good sense of the student’s character and work ethic throughout this process. Students who are resilient, who are not afraid of hard work, and who realize that achieving a goal is not easy, and it takes dedication and commitment, are the ones who are successful. Parents who support their child through this process, while holding them accountable, are installing important values that will last a lifetime.
A student who can persevere, bounce back from set backs, work hard to achieve a goal, and who values the education they receive is the kind of student a private school wants.
Anne Yount Boston ISEE Prep 617-553-8083 www.bostoniseeprep.com - Test Prep for the ISEE & Latin School Exam Boston Tutoring Center 617-553-8083 www.bostontutoringcenter.com - Tutoring Grades K-12 Boston Private School Search 617-553-0540 www.bostonprivateschoolsearch.com - Your Resource for Private School Admissions Follow my Blog - http://privateschoolguru.com/blog/