Athanassios Karadimas
“ I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why
I succeed.”
The above are not a statement coming from some arrogant athlete, but words of the top, according to a lot of people the best, player of all times in the American professional basketball: Michael Jordan.
The entire western perception about education during the last few decades has been built upon success stories. Environmental factors are controlled aiming to high achievement and the avoidance of any failure. Young people receive strong messages about winning being their only option. Both parents and teachers point out high standards, not even referring to the chain of efforts before embracing desired success. Parents, in particular, by comparing student results, may lead their offspring to low self esteem, anger emotions and depressive feelings. The above psychosocial impact occurs from over parenting behaviours that limit academic performance and life skills. Focusing on success as the ultimate goal, may create narcissistic and dysfunctional personalities. Paul Taught, journalist and researcher, in his book “How Children Succeed” ( publ. by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012) points out that persistence, self-control, mental strength and determination are more significant skills than having intelligence IQ score 180.
Failure itself, as long as it is digested in a right way, leads to self knowledge. Empowerment of weak points and adjustment mechanisms. At the same time, we may consider alternative, new options and hidden opportunities. We learn to approach our existence in a manner within, different than the one that has been suggested by other people . In order to receive the “gifts” that failure brings, it is important to evaluate outcomes through a sincere and objective angle. This leads to self improvement and the realization of goals set, or the necessity of new focus points through adaptation.
And there lies the challenge for both parents and teachers .Effort encouragement, emotion management, adjustment to real situation, strategy development and evaluation of future plans will certainly enhance the emergence of life skills needed to deal with loss, exclusion and disappointment – possible experiences throughout of life. Failure may be our step towards successful materialization and we can make peace with it. Through this path , we get strong and realize our dreams , guided by our inner teacher , our personal coach, demanding and tough, but also fare.
“Fail. Fail again .Fail Better!”
Samuel Beckett
References
- McLaughlin M&Mitra,D.(2001).Theory–based change and change–basedTheory:
going deeper, going broader. Journal of Education Change, (2), 301-323
2. Roettger,C.(2006). Change From the Heart. The Journal for Quality and Participation, 29
(2), 18-20.