Let's Teach Teenagers to Persevere!

Definition of PERSEVERANCE

: continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition : the action or condition or an instance of perseverance.

I've been thinking a lot about the word perseverance  and how it relates to my teenagers and teenagers of today.  I'm not sure that they get the opportunity to persevere through situations anymore.  Too often we are quick to help our children out of a bind, give trophies to all, and let students re-do without consequences.   Teenagers are told to try their best...but, are they ever taught how to do that?  What is this idea of "best" anymore?

 I've been watching my boys over the last few weeks train for their cross country races. Cross-country is a wonderful way to teach perseverance.  Yes, they are part of a team, but they are always racing against their own time.  Setting goals and working toward them...even when it is hard (the dirty little word that no one says anymore).  After each race they are excited to see if their goal was met and to analyze what went well and what did not.  

 I'm not sure if we teach this elsewhere though.  Too often, my boys take a test, get a grade and it ends there.  I think an important part is missed after that grade is given.  They are never given the opportunity to analyze what went wrong or right.  How do teenagers persevere and overcome their difficulties, failures or opposition if  never given the chance to figure out what is right?

I recently came across this article.  Seems as if I'm not the only one pondering over this topic!  I believe we will see more and more of these studies as we go on.  Doing something that is difficult is a good thing and we have to teach our teenagers not to quit and switch to the next best opportunity. That their lives will be that much more enriched once they understand and persevere.