I see Can Do! attitudes in play every day.
That’s because my job as the Cyclebetes Director of School Initiatives allows me on-going communication with our student leaders across the country. I love the spirit of youth – there’s so much to learn from them! The internal critic that is dominating and forceful in our adult minds just hasn’t had the time to develop in young people and as a result they come up with amazing ideas! Their internal critic is saying, “Cool”, “Sweeeet” “Wicked”.” Ours is sounding more like this, “NO….Don’t say that it’s a bad idea!”, “NO….Everyone will laugh”, “NO….That’ll never work!”
The Cyclebetes student leaders come up with some really wild ideas, they reach for the sky and beyond. They say What if and Why not? They place goals and targets high on the scale. Adults around them encourage them to be realistic and to lower their expectations. Hearts in the right place of course – not wanting the students to be disappointed by ‘failure’. From what I’ve experienced as a mom, to a now almost 20 year old daughter, and from witnessing the journeys of the Cyclebetes student leaders isn’t it better to support the Can Do! attitude with encouragement and a silent inner critic and judge? Some of the most amazing, creative, extraordinary work my daughter produced was with a vision that I quietly thought was unattainable. She also experienced ‘failures’ but she simply picked herself up and kept running albeit on a slightly revised course. Sometimes the ‘failure’ impacted her more deeply but the lessons and the accelerated growth she gained from non-success was greater than previous successes! I’ve seen student leaders solve problems and go around obstacles with ideas I would never have thought of –and –they work – work very WELL! I’ve watched students debrief an event identifying with great enthusiasm parts that didn’t work but they’ve already got tons of amazing ideas for next time.
Failure – no problem – just a dip in the road on the way to success!
What I’ve learned from youth – Do not fear failure and if I can dream it – there’s a pretty good chance I can do it!
Thanks for the lessons!
As teachers you’re pretty good!
Author: Cheryl Wilson-Stewart Director of school initiatives. “Our responsibility is to mentor and support these young people they are outstanding!” She is also the founder of Mindblasting and author of several creativity curriculum in use throughout the world, Cheryl is a consultant to both business and education sectors.
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Tags: can do, community, cure, Cyclebetes, Diabetes, JDRF, leadership, road to success, Spin-a-thon, type 1
