12/4/19
So far, each newsletter has dealt with social media. This week I want to pause social media and talk about finishing strong. The fall semester will come to an end soon, I can’t help but think about finishing strong. It doesn’t matter if it is in the classroom, in business, or in sports, finishing strong is vital if you want to be successful. Anyone can start an activity, a project, a paper, or a sports season. Does everyone who starts finish strong? The simple answer is no. But why don’t people finish strong? I’m sure if I asked people if finishing strong was important, they would say yes. Yet, not everyone will finish strong.
I believe the reason people don’t finish strong is because it is hard, and because we have formed habits that deter us from finishing strong. It is pretty easy to start something. We jump in and off we go. We think we have a plan and know exactly how things will go. Then we start to hit bumps along the way. It could be an unforeseen circumstance, an injury, or an issue with motivation. This is the point where most people start to struggle. Sometimes, the end is in sight, but it is easier to coast through the finish instead of accelerating through it. Other times, things aren’t going how we thought they would, so it seems easier to just quit than strive on. We feel unequipped and don’t want to continue.
People who finish strong set themselves apart from others. A growth mindset is essential to finishing strong. (A growth mindset is believing you can get better through focused effort, and that making mistakes along the way is a part of the growth process.) When you understand that mistakes are a part of the learning process and without them, you aren’t growing, you will develop the perseverance needed to finish strong.
Challenge:
Encourage your student(s) to finish the semester strong. Check-in with them daily and hold them accountable. Remind them that finishing strong is a life skill that will benefit them greatly throughout their lives.
This is the last Thunder Connection of this semester. They will resume second semester.
Thunder Connection 11/19/19 - "All About the Likes" Personal Value Development
Thunder Connection 11/12/19 - An "On All of the Time" Mentality
Thunder Connection 11/5/19 - Information Overload
Thunder Connection 10/29/19 - Sending Mixed Messages
Thunder Connection 10/22/19 - Social Media and Altered Expectations
Thunder Connection 10/16/19 - Hacks for Homework
Thunder Connection 10/8/19 - The Sincere Slacker
Thunder Connection 10/1/19 - Managing and Prioritizing Tasks
Thunder Connection 9/24/19 - Choosing a Time and a Place
Thunder Connection 9/17/19 - Why Write it Down?
Thunder Connection 9/10/19 - Social Media and Five Things Most Teens Want
