In Dublin City Schools, we are committed to preparing our students for a future that is ever-changing and full of opportunity. While academic excellence remains our foundation, we also know that true readiness extends beyond test scores and GPA. It lies in developing a crucial life skill: resilience.

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges, adapt and adjust, and persist in the face of challenging events. It’s a quality that helps us not only endure adversity but also grow from it. Research consistently shows that this skill is a powerful predictor of future success. The Harvard Center on the Developing Child highlights that building resilience in young people can help them cope with stress, manage emotions, and maintain positive mental health, setting them up for a lifetime of well-being.  Success isn’t about removing barriers, it’s about helping students to learn to overcome them.

As adults, we’ve all faced moments when things didn’t go our way. For our students, these moments can feel immense—a low grade on a test, a tough loss in a game, or a failed audition for a part in the musical. The instinct for many students is to give up, but this is precisely the moment when learning truly begins. Failure isn’t the opposite of success; it’s an integral part of the journey toward it. When we learn from our mistakes, we are less likely to repeat them, and we gain valuable insight into how to approach future challenges differently. This is the essence of a growth mindset.

This is where the role of teachers and parents is so critical. It is our responsibility to create safe spaces for students to struggle. By allowing them to embrace discomfort, we are empowering them to develop the inner fortitude they will need to thrive. When a child learns to navigate a tough situation—whether it’s a difficult math problem or a complex social dynamic—without a parent or teacher immediately jumping in to solve it, they build confidence and self-efficacy.

The parallel between the classroom and fields of sports and music is a strong one. Think about the countless hours athletes spend in practice, learning from every missed shot or fumbled play. Each “rep” is a chance to identify what went wrong and adjust. The same is true for musicians who perfect a piece through repetition, learning from every wrong note or missed beat. This deliberate practice—the act of repeating, learning from mistakes, and adjusting—is the real key to learning and mastery. It’s the science of learning in action.

As a school district, we are committed to helping our students understand that success isn’t about avoiding failure, but about how we respond to it. By encouraging a culture of resilience, we are preparing our students not just for college or a career, but for a life where they can face any obstacle with confidence, knowing they have the strength and skills to overcome it.

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For more information visit https://www.focusedleadership.net to learn more about services provided by John Marschhausen.