Thrivers - Perseverance and Optimism

3/21/2024

Carrie Brown, Head of Lower School

Over the past month in Chapel, students have learned about perseverance and optimism, the last two character strengths of thrivers as discussed in the book, Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kinds Struggle and Others Shine by Michele Borba. These two strengths help students to cultivate will.

According to Borba, we can teach kids perseverance by cultivating growth mindsets, setting realistic and manageable goals, and teaching students that mistakes are just problems waiting to be solved. Ways to do this include praising effort, modeling perseverance, and allowing kids the right amount of struggle. According to the research, having perseverance can be even more impactful than innate intelligence.

The second trait that helps children cultivate will is optimism. In our world, where we have a constant barrage of negativity in news stories and media, optimism can be difficult to teach. We can instill optimism by sharing good news, encouraging good deeds, finding examples of goodness in books and movies, acknowledging good thinking, and modeling optimism.

As we finished discussing the seven character strengths of thrivers, we read the book, Helen’s Big World by Doreen Rappaport, about Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan. Both Helen and Annie are examples of people who thrived. Our children can also thrive if we teach them about the importance of self-confidence, self-control, curiosity, integrity, empathy, perseverance, and optimism. Focusing on these character strengths will help enable kids to be nurturing, determined, and contributing members of their communities.

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Trinity School of Midland

3500 West Wadley Avenue, Midland Texas 79707 - Email: info@trinitymidland.org - Phone: (432) 697-3281 - Fax: (432) 697-7403 -