Call Me a Dreamer

I just couldn't resist this lolcat:


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This is such a wonderful sentiment and fits beautifully with the message I teach my students: your attitude and your willingness to work are the biggest indicators of your future success.

I see this every day with my students. While students who come to me with strong skills have often developed the attitudes and work habits that bode well for their futures, this is not always the case, and I've found that ability is not the strongest indicator of success, but attitude. I've seen students who have had very little success in their previous attempts at education absolutely blossom because they are motivated to succeed and willing to put the effort in. It is truly a joy to be able to share with my students the steps they can take to increase the likelihood of their success, including helping them learn the skills that will support their attitude and work ethic, and to see them take those messages and run with them.

The most important message I share with my students is the value of having a positive attitude. When we tell ourselves "I can't," we make it far more difficult to achieve our goals. When we tell ourselves that we can succeed, we make success possible and easier. Also, a big part of a positive attitude is being willing to do what it takes. There's no substitute for hard work when it comes to succeeding in school, work, or in any other aspect of our lives.