Struggles Shared by Two: Cultivating Resilience in Vulnerable Students
In a heartwarming tale of resilience and determination, a young woman's journey from academic struggles to academic success serves as a beacon of hope for at-risk students. The speaker, once a child facing similar challenges, shares his story with his daughter and celebrates her successes, playing a crucial role in her transformation into a resilient young woman.
The daughter, who felt useless and on the brink of giving up when she couldn't succeed, found support and learned valuable life skills from Mrs. Fleming, a teacher who believed in her potential. Despite facing frequent calls from school, emails from teachers, and even being removed from the cheerleading team, the daughter persevered. Her struggles were gradual, but small successes built upon each other, culminating in her making the highest level of a competitive cheer team and eventually becoming the captain. With cum laude academics and acceptance into Penn State, her journey is a testament to the power of resilience and positive expectations.
The Pygmalion Effect, a psychological phenomenon, underscores the impact of positive expectations on an individual's performance. When a person, such as a teacher, believes in someone's abilities, it can significantly boost their confidence, motivation, behaviour, and ultimately their results. In the context of student performance, the Pygmalion Effect suggests that when teachers hold high expectations for their students, those students tend to perform better.
This effect was evident in the daughter's case, as well as in the stories of many other children who, despite being labelled as at-risk, demonstrated remarkable resilience and became competent, well-adjusted adults. A longitudinal study of Kids of Kauai found that one-third of at-risk children overcame multiple high-risk factors such as poverty and family instability to lead successful lives.
Another child, the son of a single mother, was evaluated by the school psychologist as being at risk of failure due to below-average intelligence, depressed verbal scores, and poor social awareness, leading to hostility and poor impulse control. However, with the right support and guidance, he too could have a chance at success.
The speaker, now a non-parental mentor, provides hope and guidance to at-risk students, emphasising the importance of teaching resilience and small wins. Small wins, incremental successes, are powerful for at-risk students, offering them a path to success. The stories of children who overcome failure can provide strategies to help countless others lost in a fog.
In the 1960s, a study showed that positive expectations from teachers can significantly impact student performance, a phenomenon known as The Pygmalion Effect. As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern education, it's crucial to remember the power of positive expectations and the transformative impact they can have on a child's life.
- The young woman, who once felt useless and on the brink of giving up, found support and learned valuable life skills from a teacher who believed in her potential.
- The Pygmalion Effect, evident in the daughter's case, suggests that when teachers hold high expectations for their students, those students tend to perform better.
- Small wins, such as the daughter's successful transition from a cheer team member to captain, are powerful for at-risk students, offering them a path to success.
- As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern education, it's crucial to remember the power of positive expectations and the transformative impact they can have on a child's future, as shown by the 1960s study on The Pygmalion Effect.
