Each month at the College we will be focusing on a character strength which we would like to make our students aware of and develop in them. Perseverance is our strength for this month.

So what is perseverance?

Perseverance is the ability and self-control that pushes you to work through challenges. Having perseverance means that when you are facing a challenge, you use your mind and your body to overcome it. Perseverance means you are able to wait and work through difficulties, whether they have to do with your mind, your body, or your emotions.

No matter what the challenge, perseverance is important because it is the drive that helps you get through the obstacle to the easier bit on the other side. Even though it feels so hard when you are working through a challenge, perseverance keeps pushing you through to your goal and to the good feeling that comes with knowing you did your best.

As a parent we always try and ‘save’ our children from any form of challenge but we should be allowing them to grow through their experience. When we allow our children to fail we do three very important things: We cultivate perseverance, we cultivate tenacity and we cultivate hope.

When we allow our children to fail, we teach them to persist despite difficulty or delay in success. Perseverance is all about working hard despite disappointment or failure. It teaches us to keep trying even if takes days, months or years to succeed. Furthermore, when we allow our children to fail, we teach them how learn an idea or concept firmly. Tenacity is all about teaching your child to keep trying until they reach their goal.

At the College our programs, camps and wellbeing days aim to challenge our students allowing them to grow in a supportive environment.

Helen Del Frate

Dean of Students