Arel Moodie, in his TED talk “The Secret to Student Success”, debunks several beliefs about what it takes to be successful.
Choose one point he makes that you could argue. Explain. Choose one point he makes that you definitely support. Explain. Give specific examples from your experience, if possible.
I had a hard time finding something to argue with, but the one thing that stands out is when Arel was saying he is not smart. He was very smart in the fact that he figured out what works for him. And it was through the effort that he put into his studies. He overcame his hardships and the demons that were telling him that he wasn't good enough. In my book, that is smart! We are going to come across students who are going to have that exact viewpoint of themselves that we can encourage and help them overcome and realize their worth. Effort is Everything. I firmly believe this statement. You can be the "smartest" person out there, but if you don't put forth effort, you will struggle and possibly fail. We can be the examples for our kids and we can also teach our kids about effort.
ReplyDeleteAs many have commented on, there are not really any points to disagree on. However, one point he makes that I could argue is the idea that anyone can succeed if they simply work hard enough. I agree that effort is extremely important, but I think there are still barriers that can make success harder for some students than others, such as lack of support at home, mental health struggles, or needing to work outside of school. I have taught students who have strong work ethics but are juggling sports, jobs, and family responsibilities. Even when they try their best, it can still be overwhelming. So while effort is key, I think access to support systems also plays a big role in success.
ReplyDeleteA point he makes that I definitely support is that students succeed most when they are actively engaged in what they are learning. When students feel connected to the material, they naturally want to try harder. I’ve noticed this in my own experience: in classes where the teacher makes learning interactive, through labs, projects, or discussions, it feels easier to stay motivated. I am a science teacher and try hard to include all of these options but could walk down the hallway to another science room where kids have disengaged with the conet as it is extremely boring But in classes that rely only on lectures or worksheets, it’s harder to care, even if the topic is important. Moodie’s point that “showing up and participating” leads to success feels true, because the more involved you are, the more you get out of the experience.
Support: Growth mindset is the way to success. This is something I used on the first day of school every year with all my students. We talked about the difference between growth mindset and fixed mindset. We talked about the different ways of thinking, different ways of communicating with that thinking and how to be successful. This is something I referred back to and did activities with throughout the entire year and students always remembered.
ReplyDeleteArgue: Effort is everything. I agree with this to a point, but there is a part of it I don't agree with. Yes, a person can have all the talent and can be smart and if they don't apply themselves then it doesn't matter. But, a person can also not have much talent and not be very smart and put all the effort they have in and it can still not be enough for certain things. Even if they try their hardest and put in all the effort they can, they still might not be able to cut it (for certain things).
I agree with what Arel Moodie says regarding effort being more important than natural talent or intelligence when it comes to success. I also believe that having natural talent or intelligence combined with effort makes an naturally easier formula for reaching success. I appreciate how he shares that success isn’t reserved for the “smart” or the naturally gifted; it’s built through consistent effort and perseverance. I believe that as well. His story about putting his mind to succeeding in college and deciding to “outwork everybody” really resonates with me. It’s a reminder that determination, resilience, and the willingness to keep pushing forward can equate success. In my experience, I see students who may not be the most academically talented achieve incredible growth and accomplishments simply because they are willing to try, learn, and keep going despite the challenges they face.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me deeply sad to hear about the pain he felt when he thought he wasn’t smart or talented enough, to the point where he questioned his own life and even considered taking it. His father’s message, that we are given the problems we are meant to overcome, and that success is on the other side of effort, is so incredibly powerful. It reminds me how critical it is to support students emotionally, reinforce the growth mindset, and to help them see that their effort matters and can lead to outcomes they might not have ever dreamed of.
While I honestly don’t find much in his talk that I would disagree with, I would note that success and opportunities may look slightly different for some students depending on their home support, access to resources, and other circumstances they may face. Recognizing those differences is important, but the principle that effort drives success remains true. Lastly, I appreciate how he ends with the idea that we can create opportunities we didn’t know existed. This statement reinforces that success is not fixed, and persistence can open doors in ways we can’t always predict.
I am one of those people who put in a lot of time and effort in my studies. I would always re-read information and/or have my mom answer questions and study with me when she had time. I found that the constant review helped the information I was learning stay with me in a way that worked for me. My mom would use her time to help me become successful. I used this strategy at college, too. Writing labs, science labs, math labs all saw me at some point in time. I wanted to make sure I had the concept that I was to know and understand.
ReplyDeleteI was successful in music and used that success in the classroom. I LOVED playing the saxophone and would practice everyday. I remember getting to a point that I needed more lessons to continue my playing and my parents contacted a university and I was able to take lessons from a professor each week. I kept playing and learning. Although I never made All-State Band, it did not stop me from playing and in college I received first chair and continued my journey. I used this as a way to earn a music minor.
I agree that effort is a huge component in success but there are some students who can give all that they have and not be successful in some area due to lack of resources or support or other struggles they may have such as a learning disability, mental health concern or juggling many different classes, sports, job. I know that I had all the support from family, but would never have become a doctor no matter how much effort I put into it. My interest in science and math were not at the level needed and that is the reality. We can help students understand they need to work hard and persevere but it may not always lead to what they thought would happen and that means turn another direction and that is okay.
I so enjoyed this TED talk! I couldn't agree more with his message. I've been telling my students {and my kids} this for years. "Grades aren't about how smart you are, but rather about how much effort you give." 100% While intelligence plays a role, grades often reflect a student's willingness to follow instructions, manage time, and work consistently.
ReplyDeleteSome students are given a gift where they don't need to study as much. Other students have to study more. But it is knowing yourself and knowing which you are. As he says, "anything worth doing, takes time."
As others have said, it's hard to argue anything... but when he says "whether you're not good at it, with the right amount of effort, you become good at it..."
Effort is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for high level success. While effort is required to develop any skill, the ceiling of that skill is influenced by a lot of things that may beyond there control.
The point of his message "Effort is Everything", I both agree and dis agree on this point. I think you must have all three to achieve your goals and to be successful; you must be smart, talent, and putting forth the effort to become successful. In order to be successful in life you must have all three, but I think putting in the effort is the most important part of the formula. I think a person that wants to be successful must be somewhat smart and talented, but if they do not put the effort into success, they will never reach their goal in life. I know a lot of people who are smart enough to pass the test without doing the work and some others that the subject matter comes easy to them, but without the effort they will not be successful. In school I was never the smartest kid, nor even the most talented child, but if I wanted something in life I would work very hard on achieving the goal that I set in front of me.
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