How do I develop Grit as a Student?
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Dictionary.com defines "grit" as "firmness of character; indomitable spirit; pluck". Having grit means that you don't give up, you stay the course, even when things are difficult. Many people think this doesn't account for much, and that talent (a special raw ability or aptitude) means everything. But they couldn't be more wrong. When you're a student, striving towards your degree, you don't need to be a natural-born genius to be successful. You need grit.
Wait, Talent and Genius are Overrated?
Not exactly. It's great to be naturally intelligent or naturally talented. But what determines your ultimate success of failure at a task is not whether or not you were born for greatness, but whether or not you gave up while trying to achieve it. Still confused? Here's an example.
Person A wants to be a violinist. They have a natural affinity for music and master the basics quickly. However, they never practice outside of class time. They don't take feedback well and develop a haughty attitude towards their studies.
Person B wants to be a violinist. When they begin, they are terrible. Even worse than average. However, they practice every day in a meaningful way, called deliberate practice. They take their time, improve their skills, and listen to feedback. Their attitude towards their abilities is hopeful and optimistic.
Science tells us that it's Person B, with their deliberate practice and stick-to-itiveness, who will ultimately be successful. Person A, even though they are naturally talented, won't go far with a poor attitude and no practice. Grit makes more of a difference than talent when it comes to long-term goals.
What does Grit have to do with my Studies?
When it comes to studying towards a degree, you might be wondering how you can use the principle of deliberate practice and grit to get you through. When you're in any degree program, let alone an accelerated one, you're going to have ample opportunity to display grit. After all, this is definitely a long-term goal. Even accelerated courses take a year or more to complete, depending on what kind of degree you want to get.
While 2.5 years might not be a long time for earning a traditionally 4-year bachelor's degree, it's indeed a great deal of time to be studying that intensely. No school experience is perfectly smooth, without even a hint of difficulty or challenge. Part of earning your degree is proving that you can overcome obstacles, persevere, and make it to graduation.
How can I use Grit to Help me Through my Degree Program?
The good news is that even if you don't have a lot of natural grit, you can develop it. Will it be easy? Well, no. But will it be worth it? Most definitely.
Here are just three ways to develop grit (there are lots more):
- Use Deliberate Practice: Practicing with focus and purpose will help you to improve what you're doing, whether it's something in your personal life or in school. Look at outside sources to augment your knowledge. Read text books beyond what you were assigned to get a larger picture of your field.
- Have Hope: This doesn't mean to repost all of the quotes set against sunrises that you can find on social media. This means to believe in your abilities, believe in yourself, and believe you can accomplish the goal. But the type of hope in question doesn't stop there. Simply thinking nice thoughts isn't enough. You can't positively think your way to a degree. You have to earn it. But you also have to believe you can. Hope is an active verb in this case--a deliberate practice. It's a positive thought that accompanies action.
- Befriend other gritty people: Your friends and family are a huge influence on you. If your friends and family are active, interesting, achieving people who set goals, plan how to get there, and then accomplish them, you are likely to pick up some of their positive traits--just as negative traits will rub off on you as well. If your current social circle is not what you would call gritty, maybe it's time to meet some new people.
Do you have grit? Are you ready for the challenges of higher education? If you think you'd be a good fit for ECPI University's accelerated programs, consider contacting an admissions advisor today to discuss your options.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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