Let's compare two students, both slow to read.
- A child who is slow to read, and simply told that he/she needs to read faster to be successful, might think: "Everyone else has learned to read. My parents try to help me, but as soon as they teach me, I forget again. Nothing makes sense. Nobody can teach me. I'm to stupid to ever learn to read."
- The persistent child witht he same problem, however, might think: "Everyone else has learned to read. This is really difficult. My parents try to help me, but it's not working. I don't know what to do next, but I need more help."
The first child, without a mindset shift, is set up for failure. The second, if given the assistance he/she needs, is set up for success.
Psychologist Angela Duckworth writes:
"First, some people are, in general, more persistent and passionate about long-term goals. Compared to their less gritty peers, these individuals are more resilient in the face of adversity, bouncing back after failure and disappointment and otherwise staying the course even when progress is not obvious. Second, grit predicts success. Grit is not the only determinant of success – opportunity and talent matter, too. But on average, grittier individuals are more successful than others, particularly in very challenging situations."
In fact, Duckworth's research found that, while IQ can predict scores on standardized tests, “grit” is a better indicator of GPA, graduation, and college success.
The wonderful thing is that learning differences, such as dyslexia and dyscalculia, also come with gifts -- they are often able to look at the world in wonderful and unusual ways, leading to innovation skills or other special abilities. But their best gift is the necessary inner grit needed to persevere.
That, ultimately, is the key to success: knowing that, despite your difficulties now, if you keep trying, you will eventually succeed.