Talent, Grit and Emotion

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In my last blog I made an analogy between the emotions involved in soccer, basketball and boarding school admissions. Today I'm thinking in terms of golf and dance.

At the Masters Golf Tournament last weekend, we saw the epitome of success and emotional release overcoming moments of failure when Sergio Garcia won his first Major Tournament - at the 73rd attempt! This was a perfect example of grit, perseverance and talent working together, and of Winston Churchill’s maxim to “ Never, never, never, never - in nothing great or small, large or petty - never give in!”

 

I couldn’t make it to the Masters in Augusta, but was captivated by the human drama that unfolded on television.

Switching genres, on Saturday my wife and I had enjoyed a powerful evening of dance by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal, part of Dance Victoria’s 2017 season. They are a world-class troupe of dancers and their performance was both high octane and emotionally uplifting. Here is a brief clip from their program – Minus One:

 

There were many dancers of high school and college age in attendance. In our boarding schools, we aim to expose our students to excellence in talent and the evoking of emotion. That was certainly on display last weekend to young and old alike.

Dreams and Failure: from basketball to boarding, from soccer to success

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On my home page are the words “Dream Big.” Last week I related the March dream for US boarding school places to the college basketball championship. Sunday the U. of South Carolina dreamt big and, for the first time, earned a place in the Final Four of the March Madness US college championship!

Many students this month are feeling similar excitement after earning a place at their dream boarding school. Others are not feeling this way. How do young people deal with rejection – in fact, any of us really?

Last July my home country of Wales also dreamt big when their soccer team made it to the semi-finals of the European Championships, also for the first time. They did so with a major upset of much-vaunted Belgium.

On the sidelines after the game, feeling the euphoria and with stunned Belgian supporters in the stands, Welsh coach Chris Coleman spoke movingly about what this upset victory meant, in terms of both having dreams and of facing failure. It's 48 seconds of magic:

He speaks both of dreams and of failure and the importance of both. Some young people will be feeling a sense of failure at not achieving their dreams in this admissions cycle– but I would add the word “ yet. “

Think of Coleman’s words and keep striving, keep looking for success and it will come. For parents, don’t despair, keep searching with your child for the next dream school, encourage your child to be resilient in the face of apparent failure, and the right school will emerge. Success in life arises from facing, and overcoming, what are just moments of failure.

March Madness

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This week admissions staff take a breath – if they can – during Spring Break. Many of them will be relaxing this coming weekend by following on television the US college basketball championship euphemistically called March Madness.

Meanwhile, the boarding equivalent of March Madness from March 10th ensues as families sort through acceptances in order to make a choice by April 10th – US boarding school D Day for families!

March Madness

March Madness

In Canada, the process is called rolling admissions as decisions are made daily and continuously. As spring develops, stakes will increase on a daily basis as schools aim to reach net tuition revenue targets and fill boarding houses with the best fit of students. 

At the same time, in both countries re-enrollment forms have been sent out and returning students now, in a crucial sense, become part of the admissions mix. Schools where admissions staff have stayed in close touch with their enrollees from prior years, will be the ones who can be decision influencers to help sometimes volatile teen decision-making in their choice of leaving or staying on for a further year.

Panic can sometimes set in around potential attrition at schools. But as with worrying, panic is not a strategy. Pro-active schools have Retention Committees to reach out to students and parents to discuss any concerns and to seek solutions. This close contact is the way to beat decision – making madness.

 

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“Ignore bad advice and be your best self” – John Katzman, Princeton Review

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I’ve been thinking about impact and self this week. As a consultant, my experience provides impact to families who are researching the boarding school landscape, yet I must convince families of the impact that I can provide. In a similar vein, the student must have impact when introducing oneself to a school.

The educational consultant must listen very carefully to the aspirations of families and through in depth knowledge of schools and of young people, guide them to research those that could become the right fit. This list of schools should range from “safety,” to “ reach,” to “dream.”

When searching schools in a vacuum, a family can get sidetracked into a research pattern that could very well be a dead end. Reliance on school brand, magazine rankings and listening to friends can lead further into traps. A consultant is a trusted guide through the maze of schools.

This week I spoke with a mother from California who is attracted to two boarding schools on Vancouver Island for her gifted son. I was delighted to introduce these schools to her and I was able to realize the positive impact my thoughts had as she began her research. If her child enrolls at one of these schools it will be a transformational experience. That’s what it’s all about.

On Friday I switch gears and speak with a family from Beijing. It is a privilege to open up the world of Canadian and American boarding schools to global families.

In all situations, the best advice is for the child to develop their best self and present themselves positively to the right fit of schools. That will provide impact. Success will follow.

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