Learn Something Hard
Back in school, I was sort of a mediocre student. I never quite warmed up to the whole classroom scene, and it showed in my lackluster effort and less-than-stellar report cards. Whenever the topic of my kids' schoolwork comes up with my mom, she never fails to regale me with the tale of our first-grade spelling sessions. Apparently, I couldn't even spell “did.” She always underscores the difficulty of spelling “did” with; “You could spell it backwards and still get it right, Annie!”
It wasn’t until college that I truly learned how to study. During my freshman year, I practically took up residence in the student success center, grappling with the enigma that was college algebra. My tutor, Sam, turned out to be more than just a math whiz. About three weeks into our bi-weekly tutoring sessions, I hit a wall and stopped showing up. Frustration and annoyance bubbled up—I couldn't believe I had to endure this stupid class. Then came Sam's email after my first missed session, a gentle nudge that I flaked. When I ignored her, she tried a second time and hit me where it hurt: “I only get paid if you show up. If you can’t show up for you, consider showing up for me.” I returned the following week and every week thereafter. And lo and behold, for the first time in my life, I brought home an A- in math.
Learn something hard.
Math was my nemesis, and I loathed every minute of it. College algebra, business calculus, economics—you name it, I despised it. The only numbers that made any sense to me were in statistics, where they actually had a purpose and a punchline. Those numbers told a story worth listening to; the rest felt worthless.
There was a recurring theme in my academic struggles: numbers. And in all those number-heavy courses, except for Accounting 101, I ended up with an A.
Because you can.
Sam wasn’t just my tutor; she was dating a friend of mine, so we knew each other outside the tutoring room. It turned out she had a trick up her sleeve. Over a beer about a year after I aced algebra, Sam confessed something to me. She knew I was on the verge of giving up on that algebra class, and she believed I was standing in my own way. So, when I ignored her initial attempt to coax me back, she decided to put her theory to the test. And she fibbed. It turns out that Sam got paid whether or not I showed up.
Deceitful? Perhaps. Effective? Absolutely.
Sam taught me more than just algebra; she taught me that I could tackle hard things. Accepting the challenge and acknowledging that something is hard is the first step to mastering it. You can learn hard things. Not trying because it’s hard is just an excuse. That A- might have been graded on a curve, but it's proof that I did it.
In the end, learning something hard isn’t just about mastering the subject; it’s about proving to yourself that you're capable of overcoming the obstacle. It's about embracing challenges, pushing through the discomfort, and emerging stronger on the other side.