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To Be A Champion...
India White • Aug 27, 2021
You’ve done it! You’ve succeeded, whatever that may mean to you. It was a grueling process of hard work, pain, and grit, and now, no one can take that away from you. Succeeding at anything is an accomplishment worth celebrating. But of course, you shouldn’t let that get to your head. In the marathon of life, successes are just the milestones you find along the way. They are not the finish line.
Unfortunately, I’ve seen success feed into ego too many times. At times, people get too caught up in the excitement of their accomplishments that they forget where they come from, who helped them along the way, and honestly, the severe effort it took for them to get there. That last one is key because quite often, these individuals don’t necessarily forget the amount of effort they put in, but instead, forget what that effort meant. When you view effort as a justification for your arrogant behavior upon success, you disrespect the entire point of the journey: to learn.
Here’s an example: let’s say you have a really hard math final coming up in a week and to be honest, you haven’t necessarily been paying attention in online class. For the next 7 days, you feverishly scrounge up notes from your friends and online, desperately ask your teacher for office hours, watch Youtube videos to catch up, review the few class notes and problems you wrote down, and pray to God you pass. On the morning of the exam, you somehow wake up in a foggy stupor having stayed up all night studying, and hobble your way to your desk to take your final. The timer begins and the first question literally looks like hieroglyphics to you. But, you push on, and two hours later, you submit the test and jump right back into bed, instantly forgetting the entirety of the exam. When you wake a few hours later, you get an email from your professor/teacher announcing the release of the grades and test averages. You wince, knowing that you were going to have to bite the bullet some time soon or the suspense would kill you. Through squinted eyes and gritted teeth, you open up your class grades, and find that you… passed? Not only passed, but did above the average too. Somehow, some way, you exceeded your own expectations and succeeded. Stunned and, quite honestly a little doubtful, you reflect on the past semester and more specifically, the past 7 days.
Now, if you were unfortunate enough to let success get to your head, how would you react? Certainly, arrogantly. You would think, wow, I’m just a god at math. And you would continue on with your life, having learned nothing but how you could coast through life with only your talent. Well, here’s the reality; eventually, the wave comes crashing down no matter how talented you may be. After years of not working hard, you will experience the full brunt of a situation you cannot “talent” your way through, and having never learned the tools to overcome it through hard work, you will certainly drown. Maybe, in a couple years, you’ll do the same thing in a class you were ill-prepared for and find that even 7 months, let alone 7 days, wouldn’t be enough for you to pass. I know that’s a little dramatic, but it can be far worse than just a math class, trust me.
Don’t end up like that. Don’t let pride and arrogance prevent you from reaching further success and happiness down the road. Now, in that same situation, what would a humble person do? They would thank all the people that helped them get there: their teacher who gave her time to tutor you, their friends who gave them their notes, God, maybe even the Youtubers they watched. They would understand that although they worked really hard in the past 7 days to reach this point, they did not do it alone, nor did they do it on talent alone. Some would believe it was luck. But most importantly, the humble winner would reflect on the lessons they learned on the way and make sure to keep them in mind for the future. For the humble, value comes not from the success itself, but the lessons they learned on the path to it. In this scenario, they would realize that their laziness and negligence was what prevented them from doing even better than they did. Imagine if they had that same drive to study and had actually paid attention in class? With that in mind, in the next semester, they would certainly work to pay more attention in class.
In the end, no one really likes a sore winner, but anyone can see the drive and potential of a great loser. Even if you haven’t succeeded yet, stay humble. Constantly work to improve yourself and understand that you are not alone in your successes. That is the mark of a humble winner, the tenet of true champions.
‼️So grateful for the opportunity to hear testimonials and reviews from a few rockstar educators about their takeaways and experiences from my Equitable math 🧮 practices session at MCTM in Minnesota this weekend🤩! It's inspiring to hear teachers who provide feedback and work to close the achievement gap. 🥰Let's continue learning from each other and making a difference in the lives of our students! #teacherappreciation #education #equitablemath #achievementgap #drindiawhite #teachers #tedx #equity Check out the session highlights here:
‼️Listen as a gritty Middle Eastern teacher explains how attending my Equity Keynote at the Math conference, helped her connect her experience as a BIPOC educator with her perspective on how to implement equitable practices for all students and relate to students of different cultures! #drindiawhite #tedx #equity #dei #math #education #teachers #students #bipoc #savvas #nctm #ncsm #bwxme #nabse #habse #uf
I urge you to take a moment to listen to Dr. India White's enlightening TEDx talk, "The Power of Grit," where she delves into what drives grit in the lives of leaders, teachers, and students every day. In this captivating presentation, Dr. White offers invaluable insights into the transformative potential of grit—the unwavering determination and resilience that propel individuals toward their goals, even in the face of adversity. As educators and leaders, we play a pivotal role in instilling and nurturing grit among our students and colleagues. Dr. White's talk serves as a powerful reminder of the impact we can have when we cultivate grit within ourselves and those we influence. I encourage you to watch the TEDx talk for a deeper understanding of how grit can drive success in our classrooms, workplaces, and lives.
I am beyond grateful and honored to have the opportunity to speak at UF's Alumni Gainesville reception and share the powerful message of grit with the new graduates from the University of Florida. As leaders, we have a unique platform and responsibility to inspire and empower the next generation as they embark on their journey beyond the university walls. Grit is more than just a buzzword; it is the unwavering determination and resilience that propel individuals toward their goals, even in the face of adversity. It's about facing challenges head-on, embracing failures as opportunities for growth, and never giving up on our dreams. Today, as we gather to celebrate the achievements of these remarkable graduates, let us remind them of the power they hold within themselves. Let us encourage them to cultivate grit in all aspects of their lives, knowing that with perseverance and determination, they can overcome any obstacle and achieve their wildest dreams. As leaders, let us lead by example, showing gratitude for the opportunities we've been given and inspiring others to do the same. Let us use our voices to uplift and encourage those around us, knowing that together, we can create a brighter and more resilient future for all. Congratulations to the graduates of the University of Florida! May your journey be filled with grit, determination, and endless possibilities.
I am beyond grateful and honored to have the opportunity to speak at UF's Young Alumni reception and share the powerful message of grit with the new graduates from the University of Florida. As leaders, we have a unique platform and responsibility to inspire and empower the next generation as they embark on their journey beyond the university walls. Grit is more than just a buzzword; it is the unwavering determination and resilience that propel individuals toward their goals, even in the face of adversity. It's about facing challenges head-on, embracing failures as opportunities for growth, and never giving up on our dreams. Today, as we gather to celebrate the achievements of these remarkable graduates, let us remind them of the power they hold within themselves. Let us encourage them to cultivate grit in all aspects of their lives, knowing that with perseverance and determination, they can overcome any obstacle and achieve their wildest dreams. As leaders, let us lead by example, showing gratitude for the opportunities we've been given and inspiring others to do the same. Let us use our voices to uplift and encourage those around us, knowing that together, we can create a brighter and more resilient future for all. Congratulations to the graduates of the University of Florida! May your journey be filled with grit, determination, and endless possibilities.
Join us on the Grit and Equity Talks Podcast with Dr. India White, where we will discuss spaced vs. mass practice for teachers! Visit www.india-white.com for more information #drindiawhite #grit #equity
🥳As the opening keynote at the WMC Annual conference, I had the opportunity to discuss equitable math practices with teachers. I am grateful to have gifted 30 copies of the Equity Counts book collaboration after my session! 🤩Thanks to Savvas Learning Company for making this happen🥰. The best is yet to come for Wisconsin teachers and students! #EquitableMath #Education #EquityCounts #savvas #drindiawhite #tedx #equity #WisconsinTeachers #StudentSuccess #wismath24 #nctm #ncsm… See more — at On Green Lake in Wisconsin.
Hanging out wit the tribe! I had the honor of being the opening keynote speaker at @WisMathCouncil 🤩 We applied the concept of grit in their classroom! Thanks to @SavvasLearning!! #drindiawhite #math #grit #student #teachers @wismathcouncil #wismath24 #SAVVAS #nctm #ncsm #bwxme
This morning, I had the honor of being the opening keynote speaker at WMC's Annual Math Conference. 🤩The conference was a great success, with attendees discussing the importance of grit in both teachers and students. I’m excited to see Wisconsin teachers apply the concept of grit in their classrooms and help their students develop this crucial! Thanks to Savvas Learning Company for the support and encouragement!! #drindiawhite #math #grit #student #teachers @wismathcouncil #wismath24 #SAVVAS #nctm #ncsm #bwxme
‼️Attention all Wisconsin teachers! Are you ready to enhance your teaching skills and help your students develop their grit😃? If so, don't miss out on the opportunity to purchase my Grit Workbook at a discounted price! 🤗I have 50 copies available at WMC, so come and grab your copy this week🤩! #wismath2024 #nctm #ncsm #drindiawhite #grit #education #students #teachers #wismath2024 #nctm #ncsm #drindiawhite #grit #education #students #teachers