Success depends on many factors.
Three of my students didn’t think they’d make it to the concert tonight, due to a concurrent regional varsity tennis tournament. But just as we were getting ready to walk on stage, a student saw that they were close – just a couple minutes away in their team bus.
In a rush, we rearranged the order of ensembles to give the students time to arrive. And though they were still dressed in tennis clothes, and unshowered after a long day competing, they were able to walk out onstage and sing with their fellow Aces.
We all have difficult, busy days sometimes. And juggling everything is hard. There would have been no negative repercussions if they hadn’t made it – I’m a staunch believer in empowering high school students to do everything they love – but I’m so glad they did. We went from missing 25% of the group to missing just 1 member, and everyone’s spirits lifted to have their ensemble almost complete for their first concert.
A success, then; success borne out of trying hard, showing patience and grace, and demonstrating flexibility as a core lifeskill.