SOMA Living February 2023

EDUCATION

ACADEMIC STAMINA

Stamina (n.) “ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort.” Working towards a goal requires stamina usually developed over time. I was a bodybuilder, but I started off out of shape. It took many reps, heavier weights, increasing the speed on the treadmill to build up the stamina necessary to get through tough workouts and change my body. It hurt to grow and improve, but over time I came to love it. I looked forward to challenging my muscles, heart and lungs to keep up with the heavier weights, faster speeds I (or rather, my trainers) demanded. With work I enjoyed stamina I had never known before. I’ve noticed it’s the same with children, the range of academic stamina varies a lot. I do have students who come to me with high levels of academic stamina and desire for greater challenges. The other day a new student in one of our test prep classes said, “Give me LOTS of homework!” and others have been asking for additional packets to move forward faster. These students are easy to work with, but I recognize they have already trained for years to become this “strong”. Other students are not in top “shape” when it comes to academic stamina, but in “training” them, I see it grow. A mom and dad recently recounted the growth they observe in their child since he began “training” with us. He went from frustration and resistance with us and crying and tearing up packets at home, to dancing into our center, both prepared and eager, with a video to show me him completing his work at his kitchen table at home. It took persistent training with us and support from home to get here. He is now taking on the most challenging math class in his grade, which he approaches with confidence. They note he is stronger, has greater resilience and stamina, resulting from his math workouts with us. He can take on whatever is presented to him in school, because he has developed the stamina: focus, persistence, confidence, and strength, to succeed. It is tremendous.

Alissa Gardenhire, Ph.D., Owner of Best in Class Education Center, South Orange.

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