As educators, coaches, parents and grandparents, we often have to stress to young people that they have to let mistakes go and move forward.  How often have all of us watched a sporting event involving students where a particular player makes a mistake that costs their team a point or the game?  Or, an error is made by an (individual sport) athlete, thus giving the opponent an advantage.  This unfortunate occurrence is often followed by the lowering of the head and more errors either mental or physical.

One of the characteristics that we gain with age is that we have to move on after a mistake.  Today, too many people worry about events that happened to them in the past.  These events can be very trivial to some, yet have long lasting unpleasant thoughts to another.  Sometimes, these events can be tragic.  One role of parents and adults (in children’s lives) is to try and instill in them the fact that we all make mistakes and that we must move forward.  The past is behind us and we can’t change what has happened. Like everyone else, successful people also make mistakes.  The difference is that they learn from their mistakes and are better people for knowledge they gained from the experience.

The great basketball coach John Wooden stated it this way, “When I was teaching basketball, I urged my players to try their hardest to improve every day.  Too often we get distracted by what is outside our control. You can’t do anything about yesterday.  The door to the past has been shut and the key thrown away.  However, tomorrow is in large part determined by what you do today. So make today a masterpiece. This rule is even more important in life than basketball.”

As teachers and parents, we must move students and young adults forward each and everyday.  When discussing problems or issues with young people, don’t focus on the past and don’t continually bring up past indiscretions.  Instead, use these incidents as a ‘teachable moment’ to show them that tomorrow is another day.  With a new focus, the pain they may have felt from an error in judgment can be replaced with happiness and satisfaction.

Be a positive light in a young person’s life, not a negative reminder.

Chris Brown
chris.brown@southwestschools.org
Superintendent
Southwest Local School District
230 South Elm Street
Harrison, Ohio 45030
513-367-4139