Great learners are determined and resilient.
How important is it to have determination and resilience when faced with disappointment and setbacks—both in school and in life? The truth is, it might be more important than we think.
Ask anyone about the daily struggles they face, and they’ll probably have a long list. But ask them how they manage to get through those struggles, and you’ll often be met with silence or hesitation. That’s where great learners stand out. If you could peek into their minds, they’d likely tell you that the secret lies in two powerful traits: determination and resilience.
Every day brings new challenges, new setbacks. But what really matters is how we respond. Great learners know that life isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about bouncing back from it. It’s about having the strength to stay focused on the goal, even when things don’t go as planned.
As students, we experience this all the time. With every year that passes, school becomes more demanding. Expectations rise, the workload grows, and the pressure builds. Mistakes are inevitable. Disappointments happen. But here’s something all students come to realize: no one is perfect. The difference is that great learners truly understand this—and they embrace it. They reflect, adapt, and push forward, using setbacks as stepping stones rather than roadblocks.
Take Richard Parks, for example—a former professional rugby player whose career came to a sudden halt due to a devastating injury. But rather than letting that end his story, he rewrote it. He turned to extreme sports and adventuring, finding new ways to challenge himself and continue doing what he loved. His determination didn’t just keep him going—it helped him evolve.
Then there’s Karen Darke, a former rock climber who became paralyzed after a life-altering accident. Instead of letting that define her, she made the brave decision to observe her emotions instead of being controlled by them. Through this mindset, she went on to complete a marathon in a racing wheelchair through the Himalayas—an incredible feat made possible by her resilience and unwavering determination.
These stories aren’t just inspiring—they’re powerful reminders that we always have a choice: to be defeated by our struggles or to grow stronger through them.
Great learners choose the latter. They understand that resilience helps you keep going when things get tough, and determination fuels the belief that your goals are still within reach. These traits aren’t just useful in the classroom—they’re tools for life.
Because even the most successful leaders and role models didn’t get there without facing setbacks. What sets them apart is how they responded to failure. Where some see the end, great learners see a beginning—a chance to discover their inner strength, uncover hidden superpowers, and come out on the other side stronger than ever.
So yes, great learners are determined and resilient. And those qualities don’t just help us survive the tough times—they help us rise above them.
By Belkisa Muço, Age 13
