Students and athletes have specific levels of talent in their sport and in the classroom. Some people demonstrate “natural talent” early on in life. But is talent enough for one to be successful in the future? The answer is no. This is good news! Amanda Duckworth, author of Grit, arues that “talent counts, effort counts twice” (pg. 34, Grit). Effort is necessary to experience success. No matter where you are in your level of talent, you are more than capable of improving your talent and developing a high skill level. No one will reach and maintain success without the layers and layers, days and day, weeks and weeks, and years and years of consistent practice.

Be encouraged that effort is an absolute x factor in developing the skill necessary for achievement. Talent without effort will eventually be wasted talent. At the very best, talent without effort will continue to be talent that has missed out on striving toward its potential. Effort, for example, is the hours of practice and training top-tier athletes do individually in addition to their team schedule. As a youth player my role model was Mia Hamm. She made it known that she was “training when no one was looking.” This impacted me and helped me see that she was one of the world’s best players because she put in the extra training to become a highly skilled player. As an eleven year old, I too, began putting in hours extra per/week of skill and fitness training. I treasure all of hidden, extra effort I put in through the years. Without the effort I put in, I would have not made it to the highest level of my sport.

I learned in my youth that it takes extra practice to do well in the classroom, too. In my work with college level students who have been identified as being more at risk to succeed in the classroom, it was clear that the degree of effort they exhibited determined their grades. Those who have learned how to put in the necessary effort to earn academic success are able to transition into their high school and college years with more ease. Effort will help you during those transitions (from middle school to high school; from high school to college; from college to the professional world…). Those who have accepted their academic talent/level (no matter how high or low) and who haven’t learned to put in a high level of effort, are more likely to struggle during those transition years. All the more reason to learn to put in the hard work in your youth. If you happened to slide by without having to work your hardest in your youth, it is time buckle down and learn to put more effort in. Do also understand that if you struggle academically, you will improve your grades with effort— extra tutoring, attending professor office hours, and effective hours of studying! Good news, right? Effort is day by day, incremental steps taken to study, so that you earn high grades more consistently.

Ultimately, effort is key for you to experience satisfaction and success in all aspects of life: academics, athletics, your personal relationships, and in all your personal endeavors. Work hard! It truly will make your personal journey more rewarding.