sticking to your goal
we as instructor need to remind students that what you want does not always come easy. We need to remind them to not give up, to be strong, and that hard work does pay off.
Great way to help students understand how your industry works. It is an impatient generation.
Exactly. I like to straight forwardness of this.
Some strategies I have used involve drawing a diagram of my own professional journey. It has been long and slow, a constant climb... but this is important to show. Many times students believe that success comes overnight, quick and fast and full of money, and that simply is not the case (especially in cooking). Appealing to their desire for personal development, not just a quick fix, is important. I stress that anyone can throw food on a plate, but becoming an artisan takes time, effort and humility.
Getting a student to shift their focus on their own personal development and realistic long term goals can be very useful in curbing short term frustrations.
Do you formally re-visit those first class goals at some later point? Having the students re-state the goal periodically not only helps keep them focused, but also refines their understanding of what can be accomplished.
As instructors, we must first identify what the goal of students is. I have found that asking students at the first class to write their goals and put them in their folders so that they can review their goals each class period.
I tell my student to "keep their eye on the prize" graduate and then go out and find a job.
I agree, also I feel that not only should we remind the students but ourselves as well. If our students see our commitment we are and also how hard we work, it will reflect also reflect on the students.
Stress has always played a factor in anyones success in life. How much you can handle and deal with is everyones own personal hurdle that we can only try to deal with.
Are there any techniques you use to demonstrate this principle to them? Simply telling a struggling student may not be enough.
