I was having a conversation today with my son’s guidance counsellor and we ended up chatting about discipline and perseverance. Both she and I were raised by immigrant parents and we laughed about how “hard” we felt we had it, particularly compared to youth today. Certainly, I can imagine, if her experience was anything like mine, it was certainly a stricter environment than my kids have.
This conversation led me to think about how we define “hard”. Did we really have it harder in generations gone by, or do kids today, with all of the multiple inputs and outputs, media and responsibilities, have it harder than we did?
I think this question may not have a simple answer, but one thing I would argue, is that the tolerance and endurance youth today face for what is hard, may be less than in past generations. Parents are more involved today. Where we can, we try to facilitate things for our children. Perhaps in doing so, we undermine our children’s ability to develop discipline, perseverance and grit.
Learning to Celebrate Attempts, Failures and the Process Itself
In SHSM, we celebrate certifications, co-op successes, and the big milestones—but there’s an equally important part of the journey that often goes unnoticed: failure, and the discipline it takes to keep going afterward.
We highlight the polished final product, but the real learning—the kind that shapes students for their futures—happens in the messy middle. Over time, we’ve all seen it: the students who rise the highest aren’t always the most naturally gifted; they’re the ones who keep showing up, even when it’s hard.
I think it is really important to celebrate the attempts, the failures and the process/journey itself.
Failure Builds Real-World Readiness
Today’s world demands constant adaptability. Students will face evolving workplaces, new technologies, competitive pathways, and unexpected setbacks. Teaching them that failure is not a dead end but a data point can build resilience and reframe struggle as a natural part of growth.
When a SHSM student pushes through a difficult task—whether it’s a challenging co-op placement, a certification attempt that doesn’t go as planned, or a project that needs a complete redo—they are developing:
- Adaptability
- Grit
- Problem-solving
- Confidence in their ability to improve
- The discipline to keep going
These skills appear in every employer’s “must-have” list, regardless of sector.
Discipline and Grit: The Quiet Skills Behind Lifelong Success
If perseverance is the act of trying again, discipline and grit are the habit of showing up in the first place. It’s the real power source behind improvement.
Whether students build discipline through school, sports, music, part-time jobs, or extra-curriculars, they are learning one of the greatest predictors of lifelong success: the ability to be consistent even when motivation fades.
Discipline teaches students to:
- Commit to something larger than the moment they’re in
- Do the hard things even when they don’t feel like it
- Trust the process, not just the results
- Build momentum through small, steady steps
This is where the magic happens. Students who learn disciplined habits early on develop the mindset and routines that carry them through postsecondary pathways, workplaces, and life’s inevitable challenges.
Perseverance: Turning Setbacks Into Strength
Every career pathway is full of people who failed forward. Innovators, entrepreneurs, tradespeople, athletes, and world-class professionals share one truth: mastery comes from repetition, reflection, and resilience—not perfection.
When students learn to persevere, they start to see challenges differently:
- From “I can’t do this” to “I can’t do this yet.”
- From avoiding difficult tasks to embracing them.
- From feeling defeated to adjusting their approach and trying again.
That shift in mindset can carry a student further than any single success story.
How SHSM Helps Build Discipline and Grit and Normalize Productive Failure
One of the strengths of SHSM is how naturally it builds these skills. Through experiential learning, community partnerships, certifications, and sector-focused challenges, students learn that:
- Mistakes are expected and useful
- Professionals rarely get it right the first time
- Discipline—showing up, trying again, seeking feedback—is what leads to breakthroughs
- Skills develop through repetition and reflection
Again and again, students discover that the real growth happens just past the point where they want to quit.
A Call to Celebrate the Attempts and the Process, Not Just the Achievements
As educators and trainers, we can make a powerful impact by celebrating effort, progress, and discipline, not just the end results. When we acknowledge the setbacks and the persistence that follows, students begin to understand that success is rarely linear—and that they have what it takes to navigate the twists and turns.
SHSM students are building futures full of potential. Our role is to remind them that failure is feedback, discipline and grit are their superpower, and perseverance is the bridge between where they are and where they want to go.
Because when students develop these habits early, they don’t just prepare for a job—they prepare for life.
By Carmen Reis, CPA, MA
Carmen is the Executive Director of Flashpoint Training and dedicated to building opportunities for youth to ignite their passion and find their spark.
You can email carmen at: Carmen@Flashpointtraining.com
