Principal's Post

Grit is the secret to success

“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working hard to make that future a reality."

  — Dr. Angela Duckworth

Dr Angela Lee Duckworth is professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. She writes much about the importance of GRIT in our everyday lives. A factor that she believes allows us to achieve our lofty goals, dreams and aspirations. 

Dr Duckworth has conducted extensive research looking at the impact of grit on achievement, especially in adolescents. 

Her research reveals several important findings:

Grit is more than just talent:   Duckworth’s research indicates that grit is often a better predictor of success than talent or intelligence.

Grit can be developed:   Duckworth’s work suggests that grit is not a fixed trait but rather something that can be cultivated and nurtured over time.

Grit is universal:   Grit is present in people from all walks of life and has been shown to contribute to success in various domains, such as education, sports, and business. From her perspective, Grit is the secret recipe for heightened success for all of us.

Grit is powerful. It is what drives us to accomplish something in the long run. It is what helps a person make things happen and is the singular focus that helps us push through and not deviate from the plan – this is the Grit that our Year 11 & 12 students are currently demonstrating in abundance as they manage their Semester One Examinations; it is what our ACC Cross Country Squad used to battle the conditions to complete the ACC Cross Country course as a team representing St George’s this week with some outstanding results; it is being harnessed by our Year 10s as they prepare to make important subject selection decisions, complete their first bout of examinations and prepare for their Work Experience placements to conclude the term.

Year 9s are using their grit to prepare themselves for their escape room social in a couple of weeks and our Year 8s demonstrated Grit whilst on Year 8 Camp recently. And according to Mr Dempers, our Year 7s have displayed great grit in so successfully navigating the many demands of a city high school this year . . . So, it seems St George’s students have GRIT in abundance!

For me, Grit is the secret ingredient that helps us to push through the many challenges of life, to bounce back from the inevitable setbacks that occur and to keep going even when things get tough. It makes the difference between giving up and reaching our full potential. As we edge closer to the end of Term Two, I encourage everyone to continue to cultivate their inner Grit. Grit may even transform your life in ways you never thought possible. Grit provides us with the stamina to be able to chase our long-term goals with unwavering dedication and commitment – and this is important for us all.

Congratulations to all our students for finding their Grit thus far this term!

Mrs Tina Campbell

Principal