Champions are made NOT born: Why effort is everything.

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Created: Monday, 06 January 2014 23:01

Written by Rob

Happy New Year to all of our students, parents, carers and friends of the college. In assemblies this week I am challenging the 'talent myth'. I am dispelling the notion that only those with inate talent can be successful and that that through effort, practice and perseverance every student has the capacity to become a champion in their own field.

As we approach the practice exams (week commencing 13 January 2014) for Year 11, we are challenging all of our students to focus on effort and purposeful practice. We believe that through sustained practice we can overcome the myth that only talented students go on to be champions and success stories. 

My assembly is based on the book 'Bounce' written by Commonwealth Table Tennis Champion Matthew Syed. Matt Syed argues that his own success contradicts the view that great athletes are born not made. He bases his view on the success he has had in table tennis. Syed happened to grow up on a road in Reading that had a table tennis club on it led by an outtstanding coach. As a result of his 'around the clock' attendance (he had his own key) at the club, he and his brother went onto become champions in the sport. His road, and and his club, also generated most of the other top British table tennis performers in the late 1990s. Syed argues that there wasn't a special gene that created table tennis players in Reading! He argues that with hours of practice, effort and the right coaching anyone can achieve success.

In assemblies this week I am saying to our students that champions in our college are made and not born. I believe, along with the staff at the college, that every student, with the right effort and perseverance can achieve their goals. If you want to know more about what Matt Syed says then please follow the link below.

Good luck to all students in their practice exams next week.

Mr Coles

Matt Syed - Bounce: How champions are made.