Risk is success

I'm a proud dad today.  Why?  My son took a big risk last week and again today--he participated in his school spelling bee.

Here's how it works--students choose to participate in the bee in their own class.  If they win in their class, they go on to the all-school competition.  The school bee is for students from 3rd through 7th grade.

Last week, Tyce participated in and won his class bee which qualified him for the all-school bee.  I arrived at 1pm today to see a gym full of students and 20 spellers sitting on the stage, Tyce among them.  He was cool as a cucumber.  I was impressed.

In the morning I had given him a pep talk before he got out of the car.  "Tyce, I'm really proud of you.  I'm proud of you because you took a risk last week and you're taking a risk today spelling in front of most of your school.  You are already successful.  Success always comes through taking risks."

My wife and I had one simple hope for our 3rd grader spelling against older kids:  make it past the first round.  And guess what, cool as a cucumber he spelled "bugle" and advanced to round two. 

In round two his word was:  "fatigue".  He spelled it "F-A-T-I- pause... -Q-U-E".  So close!  Gil observed:  "he's so visual--he saw the letter in his mind it looked like a "q" instead of "g".  I snuck up to him during a transition and told him how proud I was of they way he handled himself.  I think this is a milestone experience for him.

I'll just say this:  I think success always rises out of repeated risk-taking and lots of "early exits".  I believe successful people simply learn how to handle the repeated process of risk and failure without quitting or losing heart. And by their willingness to repeatedly risk, they experience breakthroughs. 

I'm praying that "risk" is an embraced concept in all my children.

Comments

[Mo]

I had no idea they have spelling bees at that young age. I was also very visual when I'd do bees in school - I'd have to close my eyes and spell the word in the air with a finger. Even now, I can spell almost anything, but I have to write it out.

He's probably too young now, but if he's still interested in spelling bees in a few years, I highly recommend the movie, 'Akeelah and the Bee'.

[Aunt Kelly]

Just seeing that face made me tear up. And reading his spelling bee 'story' made more tears. (Sappy aunt)! ;) Love that boy!! Way to go Tyce!