Don't Be Afraid To Be Seen Trying
If you don't try, you can't succeed
An adorable photo of a young dancer has been circulating in the socials lately…
Who could look at this image and not be touched by the sheer sincerity and joy in trying to model exceptional skill? The fact that this novice won’t be mistaken for an expert is too obvious to even mention—her toes aren’t even pointed, for Fagan’s sake. But you can’t get to the top without climbing every rung of the ladder. Mastery begins and ends with effort.
Learners at any stage of development can become self-conscious. So can teens, in case you haven’t heard. So think about all those students right now, struggling to reach the highest standards in tough classes, on tough tests, in the studio or out on the field. So many high schoolers I know “get after it,” meaning they pursue their goals with an enviable, often all-consuming passion. Some of them will come up short of their targets: not everyone will earn 5’s on their APs or win whatever championship they contend for. But they’re in it to win it, which means they put in the work in public.
I encourage everyone to take this simple lesson to heart. Be conspicuous in your aspirations and efforts to excel. Every hero, idol, and inspiration you model yourself after has failed publicly, so you can too. Don't be afraid to be seen trying
QUICK NOTES
Rochester-based students still have a chance to register for our SAT/ACT Boot Camp at Brighton HS this Saturday, May 17. Register here ASAP.
I spoke with Gage Mersereau of GradBetter about calculating True College ROI. Skim the key takeaways or listen to the full conversation.
SAT test takers should make sure they know the most challenging words from the May 2025 SAT.