was once a beginner." This quote was posted in a pottery shop at Blackberry Farm in Aurora when I had a chance to visit there a couple weeks ago. Helen Hayes, an accomplished 20th century actress, said it, and it sums up nicely the work it takes to be proficient at anything. It's so easy to let frustration take control and deter one from continuing to work at a skill, language, subject, sport, instrument, etc. Sometimes, quite quickly, the mind might question whether the ability to do it lies within. The real question, though, is whether a person wants to put in the time and energy to become proficient. He or she may decide that the commitment is not worth it, that they have other priorities, but arguing they do not have the ability leads me to counter with all those experts and how they had to start from the beginning and overcome struggles in the learning process. It makes a lot of sense for someone working with pottery to put that quotation up. How could anyone start to learn that skill without some clay slinging all over the place?
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Jim FrankoMy blog discusses issues centered around education and learning. Archives
September 2015
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