What does it take to become the best?

In my last piece written for Le Bulletin, I proposed that Intrinsic motivation is a necessary factor in reaching ambitions, arguing that for any student in a school setting, no matter the age, it is only when they find it that ambitions are reached and fullest academic potential comes through.

This did prompt some discussion with colleagues who felt that the key motivation could also come from elsewhere, like an inspirational teacher for example.  Whilst I can see this point of view, particularly in sparking motivation, I would still maintain that to fully stretch oneself in any field it is inner motivation that will allow you to reach absolute full potential.

From time to time I receive emails from parents or colleagues telling me about some success that has been achieved by one of our near on 500 students in the Secondary International section of the school, and it got me wandering about what traits do these students have that allows them to become the best at what they do, inside and outside the school setting?

Let's feature stories of high-achieving students to celebrate them and inspire others

As such I tasked our teachers with finding out from their tutor groups which students were particularly successful in something that they did in school, or outside of school time.  Around 60 students were put forward, with some brief details about their areas of high achievement.  Over the course of the academic year I hope to have all of them featured in this forum, but we are starting with the 20 students pictured above who all have different stories about being the best in different areas of life.  

I am particularly interested in the link between the characteristics that they develop to become experts in their activities out of school, and how this helps them in their academic studies.  Does the resilience needed to become the best in music, a sport or an art transfer into their study habits?  Also how many of the IB Learner profile attributes are helped along the way to developing expertise in another area of life? Can success in one thing lead to success in something else?

Over the next few weeks we hope to feature these stories to both inspire our students and celebrate the successes of the students in the FIS community.  As a parent, if your child is doing something special please get in touch with me ([email protected]) so that their story might be featured here.