Permission

I like to challenge students mostly because it allows them to see their potential. When students understand their potential you sometimes can’t stop how big they will dream. BUT challenging students can be difficult without a relationship and permission. Now I am sure you get the relationship part: students have to know you love and want their best, and that comes though a relationship. It’s the permission that we sometimes forget. It used to be you could challenge a student just because you were an adult and you knew better, but not today. Students don’t just think adults have the answers; they look at this world, leadership and marriages and they get the message that we adults are often screwed up. So just because you want to help them grow doesn’t mean they want your input. You have to earn it through relationships and start it with permission. Most of the time when I ask a student’s permission to challenge them, they say yes. A few ask me to clarify or be specific (not many people ask them this question so it can catch them off guard). Students appreciate when I ask them and they allow me to go deeper when I have their permission.