Perseverance, harsh and continuous, may be employed by the smallest of us and rarely fails of its purpose, for its silent power grows irresistibly greater with time.
This quote from Goethe has long been a guiding light for me, one I share often with my students. I want them to know that even the most dazzling talent in the world pales in comparison to steady, stubborn perseverance.
Too often, we measure ourselves against the quick brilliance of others. But what truly matters is not how easily the door opens, but how many times we are willing to knock, how patiently we are willing to try, to stumble, to fail, and to begin again.
Perseverance is not glamorous. It is rarely celebrated in the moment. Sometimes it feels lonely, like climbing a steep hill while others seem to fly past with ease. The reward is not always immediate, but it is always real. You may not win every race, nor solve every problem perfectly, but in time, you will find yourself stronger, wiser, and more resilient than you ever believed possible.