Self-Efficacy.
It's something our students will need a healthy level of to make it to graduation.
It's something we as educators also need in our lives and in our approach.
But what is it? (incidentally, that's the same question I asked myself when I looked out on my patio and saw this uninvited guest).
To combine words used by psychologist Albert Bandura (who first put a spotlight on self-efficacy) and educator Kathy Kolbe -- self-efficacy is believing you can succeed and not giving up when you hit obstacles (Lopez-Garrido, 2020).
It's good, old-fashioned perseverance. It's failing and then trying again, anyway.
Now, let's talk about that photo. When I first looked out and saw her waiting on my sliding glass door, I planned to do what most people would do: instantly pack up and move to another city.
Instead (because we educators are intellectuals, I suppose), I took a picture and showed my online network of friends and acquaintances. Little by little, they told me all about this spider -- the Orb Weaver -- and it led to curiosity replacing my fear.
Many types of Orb Weavers spend all night building an intricate web -- webs that often have additional little artistic touches (scientists still don't know why they add these bits of flair). Then, in the morning, they tear the whole thing apart. At night, they build again.
And again. And again.
To get personal with this, my family -- led by a single mother -- moved around a lot. No matter how many times we changed houses or apartments, and no matter how long we might get to stay anchored in a particular place (even if it was a short time), my mom always gave her full effort into making each building into a home.
Why do you keep trying when in the midst of difficult situations? How do you persevere? Do you focus on the end-goal or do you hold onto hope that you'll win this time?
I'm sure there's at least once time in your life when you really wanted something and you had to try again and again to obtain it. I'm sure there's something you're hoping for right now.
It's important for us to get to know our students. It's important for us to find out what they are driving toward -- so we can be their back-up GPS if needed, their metaphorical Triple A agent delivering gas if they run out, their friend helping to push the stalled car while they pump the gas.
Even if you have to start over -- still, start over.
References
Lopez-Garrido, G. (2020, August 9). Self-efficacy theory. https://www.simplypsychology.org/self-efficacy.html
Wildlife Heritage Foundation. (n.d.). Orb Weaver Spider. https://www.wildlifeheritage.org/orb-weaver-spider/
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