I came across this quote recently and it's really stuck with me. In our digital age of instant gratification, it can be difficult to stick with anything. I hear these phrases over and over again in my classroom: "I can't do this," "It's too hard," "I give up," and I feel so frustrated and disappointed but also sad. You never know what opportunities you'll miss if you give up too early. Many of the greatest things in life, or art, for that matter, come through hard work, persistence, and dedication. Don't be afraid to stick with something when it gets difficult. One of the Studio Habits of Mind is Engage and Persist - staying focused on your work, sticking with it when the work is difficult, continuing to work in spite of problems, not letting problems slow down your art, or staying positive even when things don't work out. When something is difficult with your art (or life), instead of saying, "This is too hard," or "I can't do this," try saying, "How can I learn from this?" or "This is difficult, but here's something I'm doing well..." It's easy to give up. Dive into the hard work. That's when the good opportunities come along.
Go Team.