Showing up and sticking with it

I've taught for over ten years, and the one indicator of whether a student will succeed in the class is whether they keep showing up.

If they get a low mark, they reach out to me and ask questions. If I have office hours, they attend regularly—and then apply the advice I offer to their following script.

It may seem obvious, but when we screw up in a class or miss a deadline, we sometimes make the worst choice: retreat and avoid the teacher.

Maybe it's fear, frustration, or something more complex—but it rarely helps.

Instead, lean into the trouble. Ask for help. Ask more questions. Figure out what is going on and try to fix it. Try it again and again. But most importantly, never run away.

Showing up and sticking with it is the quickest way to improve.