If I’m being completely honest, the trait I value most about myself is not one I’ve mastered. It’s perseverance. And the truth is, I don’t always feel like I’ve lived up to it. I’ve given up on things more often than I’d like, and some of those decisions still stick with me. The memory of walking away—whether from a project, a goal, or even a season of life—lingers longer than the times I stayed the course.

But maybe that’s part of why I value perseverance so much. When I do hang in there—when I finish the novel draft, or when I show up to teach another day even after a rough one, or when I keep pressing forward in relationships that matter—it feels earned. It reminds me that I can keep going, even if it’s not always pretty or perfect.

I’ve also noticed something else. Talking with fellow teachers, we’ve all seen how often our students lack perseverance. Too many of them throw in the towel too quickly. They want us to make things happen for them instead of pushing through the struggle themselves. One of the things I most want to pass on to them this year is the value of digging deep—of setting a goal and stretching for it, even when it’s hard—instead of taking the easy path. Convenience might feel good in the moment, but it rarely leads to anything meaningful. Perseverance, though, builds something lasting.

I don’t think valuing a trait means you have to embody it flawlessly. Sometimes it means recognizing the gap, and still wanting to grow into it. For me, perseverance is that trait—the one I wish I had more of, the one I want my students to learn, and the one that keeps calling me back every time I stumble.

Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt.