Resilience, determination and coping with failure, from four-time Paralympian Stef Reid MBE
Within the excitement of this summer’s Paralympic Games, we can find important life lessons. Following the Olympics, we can expect more demonstrations of grit and determination from world-class athletes as the Paralympic events commence.
Learning from a Paralympian is something over 400,000 children recently experienced during Picture News’ Biggest Assembly. Children heard from four-time Paralympic long jumper, Stef Reid, who told her story and shared reflections from her athletic career.
Here are six life lessons from Stef Reid to shed light on the Games you watch this summer.
Value fun
Enjoyment drives many Paralympic career aspirations. Stef reiterated this in the Picture News assembly – fun is essential. ‘Sport is for everyone’, she said. ‘It doesn’t matter if you’re not very good at it the first time… It’s about challenging yourself and having fun. I always did my best performances when I was having fun.’ Encouraging kids to base interests and hobbies on how they make them feel is something to consider following the Paralympics. Helping children ignite a passion, with fulfilment at its core, is vital – and is something all of us could learn from.
Perseverance is key
The Paralympic medallist started long distance running recently, which makes her feel like she’s ‘going to die’. To cope, Stef spoke of the need to ‘break it down into smaller goals.’ At the one-kilometre mark, ‘ten kilometres seems way too much. So I just focus on that next half a kilometre.’ Deconstructing goals is something we can all try. From training for a sports match to practising scales, guiding children to set bite-sized targets is a productive way to persevere and build confidence during challenging times.
Believe in yourself
Some children can experience self-esteem issues as they grapple with who they are. Searching for self-confidence is familiar territory for Stef too. She recalled how believing in herself was necessary to facilitate her athletic career, following a boating accident which led to the amputation of her right foot. Stef described how she used to get ‘funny looks’ when she shared her sporting ambitions.
The Paralympian encouraged people to learn from her experience, that, ‘It's really nice when other people believe in your dreams. But it's not required. Because I believed in them, and I had a plan.’ Needless to say, those doubts didn’t stand in her way.
Accept change
Stef discussed her disability and the many changes she dealt with following the amputation. She ‘had a very specific vision about what life was going to look like’, but after her accident, needed to ‘find a new path’.
She gave a heartfelt message of optimism in the face of change; ‘Life changes all the time. It rarely goes how you think it's going to go, but that's okay because you can always find a new way and new dreams.’ In the years following her accident, Stef drew on her mental resilience, and it was her discovery of running blades that ultimately revived her dream to compete as a sportsperson. Upholding an example of adaptability and strength in the face of adversity, Stef shared, ‘You can be excellent in all sorts of different ways. You don't have to do it like someone else and it's okay if your plan changes. You can always find a different way.’
Be empowered by failure
The world-record holder noted failure is inevitable for sporting professionals: ‘In my athletic career, I spent way more time losing than I ever did winning.’ Whilst attention may be on those on the podiums this summer, for every participant, there are rollercoasters of wins and losses. But for Stef, a positive mindset is key to handling mistakes and failures. She views them as chances to learn and progress: ‘You have this one competition where you were able to put together all those things you learned in all of those losses, and it leads to this amazing performance.’ The decorated Paralympian’s outlook on loss and mistakes is something we can all learn from.
Trying your best is what counts
For Stef, it’s simple – doing your best matters. ‘It doesn't matter what you are doing in life, it doesn't matter if it's your homework, doesn't matter if you're cleaning the kitchen... It doesn't matter if I am going out there into the stadium to compete. All that matters is that I've done my best’. Resilience and dedication make for a world-class attitude. Effort is what counts. Being ‘in it to win it’ can be healthy, but measuring success on effort and commitment can help us better deal with challenges.
Every Paralympian’s unique story renders them role models for our children – whether they’re into sports or not. This summer, remember that standing on the podium is a culmination of passion, resilience, and dedication. It might be just be what our children need to hear.
MORE INSPIRATION
Written by Katie Harrison, former teacher and founder of Picture News, a supplier of teacher resources for creating engaging and exciting lessons about current affairs so children can learn about the world around them. The BIGGEST Olympic Assembly with Stef Reid MBE is available to watch online for free – access the short recap here or watch in full (with a British Sign Language interpreter) here.
