To the Student Who’s Discouraged,
Somewhere in your classroom sits a discouraged student.
You can see it in their eyes when they get their paper back… in the way their shoulders drop when they see the grade.
They tried. Maybe not perfectly. Maybe not visibly. But they tried.
What we don’t always see is what came before that moment—what happened at home, the lack of sleep, the stress they’re carrying.
We just see the grade. And sometimes… that grade becomes the story.
But it’s not the whole story.
That student may have never made the honor roll—but they may have worked harder for that “C” than someone else worked for an “A.”
They may be kind in ways we don’t measure.
They may show up every day, doing the right thing, without recognition.
None of that shows up in the gradebook.
And yet—it matters.
Some students are discouraged not because they don’t care… but because they do.
They’re tired of feeling like they don’t measure up.
Tired of being compared.
Tired of trying in ways that don’t seem to count.
Others are disengaged because they don’t see themselves in the work.
Their strengths aren’t on the test. Their passions aren’t on the syllabus.
But that doesn’t mean they lack ability.
It means we haven’t found the right way to tap into it—yet.
A grade is a snapshot.
It is not a verdict.
It does not define a student’s worth, their intelligence, or their future.
Long after students leave our classrooms, no one will care about a single test score.
But they will care how they treat others, how they work, and how they persevere.
That’s why our role matters so much.
Because we get to decide whether that discouraged student feels seen… or overlooked.
Whether they feel labeled… or believed in.
We may not be able to change every grade.
But we can always change a student’s sense of hope.
So let’s remind them:
“I see you.”
“I know you’re trying.”
“I believe in you.”
“You’re going to be okay.”
Because they are.
They have gifts we haven’t discovered yet. They have potential we haven’t measured yet.
And they need someone in their corner while they figure it out.
Albert Einstein said, “If you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it’s stupid.”
Maybe our job isn’t to keep handing out trees to climb.
Maybe it’s to help every student find the water—and remind them they were made to swim.
Rock on,
Danny Steele
P.S. I’d Love to Support You!
If you’re working to build a stronger culture for your staff and students, this is the work I care deeply about—and I’d love to partner with you.
Here are a few ways I can help:
Speaking to Your Staff - Encouraging and equipping educators to stay inspired and focused on what matters most
Leadership Retreats - Creating space for your team to reflect, align, and move forward with purpose
Coaching for Principals - Walking alongside school leaders as they navigate the challenges of the job
If that would be helpful, please feel free to reach out!
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