Work Character: The Key To Student Success

“What’s the most important thing I should teach my children next year?” a parent recently asked in relation to her 4 children. “Work character.” was my two word answer that was met with a a blank stare.

15 years of working with all types of high school students in Connecticut has provided me a distinct sense of who will succeed.  Those with work character might be more commonly known as “good workers” have pretty much all ended up as successes. The characteristics of work character:

• Self-motivation: This is so important that it was the basis of my first book, Motivate Your Son
• Self-discipline: The willingness to do what’s necessary even and especially when there is something more fun to do
• Responsibility: Good workers get all of their work done.  They don’t miss homework assignments (ever); they study for tests (all); and they show up when and where they should
• Willingness to work: Those with work character don’t grumble when assigned work.
• Positive attitude: Their teachers view them as “active-positives” in class

“Good character” is broad and encompasses too many specific areas to enumerate.  You know it when you see it.  The challenge with those in affluent Connecticut suburbs is that the lack of struggle hinders the development of work character.  Most teens in Darien do not need a summer job for spending money.  Most teens in Greenwich do not need to help with the family business. Most teens throughout Fairfield County are not worried about paying for college.

Our work with students has certainly helped improve their grades and test scores.  But we hope our message to develop work character will leave a more profound impact.