Torch, Spring 2000

12 Torch t gives me deep joy to “inspire greatness” in students. By this I do not mean for students to become inflated “big shots” who think that they can conquer the world before they have exercised the painstaking discipline and demonstrated maturity to warrant greatness. Rather, I mean urging students to fulfill the potential that they genuinely possess and to push themselves toward the outer limits of their capabilities. Consider the following six guiding principles. Principle One: Believe in Them Believing in students involves sizing up their abilities and interests and assessing how far these could take them in the future if they are developed, honed, and disciplined. Some students react with surprise when I share my belief in them and their latent potential. Having someone that they respect express confidence in what they could do in time provides the impetus for them to stretch themselves toward new goals of personal excellence. Principle Two: Give Them Early Chances This is putting my money where my mouth is (so to speak). That is, if I really believe in some students, then I am willing to take some risks with them. All great people were once young and immature, made mistakes, and embarrassed their mentors. But the greatness eventually achieved made the clumsiness along the way worth the effort and pain of getting there. My own mentors gave me chances to develop and hone abilities early in my college experience. As a college senior, I was given a level of responsibility that amazes me even today. Various faculty and administrators believed in me and expressed their confidence in what I could do. Having experienced this efficacy early has made me want to instill it in my own students—to pass a baton. Dr. Michael Firmin, associate professor of psychology at Cedarville, has allowed us to reprint his article, “ Inspiring Greatness in Students,” which was recently published in The Teaching Professor. Dr. Firmin’s passion and calling, like that of other Cedarville faculty, is investing his life in the lives of students. by Dr. Michael Firmin i Inspiring Greatness in Students I