What do I get out of this?

Turning Challenges into Growth, by Kicki

As educators, we give so much of ourselves to our classrooms, but how often do we stop to ask, What do I get from this? It’s a simple question, but it can lead to meaningful insights. Whether it’s the joy of watching students succeed, the satisfaction of overcoming challenges, or the lessons learned from mistakes, every experience has something valuable to offer, if we take the time to reflect.

When Impatience Taught Me a Lesson

Years ago, I received a piece of feedback that completely caught me off guard. A student told me, “You don’t seem as patient with us when we ask questions.” Ouch. My first reaction? Defensiveness. I thought to myself, I’m very patient! But the more I sat with it, the more I realized they were right. On my busiest days, my tone or hurried responses might have come across as impatience, even if that was never my intention.

Rather than getting stuck in self-criticism, I chose to ask myself: What can I learn from this? That feedback became the nudge I needed to slow down, truly listen, and ensure my students felt seen and heard. It didn’t just make me a better teacher, it made me a more thoughtful person. What initially stung became one of my most valuable lessons.

Positive Language & Growth Mindset

When we approach feedback with a growth mindset, we can reframe even the toughest comments into opportunities for growth. Positive language, both in how we speak to ourselves and how we interpret feedback, helps us uncover the gifts in every challenge. It’s not about ignoring the hard parts; it’s about using them to move us forward.

Reflection Exercise: Positive Reframe

Think back to a piece of feedback that initially felt discouraging. Write it down, then list three possible growth areas or adjustments it inspired. For example, did it help you improve how you communicate with students? Clarify your expectations? Strengthen your patience?

I invited my colleague Karin to reflect on the above question and this is her feedback journey:

A student once told me, “You interrupt us too much during our discussions.” I was surprised, it wasn’t something I had noticed about myself. I always thought I was guiding the conversation or keeping it on track. But as I thought about it, I figured that I was not giving the students enough space to process their thoughts or fully express themselves.

From then on, I made a conscious effort to step back and let the silence stay just a little longer. It changed the discussions in my class. Students became more confident, and their ideas deepened. It was humbling to learn that sometimes, the best way to lead is by listening.

Invitation

What’s a piece of feedback that’s made you stronger? Reply and share how you reframed it into something positive, I would love to celebrate your growth with you!

Best 

Kicki

Every challenge holds the seed of a lesson. By choosing to focus on the possibilities, we create space for ourselves and our students to thrive. Let’s keep learning together!