Nurturing resilience and academic excellence: a parent’s journey of faith, love, and guidance

By Janat Yahaya Naggolola – Parenting coach
Behind every great student is a parent who understands the delicate balance between praise and constructive guidance. The academic year has come to a close; the challenge is not merely about grades but about how we nurture resilience, curiosity, and the joy of learning in our children. Are we celebrating their efforts, or are we solely focused on the numbers?
Recently, my daughter completed her primary six exams and performed well, achieving a second grade. While I was genuinely thrilled with her progress, her aunt, who stays with us, had higher expectations and was not entirely pleased. With well-meaning yet firm concern, her aunt expressed dissatisfaction with the results and pointed out areas where my daughter could improve.
I remained silent during the conversation, understanding that it came from a place of love and care. Later, after the aunt had retired to her room, I hugged my daughter tightly. In response to her expectant look, I told her how proud I was of her efforts. I reassured her that she has the potential to achieve even more next term if she stays focused and consistent. Her smile of relief and renewed determination confirmed that we were on the right track.
This experience reinforced the importance of celebrating efforts and teaching children resilience. When we acknowledge the process rather than just the outcome, we inspire our children to strive for greatness without the fear of failure.
This is how I have been addressing the situation since then:

1. Praise efforts over results
Celebrate the hard work your child puts in,
not just the outcome. After my daughter’s exams, I focused on her effort and progress rather than solely on her grades. This helped her understand that personal growth and learning are more important than perfection.
2. Teach the power of ace
Aiming Higher:
I encouraged my daughter to dream big and aim higher for the next term. I reminded her that consistent effort can lead to great improvements.
Consistency:
Together, we created a simple daily routine that balances study, play, and rest. Small, consistent actions create remarkable results over time. She has been diligently following this routine for her holiday assignments.
Embracing Failure:
I shared inspiring stories, like that of Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, who faced 30 job rejections and numerous failures before finding success. I also shared the story of Thomas Edison, who famously failed a thousand times before inventing the light bulb. When asked about his failures, Edison responded; “I have not failed 1,000 times. I have simply found a thousand ways that won’t work.”
These examples inspired my daughter to view setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning.
3. Build resilience through experience
My daughter has struggled with certain subjects, and I consistently remind her that perseverance is key. I encourage her never to tire of trying again, even after setbacks in any exercise or task. I emphasise the beauty
of persistence.
Just like Jack Ma and Edison, resilience has become her superpower, and she has slowly started to enjoy the process of solving challenges across all areas.
4. Use the pomodoro challenge and celebrate wins
I introduced her to the Pomodoro technique to enhance her focus during study sessions. She studies for 25 minutes and then takes a 5-minute break.
At the end of her study time, or assignment, we celebrate her efforts with a fun little party in the living room. It could be a glass of juice, a fun painting moment, a cup of tea, or a short story. These moments reinforce that learning can be both rewarding and enjoyable.
5. Implement Islamic strategies
I encourage her to start each study session or assignment with Bismillah and end with a dua for knowledge and understanding. Even when she goes back to school.
I also remind her of the hadith:
“The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, while there is good in both.” (Sahih Muslim).
This has helped her realise that combining reliance on Allah with her best efforts is the true path to success.
As parents, how are we balancing encouragement with constructive guidance? Are we celebrating our children’s efforts and equipping them with the tools to thrive?
Let us share ideas on nurturing academic excellence with faith, fun, and resilience. How was your child’s report card, and what was your response?