Part III (kind of: see October 20 and November 3) - The 2025 Maple Grove Turkey Trot was held last Thursday. My wife, daughter-in-law, daughter, future son-in-law, and I ran the 5K. Similar to the Twin Cities Marathon that I have been writing about this year, there were a lot of people, a lot of excitement, and a lot of enthusiasm. Fox 9 was there with Ian Leonard as the Master of Ceremonies. When we first arrived, we happened to be greeted by the mayor who took our picture because of our t-shirts, posting it on the Experience Maple Grove webpage. With a start to the day like this, I wondered, “Boy, what will this race be like?”
At a time when many “give up too easily,” “blame others for their mistakes,” are considered “lazy,” or lie instead of having ownership, I thought that the fear of failure is not typically a part of the running culture. Results, no matter what they are, are celebrated and bragged about on Facebook and Instagram. It is a supportive culture that is motivated and deliberately positive.
But failure does have its place in society. Without failure one can learn that it is not okay to fail, to start to believe that all value must be earned, or that value should be compared to everyone else’s. This means that no matter how hard one tries, there are times when it will never be enough. There are always circumstances and opportunities where there is someone smarter, more talented, prettier, more popular, more athletic. Accepting this, allowing failure to be a part of life, helps one get better. It is what I have loved about track and field and marathons and trots: all participants are successful. Instead of giving up, people get motivated to finish and to get better the next time. They find value in their preparation and who they are, no matter how they place. Comparisons are not needed.
But one does not have to run a marathon or even a 5K to celebrate personal improvement. Middle school is a great time to create a mindset for success. For example, instead of getting angry at a low test score, get curious and develop the skills to prepare better the next time. Instead of focusing on the grades, focus on the learning and the effort it took to earn them. Instead of seeing failure as something to avoid, see it as something to aspire to so the future can be better than the past.
Failure comes when we try something new, when we are learning something that we have never learned before, or when we are trying to exceed at a level beyond proficiency. Failure can be brave: pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone. Failure is growth: providing information that with reflection moves us closer to the desired outcome(s).
The second trimester is off and running, but unlike the first semester, a lot of what is being learned is being built on previous experiences. Because we want all of our students to discover and prepare for their fullest potential, as adults we must give them plenty of room to fail, no matter what the previous experiences and outcomes have been. This is especially true when they are most uncomfortable and we see them struggling. No parent wants to see a child struggle, but that is the time to get curious and to be patient, for that is the time that fosters future success.
Here is hoping and working toward a mindset of failure for success.
Weeks at a Glance
- Winter Fine Arts Performances - Choir Concert, Tuesday, December 2 @ 5:30, Spectrum High School
- District Professional Development Day - Monday, December 8: No school
- Spectrum Information and Tour Night - Thursday, December 11 @ 5:30, Spectrum Elementary School
Open Enrollment
Help us spread the word to your neighbors, friends, family, and community:
Spectrum Schools is accepting enrollment applications for NEW students for the 2026-2027 school year. Applications must be submitted by January 31, 2026, to be included in the mid-February 2026, Enrollment Lottery.
IMPORTANT: Siblings must submit an application to be considered for enrollment.
Sign up for an Information & Tour Session with the Spectrum Registrar or call 763-241-8703 for more details.
Thank you for helping us grow our Spectrum community!