Defining Excellence
Training Youth for Excellence, Not Perfectionism
What do we mean when we are training youth for excellence?
Is excellence the same as perfectionism?
Excellence is an attitude of the heart. Perfectionism is an outcome of behavior.
To understand excellence, we get our definition from the Bible. There is a man of God named Daniel who had an "excellent" spirit (Daniel 5:12; Daniel 6:3). When we study the book of Daniel, we see that an excellent spirit is characterized by three qualities: integrity, humility, and diligence.
Integrity
Daniel had integrity. He was an honest man whose success was pure. The Bible tells us:
Daniel 6:4 – So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
At Doan Math Academy, we train our students to be honest with their coaches. We do not want them to hide their struggles or deny their weaknesses because growth begins with honesty. We create a safe space where students know they are still loved and accepted regardless of their academic performance. When students take exams, we remind them that they are completing them before God. We desire for our students to pursue success with integrity.
Humility
Daniel was humble. Rather than depending on his own wisdom, he continually sought God. The Bible tells us:
Daniel 2:16–18 – So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
At Doan Math Academy, we train our students to be humble. When they are stuck on an assignment, we invite them to pause, pray, and seek God for wisdom before asking for help. We believe God often gives gives them the next step to try or reminds students of something they have already learned. When students perform well, we encourage them to give honor and glory to God because He is the One who created their minds with the ability to learn. All of our gifts and talents come from God.
Diligence
Daniel was diligent and obedient. He faithfully completed the training that had been set before him. The Bible tells us:
Daniel 1:5 – And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.
Daniel did not have a choice about which school he attended. Yet he faithfully completed his training, and God later exalted him where He had placed him.
At Doan Math Academy, we train our students to be diligent. While it is true that some students learn faster than others, we believe God has given every student the ability to learn. We encourage our students to never give up because, if they do not grow weary, they will succeed. We provide regular homework, thoughtful feedback, and healthy accountability because we recognize that diligence is developed through consistent practice. We believe the teenage years are a critical season for students to develop the perseverance and self-discipline to succeed in life.
Conclusion
Our goal at Doan Math Academy is not to produce perfect students, but students with an excellent spirit. We believe excellence is not measured by a perfect score or flawless performance, but by a heart that seeks to honor God through integrity, humility, and diligence.
Academic success is important, but character is eternal. As students develop an excellent spirit, we believe God will not only help them grow in math, but also prepare them to faithfully serve Him wherever He leads them.
