Potential

[bloozie]

Have any of you guys ever received a compliment from your teacher or someone that you looked up to saying that they see some type of potential in you? Like after finishing a project where they commend you for doing a great job... but the keyword that they use in their response is the word "Potential".

A bit of a backstory is needed actually:.. During the process of a project I usually run into things that really set me back in terms of completing or successfully implementing something and I kind of become negative about it just for a bit.
Also, whenever I receive compliments from someone else about my work, saying that they like it and such, I'm quick to shoot them down by saying something negative about it and how I don't like it...

Basically what I want to know is if other people here have been told that they have "Potential" by teacher or a mentor of the likes.

 

[Words]

I'm glad your pleased. I have never been motivated by such an interesting relational compliment. I believe objectivity requires the push of subjectivity. Or maybe I'm missing something here...

 

[IzlaRoza]

Well its only natural for us to be told that we have alot of potential. Its in our nature to figure things out or completely picture a project or something mentally and feel as though its good enough for us but when it comes time to bringing it out of our heads, we dont feel like it because once its figured out, its done in our minds.

If any of that makes sense?

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Tons of people have told me I have potential or something of the likes, but of all my teachers only one has distinctly commended me from the heart with insight.

My Contemporary Composition(11th grade make up during 12th) teacher, a linguist and historian, would always give us BS assignments in class. I rarely did them during the first half of the semester due to me feeling that I was above such menial work. However after realizing that I might actually fail I started doing the assignments, but it was too late. Near the end of the spring semester, for a final, we were assigned an in-class one page essay on the importance of singing and dancing in musicals. I was like "wtf!? Musicals!?". But due to my current slight depression (girl troubles + apparent failing of 12th grade) I felt that writing an essay would take my mind off things for awhile. So I went in and did my stuff, finished at the bell and handed it in. The last week of school he comes to me, pulls up a chair and asks "Have you been bored this whole semester?". I told him "Yeah, pretty much". Then he started going on about my wonderful paper that I wrote and that he knew I was a smart kid who was just holding back. He said he checked Google for plagiarism, because it was so good. I didn't like him as a teacher, but I did as a person and that compliment really boosted my spirits. I don't know if it was him or not, but suddenly all the requirements for graduation that I was lacking were cleared. I was able to walk the stage.

I'm going to miss being an INTP in highschool. The reactions you get from teachers and other students is just priceless. What was cool though was that when I was in a good mood I would turn into an ENTP and start attacking the standards and methods of my 12th grade English teacher, just for the hell of it.

 

[bloozie]

Why did he have to check for plagiarism on your paper when it was written in class?

As for me, I've been told that I have potential by a few of my teachers whom I thought didn't really care for me at all. These guys are really great and successful in the field that they are in, so yes, it does feel great to receive such a compliment from someone who knows what they are doing. I'm not saying this just to boost my ego, but it really means a lot and gives me a good sense that I'm heading in the right direction.

 

[Ermine]

I've been told that by nearly every teacher I've had. But I think the compliment is too broad to have much meaning. Everyone has a lot of potential for something or other. I know I can do great things, but what of it?

Though when someone tells me I will do great things, now that's a compliment. It throws some sense of obligation into the mix, and therefore more motivation to actually do great things. Though what's even better is when a teacher/mentor has high expectations from the get go, implying all the way through that I can excel if I work hard enough and get what I'm supposed to get from the experience.