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Rethinking Success: Focus On Knowledge Instead of Grades or Certification

How we apply what we learn is the true measure of achievement

Gill McCulloch
Wise & Well
6 min readJan 7, 2025

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A shaft of light falls on the open pages of a book against a black background.
Image by Nitin Arya on Pexels

“I’m sorry — I can’t certify you today” is a phrase no instructor likes to utter, and reactions to these words can be extreme. In the 25+ years I’ve been running my Red Cross first aid agency, I’ve had to gently explain to many students that they will need to repeat the class or the test to be certified. It’s never easy to deliver this news. It can be even harder to receive it.

Some students react graciously with appreciation for the knowledge and skills they’ve gained. Others feel disappointment and frustration unless — as in lemonade-from-lemons scenarios — they realize no learning experience is wasted. The path to success often has speed bumps.

Whenever we set ourselves a challenge and fall short of a goal, our reaction is our choice. We can wallow in self-pity and allow our failure to undermine our confidence, or we can swallow the initial disappointment, pick ourselves up and have another go at the thing. How we deal with life’s challenges will shape our character one way or the other.

Learning for its own sake, rather than for examination or certification requirements, offers several significant advantages. We’re often more deeply…

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Wise & Well
Wise & Well

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Gill McCulloch
Gill McCulloch

Written by Gill McCulloch

I write about first aid, subjects that move me deeply and situations that make me laugh. Founder, Safe + Sound First Aid Training Ltd. gillnmcculloch@gmail.com

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