Rising Strong: Building Resilience and Grit at CCS

Helping students develop the inner strength to navigate challenges and grow through adversity

At Canggu Community School, we celebrate student achievement—but we also value something less visible and far more powerful: the ability to rise after a setback, to keep going when things get tough, and to grow stronger through failure. In short, we care deeply about developing resilience and grit.

These qualities are more than character traits—they’re essential tools for navigating the complexity of modern life. And in a world that often prioritizes speed, ease, and instant results, the capacity to struggle, reflect, and persevere is increasingly rare—and incredibly valuable.

The Growing Challenge of “Bounce Back”

Educators across the world—and here at CCS—are noticing that many young people today are finding it harder to cope with discomfort, manage setbacks, or maintain motivation through difficulty. Whether it's a low test score, a friendship challenge, or an unfamiliar task, the instinct to disengage or avoid can sometimes replace the drive to learn and grow.

While wellbeing and support are crucial, they must be balanced with opportunities for students to develop grit: the ability to persist with purpose. As Angela Duckworth, author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, reminds us:

“Grit is living life like it's a marathon, not a sprint.”

And at CCS Bali, we’re committed to running the marathon—together.

What We’re Doing at CCS to Build Resilience

Resilience isn’t something students either have or don’t—it’s something we intentionally teach and model. At CCS, we embed this learning across age groups and experiences by:

• Normalizing failure as a stepping stone, not a stopping point
   
• Using reflection tools and coaching to help students analyze how they respond to challenge
   
• Engaging students in restorative conversations, not just punitive responses
   
• Setting long-term goals and celebrating persistence—not just perfection
   
• Pairing challenge with support, so students feel capable, not overwhelmed
   

These practices align directly with our CCS values:

• Learning through trial, error, and improvement
   
• Respect for each individual’s process and struggle
   
• Balance between pushing forward and pausing to reflect
   
• Engagement through ownership of one’s effort and mindset
   

What Parents Can Do to Foster Grit at Home

Parents are essential partners in helping students develop resilience. Here are some simple but powerful ways to support grit at home:

• Don’t rescue too quickly: Let children work through frustration before stepping in
   
• Ask reflective questions: “What did you try?” or “What might you do differently next time?”
   
• Share stories of your own setbacks—and how you worked through them
   
• Focus praise on effort and strategy, not just outcome (“I noticed how hard you worked on that”)
   
• Encourage independence and challenge: let your child experience boredom, difficulty, and choice-making
   

By doing this, you help your child build the emotional muscle to persist—and find meaning in the process.

Final Thoughts

At Canggu Community School, we are proud of our student successes—but we’re even more proud of the stories behind them: the drafts, the detours, the moments of doubt, and the decision to try again.

In a world that offers countless shortcuts, we’re teaching our students the value of showing up, staying the course, and rising strong.

Until next week—let’s continue to support every learner not just to succeed, but to struggle well, grow stronger, and keep going.

Warm regards,
Dr. Ben Voborsky
Head of School
Canggu Community School