Student sample for assessment
Written by a Year 6 student in Footscray, Victoria, Australia.
When the swimming carnival was cancelled, two Year 6 students reacted very differently. This shows us that people handle disappointment in completely different ways. Student A wanted to compete and felt angry when the chance disappeared. Student B saw the cancellation as a problem to solve rather than an ending. Student A's reaction was to stay upset for the entire day. When the news came through during assembly, their face fell. They complained to their friends about how unfair it was that the carnival would not happen. Throughout the day, Student A repeated the same complaint: there would be no chance to prove their swimming ability. By lunchtime, Student A's mood had not improved. They sat alone and refused to join games or activities. The annoyance seemed to grow stronger as the day went on. Student A focused entirely on what was lost. In contrast, Student B heard the same bad news but thought immediately about solutions. Rather than staying upset, Student B approached the PE teacher after assembly. Student B asked, 'Is there another way I can try for the team?' This simple question showed curiosity and problem-solving thinking. The teacher appreciated the attitude and arranged for Student B to swim in a special trial session later that week. Student B's response transformed disappointment into an opportunity. Instead of staying upset, Student B took action. Both students felt disappointed when the carnival was cancelled. This is normal. However, their next choices were different. Student A allowed the disappointment to become anger and isolation. Student B turned the same feeling into motivation to find another way. Student A focused on the loss. Student B focused on possibility. These different responses reveal that how we think about problems matters as much as the problems themselves. Some people see blocked doors. Other people look for windows.