"I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was 8 years old. So I told my Dad; he laughed and said, "Writing isn't a job; it's a hobby, but go ahead and write as much as you want to now because there won't be any time for it when you're an adult." I was discouraged by his words, but I did continue writing, perhaps not as much as I might have had he offered encouraging words instead."
"And, there it was, a big black F right beside my name. I Was Socked With Shame Have you ever gotten that sick, sinking feeling in your stomach when you're surprised to find out you've done something wrong? It's called shame, and I was stunned by it. I was actually shocked, because I had never gotten an F on anything before. I always made A's or B's on all my homework and tests."
At age eight, a child declared an ambition to create stories, and the father dismissed that aim as a hobby, warning of future lack of time. The discouraging response reduced early output but did not end the child's efforts to practice and improve. In eighth grade, a book report received an F that was publicly projected in class, producing intense shame because high grades had been the norm. The teacher explained the failing grade resulted from plagiarism. Despite embarrassment and critique, the child persisted in creative work and continued to develop skill over time.
Read at Psychology Today
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