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Sep 29 2026 Giving Up Too Soon

Categories:
Character Building, Grandparent, Jewish Values
Ages:
Tween and Teen

Situation: Wanting to Quit Acting

You are tired of not getting the part you want in your school’s theater productions after being in the acting troupe for a year. You love acting but want to leave the group because you feel it isn’t working out for you. 

Jewish Wisdom: Netzach, נצח, Perseverance, Grit

“For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, while the wicked stumble in adversity.” (Proverbs 24:16) Those who persist, despite failing, gain the ability to keep moving forward and growing.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or discouraged, for Adonai your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) Courage doesn’t mean you’re never afraid. It is finding the strength to continue on the journey of learning who you are and what is right for you, even when you’re uncertain or scared.

Building Skills and Character: Perseverance and Grit

Discuss the ways in which quitting can impact your teen grandchild’s development. 

Talk about it. 

Grandparent:

  • Why do you think you want to quit? Is it because you no longer enjoy theater or because you’re disappointed you’re not getting the roles you want, or another reason? 
  • What have you learned during your first year in theater that you didn’t know when you started? 
  • What would you miss (or miss out on) if you left the troupe today? 
  • If you stay another season and don’t get a lead role, how could you define success differently? 
  • How can disappointment help you grow?
  • Think of something that you quit in the past. Would you make the same decision today?


Teen grandchild:

  • What is something that was difficult for you when you were my age?
  • When did sticking with something, even after you wanted to give up, pay off?
  • Was there ever a time when quitting was the right decision? How did you know?
  • What did you learn about yourself in the process of either quitting or sticking to something?

Brainstorm possible “mensch moves.”

For example:

  • Stay in theater for another production to continue growing.
  • Talk with the director about ways to build your skills to become a lead in the future.
  • Find another way to pursue acting.
  • Decide that it’s time to try something new.

Erica N. Hruby, M.A. is a tween/teen expert with over 30 years of professional experience working directly with parents, grandparents, and tweens/teens in Jewish community, academic, and residential environments. She is the founder of Anchored Parenting, LLC.

Photographs courtesy of Pexels