A Mother’s Pride: Lessons of Persistence and Resilience from My Son’s KUMON Journey

Yesterday, my son took his KUMON exam and passed with flying colors. He’s now allowed to advance to the next level, which corresponds to the secondary grades in primary school. When I picked him up from the KUMON classroom, the teacher in charge told me how impressed she was with his performance. She said he was focused and dedicated, even though he looked a bit tired and sleepy. Despite this, he persisted, pushed through, and got everything done. I was overwhelmed with pride—not only because he completed all the questions, even while feeling fatigued, but also because he has now reached a point where he can recognize and write katakana, read parts of kanji, which are usually taught to secondary graders.

His success is a direct result of his relentless efforts, combined with the resilience he has developed over time. Of course, my continuous support and encouragement have also been instrumental in his academic journey, but his drive and determination are truly commendable. Some people criticize the KUMON system, calling it tedious because of its repetitive nature. They argue that it forces students to memorize patterns without fully understanding the logic behind them. While this might be true to some extent, I have a different perspective.

In my opinion, KUMON helps students develop a critical skill: the power of persistence and resilience. When my son encounters a difficult passage that he doesn’t know how to read or struggles with the logical flow of the story, he doesn't give up. Instead, he rechecks the text to patiently find the answer. If he finds a question that really confuses him, he asks for help from us, his parents. He’s learning to set boundaries for when he should seek help and when he should push himself to work a little harder.

As for resilience, of course, sometimes he makes mistakes or spends too much time finishing his homework. I always tell him that if he practices the questions he got wrong again and again, eventually, what once confused him will become something he’s good at. It all comes down to effort. I feel so happy and fulfilled when he does well on something, and when I ask him how he was able to do it, he confidently says, “Because I practiced a lot.”

Seeing him evolve in both his academic ability and his attitude towards challenges fills me with immense pride. It’s not just about his accomplishments but the approach he’s developing towards learning and life. He’s becoming someone who is not afraid of hard work, someone who knows that perseverance and effort pay off in the long run. He’s curious, diligent, and determined—qualities that will undoubtedly serve him well in the future.