As we drove past the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) campus in Bangalore a couple of weeks ago, I was transported back to the summer of 1991, when I would ride my motorcycle to the library, find a quiet corner, and pore over the only copy of Peterson’s Guide in the entire city. It was the bible for any Indian student aspiring to study in the U.S. There was no Google. No College Genie. No college search engines. Just a thick book, long hours, and sheer determination. All of this to realize my dream of studying in the USA.
Every piece of information required effort. Researching universities, writing letters to admissions offices, waiting weeks for responses, navigating endless bureaucracies, dealing with a visa denial, and finally getting a visa to pursue my dream—every step demanded patience and resilience. That process didn’t just help me get to college; it instilled in me a grit that would serve me for life. Not to mention the subsequent journey of being a student in the U.S., while navigating homesickness, adapting to unfamiliar pedagogy, balancing academics with part-time jobs, managing a tight budget, dealing with food insecurity, and learning to thrive in a culture vastly different from my own. It was a masterclass in perseverance, forcing me to push through discomfort, embrace uncertainty, and find strength I didn’t know I had. Those experiences built a thick skin, a kind of resilience that no textbook or teacher could teach—a resilience that has become the backbone of my career and my approach to life.
In contrast, today’s students have an entirely different experience. The answers that once took weeks of letter-writing and waiting are now available in seconds. Where I had to navigate endless bureaucracies with grit and patience, today’s students have AI tools, search engines, and apps that promise instant solutions. It’s progress; there’s no doubt about it. But as I watch the next generation step into the world, I can’t help but wonder: Are we losing something invaluable in the process? Is convenience leading to a grit deficit?
This isn’t a lament about nostalgia or a rejection of technology. Trust me, I’m a huge fan of convenience. I love that we live in an era where almost anything we need is just a click away. Need information? Google it. Struggling with an essay? Ask ChatGPT. Not sure how to solve a math problem? There’s an app for that. It’s a culture of shortcuts, of minimizing struggle to maximize efficiency. But in the age of AI, are we losing the art of struggle?
Struggle is not a dirty word. As Wilma Rudolph, the American sprinter who overcame childhood polio and went on to become a world-record-holding Olympic champion, said:
“The triumph can’t be had without the struggle.”
The struggle is the skill—a skill that sharpens perseverance, builds resilience, and prepares us for the complexities of life. When technology removes friction, it also risks eroding this vital skill. When everything is at our fingertips, we may be producing more efficient students, but are they truly prepared for the unpredictability of the real world?
The risk of convenience culture extends beyond academics. While AI may not directly influence how students juggle part-time jobs or navigate complex social situations, the underlying mindset of seeking the easiest path can permeate all aspects of life.
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Financial Independence: Part-time jobs are not just about earning money. They teach responsibility, time management, and the reality of work. But when convenience becomes a default setting, students may find themselves less willing to take on these “extra” challenges. The gig economy might offer flexible hours, but it also sometimes promotes surface-level engagement over real skill-building.
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Navigating Adversity: Whether it’s dealing with a difficult roommate, managing a tight budget, or confronting failure, students who are used to instant solutions might struggle to face situations where there is no quick fix. The discomfort that once built character might now feel like an insurmountable obstacle.
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Resilience in Relationships: In a world of quick swipes and instant messages, building deep and meaningful connections requires grit. The same perseverance needed to master a difficult subject is often needed to navigate friendships, mentorships, and professional networks. When convenience takes over, students might find themselves opting out of difficult conversations or challenging relationships, choosing the path of least resistance.
Convenience is a gift, but like any gift, it comes with strings attached. As AI continues to make our lives easier, we must ask ourselves: Is technology empowering our students, or is it quietly eroding their resilience? Is AI a powerful ally in education, or is it becoming a crutch that keeps us from developing the grit we need to thrive in the real world?
As someone who geeks out on building AI tools, I see the incredible potential of technology to transform education. These tools can democratize access to information, provide personalized support, and enhance learning experiences.
But AI must remain a partner, not a crutch. It should support students in the mundane, like managing application deadlines or simplifying complex forms, while still challenging them in the meaningful. Technology should create room for deeper engagement, not replace the need for critical thinking, problem-solving, and perseverance.
The danger lies not in AI itself but in how we use it. When students rely on AI to do the hard work for them, they miss out on the opportunity to develop resilience. They might pass the test or submit the assignment, but what happens when life throws them a curveball no algorithm can solve?
So how do we balance a culture of convenience vs. the need for grit?
We’re raising a generation in a world where discomfort is rare. Food, entertainment, and answers are just a click away. The problem is, life isn’t always convenient. It’s messy, unpredictable, and often difficult. The real world requires more than knowledge—it demands grit.
We need to teach our students that the easy road is not always the best one. That struggle is not a sign of failure but a part of growth. That resilience is built not through instant solutions but through enduring discomfort, pushing through setbacks, and finding strength in adversity.
The goal of education should not be to eliminate struggle but to help students struggle well. Here’s how we can do it:
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Teach Delayed Gratification: Introduce projects and assignments that require time, effort, and perseverance. Make room for failure and for learning from failure.
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Promote Critical Thinking Over Easy Answers: Instead of allowing AI to provide instant solutions, challenge students to ask better questions, explore different perspectives, and defend their ideas.
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Create Safe Spaces for Discomfort: Whether in classrooms or at home, encourage environments where students can take risks, make mistakes, and develop grit.
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Model Resilience: Share stories of struggle, whether from history, industry leaders, or personal experiences. Students need to know that resilience is built, not born.
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Foster Real-World Experience: Encourage students to take on part-time jobs, volunteer, or engage in internships—not just to build resumes but to face real-world challenges head-on.
