Preview

Grit And Determination: The Path To A Successful Life

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
763 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Grit And Determination: The Path To A Successful Life
For instance, one who comes from hardship certainly can work through and excel in a way some call unbelievable due to grit. A passionate individual who stays committed to a long term goal will not have things handed to them by chance, but will work hard to achieve challenging goals. By being steadfast, one’s tenacity is admirable especially when becoming triumphant against all odds. As Angela Duckworth, professor of psychology, states in her best seller Grit, “The highly accomplished are gratified by the chase as much as the capture. Even if some of the things they had to do were boring, frustrating, or even painful, they wouldn’t dream of giving up”. Duckworth states the truth about the successful - they are successful on their very own means. …show more content…
For example, The Other Wes Moore, a memoir, follows two boys both named Westley Moore, from childhood to college. Both grew up fatherless in Baltimore with troubled pre-teen and teen years through experimenting with drugs and not making school a priority. The author changed his path to become a Rhodes scholar. The “other” Wes Moore is currently serving a life sentence in prison for murder. What was the difference in their diverging paths? The author changed when his mother sent him to military school - a poor student prior, he attended Oxford University. It was at Oxford he heard of police searching for a ‘Wes Moore’ in Baltimore. That Wes Moore, at age 22, already had four children. The book shows that Wes attempted to quit drug dealing, but it was the only way to bring in a steady income for his children. That was just the beginning of Wes’ downfall. With this point, it is proven that anyone who is dedicated can fight their way out of calamity and achieve the utmost amount of greatness. To do so, the individual must find what their interest is, practice it, figure out its purpose, then hope in terms of dedication, as it is vital to keep going when the going gets tough. It is expressed from a young age that anyone can be whatever they wish to be, and frankly, to be fortunate in any means does not come easy, yet it also is not …show more content…
However in order to achieve such status it is important to understand that, “grit isn’t just working incredibly hard. That’s only part of it. There are no shortcuts to excellence. And then you’ve got to apply those skills and produce goods or services that are valuable to people”. Despite the belief that success is granted by external forces, the fact is through passion and perseverance, those who are truly determined will succeed in their

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the novel “True Grit” by Charles Portis, two characters in particular have the courage, roughness, and determination you associate with the term true grit. Mattie Ross, driven by her determination to avenge the death of her father, despite her young age, recruited and partnered with a retired lawman whom many thought was guilty, yet never convicted, of lawless killings. Mattie’s courage was obvious as she continued her journey in spite of the many hardships she met including having her arm amputated after being bitten by a snake. The other character, General Rooster Cogburn, who agreed to help Mattie was physically disabled and had a serious alcohol problem, yet he was determined to do whatever he had to do to earn the money he was promised.…

    • 257 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Other Moore Summary

    • 565 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the publication, “The Other Wes Moore,” the author describes how many different situations affect two boys, the author, Wes Moore, and the felon by the same name. They both had been in a similar situation: They were both in a poor neighborhood, surrounded by drugs, crime, guns, and a lack of education. Even though they both had a similar life, the felon had gone down a path he shouldn’t have gone on, while the other became a successful author! This seems a bit odd, right? They both had very similar lives, but they didn’t end up the same. Maybe digging a little deeper into this problem would help us understand why what happened, happened!…

    • 565 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    People today typically do not have grit, as it is not ordinary for someone to choose an easy major because they are not determined to follow their passions. But people need to realize that if that is truly a passion in life, they will have enough grit to achieve their passion. The author, Angela Duckworth describes what grit is by giving an example in the novel “Grit” which one girl named, Chia had a strong passion for music ever since she was a little girl. Chia would practice the piano quite frequently even when her strenuous school schedule in college did not stop her. While her hard work during school earned her many degrees, her passion of playing music continued.…

    • 353 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Many people would say we are all just products of our environment. For two young boys from Baltimore, this could not be truer. In “The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates,” written by Wes Moore, two fatherless, young boys growing up in the same neighborhood with the same name, end up on two entirely different paths of life. The author becomes a Rhodes Scholar, college graduate, veteran, and much more, while the “other” Wes gets deeply involved with the drug game and spends most of his life in trouble with the law. When these boys come from such similar backgrounds, how is it that they take such different journeys in life? The reason why one Wes Moore became mixed up with drugs and the law, and why one became successful, is because of the family each grew up with. The expectations that each family held their Wes to set the tone for the way each would live the rest of his life. The author’s mother sacrificed what she had to in order to make sure her son wouldn’t become involved with drugs, while the “other” Wes’s mother told him not to, but she was in fact using drugs. They each grew up without a father, but for different reasons. Wes’s father, peace-loving with a stable career, died when Wes was just three, while the “other” Wes’s father, who was alive and well, chose not to be a part of his son’s life. Wes’s parents made a positive environment for their son, while the “other” Wes’s parents left him to suffer in the environment he was born into. The amount of expectations each family put on their Wes was, in turn, the amount of expectations each Wes had for his future self.…

    • 1082 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Jonah Lehrer’s article, “The Truth about Grit” introduces, and describes a mental trait called grit. The author begins this article by comparing his work on grit with Isaac Newton’s theory on gravity. The mental trait, grit, like Newton’s theory was not a new idea, but rather put a name and study of the term. Using Newton’s long determination on one specific goal was also an enhanced way to proving Lehrer’s theory on grit. Lehrer later describes the term as, “setting a specific long-term goal and doing whatever it takes until the goal has been reached.” To better simplify it, people with girt can endure more challenges and, obstacles to meet their goal rather than people without girt. Many researchers and scientist agree…

    • 345 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    This article also talks about the idea that people that have built grit will be successful in whatever they chose to do. Sometimes we like to do a lot of things at the same time thinking we are achieving what we want. The truth is that we won’t know if we could give more to what we are doing because we are not focusing on finishing one thing first. An example will be that sometimes we get a lot of classes to finish fast and we don’t pay the attention that is…

    • 844 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Horace, the Roman poet, once said that adversity brings out talents within an individual that otherwise would remain undiscovered. This is a very true statement, although only to an extent. Those who have talents that shine through are those that had an escape method, a way of getting out of their situations. Those who do not have a way out, and do not have hope, are at too much of a disadvantage and do not have talents that shine through, as they are constantly at battle fighting the odds that they are up against.…

    • 851 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Grit is an important influence in college and academic success. Grit functions in college by using deliberate practice, academic tenacity, academic perseverance, effortful control, self-control, and commitment. To sustain an academic perseverance in college helps by being persistent on their course of action despite obstacles and failure over time. In college, people must use the academic tenacity to push aside their short-term goals and to pursue the long-term goal. Deliberate practice method assists students to keep practicing until they succeed even when they fail they accept criticisms and achieve what they set their mind to. College students who use self-control get rid of the distractions and just focus on the task that pursue on long-term…

    • 285 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    wes moore

    • 1306 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In the novel, “The other Wes Moore”, it describes two men with the same name, similar backgrounds, and divided destinies. Coming from strikingly similar beginnings they find themselves choosing different paths in life. Wes number one becoming a successful business leader with many other respectful titles, and Wes number two serving a life sentence for murder. Reading these two men’s lives, teaches you the difference between what helps you need to succeed and what could potentially keep you from success. There are many factors distinguishing their lives and the reasoning behind their personal decisions by their family, their education, and their jobs. They each play an essential role in their lives and futures. Taking them on their own life journey in which they become the people they are today.…

    • 1306 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Grit, the display and actions of perseverance with strength, won't get you very far in life as you might think. You're not gonna have the urge to motivate yourself with ‘grittiness’ after you read what Professor Marcus Crede from Iowa State University has to say. Decide for yourself after reading this article if you concur with the Dr., and author, whose life work was devoted to the thought of grit and its repercussions, or if you side with the Professor at a college university who is in complete disbelief of this theory. Marcus Crede demotes Dr. Angela Duckworth’s life work on the study of grit, and her claim about how if you posses true grit that you are 98% more likely to succeed at anything you do. Which even Duckworth admits to the charge…

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Importance Of Grit

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages

    What is grit? You might find yourself asking that question. You might also be wondering if you have grit or not. In this article, I will be explaining what grit is. I will also be revealing if I have grit or if I do not.…

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Grit Definition

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Grit has many meanings to me. It means that you can push through when you need to most. Also, it means that you try your hardest all the time. Many people have potential but don't try hard enough to use it. You can be smart, but if you don't try, you won't go anywhere. You can be athletic, but if you don't put forth the effort to become great, you won't. This is why grit is so…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A growth mindset and grit connect to each other in some sort of way. A person with a growth mindset can take up a challenge and not complain about it. The person wants to learn and overcome obstacles when faced with them. A growth mindset allows the person to think of the future and not just the moment. On the other hand, there is a fixed mindset. A fixed mindset isn’t a terrible thing, but it does set you back. A person with a fixed mindset will not take up challenges or face obstacles, they think about only now. Grit is similar to a growth mindset because it shows perseverance. Grit is how hard you can work and how long you can work this hard. Grit is the long-term goals that a person can set and still achieve. Gritty people focus on the future, just like growth mindset people. Both grit and a growth mindset aren’t based on talent, IQ or intelligence, its based on your work ethic.…

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hard work and perseverance is something a number of people are taught at a young age. Suzanne Lucas, a woman who spent 10 years in corporate human resources, has this to say about working hard, “Some people pat themselves on the back when they do as little work as possible. While this provides temporary fun, it won’t help towards real success.” No matter what someone’s job is, if they put in their hardest work…

    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Grit In My Life

    • 124 Words
    • 1 Page

    A time in my life when I had opportunity to show grit was when I cracked my wrist playing football in third grade. My brother tackled me in an awkward position and broke my wrist. The surgeon put my wrist in a cast and said I couldn't be in serious activities for about a week concerning what may happen to it. After a week I could do some activities if he thought my wrist could handle it (with the cast still on). After about long 2 months with a cast and not playing or doing a lot of activity with my hand/forearm, I had passion and didn’t give up on sports just because an injury I got right back into football and other sports.…

    • 124 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays

Related Topics