Got Perseverance?

Dr. Wendy Ghiora – Posting #25 – August 22, 2009

The teacher is in front of the class and has just put students into pairs.

Teacher to Students:
Today, ladies and gentlemen, I have a true story I’d like to tell you. It’s a true story about two very interesting children you may know. Would you like to hear it?

All I ask is that you listen very closely to their stories. At the end I want you to be able to:
1.-l your partner what you think about the stories. What’s the big idea?
2.-Write down how you can apply what you got out of the stories to your life.

The “Big Idea,” is the main idea, the moral or lesson the story teaches us. Here is an example of a short Fable and its “Big Idea:"

The Frogs and the Well
Two Frogs lived together in a marsh. But one hot summer the marsh dried up, and they left it to look for another place to live in: for frogs like damp places if they can get them. By and by they came to a deep well, and one of them looked down into it, and said to the other, "This looks a nice cool place. Let us jump in and settle here."But the other, who had a wiser head on his shoulders, replied, "Not so fast, my friend. Supposing this well dried up like the marsh, how should we get out again?"
Big Idea: "Look before you leap."


(Note to teachers: The subject matter of each story should be edited according to the age group of your students).

The first story is about a little girl who came from a troubled childhood that included sexual abuse and a pregnancy when she was only fourteen years old. This young lady was determined to rise above her unhappy circumstances. She began by entering beauty pageants in Nashville as a teenager. She was persistent, finally securing a job working part-time at a local radio station. In 1973 she made the jump to television as a newscaster in Nashville; three years later, at age twenty-two, she was hired by ABC's Baltimore affiliate, WJZTV, to co-anchor the station's local news. Then, she found her niche in 1977 as the co-host of a local talk show, People Are Talking. Her talent as an interviewer was immediately apparent to WJZ executives and to viewers as well: she prepared for each guest, asked interesting, insightful questions, and was sincerely interested in how the guests responded. Soon People Are Talking was winning the ratings in its local market, beating the popular national talk show hosted by Phil Donahue.

This young girl never gave up. She was extremely determined and continually worked hard toward her dream, never allowing anything or anyone to stop her.
The path that led from her grandmother’s farm in Kosciusko to becoming the first African-American woman billionaire is a story of unwavering focus and unrelenting determination. (Oprah Winfrey)


The next story is about a boy who didn’t have much to laugh about growing up. When he was in high school in Canada, he had to live out of a Volkswagon Camper Van with his family, and worked eight-hour shifts at a tire factory to help make ends meet. Growing up poor was tough for this young man. While in his teens he also had to take a job as a janitor when his father lost his job. He had to juggle both school and work, school eventually lost out and he dropped out. He describes himself as being very angry at this time in his life yet one good thing came out of it. He developed a tremendous sense of humor to help him cope and to shield his anger from the world. He was a loner who claims he didn't have any friends because he didn't want any. Between school and work there just wasn't much time for a childhood. At 15 though, he had enough time to start performing at Yuk Yuks a famous Toronto comedy club where he began to perfect his act.
At 16, when he dropped out of high school, he was determined to pursue his passion: comedy.

He took a big risk and moved to LA, where he met and endeared himself to Rodney Dangerfield while appearing regularly at The Comedy Store in the early ‘80s. He became Dangerfield’s opening act. Later, he became friends with the Wayans brothers, getting a gig on the sketch comedy show, In Living Color and the rest, as they say, is history. At one point in his life, he made the decision he would become famous and never have to worry about having enough money again. He wrote himself a check for $20 million and kept it in his wallet until he earned that amount for the movie, The Cable Guy. He put the check in his Dad's coffin when he died. (Jim Carrey).

At the end of the story, ask students to turn to their partner and share what they think the “big idea” was about these stories.

After several minutes, ask students to share their thoughts with the whole class and write these on the board. Then have students write how they can apply these ideas to their lives.

Offer the following thoughts of your own, or similar thoughts:

If you’re having a tough time right now, take a few tips from these two: never lose sight of your dreams, always work hard to achieve them, and keep your eyes out for your next big opportunity. You never know when it will present itself, but you can be certain it won’t be while you’re sitting at home. So put yourself out there, focus on your dream and be prepared to give it a huge dose of perseverance to make it a reality. What have you got to lose?

What are some specific steps you can take right now to ensure you will reach your goal?
No Matter What –
1.-Decide that you will do this, no matter what. No matter what obstacles come up, no matter if your desire and determination begin to fade. True success comes to those who just won't give up.
2.-Make a promise to yourself that you will continue working toward your goals no matter what happens. Write this promise out and put it somewhere you will see it. Read it aloud to yourself every single day.
3.-Know that I am here to guide and help you reach your goal, and I will never give up on you no matter what.
4.-Let your determination glow hot and bright, and burn away all doubts and fears. Know that you can do it, and you will.

More ideas next weekend to get your class “charged up” for the best year ever!