Introduction to Grit

Recently, my classes have begun reading both Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (outside of class) and Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance by Angela Duckworth (in class). After kindness, I believe that persistence, work ethic, and attitude are a close second. I lumped all three of those traits into one category because Grit is more than just being determined.

Duckworth defines Grit as “passion and perseverance for long-term goals.” Whether we develop that passion over time or it comes naturally to us, that passion is a necessary ingredient to our success. Author and motivational speaker Jon Gordon defines Grit as “...driven by love. Inspired by vision and purpose. Fueled by optimism and belief. Powered by faith and hope. Revived by resilience. Kept alive by stubbornness. And if we’re honest includes some fear of failure and desire to prove oneself.” Having Grit is not just one attribute and it does not happen overnight, but rather over an extended period of time and includes a range of emotions and characteristics.

Yesterday in class, I used part of Duckworth’s Grit Scale to conduct a 4 Corner Discussion amongst the students. At first, there was some chuckling and some awkwardness about selecting a stance about themselves based on 5 or 6 very personal statements, such as “I am a hard worker”, or “I have overcome setbacks to accomplish something I’m proud of.” However, as the students began to tell personal stories and really connect with the concepts, the tone became more serious and focused. I appreciated their vulnerability and willingness to change their mind. The 4 Corner Discussion was beneficial to beginning to read Grit because it is allowing students to now make personal connections in their annotations as we read. Additionally, that discussion format allowed students to have some degree of uncertainty and gray area from which to share their ideas because they could either agree, strongly agree, disagree, or strongly disagree.

I am looking forward to seeing how the students grow in their grit, gratitude, purpose, and self-belief as we continue through this unit.

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