GRIT

What is grit? The definition of grit 1.) is small, loose particles of stone or sand  or 2.) courage and resolve; strength of character. Today I will be talking about the second definition. Grit to me is having the strength to push through hard situations and make the best out of the worst. Angela Lee Duckworth does an amazing job of explaining this in “The Key to Success? Grit. (Links to an external site.) She explains that grit isn’t determined by an IQ score, physical health, or good looks. Instead its passion, perseverance, and stamina.

When I was younger my parents helped me learn a lot about grit. I was raised in upstate New York on a small farm with 8 siblings. We milked cows, cut fields, picked weeds, and watered plants. At a young age I learned what hard work was. I learned that before you could go play you had to get work done. This work ethic has carried on with me throughout my life. It has helped me in school, sports, and part time jobs. With being a student athlete you have to manage your time wisely all while making sure your grades are kept with,turning assignments on time and making it to practice regularly. This has not always been easy but with determination and passion I have always managed to get what I needed to done.

Starting college has been especially hard for me. I was planning to go back to New York to run cross country for a school there. At the end of September I realized that financially I couldn’t do this and by this time I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get things together to go to a different school. With my strength and passion of wanting to continue my education and running career I emailed the coach here at GCC and got everything together within a week to be able to start classes and practice. Without a good mindset and perseverance I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this.  

The first step to having grit is believing in yourself. It’s making a goal and following through with it. It’s not letting bumps in the road get in your way. We are all like small particles of sand by the ocean, getting washed away. Having grit can make you stand out, it can make you not get washed away, it will help you accomplish your goals.