7 Thoughts
Why does Mr. Gery tell his class to "be a rock"
Answers may vary
What is the name of Maria's condition?
Bruck Syndrome
Describe Paul as a student in elementary and middle student
He was a strong student
Where was Erika born? City and country
Mexico City, Mexico
Fill in the blank, "If you never have a ____, you'll never have a ____ come true."
Dream
How can you build grit?
By having a growth mindset
Where was Maria originally from?
Moldova
Why did Paul "coast" through high school?
He did not want to be bullied, so he focused on his social life and not on his academics.
Name three struggles Erika faced during her childhood.
Abusive father, abusive boyfriend, poor living conditions
According to Langan, what is a quote to live by?
Be the change you want to see in the world
What is a growth mindset?
The belief that with time and hard work, you can accomplish your long term goals. It is the belief that failures are not ends, but opportunities for growth.
Explain how Maria was bullied in elementary school
Students made fun of her physical disability and because she was adopted. Students and teachers physically harmed her by not accommodating her physical disability.
Describe three mistakes Paul made during his first semester of college
He skipped parts of orientation, partied, did not go to class regularly, did not turn work in on time, did not complete overdue work
What is the name of someone who smuggles people from Mexico to the United States
A coyote
According to Langan, what is the basic truth about human nature?
We all want to respect ourselves
She has her PhD in Psychology and has devoted her career to studying grit in studies such as West Point Cadets, Spelling Bee Champions, Chicago Public School students, and many more.
What was Maria's greatest dream?
To become a professional artist
What was Paul's "turning point"?
When his old classmates saw him pushing carts at Sam's club, he realized that he was becoming his grade point average, a zero.
Where does Erika live now
Pasadena, Los Angeles
What are all 7 of the "7 Thoughts" from the Introduction of the text?
1. Having a Dream 2. Your Attitude About Learning 3. Doing the Work 4. An Unequal Playing Field 5. Be the change you want to see in the world 6. The Fact of Loneliness 7. Basic Truth About Human Nature
Answers will vary
Name three ways in which Maria is making progress towards her dream.
She graduated from Moore college, she is creating a comic book, In a Rut, and she is trying to build her physical strength
How did Paul change when he went back to school?
He went to orientation, used a calendar to stay organized, made friends with studious people, became a study group leader, and he put in hard work to learn important study habits and skills.
What is Erika doing to make life better for her family?