True Grit

Grit is a word I've heard tossed around a lot in Teach For America, and I think it's a pretty important quality in education. According to the ever-reliable Wikipedia grit is "an individual’s passion for a particular long-term goal or end state coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their respective objective." When it comes to changing kid's lives in a classroom, keeping that passion alive and staying motivated is vital.

I had occasions that tried my grit this summer, and I am certain this school year will include moments where I'm barely hanging on. Thankfully, I have a history with grit.

Showing cattle is a hobby that teaches grit each and every day. From early morning chores to late nights finishing up in the barn. I can't tell you how many times I grumbled about the feeding, rinsing, blowing, combing, and showing practice process at home. Each time my family reminded me again and again, that those mundane everyday tasks were building towards show ring success.

Except when they didn't. Because there were times when I not only placed dead last in class, but placed dead last after my heifer had stepped on me and escaped my control. Honestly it made no logical sense to keep showing, to dust off jeans, and plaster on a smile for the judge after those embarrassing disasters. That's when grit kicked in.

Don't get me wrong, I did have some great experiences and victories in the show ring, but the winning or losing was never the "long-term goal or end state" of showing cattle. Instead it was taking pride in my project, my family, and my industry. 

My days in the shavings are through, and I've traded my boots for some sensible classroom flats. I don't recall how I placed at every show, but I carry my grit with pride. For I know that no matter who (or what) knocks you down and steps on you in life, getting back up is the only thing that matters.

'till the cows come home,

Ellie