Building CharacterBuilding Character

PerseverancePerseverance

PerseverancePerseverance

““With ordinary With ordinary talent and talent and extraordinary extraordinary perseverance, all perseverance, all things are things are attainable.”attainable.”~ Thomas Foxwell ~ Thomas Foxwell

Buxton Buxton

Perseverance is…Perseverance is…Trying and trying again; not giving Trying and trying again; not giving upupAlso known as “stick-to-it-ness” ~ Also known as “stick-to-it-ness” ~ sticking with something until it is sticking with something until it is finished finished Commitment, hard work, patience Commitment, hard work, patience and enduranceand enduranceBeing able to bear difficulties calmly Being able to bear difficulties calmly without complaintwithout complaint

The Little Engine That CouldThe Little Engine That CouldRemember the Remember the Little Engine That Little Engine That Could? Could?

““I think I can, I I think I can, I think I can…” think I can…”

That’s That’s perseverance!perseverance!

Perseverance in SportsPerseverance in Sports

Chantal Petitclerc lost both of her legs when a Chantal Petitclerc lost both of her legs when a heavy barn door fell on her at the age of 13.heavy barn door fell on her at the age of 13.In her first wheelchair race at 18, she came in In her first wheelchair race at 18, she came in last.last.With her goal in mind, she has gone on to win 13 With her goal in mind, she has gone on to win 13 Gold medals for Canada in the Paralympics.Gold medals for Canada in the Paralympics.

Perseverance in SportsPerseverance in SportsLance Armstrong, Lance Armstrong, won the 3500 kmwon the 3500 km

Tour de France bicycle Tour de France bicycle race 7 times after race 7 times after surviving a grueling surviving a grueling battle with cancer.battle with cancer.

““Giving up was never Giving up was never an option.”an option.”

~Lance ~Lance ArmstrongArmstrong

Perseverance in SportsPerseverance in SportsDerek Redmond, Derek Redmond, Olympic runner Olympic runner from England falls from England falls due to an injury due to an injury during the 400 m during the 400 m semi-finals.semi-finals.

He gets up and He gets up and completes the race completes the race with the help of his with the help of his father.father.

Who Am I?Who Am I?

““I have missed more than 9000 shots I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning entrusted to take the game winning shot... and missed. And I have failed shot... and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. “life. And that is why I succeed. “

Michael JordanMichael Jordan

Perseverance in HistoryPerseverance in HistoryLudwig Von Ludwig Von Beethoven Beethoven overcame his overcame his deafness and deafness and composed his composed his famous 5famous 5thth Symphony.Symphony.

Da da da dum…..Da da da dum…..

Perseverance in HistoryPerseverance in HistoryHarriet Tubman Harriet Tubman walked thousands walked thousands of miles through of miles through bad weather and bad weather and rough terrain; rough terrain; avoiding slave avoiding slave hunters in her hunters in her personal quest to personal quest to help thousands of help thousands of black slaves black slaves escape to the escape to the north.north.

Who Am I?Who Am I?

““I think and think for months and I think and think for months and years. 99% of the time the years. 99% of the time the conclusion is false. The 100conclusion is false. The 100thth time time I am right.”I am right.”

Albert EinsteinAlbert EinsteinAlbert Einstein the Albert Einstein the world’s most world’s most famous scientist famous scientist was diagnosed with was diagnosed with a learning disability a learning disability as a child.as a child.Rising above this, Rising above this, he went on to he went on to discover the theory discover the theory of relativity ~ of relativity ~ E=mc2.E=mc2.

Who Am I?Who Am I?

““Most of the important things in the Most of the important things in the world are accomplished by people world are accomplished by people who kept on trying when there who kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”seemed to be no hope at all.”

Thomas Edison - InventorThomas Edison - InventorHad to try over Had to try over 1000 combinations 1000 combinations before he found before he found the right materials the right materials for the light bulb.for the light bulb.

““The most certain The most certain way to succeed is way to succeed is to try just one to try just one more time.”more time.”

Who Am IWho Am I

““We can do anything we want if we We can do anything we want if we stick to it long enough.”stick to it long enough.”

Helen KellerHelen KellerThe first deaf and The first deaf and blind person to blind person to earn a University earn a University degree.degree.

She became an She became an American author, a American author, a lecturer, and a lecturer, and a political activist political activist fighting for the fighting for the rights of women.rights of women.

Who Am IWho Am I

I participated in a talent contest on I participated in a talent contest on TV.TV.

My talent is singing.My talent is singing.

I was told that I should go back to I was told that I should go back to singing on a cruise ship.singing on a cruise ship.

Recently, I suffered a terrible loss Recently, I suffered a terrible loss when some of my family members when some of my family members passed away.passed away.

Jennifer HudsonJennifer HudsonIn spite of not In spite of not winning American winning American Idol and the Idol and the tragedy of losing tragedy of losing members of her members of her family, she has family, she has persevered and persevered and won Oscar and won Oscar and Grammy awards Grammy awards for acting and for acting and singing.singing.

How might you demonstrate How might you demonstrate perseverance?perseverance?

Try a sport that Try a sport that may be challenging may be challenging or new to you.or new to you.

Keep trying until Keep trying until you succeed!you succeed!

How might you demonstrate How might you demonstrate perseverance?perseverance?

Spend timeSpend time

practising your practising your music. music.

If you do not If you do not succeed right succeed right away, keep trying away, keep trying until you achieve until you achieve your goal.your goal.

How might you demonstrate How might you demonstrate perseverance?perseverance?

When doing your When doing your homework, keep homework, keep trying if you don’t trying if you don’t understand right understand right away, or get help.away, or get help.Avoid making Avoid making excuses like; “I excuses like; “I don’t get it” or don’t get it” or “This is boring” to “This is boring” to avoid completing avoid completing your task.your task.

How might you demonstrate How might you demonstrate perseverance?perseverance?

If there is If there is something that you something that you really want, start really want, start saving your money saving your money or allowance and or allowance and see if you can buy see if you can buy it yourself, or it yourself, or contribute to it.contribute to it.

How might you demonstrate How might you demonstrate perseverance?perseverance?

Adopt a “DON’T Adopt a “DON’T QUIT” attitude so QUIT” attitude so when you do not when you do not succeed right away succeed right away at something, you at something, you don’t get don’t get discouraged and discouraged and quit ~ Instead you quit ~ Instead you stick to your goal stick to your goal and try again.and try again.

““The race is not always to the swift, The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running.”but to those who keep on running.”

~Anonymous~Anonymous

A Canadian HeroA Canadian HeroTerry Fox showed Terry Fox showed perseverance and perseverance and courage in running courage in running 3339 miles in his 3339 miles in his Marathon of Hope Marathon of Hope raising money for raising money for cancer research. cancer research. Today millions of Today millions of people around the people around the world continue his world continue his dream.dream.

Test Your PerseveranceTest Your PerseveranceI believe in myself.I believe in myself.I have clear goals.I have clear goals.I know where and how to improve.I know where and how to improve.I bounce back from disappointment.I bounce back from disappointment.I can adapt well to change.I can adapt well to change.I focus on and complete projects.I focus on and complete projects.I can take unpopular actions when I I can take unpopular actions when I believe something is right. believe something is right.

You Can Do It!You Can Do It!"Follow your dream...take "Follow your dream...take one step at a time and one step at a time and don't settle for less, just don't settle for less, just continue to climb. Follow continue to climb. Follow your dream...if you your dream...if you stumble, don't stop and stumble, don't stop and lose sight of your goal, lose sight of your goal, press on to the top...For press on to the top...For only on top can we see the only on top can we see the whole view, can we see whole view, can we see what we've done and what what we've done and what we can do, can we then we can do, can we then have the vision to seek have the vision to seek something new...Press on, something new...Press on, and follow your dream." and follow your dream." -- Amanda Bradley -- Amanda Bradley