Angela Duckworth And The Research On Grit, By Burro Genius

Victor Villasenor, a published author, writer of Burro Genius, has had an extremely difficult life. He has dealt with continuous setbacks and failures, and to top it all off, he has endured many tragedies. Yet, despite all of these shortcomings and obstacles, Villasenor's gritty personality and growth mindset are the essential contributing factors that enabled him to became such a successful author.

Grit is a quality that Villasenor possesses; indeed, being gritty is an incredible ability to have at your disposal. Grit is simply the attitude of never giving up and perseverance. Angela Duckworth, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania, defined grit, in her article "Angela Duckworth and the Research on Grit", as "sticking

Throughout Victor Villasenor's memoir; even at a young age he would demonstrate signs of his grit. He has an attitude and used metaphors that only a person with an abundance of grit would say. Grit is not limited to only one situation, but could be used in any situation, for example Victor uses metaphors and similes to compare himself and other people. In chapter seven, Victor uses this metaphor "I was no longer un mexicano de los buenos-a weed, a yerba that was so strong it would break concrete, reaching God's sunlight"(Villasenor 97). This Metaphor is a testament of his grit, as he compares himself to a stubborn weed that will one day break concrete, this figure of speech represents his gritty attitude , and continual striving till the day he flourished. Another moment in which Villasenor was at his grittiest, was when he was thirty, and he had just published for his first novel, Macho. After finding his success, with Macho, in the preface chapter, he shares that he "finally got published after 265 rejections. Immediately, returned to this book, thinking I could pull it off, but I was wrong. Over the next few decades, I sold other books, but I'd always return to this book"(Villasenor X). This quote demonstrates his grittiness, and is a perfect real life example of Grit. The stamina to take 265 rejections and to continue to hone one's skilled is impressive to say

At a young age your parents might praise you on your intelligence or they will praise you based on your effort. Victor was raised on effort and that is why he looks at learning from many different points of views. Victor's father right before he goes on his first day of school, praises him," I tell you, you're going to be good in school! Hell, you're already thinking, and that's what education is really all about, learning how to think"(Villasenor 51). Juan Salvador, Villasenor's father, praises Victor for thinking and explains that school is about thinking. This praise is based on Villasenor's ability to think and to apply himself; therefore Victor at a young age will eventually develop a growth mindset. Now Victor Villasenor is able to take failure and success and learn from it. An additional prime example of victor exemplifying a growth mindset, is when Villasenor was going to kill Moses his military school teacher. But instead of killing Moses, he forgave him as he learned from his farther by example, " to mi papa, as he listened to all this doctor's small talk about bridles and saddles with such kindness, patience, compassion and yes forgiveness, [...] It made him look strong and healthy "(Villasenor 310). His mindset helps him think before committing any action towards Mosses. This proves with his growth mindset learning can literally take place