In class we are reading a Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park. It is based on a true story about a boy during the Sudan War. We were asked to answer some questions about the book:
In A Long Walk to Water, one of the main themes is leadership. Some qualities of effective leadership are kindness, intelligence, bravery, persistence and confidence. Salva shows many of these qualities throughout the book. Salva is very persistent because he keeps walking even though it is tiring and difficult. Salva is intelligent when he didn’t cry or complain. This is intelligent because if he had cried or complained his group would have left him behind. Salva is brave because he left his friends and family behind and his uncle and best friend were killed but he just keeps on walking. He doesn’t know where he is going, he doesn’t know anybody but he just keeps on walking.
In the book, Salva says “Do things bit by bit, one step at a time.” Salva’s philosophy can help me in my life when I am playing sports. I go to the track sometimes with my dad. When I am running a long distance I can just tell myself one more step, one more step until the end. Perseverance is important because even when things get tough you will just keep on going. Salva was very persevered because he just kept walking. If Salva had stopped walking he may not be alive today. You can develop the ability to persevere by doing sports like soccer, track and field hockey because in these sports you have to keep moving the whole time. In soccer you have run and pass the ball for the whole game, in track you have to run long distances without stopping and in field hockey you have to run down the field and score goals. Perseverance is a very important quality to have because it can teach you many things.
Outside of sports, what other examples can you give on how you’ve developed perseverance in your life? I can imagine what you’ve learned from sports has been beneficial in many aspects of your life. Great examples!!