The Importance of “Grit”

For those who still think of acceptance into an Ivy League School as a sole guarantor of future success, a classic article worth reading.

http://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/06/business/the-humbling-of-the-harvard-man.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

Takeaway: Grit* and tenacity are qualities that recent higher education research has identified as being vital to success in academics and in life. This is even more true in today’s economy where the average person will undergo major career changes multiple times over the course of their working lives.

An elite school can serve as a terrific venue for you to lay the groundwork for a fulfilling and productive career, but it will not alone ensure a lifetime of success. As the article illustrates, even Harvard graduates will face the inevitable setbacks and challenges that arise in life.

*Term coined by Duckworth. Watch her TED Talk on the importance of “Grit.”

http://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_the_key_to_success_grit.html