Robertson Secondary School: Perseverance Pays Off Assignment Analysis

This homework assignment analyzes the short story "Perseverance Pays Off." The assignment is divided into two parts. Part A focuses on a character sketch of the narrator, requiring the use of descriptive adjectives and adverbs to illustrate her personality and actions, highlighting her passion for soccer, her determination, and her courage in pursuing her dreams despite facing obstacles and societal expectations. Part B includes oral communication questions, prompting the student to predict whether the narrator will make the team, and what actions the other team members should take to treat her as a true teammate. The student also reflects on a personal experience of overcoming obstacles and striving for acceptance, similar to the narrator's journey. The solution demonstrates an understanding of the story's themes of perseverance, determination, and overcoming adversity, and provides insightful answers to the oral communication questions, offering a well-rounded analysis of the story and its characters.

Perseverance Pays Off
We were in the middle of the hall when the teacher came and posted the sign which
read “Soccer tryouts tomorrow after school.” My friends immediately turned to me and
told me they were sorry I wouldn’t be able to try out. Frustrated, I turned away from
them and headed to last period class.
I had been attending Robertson Secondary School for three years and was furious
every year when soccer season began because there was no girls’ team. Soccer was
my passion and I played every chance I got for the city teams – but I wanted the chance
to represent my school. Every season I sat in the bleachers and watched the boys
practice, and I attended every game knowing that I had the skills to be on that team.
That night I went home and vented my frustration to my father. He listened patiently and
told me that every year he had listened to me complain about the fact that there was no
girls’ team and that it was time that I did something about it. I wasn’t sure what he
meant and asked him what he was talking about. He told me that I shouldn’t let anything
stand in my way of playing for the school team.
I decided that he was right, and that night I packed my cleats in my school bag for the
tryout the next day.
When I arrived on the field the guys thought I was kidding and laughed at me as I tied
my laces. I ignored their jeering and tried to get focused for the tryout. My heart beat a
million beats a minute and my palms were sweating. I began to question whether or not
I had made the right decision and was starting to think I would become the laughing
stock of the whole school. The teacher coach, Mr. Quinton, approached me on the
sidelines and asked what I was doing. I told him that I wanted to try out for the team. He
smiled and patted me on the shoulder and told me he was interested to see what I could
do out on the field.
As the try out began I raced out on the field determined to show everyone what I could
do. We began with a dribbling drill where we had to weave in and out of the pylons and
maintain control of the ball. As I was dribbling through the pylons, one of the other
players kicked my ball away from me.
The next drill was wind sprints. We ran to one goal post and had to turn to run back to
the other end. I was able to keep up with the boys until one tripped me and I toppled
over. Next we did a three-on-three drill. Despite being paired with two other boys they
refused to pass to me and I didn’t get a chance to take a shot. Near the end of the
practice we began a scrimmage. On the field the other boys acted as though I was
invisible. I started to get frustrated but tried to keep my cool. At one point, a
pass came to me directly in front of the net. I raced toward the goalie who stood
crouched in the net.

My body was tense as I dribbled the ball forward – this was my big chance to show
them all what I could do. I stepped forward on my left foot and took the shot with my
right. As I watched the ball time seemed to slow. The ball sailed up and over the
goalie’s head landing squarely in the net. I had scored! Relief flooded through me.
At the end of the practice, while walking off the field I felt good about the fact that I had
overcome my doubt and, despite their efforts to deter me, I had showed the guys what I
was capable of.
But now the waiting began, the first cuts would be posted tomorrow and I was desperate
to know if I would be one of the unlucky ones whose name did not appear on the list.
The next afternoon I stood with a crowd of guys waiting for the coach to post the first
cuts. My insecurities returned and I was worried that despite how well I had performed
yesterday, the coach wouldn’t be willing to let a girl on the guy’s team. I stood pacing
from foot to foot until finally, the door opened and the coach stepped out. He posted the
list and I scanned it quickly. At last I found my name and excitement flooded through
me. I was ecstatic! I had made the first cut. Now there were only two more cuts to
go . . .
Part A
2. Write a character sketch about the narrator in “Perseverance Pays Off”. Remember
to use adjectives and adverbs to describe the character and her actions. Also be sure to
put your character sketch in proper paragraph form.
The character of the narrator story “Perseverance Pays Off”, is a bit different character, as
compared to the usual female characters in the story. The narrator in the story “Perseverance
Pays Off”, is passionate about playing soccer. Moreover, she had developed the skills of playing
soccer.
The character of the narrator is bold, courageous and determined to chase her passion.
Every year, when she used to find that there were no place allotted in the team, for girls who are
interested to play soccer, she used to feel extremely disappointed. However, her disappointment
could not stop her chasing her dreams and breaking the taboo that girl are not allowed to play
soccer. Her father also encouraged her to let nothing to stop her from participating in the “Soccer

tryouts”. Her determination, reflected when she joined the soccer tryout without asking the
coach, as well as ignoring the jeering passed by boys in the team. This reflected the strength of
mind of the character.
The efforts of the boys to deter the narrator to make a goal were proved futile in front of
the perseverance as well as dedication of the narrator and she received a chance to showcase her
talent.
The skills as well as spirit of the character of narrator reflected when she received ‘a
pass’ and utilized the opportunity to the fullest by scoring a goal and getting her name included
in the lit of selected players for the ‘first cut’.

Part B
Oral Communication
1. Do you think the narrator will eventually make the team?
Yes I think that the narrator eventually make the team, through her determination as well
as indomitable attitude, her potentialities as well as skills and perseverance.
2. If she was part of the team, what will need to happen for the boys to treat her as
a true teammate?
In order to treat the narrator as a true team mate the boys should cooperate with her while
playing soccer by providing her to nourish her potentialities, exhibit her skills to the coach.
This would also enhance the performance of the entire team.
3. If you were the team’s coach, what would you do to make this happen?
If I were the coach of the team, I would have took many session with the boys to
make them understand that providing chances to grow, to a girl possessing good
potentialities, will actually prove beneficial for the team and the society as well.
4. Have you ever worked hard to be accepted by others in a similar way to the
narrator in this story? Were you successful?
During my college days, I suffered from obesity. This restricted my selection into the
intra college dance competition team, in spite of my potentialities as well as certificates of
remarkable achievements in several dance competition during my high school days. Hence,
I faced hurdles similar to the narrator of the story “Perseverance Pays Off”. I strived a lot
to lose my weight within three months and carried on practicing dance simultaneously.
Finally I earned my position into the intra college dance competition teams.