Overcoming Tough Situations: Reading and Discussion

Objective: This story sends a clear message: You can dig yourself out of a tough situation; one failure or mistake doesn’t make you worthless; people are willing to help you. The story can inspire former dropouts to keep on working in their new schools or programs. They can also serve as cautionary tales to students who are thinking about dropping out or who aren’t working hard enough and may be in danger being over aged and under credited.

General lesson: Read the story aloud to your group or have them read it on their own. Here are discussion questions that apply to the story.

• Where in the story does the author tell you why she left school? Who was responsible for the author making the decision to leave school? Do you think the author had good reasons to leave school? Do you think she had any options, other than leaving school?

• Where in the story does the author tell you why she wanted to return to school, go to a program, or transfer to another school? What obstacles had to be overcome to go back to school? Was the process hard or easy?

• Who helped the author change her situations? How did they help? Why did those people help her?

• How did the author feel after she returned to school or to a program? What do you think she learned as a result of her experiences? If she goes to college and starts having a hard time keeping up with the work, what do you think she will do?

• “Out of the story” question: Think of a time when you were in trouble or struggling to get through a tough challenge. Did you ask anyone for help or did anyone volunteer to help you? What did you do in the situation that make you proud? What did you do that you would have done differently?