The idea of grit also has an individual focus, whereas scholars point out that more equitable outcomes often come from the work of community.3 When young people excel and break through barriers to do so, it is rare for the achievement to be an individual accomplishment and much more typical for the achievement to be a collective effort, coming from teachers, parents, friends, other family members, and community allies. Grit does not capture this important feature of achievement, and may even give people the idea that they have to go it alone—and achieve through their own focused determination.
