Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival, and Hope in an American City

by Andrea Elliott

But among educators, the word has taken on a new meaning. This largely began in 2013, when Angela Duckworth, a psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, gave a TED Talk originally titled “The Key to Success? Grit.” It drew more than 22 million views, spurring a movement among education reformers. Success, according to Duckworth, hinges not solely on talent or IQ but also on “grit,” which she defines as the “passion” for a goal combined with the “perseverance” to meet that goal. Absent the passion, perseverance wanes. Absent perseverance, passion is fleeting. When a person possesses both attributes, long-term goals can be met. People can learn to become “grittier,” says Duckworth, who measures this quality with a “Grit Scale.” The grittiest people are not discouraged by setbacks or distracted by new ideas.