I Beat The Odds

“It’s true that we can’t help the circumstances we’re born into and some of us start out in a much tougher place than other people. But just because we started there doesn’t mean we have to end up there” (“Beat the Odds”). This quote comes from professional football player Michael Oher’s book I Beat the Odds from Homelessness to The Blind Side and Beyond. Resilience is what helps children in harsh circumstances survive and prosper. The origins of resilience have roots in the field of medicine but research on resilience in behavioral sciences began to surface around 1970 (Zolkoski). Over four decades there have been three waves of research on resilience in development. Pioneer researchers like Ann Masten saw the importance of the children that seemed to do well under risky circumstances. Other pioneering scientists also noticed the surprising adjustments and positive trajectories after hardships in the children’s lives that were studied. The website Kids Helpline states, that resilience is “the capacity of an individual to adapt to events and changes”. Resilience is promoted through engaging in a complex ray of resources and protective factors. This allows individuals to survive and lead successful lives. Pioneer …show more content…
Having a relationship with a caring person is an important protective factor that encourages the growth of resilience in children. “Most commonly, teachers are the positive role models for children in those circumstances” (Benard). Teachers have an important place in the lives of those children that are facings adversity because “a good teacher can give a child at least a chance to feel” that they are capable of success. Another protective factor that is capable of influencing resilience in children is high academic expectation. Schools can help the growth of resilience in their students by holding high standards through their curriculum and instruction