1 “Attitude can shift with gratitude,” Mr. Bright, my leadership teacher, stated.

Question

2 “Unless you have nothing to be grateful for . . . ,” I thought to myself.

3 Mr. Bright went on to explain, in complicated scientific terms, that gratitude helps the brain release chemicals that make people feel happy. Then he handed a pocket-sized notebook to each student and assigned a gratitude challenge to our class. Apparently it would be our project for this grading period. We were supposed to fill each line of the notebook with something for which we were grateful. He suggested we write 10 items per day.

4 I slumped in my chair, highly disinterested in this challenge. I was not the least bit interested. My mind was replaying the last 24 hours. During my baseball game the night before, I had hurt my wrist, and the doctor told me exactly what I hadn’t wanted to hear.

5 “Playing baseball right now will just injure that wrist more, Simone, so you need to take eight weeks off,” he had said. With only seven weeks left in the season, I was devastated. I had played on the Astros since kindergarten and couldn’t be out that long.

6 I was so sad, it’s all I could think about: no practice, no games, and a hurt wrist. I felt like my year was ruined, and by evening, I hadn’t written anything in my notebook. I crawled into bed and scribbled my dog, knowing that I would need to add to the list tomorrow if I didn’t want to get a failing grade on the assignment.

7 The next morning, I carried my notebook with me to the breakfast table. My brother had already served my plate, so I wrote kind brother. On the ride to school, the radio was playing a great song, and I quickly jotted down pop music. Later when my English teacher handed me a quiz that I had done well on, I wrote 98% in English. By the time I got home from school, I had logged 14 items!

8 The next day, I busily looked for things to include. I noticed how much I actually had to be grateful for. The list kept getting longer, and I realized I was having fun. I was definitely thinking less about my wrist and all the baseball that I was missing.

9 When I submitted the journal, I was sure that I would pass my leadership class, but even more importantly, I was confident that I could cheer for my friends at the game that night. My brain apparently needed a little refocus.

11.
Read the short story “Gratitude.” Based on the information in the story, write a response to the following:



Explain how gratitude can affect a person’s life.



Write a well-organized informational composition that uses specific evidence from the story to support your answer.



Remember to —

clearly state your controlling idea.
organize your writing.
develop your ideas in detail.
use evidence from the selection in your response.
use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.


Manage your time carefully so that you can —

review the selection.
plan your response.
write your response.
revise and edit your response.

Write your response in the box provided.

...

Answer 1

Gratitude has a profound effect on a person's life, influencing mental well-being, fostering positive relationships, and encouraging a healthier outlook. In the story "Gratitude," the protagonist, Simone, initially struggles to appreciate the positive aspects of her life due to a disappointment over an injury that sidelines her from baseball. However, as she engages with the assigned gratitude challenge, she begins to recognize and acknowledge the good things around her, which significantly alters her mindset.

At the start of the story, Simone's attitude is marked by despair. After learning about her wrist injury, she feels as though her entire year is ruined. This negativity consumes her thoughts, preventing her from seeing anything positive. She notes, "I felt like my year was ruined," illustrating how the absence of gratitude contributes to her feeling overwhelmed by her circumstances. This mindset not only affects her happiness but also leads to inaction, as she writes only one item in her notebook on the first day.

As Simone commits to the gratitude challenge, her perspective begins to change. By intentionally looking for aspects of her life to be thankful for, she discovers numerous reasons for gratitude. The story highlights this transformation when she describes, "I noticed how much I actually had to be grateful for." This realization signifies a crucial shift; instead of focusing on her injury and the resulting limitations, she finds joy in her brother's kindness, her enjoyment of pop music, and her success in English class. Each positive element she acknowledges helps lift her spirits, demonstrating how gratitude can redirect thoughts away from negativity.

The cumulative effect of gratitude on Simone's outlook is illustrated when she reflects on her experience after submitting her journal. She feels confident enough to cheer for her friends at the baseball game, even though she cannot participate. Her statement, "My brain apparently needed a little refocus," underscores the idea that practicing gratitude has enabled her to reframe her situation. Instead of allowing her injury to define her experience, she learns to cultivate joy and connection with others, reveals a newfound resilience, and ultimately enhances her emotional well-being.

In conclusion, the story illustrates that gratitude can significantly impact a person's life by shifting perspective, improving emotional health, and repairing motivation. Simone's journey from despair to appreciation proves that cultivating gratitude helps individuals recognize the value in their lives, fosters a positive mindset, and encourages a more fulfilling way to navigate challenges.