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 provide

Answer 1

Gratitude has a profound impact on a person's life, influencing their emotional state and overall well-being. In the short story "Gratitude," we witness the transformation of the protagonist, Simone, as she navigates her feelings of frustration and sadness following an injury that sidelines her from baseball. Through the gratitude challenge assigned by her teacher, Mr. Bright, Simone learns to shift her focus from what she has lost to the many positive aspects of her life.

At the beginning of the story, Simone is overwhelmed by her unfortunate condition; her injury causes her to feel like her year is ruined. She feels disconnected from the joy of playing baseball, a sport she has been dedicated to for many years. In her initial reluctance to participate in the gratitude challenge, Simone embodies the negative mindset that can arise during challenging times. "I was not the least bit interested," she reflects, indicating her struggle to see beyond her circumstances.

However, as the gratitude challenge unfolds, we see a significant shift in Simone's perspective. By actively searching for things to be grateful for each day, she begins to fill her notebook with positive reflections. This change is illustrated when she notes her "kind brother" and the joy of listening to "pop music." As her list grows, so does her sense of appreciation for the little things in life. The story states, "I noticed how much I actually had to be grateful for," showcasing the awakening of her gratitude and the realization that there is still joy to be found, even when faced with adversity.

The act of practicing gratitude not only helps Simone improve her mood but also enhances her resilience. By the end of the story, after submitting her gratitude journal, she feels more confident and motivated. She is ready to support her friends during their baseball games despite her own situation. The line "My brain apparently needed a little refocus" perfectly encapsulates how gratitude can redirect thoughts away from negativity and toward a more fulfilling and positive outlook.

In conclusion, gratitude is a powerful tool that can significantly affect a person's life by reshaping their perspective and emotional state. Simone's journey in "Gratitude" illustrates this transformation as she moves from despair to a renewed appreciation for life. Through her gratitude practice, she discovers joy in her surroundings and strengthens her resilience in the face of challenges, demonstrating that even in difficult times, gratitude can lead to happiness and a more positive life experience.