4. How did Nikic prepare for the Ironman competition? What role did Dan Grieb, a volunteer coach, play in helping him to reach his athletic goal?
5. At the end of the piece, Mr. Streeter returns to that make-or-break moment from his opening paragraphs when it looked like Nikic couldn’t go on. How was Nikic able to persevere and continue the race until he crossed the finish line? How did his family and supporters rally to help him during that critical time?
6. What is your reaction to the story? What lines were memorable, moving, surprising or enlightening and why? What aspects of Nikic’s journey speak to your own experiences?
7. The article ends:
“I learned that there are no limits,” he said, when we spoke days later. “Do not put a lid on me.”
Take a bow, Chris Nikic, for holding tight to your dreams, for your patience and hopeful perseverance and guts. We could use a little more of that in this world.
How do the words, “Do not put a lid on me” resonate with you? What emotions do you feel when you reach the end of Nikic’s triumph and read those final words? What lessons and inspiration can we draw from the story?
Going Further
Option 1: Tell Someone Else’s Story of Accomplishment.
You probably noticed that Mr. Streeter’s piece doesn’t read like a typical article; instead it’s a tribute to the patience, perseverance and guts of 21-year-old Nikic.
How can you celebrate the successes and accomplishments of students at your school or in your community at a time when we could all use an uplifting story? What stories can you discover from friends, parents, students and teachers that show the power of human grit and determination?
Using the article as a mentor text, write about an achievement or triumph against the difficult odds of another person. Their accomplishment can be physical, intellectual or social; athletic or artistic; individual or collaborative. Be sure to use vivid language, as Mr. Streeter does (“his legs felt like concrete, and it seemed as if the muscles in his back had been put through a shredder”). And, as in the featured article, you might consider starting at the low point in the journey — the moment when it looked like defeat was probable.
