The Power of Doggedness

Artist FRANCES GOODMAN proves that persistence shapes art - and character.

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“FRANCES HAS NOT YET LEARNT to read or write, but her cutting out is excellent,” my Grade 2 report announced. My parents, both avid readers and wordsmiths, were deeply alarmed. My teacher, however, reassured them that I was sweet, but not very bright. That diagnosis didn’t sit well at home, and a series of assessments and consultations with specialists followed. The verdict? I had multiple learning impediments, and would need years of extra tutoring to catch up and keep up.
When my parents told the teacher, she gathered all the girls in my class around me and announced that even though I had "problems" and was "different", everyone should still treat me normally. My cheeks burned with shame, and humiliation coursed through me. In that moment, I made a secret vow: I’ll show them.