MKE Week 14 – ‘Rudy’: Persistence and Pursuit of the Dream

Read More Posts by Patricia King 

Category:  Week Fourteen

Tags:

minutes remaining

This week’s assignment was to watch one movie from a list. We were to watch it looking for connections to what we are learning in the Master Key Experience.

I chose to watch “Rudy” I had seen it before, but it had been a while. It is the story of a child who loves football and makes up his mind at an early age that he wants to play football for Notre Dame.

He lives in a community where most end up working in the steel mill. His family was enthusiastic about watching the Notre Dame games on TV. He learns the fight song, the game plays and ends up playing football in his hometown.

Rudy is pushed around by his teammates but still confidently says” I’m going to play football at Notre Dame” When his school offers a bus trip to check out Notre Dame, he gets to the bus, only to be told that he is not good enough to be allowed to go. Everyone thinks he is a dreamer, but he clings tenaciously to his hopes.

After graduation, he initially worked in his hometown. His friend Pete continued to encourage him but dies tragically in a mill accident-causing Rudy to decide to change his life.

Rudy takes his savings to go to Notre Dame- looking for a way to get into the school so he can try out for football. Ends up meeting with a priest, Fr. Cavanaugh who helps him get one semester at Holy Cross College.

There he works to overcome his dyslexia and get his grades up to apply for Notre Dame with the help of friendship he forms with D-Bop.

Meets the groundskeeper, Fortune, by sneaking onto the field to see what it felt like to be there. Starts applying every semester after the first year and turned down repeatedly.

Finally, Rudy is accepted as a student in Senior year. Then he earns a spot as a walk on for the football team. He pushes himself to the limits and earns the respect of his teammates over time.

When he has decided to quit, his friend, Fortune shows up to encourage him and his teammates rally round him to reach his dream. I do not want to tell the whole story here. Watch it for yourself.

This movie has so many lessons when you look at it from a growth perspective.

This month we are reading “The Greatest Salesman in The World, Og Mandino” Scroll 3. “I will persist until I succeed.”

Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never will I know how close it lies unless I turn the corner. Always will I take another step. If that is of no avail I will take another, and yet another. In truth, one step at a time is not too difficult (page 64).  Og Mandino

Rudy had to deal with minimal finances, housing, learning challenges, and physical limitations (not a big guy). He went to school, worked, and yet did the drills and runs to keep himself in shape even when he got rejection letters. He kept his good habits going! Talk about Persistence – Wow!

Another reference from “The Greatest Salesman in The World, Og Mandino” Scroll 3

Henceforth, I will learn and apply another secret of those who excel in my work. Page 66.  Og Mandino

He aligned himself with good people! Father Cavanaugh got him a semester to prove himself so he could continue his education. Fortune, the groundskeeper saw something good in him and helped him with a job and place to sleep.

Rudy learned from his tutor D-Bop to improve his grades. Rudy treated his teammates good once on the team and they respected his untiring effort to perform well. He built good relationships and still showed deep love for his family who had a tough time believing he could ever reach his dream.

In our class we are learning to build alliances with our tribe and others to support us working toward being our best self. This movie is a wonderful example of the blessings that can come from good alliances!

I highly recommend “Rudy” as a movie you will enjoy. There are even more lessons than I shared here.

Till next time – Welcome the New Year with joy!

Meet Patricia King

I am a Woman of Faith – Wife, Mother, and Grandmother - Love my Family and Friends - Encourager of Health and Wellness.
I have pursued personal development for years! Thankful for my friend who introduced me to classes leading up to this unique Master Key Experience.

Enjoyed this post? 

You can find more great content here:


  • Great summary, Pat! ‘Rudy’ shows how determination and good alliances can lead to achieving dreams. Excited for your next post!

  • Hi Pat, thanks for sharing this great synopsis of the movie and our own persistence. It has the four elements right, a DMP, PMA, POA and a MMA. Belated congratulations for the featured blog of the week. I am glad to be in your tribe! Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year!

  • Patricia, I chose to watch Rudy as well, and you are correct, there is so much we can tie in from OG Mandino, Haanel, as well as all the things we have been learning from the whole MKE experience. Great blog!

  • Patricia, I appreciate how you’ve weaved what we’ve been swan diving in these past 3 months…with this movie.

  • {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

    A Special Gift for You!

    Uncover the ONE secret for Less Stress and More Happiness in your life!
    >