For this week we were given an assignment to watch one or more of 6 different movies and pick out or watch for the characters Definite Major Purpose(DMP) + Positive Mental Attitude(PMA) + Plan of Action(POA) + MasterMind Alliances(MMA).

The movie I chose was Rudy. While this was a movie that I had watched before (kind of a big Sean Astin Fan) it relates so much more now with being on my own sort of Heroes Journey. For Rudy he had a dream that started when he was young.

His family loved Notre Dame football and would watch only that team in the household. He loved to play football with his brothers but due to his size (being of small stature) they often wouldn’t let him play or picked him last.

With Notre Dame being his dad’s favorite team, he knew he wanted to see the college, be on the field and ultimately run out on the field on a game day. There were some things that Rudy lacked. First was the body to play football.

He was a small dude with very small stature. Second was talent. While he loved to play, he wasn’t super good at anything specific with the game. Third, the grades to even qualify for college let alone Notre Dame.

And last but not least, most of the people in his life thought his dream was funny and entertaining and a fools dream. He did have a best friend who knew his passion and supported his dream.

Would always tell him to not wait and to try but Rudy let life and the outside world, even his family get in the way of his dream. He believed them all when they told him he couldn’t do
it.

The heroes journey started years later when his best friend was killed in an accident working at the factory. This is what set Rudy on his way to fulfilling his dream.

When arriving in South Bend, he kept his eye on the goal. He was going to play on that field someday. He created a mastermind alliance with quite a few people.

From the Father he talks to about getting into the school who helps him get into Holy Cross the community college out there to Dbop who was his tutor in school to the groundskeeper at the
stadium.

Rudy worked with such grit and heart to make the grades to continue with school and had a plan. Each semester tried to apply to Notre Dame. He was denied and denied. He didn’t let that stop him.

He put himself in his dreams every day taking a job with the groundskeeper being able to be on the field, in the locker room and just around the players fed his desire more. He kept plugging away at his studies, getting in front of the coach and really showing everyone how badly he wanted to be there.

Just before his junior year, he again applied, and this time got accepted. This was one big step for his dream. This allowed him to try out for the team. He tried out as a walk on and although as not chosen for the actual team, he was chosen for the prep team.

Meaning that he would be able to work with the team and help them get ready for the games. He showed such heart and grit. He wasn’t afraid to get hit and if he didn’t get something right away he tried it again. He never quit.

He created alliances with the coaches and other players. He was promised a dress game by the coach just days before the coach quit and a new one-stepped in. While this new coach wasn’t willing to honor the previous coaches promise, the team all stood up and gave up their shirts for Rudy to dress.

This caused the coach to allow Rudy to dress and he got his dream to not only run out on to the field in uniform but play in the last game of his senior year with Notre Dame. Not only did he get his dream, he got an amazing education that he can use which no one can take that away from him.

So his DMP was to play football on the team at Notre Dame. His positive mental attitude was present most of the time with him speaking not in an “I will” mentality but an “I am” mentality. He spoke and acted like he was already a part of the team all the years that he went to community college.

His plan of action was to go to community college, get good grades and transfer to Notre Dame. Then try out for the team and show them that he has the guts and heart to be there.

His Mastermind Alliance consisted of many people from his best friend who died to Dbop, the priest, the groundskeeper, the coaches, and the players.

On a personal note, this movie reminded me that I am as well on a Hero’s journey. No, I do not want to play football at Notre Dame, but I do want a better life for myself and my family.

I have been on this journey for a while but just realized honestly didn’t know what to do to really start and get moving. I still get doubt and am scared at times, but I now have the tools to control and fix these feelings.

If I was to choose where in the movie my journey is, I would say I am at Community College working on getting my grades up and have made a few alliances. I still have a while to go but I am persistent as Rudy, and I will not giveup!