Motivation in How I Got Smart by Steve Brody Essay Example

Has anyone ever motivated you to do something that might help you in the long run? Motivation is a key skill you should have throughout your life. It may help people get through hard times in their life or allow them to learn something new. There are many different things or people that can motivate you like: teachers, counselors, parents, cousins, classmates, or simply a close friend. At times you may need to obtain motivation from the support of others, especially in a difficult situation. In the text, Brody, the protagonist, is inspired by a girl in his English II class. Prior to seeing this girl, the protagonist was not the smartest book on the shelf. As the year continues, the boy finds a source that will help him gain knowledge and impress the girl. In the essay, ̈ How I Got Smart¨ by Steve Brody, the author uses a motivated tone to emphasize the power of reading.

 As you get older your motivation skills will come more easily; however you still may need a motivator . You have to find something that is going to make you happy and encourage you to achieve your goals. The protagonist in this text demonstrates this concept to his readers: "I hated compulsory education with a passion. I could never quite accept the notion of having to go to school while the fish were biting. Consequently. My grades were somewhat bearish¨ (Brody 35). In other words, Brody didn't have any interest in going to school and learning. Due to this, the boy was probably not paying any attention, so he was not taking in all the things he should have been learning. As a result, he was not getting the best grades that he should have been. Then, as time went by sophomore year arrived for brody; this year was very different. Something magical transpired him: ¨…Something beautiful and exciting happened. Cupid aimed his arrow and struck me squarely in the heart. All at once, I enjoyed going to school, if only to gaze at the lovely face beneath the raven tresses in English II¨ (Brody 36). This girl that was in Bordy 's class positively impacted him. Therefore, he is going to gain more knowledge from reading and will be able to express what he knows to Debbie. Brody states, ¨We were separated not only by five rows of desks, but by 50.1 I.Q. points. She was the top student in English II, the apple of Mrs. Larrivee´s eye¨ (Brody 36). Despite Debbie and Brody´s difference, the protagonist was encouraged to be smart like his crush so she would notice him. The protagonist had to find a way that he could become smart. So one day as he was passing the supermarket there was an announcement in the window that they were selling encyclopedias. This magical idea appeared in his head: ¨I purchased Volume I — Aardvark to Asteroid — and began my venture into the world of knowledge. I would henceforth become a seeker of facts. I would become chei egghead in English II and sweep the princess off her feet with a surge of erudition. I had it all planned¨ (Brody 36). As we see here, Brody is using his motivation and expanding his knowledge. Debbie, the girl in his English II class, directed him positively in the right path. By Brody reading the encyclopedia he is doing two things: reading and gaining useful education and at the same time is going to be able to impress Debbie. Motivation to read is the skill to success in many ways. 

Almost everyone at least once has a thought of why we have to read. The importance of reading is shown when Brody makes his move: ¨Hi,¨ she said. After a pause, I wet my lips and said, ``Know where anchovies are from?´   She seemed surprised. ´No, I don´t.´ I breathed a sigh of relief. ´The anchovy lives in salt water and is rarely found in fresh water.´ I had to talk fast, so that I could get all the facts in before we reached the cash register¨ (Brody 15). Brody decided to make his move fast because he has been reading and working so hard. This is his first impression to Debbie and he wants to show her how much he has learned. This presents how reading helps people, like the protagonist, intelligently express themselves to others. As the process of impressing Debbie with his growing knowledge continues, he has spectacular conversations with her. Brody exclaims, ¨And so it went, that glorious, amorous, joyous sophomore year. Debbie seemed to relish our little conversations and hung on my every word. Naturally, the more I read, the more my confidence grew¨ (Brody 37-38). With every conversation Debbie had with him it pushed Brody to read and learn more. Also, as a result of reading the protagonist's confidence level increased. Without reading, Brody would have not gained the level of intelligence to impress Debbie. Brody is soon to find out: 

"What I failed to perceive was that Debbie all this while was going with a C+ average. The revelation hit me hard, and for a while I felt like disgorging and forgetting everything I had learned. I had saved enough to buy Volume II — Asthma to Bullfinch — but was strongly tempted to invest in a hockey stick instead… In time I recovered from my wounds… Soon she became no more than a fleeting memory¨ (Brody 38). 

With Debbie being with someone else Brody did not get what he wanted, but he gained the knowledge to excite another girl with all his facts. After finding this information out, it made the protagonist not want to keep reading and expanding his wisdom. In the end, Brody realizes he still has the main skill he needs to keep moving forward. As long as the knowledge from reading stays with him he could go and find any person to impress. He does not need Debbie with him to keep improving. She gave him the motivation to start reading, which should help Brody in the long run. Finally, Brody states: ¨Although the original incentive was gone, I continued poring over the encyclopedias, as well as an increasing number of other books… For: ´A little knowledge is a dangerous thing: Drink Deep…'" (Brody 39). Even though the protagonist did not receive what he wished for, he still continued to work hard and read. This proves Debbie´s motivation stuck with him and led him to carry on with reading. Having little to no knowledge is not good because you will not be able to express yourself to the fullest potential. All you have to do is keep yourself motivated and you will be able to accomplish all your goals with the knowledge you have captured. 

Overall, throughout the essay, Brody uses a motivational tone to highlight the importance of reading. Frequently, people need a little push to get them motivated to do something. It only takes one person to move someone in a decisive way. Just like in the text, the protagonist needed Debbie to encourage him. Even though Debbie was a short-lived person in Brody´s life he still took away all the knowledge he learned from reading. If it was not for Debbie Brody would have not even started reading in the first place. Reading provides you with many useful skills that will help you succeed in life. It gives you confidence, knowledge, vocabulary, and many more. It is important to make sure you try to motivate your friends and or family members. You might not think about this when completing the action, but as time continues the person you motivated will be in a better position. So, think about a day in your life when that one special person gave you an idea and it motivated you to reach your goal.