Life Lessons in Perseverance
When the going gets tough...Cyclone May gets going.
by Carla Christensen
January 21, 2008
At the beginning of this school year, I told the class we would be discussing perseverance. Perseverance is the ability to keep working toward a goal even when it is not easy to achieve. I also told them my dad and I had put together some video lessons to help us remember the importance of perseverance. My dad has been a harness racing trainer and driver for many years. Not until recently has he really had any success with his horses. Perseverance and a passion for the sport kept him going. Now, he is the proud owner of "Cyclone May". She is a standard-bred trotter and one amazing horse. Currently she is racing in New Jersey and New York, but she began on the humble Iowa County Fair Harness racing circuit.
Her very 1st race she came in last...here comes the perseverance part....she kept training and this past summer she won 14 in a row!! Many of her races she was near the back of the pack, but she continued to trot and to keep going and eventually she would gain the lead and win the race. Each of her races is recorded on a DVD for my dad. He has allowed me to borrow a couple of them and we have viewed them in class. The kids enjoy learning about the driver, the sulky and watching Cyclone May race. Often it feels like it would be easier to just "give up" but watching Cyclone May race is a great way to show students hard work, determination, practice and perseverance will pay off. Just recently my dad, Dr. James Cummings, and Cyclone May were awarded with 2 very special honors: Champion Iowa Bred 3 Year Old Trotting Filly and the Iowa Sires Stakes in her division. If you would like more information on harness racing or Cyclone May please visit www.iowaharnessracing.com.
