LESSON 4
introduction
READ: Pages VII to XI
  How long did Rudy get to play football for Notre Dame?
Was it easy for Rudy to get into Notre Dame?
What were some of the obstacles Rudy had to overcome in order to enroll at Notre Dame?
What were some of the obstacles Rudy had to overcome in order to play football for Notre Dame?
Describe Rudy’s reaction when Notre Dame first rejected him.
Have you ever suffered rejection? How did you react?
Was it easy for Rudy to get his movie made by the Hollywood movie studios?
What do you think Rudy’s reaction was to being rejected by the movie studios? Did he quit because they told him no one would ever make his movie?
What do you think Rudy means by “there’s a million of me”?
What do you think Rudy means by “I am grateful for struggle”?
Do you have struggles? Name some of them. Are you grateful for them?
Describe how Rudy believes that “we become successful”?
Compare Rudy’s description of how we become successful with the ideas of Theodore Roosevelt and Tommy Lasorda that you read earlier.
What does Rudy mean by the paragraph: “Can’t. Can’t. Can’t. Can’t. CAN’T!”
Has anyone ever told you that you CAN’T do something? Did you believe them? (When you answer this question recall your answer to the question about the things in your life that you can and cannot control.)

LESSON 5
INSIGHT #1 -be the person you want to be
READ: Pages 1 to 4
  Tommy Lasorda described Rudy’s background as “working-class.” What are some of the obstacles Rudy had as a child?
What are some of the circumstances of Rudy’s life that he could and could not control?
Rudy was told that the circumstances of his life, like how big he was, how smart he was, how much money he had, would prevent him from achieving his goals. Has anyone said the same type of thing to you?
How does the information you see on advertisements affect how you think of yourself?
What does Rudy mean by an “impossible role model”?
In order to build your self-esteem, do you build from the inside or the outside?

LESSON 6
INSIGHT #1 - be the person you want to be
READ: Pages 10 to 13
  Does Rudy believe that there is anything wrong with being a factory worker?
Why do you think Rudy didn’t want a job in a factory?
Why do you think the memory of attending Notre Dame stayed in Rudy’s mind?
What were some of the things in Rudy’s life that he could control yet he didn’t, he let others affect how he felt about himself?
What action did Rudy do to take control of his own life?
How did that decision affect his life?
What decisions have you made in your life that helped you take control of your life?
Why did it help Rudy to “go where nobody knows you”?


LESSON 7
INSIGHT #1 - be the person you want to be
READ: Pages 17 to 20
  Describe fear of failure? Compare fear of failure to other types of fears.
When did you feel fear of failure?
How did Rudy overcome his natural fear of failure?
Who were the people that Rudy modeled his life after once he joined the Navy?
What is a mentor?
Have you ever had a mentor in your life? What did he or she do for you?
Did Rudy’s mentor ridicule his big dream like others did?
What did Rudy’s mentor see in him that prompted him to believe that Rudy could actually graduate from Notre Dame?
What was Rudy’s significant accomplishment that helped him believe he could get into Notre Dame?
What is the relationship between a big dream and accomplishment?
What was the label others placed on Rudy when he went back to Joliet?
What does Rudy mean by a “false perception”?
Has anyone ever place a false label on you?

LESSON 8
INSIGHT #2 - uSE ANGER IN A POSITIVE WAY
READ: Pages 24 to 27
  Recall several times in your life when you became angry.
*What caused you to become angry?
*Were you justified in getting angry?
*How did you react when you were angry?
*Were your actions something you are proud of or embarrassed by?
What were some of the things that angered Rudy?
What does Rudy mean by “self-destructive behavior”?
Have you ever reacted in self-destructive behavior?
What was the most important habit Rudy learned in the Navy that helped him deal positively with his anger?
Compare Rudy’s Lieutenant friend in the Navy and his friend in Joliet, Siskel?
 Siskel told Rudy that he “could find a way to get into Notre Dame.” Did Siskel actually find that way into Notre Dame for Rudy? What is the difference between the two ideas: “could find a way” and “actually find a way”?
What does the word “mentor” mean?
In what ways were Rudy’s Lieutenant friend and Siskel mentors for Rudy?
In order to be your mentor, does the person actually have to take you by the hand and lead you towards your goal?
Have you ever been a mentor for someone?

LESSON 9
INSIGHT #2 - USE ANGER IN A POSITIVE WAY
READ: Pages 32, 38 to 40
  Rudy believes that anger can be a positive force in your life. Is it enough just to become angry or must you consciously direct your anger in a different direction?
Describe what Rudy means by the “positive side of anger.”
 Is there a negative side of anger?
What are some of the positive emotions that you can derive from anger if you learn how to direct it in a positive direction?
Compare how coaches Parcells, Knight and Rockne productive anger.
What made Rudy mad when he played football at Notre Dame?
What makes you mad?
How did Rudy turn his anger into productive actions?
How can you turn your anger into productive actions?
How did Rudy turn anger into preparation?
Have you ever used anger to motivate yourself?
What did Rudy’s teammates think of him?
How does Rudy compare “being respected” to “being liked”?
How did his attitude and his actions motivate them to play better?
What motivated some of Rudy’s teammates to offer to the coaching staff to let Rudy dress for the Notre Dame versus Georgia Tech football game?
Would you ever make such a selfless offer to one of your friends? Why? What would you get for doing such a favor for a friend?
Do you think that now, more than twenty years later, Rudy and his teammate who actually gave up his spot on the team are still friends? Do you think they still remember that one simple favor that one person made for a friend?