Perseverance

Sparky didn’t have much going for him. He failed every subject in the eighth grade, and in high school, he flunked Latin, Algebra, English, and Physics. He made the golf team, but he promptly lost the important match of the season and then lost the consolation match. He was awkward socially—more shy than disliked. He never once asked a girl out on a date in high school.

One thing, however, was important to Sparky—drawing. He was proud of his artwork even though no one else appreciated it. He submitted cartoons to the editors of his high school yearbook, but they were rejected. Even so, Sparky aspired to be an artist. After high school, he sent samples of his artwork to the Walt Disney Studios. Again, his work was rejected.

Still Sparky didn’t quit. He decided to write his own autobiography in cartoons. The popularity of his cartoon strip eventually led to countless books, television shows, and licensing opportunities. Sparky, you see, was Charles Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip. Like his main character Charlie Brown, Schulz seemed unable to succeed at many things. But he made the most of his talent and refused to quit.