Alex Smith Overcoming Setbacks And Self-Doubt Summary

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Thesis: Alex Smith’s “Overcoming Setbacks and Self-Doubt” TedTalk is highly effective through engagement and persuasion. Smith’s compelling narrative, strategic visuals, and powerful message, show the power of storytelling and the importance of how emotional connection is needed to overcome adversity. Content and Impact During the TedTalk Alex Smith laid out his football career, and how he was once an unknown college kid who would never make the draft. Magically, in his last two years of college, Smith ended up playing very well. He became the number 1 overall draft pick and went to the San Francisco 49ers, his job was to follow in the steps of recent great quarterbacks, Joe Montana and Steve Young. At the time, Smith was only 20 years old …show more content…

Smith started having fun again, all he needed to do was not worry. For the rest of his career, he kept reminding himself just to have fun, even as he got traded twice and replaced by two young, skillful prospects he kept the ethic of having fun. Unfortunately, Smith suffered a compound fracture and a spiraling fracture in his right leg (Lambert, 2022). Looking similar to a leg that stepped onto an IED, Smith’s leg got infected, and “once again I needed somebody to help me” (A. Smith, speech, August, 2021 7:11). After explaining how thankful he is for his wife, Smith shows some “grotesque” pictures of his infected leg (A. Smith, speech, August, 2021, 11:55). While explaining how his leg needed to die before it could heal, Smith lifts his right pant leg and reveals how well his leg has healed and how proud he is to overcome his fears. “This thing that once represented everything I feared, everything I had lost, it's probably the thing I'm most proud of in my life outside of my wife and kids” (A. Smith, speech, August, 2021, 12:55). Alex Smith’s personal narrative is highly effective because of how relatable his story is. His authentic struggle makes him more connectable, and his

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