Rudy Notre Dame Analysis

Rudy’s ultimate goal was to play football at Notre Dame. In order to achieve this major goal, Rudy had to complete smaller goals that lead to this one. First, Rudy had to work hard at his previous job and save enough money to go to Notre Dame. Second, he had to go and settle somewhere close to the university. Thirdly, Rudy had to talk to the priest there about how he can get into Notre Dame. The priest told him that he should go to Holy Cross first and achieve good marks. If he achieved high enough he can get accepted into Notre Dame. So basically, his third goal was to achieve certain grades before being accepted. Simultaneously, Rudy also had to work with the janitor for the football field so that he can get a good feeling about the environment.

Later on, he started running in the tunnel in order to train for the football tryouts. Once he got accepted into the University, Rudy then had to try out for the football team and make it. This is the last goal. Once he makes it, he can achieve his ultimate goal: play football at Notre Dame.

Throughout the entire film, ever since Rudy was a young boy, he always believed that he can play football at Notre Dame.

Despite everyone discouraging him from his dream, Rudy persisted as shown in his actions: desiring for it despite what his family said, going to Notre Dame even though the priest at his high school said no, and continuously begging and convincing many others, such as the priest at the University, the janitor, and the coach to allow him to the university and the football team. Because he believed in himself and his good self-esteem, he achieved his ultimate goal in the

end.

Rudy’s persistence affected his family, seeing how every time his family hears him talking about football they always discourage him from the dream.

It also affected his high school girlfriend Sherry since he left her due to his persistence. One of his smaller goals, in order to achieve his bigger goal, was to get good grades at Holy Cross. Because of this, Rudy made a deal with D-bob. The deal was that if Rudy can hook his friend with a girl, D-bob can tutor him. In addition to his friend, the football team was also affected by Rudy’s persistence, since they eventually respected him after pushing him around. This can be shown during the football game when all the team members were cheering his name so that the coach can allow him to

play.

Rudy had to sacrifice many things in order to achieve his goal. He had to leave him hometown so he can settle close to the university, leave his girlfriend, spent the majority of his time either assisting the janitor or studying and little recreational time and also sacrificed giving in to people’s discouragements.

One of my goals during high school goals is to get an entrance scholarship to the University of Toronto. In order to achieve that goal by the end of high school, I would have to make some sacrifices. I’d have to sacrifice a lot of my free time in order to study, sacrifice bad habits such as daydreaming in class, negative thoughts and low self-esteem, talking in class so I can use class time to work, and excuses.