#178, Cinderella
At a young age, Cinderella lost both of her parents. She was forced to work for her wicked stepmother as a maid while her two stepsisters Drizella and Anastasia were treated like little princesses. One night, the King organized a ball to find his son a suitable wife. And against all odds, the poor orphan girl who cleaned the floors ended up marrying the Prince.
A Cinderella story.
The term "Cinderella Story" has since become popularized to describe situations when a person or competitor defies the odds and does better than they are supposed to. South Korea's appearance in the 2002 World Cup is one such example. As the host nation, the South Korean team was given automatic entry into the tournament and was thusly dismissed of having any chance of success. The squad of 23 paled in comparison to the soccer powerhouses Brazil, Germany, Spain, and England. Still, they fought on. They escaped Group D to make it to the round of sixteen. They shocked the world defeating Italy 2-1. Then in the round of eight they beat Spain in a shootout. And somehow, they were in the top four of the World Cup.
They didn't go on to win, but they were the story of the tournament. We just love Cinderella stories. Is it because we like rooting against power? Is it because of a feeling of fairness? Or do we see ourselves in these Cinderellas?
To complete this Journal response, address the following:
Tell your own (true) Cinderella story. What made you an underdog? Who doubted you? What happened in your Cinderella story?
Comment on a peer's response.
-Brenden Lee Teacher