Word of the Day: Tenacity (CRC) | Hold On, Keep Going

Every young person faces moments when the work feels difficult, the answer does not come quickly, or the goal seems farther away than expected. In those moments, one powerful quality can help a young man keep moving forward: tenacity.

Tenacity reminds us that progress is not always loud or immediate. Sometimes, it looks like trying one more time, reading one more page, asking one more question, or returning to a challenge with a new plan. For young men and boys across St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, and communities throughout Florida, tenacity can become a daily practice that strengthens confidence, literacy, and leadership.

The Word: Tenacity

Part of speech: Noun

Definition: Tenacity is the quality or state of being tenacious: holding firmly, persisting, and refusing to let go.

Origin: According to Merriam-Webster, tenacity traces back to the Latin tenacitas, from tenax, meaning “holding fast,” and tenere, meaning “to hold, grasp, or keep.”

That origin gives the word a powerful image: holding on with purpose. Tenacity does not mean that everything will be easy. It means we can stay connected to our goals even when the path includes mistakes, delays, or unexpected turns.

Professor Antonio’s Take: Keep Your Hands on the Goal

Professor Antonio might explain it this way:

“Tenacity is what you show when you do not let one hard moment decide your whole story. You pause, you learn, you adjust: and then you keep going.”

Imagine a young reader sitting in a trusted community space, holding a book that feels challenging. Maybe the words are unfamiliar. Maybe reading aloud feels uncomfortable. Maybe the reader remembers a time when someone laughed at a mistake.

Tenacity says, “Try again.”

The reader can slow down, sound out a word, ask for help, or turn the page and return to the sentence. Each effort builds more than reading skill. It builds the belief that challenges can be approached instead of avoided.

At CRC, reading is not about perfection. It is about creating welcoming opportunities for young people to practice, grow, and discover their own voices. Through CRC programming in barbershops and other trusted community spaces, a haircut can become a moment of encouragement, conversation, and confidence.

In the Parents and Readers program, children are invited to read aloud to a trained barber or stylist who listens and celebrates their progress. There are no grades or tests during the experience: just books, support, and room to learn at the child’s pace.

That kind of environment gives tenacity somewhere to grow.

Tenacity Turns Small Efforts into Remarkable Progress

Success is rarely created by one giant action. More often, it grows through small choices repeated over time.

A young man who reads for ten minutes today may read for fifteen minutes next week. A child who learns one new word may begin noticing that word in a book, in class, or in conversation. A family that creates a regular reading routine may gradually build a home culture where curiosity feels natural.

Tenacity supports success and builds community by helping young people stay committed to growth while encouraging others to keep moving forward, too.

This spirit can be seen in CRC’s impact. One CRC program graphic highlights 1,147 books, 1,147 haircuts, and more than 1,100 youth impacted during 2024–2025. Behind every number is a young person practicing, a family participating, a barber encouraging, or a community partner helping create access.

Those numbers represent repeated effort: and repeated effort is where tenacity becomes visible.

Tenacity in the Barbershop and Beyond

A barbershop can be more than a place for a fresh cut. It can be a place where a young person hears, “I believe in you.” It can be a place where reading becomes connected to conversation, identity, and belonging.

Through FROM THE BARBERSHOP TO THE BOARDROOM, CRC brings literacy experiences into spaces that families already know and trust. A young reader can practice a new vocabulary word while sitting in the barber’s chair, talk about a character who looks like him, and leave with a book to continue reading at home.

That journey does not stop with literacy.

Tenacity also matters in school, friendships, sports, creative expression, and future careers. It helps a young man stay engaged when an assignment is difficult. It encourages him to seek mentorship when he needs guidance. It helps him return to a goal after disappointment instead of deciding that one setback defines his ability.

CRC’s Youth Workforce Development and Training program carries that same message into the professional world, helping youth transition from the shop to future opportunities. The theme is simple and empowering: Equipping the Next Generation of Leaders.

Tenacity is part of that preparation. Leaders do not have to know everything on day one. They do need the courage to learn, the humility to ask questions, and the determination to keep building.

Today’s Tenacity Challenge

Try this three-step challenge with your son, student, mentee, or yourself:

You can also use this sentence starter:

“I am showing tenacity when I __________________________.”

A young person might write, “I keep reading when a word is hard,” or “I practice even when I am not perfect yet.” These statements help turn an abstract word into a personal strength.

Carry the Word with You

Tenacity is not about pretending that challenges do not exist. It is about believing that challenges can be met with patience, support, creativity, and courage.

The next time a young reader gets stuck, remind him that being stuck is a moment: not an identity. The next time a goal feels far away, help him find the next small step. And when he keeps going, celebrate the effort as much as the outcome.

A book opened again. A difficult word practiced one more time. A young voice willing to read aloud. A community choosing encouragement over judgment.

That is tenacity in action.

Connect with CRC

The Competitive Readers Coalition is building a vibrant movement for literacy, confidence, civic engagement, and enrichment for underserved youth. Families and community partners can learn more through the CRC website, explore Parents and Readers resources, or review the get-started information.

Connect with CRC on LinkedIn.

Hold on to the goal. Keep showing up. Keep growing. Tenacity can turn one more step into a remarkable journey.