Heroes in Unexpected Places: Lessons in Resilience from The Bad News Bears, The Lord of the Rings, and a Viz Education

I sometimes wonder what it says about me that my two favorite films—The Bad News Bears and The Lord of the Rings—end not with easy victory, but with something more profound. The kids fall short. Frodo falters. And yet, those endings feel more honest, more human, and far more hopeful than any tale of effortless success.

 

They’re the story lines I return to when I think about what we’re really doing at Visitation Academy—forming young women who can lead with compassion, courage, and wisdom in a world that prizes image over integrity. Because at Viz, success isn’t about perfection; it’s about purpose. It’s not about never falling—it’s about getting back up and helping others do the same.

 

Take The Bad News Bears. Beneath the rough humor, it’s a story of grit and grace. The team learns that belonging matters more than the scoreboard—that strength isn’t found in dominance, but in showing up, improving, and refusing to quit on one another. That’s what our students do every day: take risks, lift each other up, and find joy in the process of becoming.

 

And then there’s The Lord of the Rings. Frodo’s journey isn’t a clean hero’s arc—it’s an act of endurance. He carries an unbearable weight all the way to the edge of despair, and when he can’t finish, mercy finishes for him. Grace enters where strength ends. That’s what we hope our students see—that compassion is not weakness, and that even the smallest act of kindness can change the world.

 

Both stories reject the myth of the flawless hero. They remind us that authentic leadership is forged not in winning every battle, but in staying faithful when things get hard. That’s what makes our students remarkable—not that they’re perfect, but that they persevere, forgive, and keep believing that love and mercy will have the last word