The real nitty gritty

6. Pat invested a total of $3,000. Part of the money was invested in a money market account that paid 10 percent simple annual interest, and the remainder of the money was invested in a fund that paid 8 percent simple annual interest. If the interest earned at the end of the first year from these investments was $256, how much did Pat invest at 10 percent and how much at 8 percent? 
   
   I read this question in my GRE guide at 2 this afternoon and I have been avoiding it ever since. It is now 11. In the past 9 hours, I have:
   
   1. Made the 1 hour commute home.
   2. Watched my own snap story 30 times.
   3. Uploaded two pictures to Facebook.
   4. Looked at the photos again and again after each "like" notification.
   5. Video chatted with my friend in Spain.
   6. Listened to The Pinkprint (Deluxe) album (Insert fire emoji here) and replayed a couple of songs.
   7. Refreshed my Twitter feed until my phone's battery dwindled from 19% to 1%.
   8. Started watching Season 2 of America's Next Top Model on YouTube.
   
   
   
   In short, I'm a mess. But in my mess, I realized something.
   
   
    How many times have I told my students and cheerleaders to show "grit," a character trait that allows one to push past their frustrations in order to reach their goals? I say it to and I expect it from my students, but it is a different ball game when you've just put in a 12 hour day and you come home to more books, more questions, and no ice cream. But is it, really? Shouldn't I be capable of exhibiting the grit that I want my students to practice?
   
   
   I should, so let's get it.