True Spirit: A Story of Resilience and Determination

You don't have to be someone special to achieve something amazing. You've just got to have a dream, believe in it and work hard. - Jessica Watson

My Thoughts on True Spirit

Patrick Peters, the founder of Organizational of Unique Learners (OUL), posted it on the OUL Facebook group, recommended the movie, and urged us to watch it. Finally, I decided to watch it last weekend, and it was an incredible experience.

The movie is emotionally intense, and I felt like I was with Jessica on her journey on the boat the whole time. I was nervous and anxious, and my heart pounded throughout the movie. Despite the challenges, Jessica's resiliency and determination inspired me. It is a must-watch for anyone who loves adventure and believes in the limitless potential of the human spirit.

Overall, I highly recommend this movie, which is available on Netflix. So, if you are looking for a thrilling adventure and a story of resilience, Jessica Watson's True Spirit is an excellent choice.

I gave it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

What is True Spirit all about?

True Spirit is a documentary film. It is directed by Sarah Spillane and co-written by Spillane, Cathy Randall, and Rebecca Banner. It was released on February 3rd, 2023.

The documentary highlights how Jessica Watson, played by Teagan Croft, prepared for her journey at age 11 and how her family, friends, and sponsors supported her.

Jessica Watson is a true Australian sailor. At 16, she set out on a solo journey to sail around the world, becoming the youngest person to achieve this incredible feat. Her journey was documented in the film, highlighting the challenges and triumphs she faced.

The Challenges of the Ocean

Sailing around the world is not an easy task, especially for a young teenager. Jessica faced many challenges during her journey, including unpredictable weather conditions, equipment failures, and sleep deprivation. She had to navigate rough seas, face strong winds and storms, and deal with loneliness and isolation. Despite these obstacles, Jessica never gave up. She survived seven knockdowns and 210 days alone at sea. She remained focused on her goal and kept pushing forward, overcoming each challenge individually.

The Power of Determination

Jessica's journey in the ocean is a testament to the power of determination. She dreamed of sailing around the world and worked hard to make it a reality. She spent years preparing for her journey, learning to sail, and gathering the necessary supplies and equipment. When she faced challenges along the way, she did not let them defeat her. Instead, she found the strength to keep going, relying on her determination and perseverance to see her through.

The Inspiration of Jessica Watson

Jessica's journey in the ocean inspired many people around the world, especially young people. She showed that age and gender are not barriers to achieving your dreams. She proved that anything is possible with hard work, determination, and willingness to face challenges head-on. Jessica became a role model for young people everywhere, showing them they can achieve their goals if they believe in themselves and never give up.

Does Jessica have a learning disability?

Yes! Jessica Watson was diagnosed with dyslexia early in her schooling. She struggled to learn the alphabet and found reading very difficult. However, she overcame her learning disability with the help of her mother, who used colors and highlighters to help her focus. There were a few glimpses of her journals with color highlights on the words.

When she tried figuring out how to avoid the biggest storm, she did use color highlights in her writings on the map to calculate how to escape the storm.

She wrote two books!

Despite her dyslexia, Jessica Watson has written a book about her journey called "True Spirit: The True Story of a 16-Year-Old Australian Who Sailed Solo, Nonstop, and Unassisted Around the World”. It was published in 2010, shortly after her long journey.

Jessica also did write another book called “Indigo Blue.” It was published in 2018. It is about a teenage girl named Alex, who dreams of sailing solo around the world as Jessica did. The book follows Alex as she faces challenges and learns to overcome them, inspired by Jessica's journey.

Here is the real life of Jessica Watson and Cameron Dale, her mentor and long-time partner. Unfortunately, Cameron Dale died in a Gold Coast hospital six weeks after a catastrophic stroke in August 2021.

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