To go against the grain is the secret of bravery – Dejan Stojanovic
Against the Grain
The phrase “go against the grain” has its roots in woodworking, where cutting against the grain of the wood fibers is difficult and can result in a rough finish. In life, it means doing something contrary to what is normal, expected, or usual. It means choosing to stand for your values rooted in truth when no one else is. It’s not letting the influence of the majority steer you wrong when you know what is right. It’s choosing to exceed expectations by bringing your “A-game” when others are doing the bare minimum. I still remember when I learned this lesson. I was in middle school, and my friends and I were throwing rocks at a wall close to a window. The inevitable happened. A rock meant for the wall hit and broke the window. A few minutes later, the principal walked by and saw the broken window, and inquired who had broken it. We all played innocent because we knew the consequences. Eventually, after her continuous interrogation, we confessed. I still remember her words, “If everyone jumps into a ditch, would you jump too?”
These convicting words remind me never to forget who I am and that I don’t have to give in to the norm when it goes against what I stand for. Going against the grain means an uphill climb, but the climb is worth it. When we go against the grain, we discover more about ourselves. We find courage, confidence, and resolve when we go against the grain. You may experience fear, rejection, and difficulty, but in the end, you will find a higher quality of life on the other side of going against the grain. This was the reality of three women who chose to be different and be an example.
Going against the grain means an uphill climb, but the climb is worth it.
Choosing Different
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy made the bold challenge to have someone land on the moon by the end of the 1960s. This uphill climb put NASA under the watch of the nation and the world. Three African American women, Katherine Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, were highly skilled mathematicians who, despite the norms of the time, defied convention, overcame discrimination, and played a pivotal role in helping the United States win the space race. Katherine’s calculations were essential for John Glenn’s orbital flight as well as for the Apollo missions, when other mathematicians could not figure it out. Dorothy was the first African American woman to be promoted to a supervisory position at NASA. Mary became the first woman to earn an engineering degree from the University of Virginia and the first African American female engineer at NASA. Their inspirational example reminds us that going against the grain is worth it, but requires perseverance.
Final Thought: Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary chose not to fall into the pit of discrimination against women and people of color, but instead overcame by going against the grain. Hold on to your values and standards. When faced with the challenge of settling for the norm, choose to be different, cut across the grain of what is popular and trending, and persevere like Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary. You will discover courage and confidence and make a greater impact by being an example.
Keep on keeping on!
Notes
Wikipedia – Hidden Figures (book): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidden_Figures_(book). Accessed on June 11, 2025.
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