It is possible that high-achieving students have more tools and strategies for overcoming academic challenges, thus giving them a better chance at overcoming hardships. This, in turn, helps keep them motivated and focused on the task at hand, allowing them perform better and be exposed to even more resource. The same is suggested to be true, but in reverse for low-achieving students.

• An analogy is drawn to riding a bike; it is far easier to maintain momentum and speed up while a bike is in motion, but significantly harder if the bike is at a standstill. Continuing with the analogy, bumps and other obstructions make things more difficult for a stopped bike than a moving one.