The whole passage is an example of the authors purpose to persuade, and at least in this case, for a good purpose, which is motivating the reader.
But in the middle of the text, the use of the "evidence" persuasive technique, providing facts of people who overcame challenges, is totally clear.
In the three-way persuasive techniques approach (Ethos, pathos and logos), this historical examples would be evidence of the logos technique (logical knowledge).
