After reading Karen's blog entry, it struck me that I'm chosing the path of academia for about another decade or so by deciding to become an orthodontist. It has always been my plan to fullfil my duty as a child of my parents by going to school and earning my degree, and eventually reaching the point where I'm financially stable enough to take care of them. In reality though, I am the youngest child, and I have three successful older brothers who will be more than willing to do their part when it is time for my parents to stop working. Although I know I have a little more freedom than they to persue a more daring path in life, I know that I'm never going to. After so many years of schooling and following the rules, I think I've been molded into the mediocre student that I will be for the rest of my life. I know I'm not exceptional in anyway, so I can't afford to be daring.
Mr. Schwarz was uncharacteristically like Mr. Hathwell today by reminding us that it is statistically impossible for all of us to be successful. In other words, he was telling us that the American dream is bullshit.
Life constantly juxtaposes perspectives for me to ponder, and this time I can't seem to formulate my own beliefs. Last week, I met an author that basically told us (the students in his audience) that you can become successful in life as long as you work hard and carry out good actions. His life is the single most compelling piece of evidence that supports that statement, but I wonder if I'd ever be as lucky as he is. Sometimes I think that people can share their inspirational stories as much as they want, but the fact of the matter is that the majority of the people in this world will not have the kind of luck that they have. I guess you can conclude that I agree with Mr. Schwarz, but that doesn't explain why I'm still trying my best in school and such, in hopes of one day being the succcessful person I strived to be, when I know it's statistically unlikely that I'll really become anything in the future.
So my point is that I've already decided for myself a long time ago that I would never step off the paved road in life, and it'll be especially hard for me to do so even if I gather up the courage to do so in the future. It sounds like a really pathetic way to live life, but it won't be a lonely one because I know that most of the world is just as afraid as I am.
Mr. Schwarz was uncharacteristically like Mr. Hathwell today by reminding us that it is statistically impossible for all of us to be successful. In other words, he was telling us that the American dream is bullshit.
Life constantly juxtaposes perspectives for me to ponder, and this time I can't seem to formulate my own beliefs. Last week, I met an author that basically told us (the students in his audience) that you can become successful in life as long as you work hard and carry out good actions. His life is the single most compelling piece of evidence that supports that statement, but I wonder if I'd ever be as lucky as he is. Sometimes I think that people can share their inspirational stories as much as they want, but the fact of the matter is that the majority of the people in this world will not have the kind of luck that they have. I guess you can conclude that I agree with Mr. Schwarz, but that doesn't explain why I'm still trying my best in school and such, in hopes of one day being the succcessful person I strived to be, when I know it's statistically unlikely that I'll really become anything in the future.
So my point is that I've already decided for myself a long time ago that I would never step off the paved road in life, and it'll be especially hard for me to do so even if I gather up the courage to do so in the future. It sounds like a really pathetic way to live life, but it won't be a lonely one because I know that most of the world is just as afraid as I am.
2 Comments:
Do you believe that I actually took notes on what Schwarz said about "freedom" in America??
"50% of the population are below average."
It seemed like a noteworthy way to start off my new APUSH notebook.
Ritter gave me a temporary boost of inspiration. I tend to get carried away with my thoughts. I think your perspective is more realistic and down-to-earth.
After seeing and hearing about how the others live their lives, I don't think I can ever truly accept life on the paved road. I'll always have bouts of insanity where I will venture off into the wilderness, only to experience extreme failure or disappointment that will only land me right back where I started. It seems inevitable.
I wish I could just accept the safer alternatives; I'm not bold enough to make it out there.
wtf. lowell is full of pessimists. your school sucks. how do you know you won't be one of the ones who WILL be something? you don't. statistics are a bunch of crap. who is this mr. schwarz character. i'm going to have to beat him up. stupid noob. and you. stop listening to him. or i'll beat you up too.
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