Burlington High School
Burlington, Kansas
Teacher: Devra Parker
Excellence: Seek and You Shall Succeed
By Amber Saueressig
12th grade
November 1st, 9:30 p.m. A hobo rushed quietly across the drenched streets of down-town New York. The hanging rooftop of an all-night café provides little protection from the bitter, north wind and rainfall. Sadly, his molded washcloth is only capable of warming one small body part at a time. He cowers in embarrassment as businessmen rush by, scowling at the disgustingness of his situation; they never even think about all the possible reasons why he is there. Their first impression is all they consider, depriving them of ever having the opportunity to understand what successes the man had already achieved in his life. America is filled with excellence; we just have to choose to recognize and reach for it.
Even in Biblical times people’s ultimate goals were personal success. In Proverbs 22:29, of the New International Version of the Holy Bible, King Solomon wrote, “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.” Back then, it was easier to acknowledge and understand personal strength and commitment. However, now people are more concerned with being ridiculed when they reach for the goals they desire because of one’s internal yearning to be accepted. Often individuals will use that as an excuse to settle in mediocre lifestyles, causing it to appear as though excellence no longer remains.
So, what is it in today’s time that insinuates that the positives in our everyday lives only need to be second-rate? It is the lack of commitment, goals, encouragement, and expectations. Too often we turn a blind eye to the achievements of others simply because of American’s tendencies to focus on their individual success. For example, when a high school student learns to balance and act upon her religious beliefs, she tends to either be ridiculed and told to focus on more important aspects, or ignored and given mild support to carry it through; however, the qualities that the youth is gaining by these new actions, such as responsibility, internal growth, personal acceptance, and persistence is overlooked, even though it will help her to portray almost the exact definition of excellence: to be the highest quality possible of a person and/or material.
The root meaning of mediocrity is “halfway up a mountain.” If that is all people strive for then, once that is achieved, there is no where left to go other than down, and that is all too often accepted. Nonetheless, it can be reversed. When people set goals, they are setting expectations for not only themselves but others. Objectives can be encouragements with rewards that benefit people of all ages, interests, and types with little or no cost to others. When the expectations are higher than usual, the effort put into an action is more, causing the results to be better. If Americans would just encourage their neighbors, set higher goals for themselves, and accept nothing other than the best possible in their everyday lives than excellence would become not only more plentiful but more recognizable. For instance, my ultimate goal as a young child was to run the mile-run race in less than eight minutes, but I was so afraid of being laughed at if I got too tired and began to walk, that I never put forth the true effort to try; I have still settled for my eight-minute and fifteen-second record even though I remain sure that the ability to finish it, which I have now lost, was in me at that time. An old saying is that “unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow,” and since I refused to strive for my goal, in the fear of being unaccepted, I may have lost my chance to achieve possible major successes.
Vince Lombardi, coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960’s, once said, “What a person’s life consists of is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence,” and he is absolutely correct. Without a desire to achieve and become more than what one already has/is, there is no room for individual growth. However, even if the want is there, one cannot succeed without commitment and/or persistence, and even with both it can be a struggle, but there are always ways and/or people to help one cope with that. Some examples include families, friends, church members, neighbors, teachers, writing, drawing, and many, many more, all of which are entwined with the individual and her needs.
Americans also need to learn to recognize and appreciate what is already there. They need to understand that one’s expectations of excellence may not be another’s, but they are both okay, as long as they both entail success. The homeless may consider maintaining a positive mindset and staying alive as a great achievement, while others may frown on their ideas. In my life it will be when I can stand on my own, with my own career, my own family, and my own life. However, once that has been achieved excellence will entail something else for me; that is what is so wonderful about it….it is always aiming for the better but never ending.
Excellence, overall, is strength. It is the strength to put forth effort, time, commitment, and loyalty to one’s self. It requires one to be at ease with her choices and actions; it is the desire to achieve more. In America it may be lacking, but it is there! People just need to be willing to look for, strive for, and accept it in all situations and places.
Answers To Questions Re: Required Reading
Q1- Am I really where I want to be?
Absolutely! While I may not have achieved all of my goals yet, they are each
in clear view and just beyond my grasp, which helps me to remain motivated and
confident in myself and others.
Q2- Am I moving in the direction that will enable me to make the greatest contribution?
I believe
so. I have my mind set on what I want and am aware of what I need to do to
succeed. There are amazing people in my life that guide me along the right
path, and I’ve learned to grow and learn from each of them.
Q3- If I could achieve my highest goals, what would my accomplishments look like?
Like
happiness. Happiness can be acquired in so many ways that it really doesn’t
matter how I go about it….I will still accomplish my goals. As long as I am
able to maintain a healthy, positive, self-fulfilling life for myself and can
positively influence and/ or help others in anyway my dreams have been met.
Q4- Do I recognize excellence and search it out or do I find mediocre acceptable and am willing to settle?
I
recognize excellence in so many ways. When I look at others in low moments I
try to bring them up and encourage success; when I am at a stopping point,
seeing no reason to continue, I try to push myself to achieve just one more
step. Excellence is exciting for me even if it is someone else who is
attaining it, and I plan to try to achieve it in every aspect of my life.
Q5- Do I seek out people, books, movies and other things that encourage me to be the best I can be?
I do to
the best of my ability. I like to be around others who will look at things
positively and seek entertainment that is motivational. While I always come
across negatives I try to look past that and scope out the encouraging
reinforcements of the person/material, which are always present.
Q6- Do I recognize the best in others?
Absolutely! I feel that since I am first happy with myself that I also have
the capability to be happy with others. I know that in every person there
is a special characteristic and/or talent screaming
to be released, even though sometimes it is hard to get to. I try to love
others as myself and am willing to sacrifice my time, money, and energy to
help those that I care about.
Q7- Do you agree with Morrow (paragraph seven) that: "Excellence demands standards. It does not usually flourish in the midst of rapid, hectic change. This century’s sheer velocity has subverted the principle of excellence; a culture must be able to catch its breath."
Yes and no. I agree
because I feel that excellence is an achievement, and an achievement can not
be acquired without goals, and goals can not be acquired without standards.
However, I do feel that it flourishes in the midst of rapid, hectic change.
It is in these changing times that we discover what is important to us and how
far we are willing to go to achieve something. It is our time to grow. While
calm moments are essential, it is in the rough moments of life that we
actually begin to understand and appreciate excellence.
Q8- Interpret this quote from paragraph nine: "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion."
I think that this quote
just says how excellence is an on-going process. There is no end to success;
one can always achieve more. It is saying that if you think that all your
goals have been met then be cautious, because there are always more challenges
in the world.
Q9- Argue pro and con Morrow's contention that "Americans not yet successful (the struggling, the underclass) are apt to aim at ease, not excellence"?
Well, I agree that those
struggling are more likely to settle for the mediocre lifestyle, but just
because someone is at ease does not mean they are unsuccessful and or not
excellent. Excellence is something that emphasizes success but it can have an
infinite number of interpretations to many people. So, I agree that they are
typically “apt to aim at ease,” but it does not apply for all of them or for
every definition of excellence.
Q10- Explain what Morrow means when he says (A) "the confusion contaminates character and disables ambition." Do you agree?
I think he is meaning
that those who are “unsuccessful” tend to be mislead
by the common occurrence of failure in their social class. I think he is
saying that because of this misinterpretation the underclass tend to reach for
mediocre achievements because they feel like that is all that is expected of
them. Those ideas lessen their ambition, or desire, to achieve more since the
rewards are often invisible. I defiantly agree. I think that is the reason
why it is so important to not only achieve excellence in one’s own life but to
encourage others to do the same. It is a skill that I think can be acquired
as well as learned, and people need positive role models to help them get to
that strong point.
Q11- Argue pro and con the effect of over stimulation and under stimulation as discussed in paragraph 10.
Stimulation is a good thing that encourages excellence but over stimulation sets a false mindset of one being at perfection before they make achievements. Also, under stimulation limits the effort that will be put into a project, making the positive results less. Stimulation affects results but it needs to be at a happy-medium point to achieve more.
Q12- Contrast practical excellence with metaphysical excellence as used in Morrow's last paragraph.
Well, the practical
excellence are things temporary; to me it appears to be a false accomplishment
that makes people interpret their minute achievements as success, while the
metaphysical is longer lasting and underneath the surface. Metaphysical
appears to be more of an emotional success that can make a difference in how
people perceive themselves and their goals later in life. It appears to have
a longer lasting effect on individuals and their actions than practical
excellence does.
Q13- Copy and interpret your two favorite quotes. Explain why you chose them.
1) “Our lives are only as good as we decide to make them. We should make short and long range plans and then follow them through, reviewing them as we go. It is our design and determination that decide our destiny, and this is our responsibility. When things are not right, we should blame nobody, for that only dodges the problems that lie within us and causes us to fail again next time. Examine your own actions and decide how things will be.” This quote is a very in-depth one that talks about how we are the only ones in control of out own fate. It is our decisions and preparations that effect out lives forever, and that we need to look back on ourselves first if there is an issue and change what is before us. I think that it makes good points and goes very well with my ideas of how excellence begins with a self-desire and choice….not through others.
2) “Let him who would move the world, first move himself.” Socrates (BC) This quote is actually very simple and to the point; if you want to make a mark on the world and be successful you first be must successful (and content) with yourself. It all starts with your inner beliefs, goals, and ambitions. I really like it because it applies to so many things in life that may appear difficult but is not. It would help in tough situations where the root of the problem actually lies within the person and they just do not see it yet. This quote is important to me for motivation and encouragement.