Burlington High School
Burlington, Kansas
Teacher: Mrs. Parker
The Role of Excellence: Abandoned or Not?
By Michelle Miller
12th grade
How would one define excellence? Could it be the achievements that the world has had? Is it the goals we set before us to achieve, or maybe it is making it to the next day? I believe that excellence has many true meanings, whether it is known world wide or just known within one individual. I propose that excellence is the amount of willingness our present generation puts before itself to accomplish a state of success both great and small. Some may say that excellence has been abandoned because our world does not strive for anything more than what is necessary. I do, however, believe that excellence has not been abandoned, but it has just been set at a lower standard.
When one looks at America from the time it was born all the way up to today, one can find that excellence resembles a bar graph. Going up and down, coming and going in noticeable spurts but always there whether it can be seen or not. What I mean by this is usually we only see excellence in large events such as dominating those who oppose us in war, or being first to the moon; when it is really the day-to-day occurrences that count the most because excellence is not just achieved overnight. It takes accomplishments over time to acquire our goals. For example, America going to the moon was excellent, but it took several small, successful and not-so-successful attempts to achieve our utmost desired goals of excellence.
My personal experience with excellence goes back to my middle school years. I always pushed myself to do better than expected. Of course, this helped me become a stronger person with my desire to succeed. My goals have always been the top most priority in my life, and because of that, I have been able to achieve any goal set before me.
To me, excellence means the greatest possible achievements that one can obtain. I believe the way that one can obtain this excellence lies within her heart. In the words of Socrates, “Let him who would move the world, first move himself.” This means that excellence cannot be achieved around me until I find it first within myself. I have to discover what I accept as truth within myself before I can try to persuade the world around me. I think that most of the world chooses to ignore this statement because it is so logical yet so difficult to achieve.
“Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be,” stated Thomas Kempis. I chose to share this quote because it brings a sense of awareness to my mind. It brings in the logic that there is a higher authority that is in control of every aspect of the world. When this nation was born, it was founded on God! In the past, Americans went to Church regularly; prayer and the reading of the Bible were integrated in the daily school curriculum. Our pledge of allegiance states, “One nation, under God…” If it weren’t for God, I believe that the United States of America would not have been established, but now our nation is full of choices instead of morals and standards. When we kicked God out of our schools and separated Him from our government, our way of life began to take a plunge.
Our nation was born on the basis of liberty and freedom. We fled our persecutions in England, looking for this excellence and found it. We dominated the English to keep our freedom. We helped our allies in wars abroad to insure we stay free. We made sure we dominated the world with intelligence, defenses, and willing manpower. This excellence, over time, became less and less as our society and its ways went from high standards and expectations to mediocre standards, and going for the easiest way out of every day situations. But, I believe we could be on the mend. Since September 11, 2001; our nation’s eyes have been opened, and we have come together once more to protect our nation from utter destruction from both within and abroad.
To answer the question
stated above, how would one define excellence?, it lies within the
hearts and minds of those who strive for it. To succeed in this, one should
look for guidance from above and trust one’s self before trying to change the
world.
Answers
To Questions Re: Required Reading
Ask Yourself:
Q1- Am I really where I want to be?
I am very pleased with how far I have come in my life but I am not quite to
the point that I really want to be at. I am hoping to achieve more and
overcome some of the difficulties that are facing me right now.
Q2- Am I moving in the direction that will enable me to make the greatest contribution?
I believe that I am moving in the best
direction that has come my way. I know that the decisions that I am making
right now are the hardest ones that may ever make in my life but I am
confident that I am trying my hardest and doing my best.
Q3- If I could achieve my highest goals, what would my accomplishments look like?
My highest goals would lead me into Message Therapy School, married to my wonderful fiancé, Tom, and preparing to start the beginning of the rest of our lives together. With the goals and accomplishments that I have already set upon myself, I think that I will with no doubt be able to achieve all of these dreams as well as many more.
Q4- Do I recognize excellence and search it out or do I find mediocre acceptable and am willing to settle?
I am a very
perfectionist type of person and with that being so, I do not settle for
anything short of the best that I am able to do. I try to look at everything
in a positive light and with respect but sometimes that is difficult for me to
do. I have a tendency to put myself down and am now trying to turn that
around and look at everything differently.
Q5- Do I seek out people, books, movies and other things that encourage me to be the best I can be?
I am always on the look for people that I can trust more and look up to more.
I love to watch movies that challenge me or encourage me to be the best that I
can or do the best that I can. I am not really a big book reader but I have
read some books that have helped me through some really tough times. I am the
type of person that always needs someone or something to encourage me or trust
in me. In return, I am able to trust and encourage them in the direction that
is best suited for them.
Q6- Do I recognize the best in others?
I think that I
tend to find the best in everyone and everything, other than myself. I
absolutely love to tell someone that they are the best in something they do.
Seeing the satisfaction on their face and the joy in their heart, gives me
unspeakable joy as well. If I am able to make one person day just a little
bit brighter, I have done what God has intended me to do. This is the outlook
that I have perceived in the years that I have known God.
Time Article
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."
I do to an extent. I do agree that excellence demands standards but I also think that excellence can be achieved in whatever pace seems to fit the person that is searching for it. Every person on earth is different and some people achieve things at slower or maybe faster rates than others would. This does not mean that person is bad, it just means that they are different.
Q8- Interpret this quote from paragraph nine: "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion."
I think that this quote is commending the people that are at ease with themselves and those that do not settle for anything less than perfect. Zion is a place of perfection and excellence and those that strive for it could one day obtain it.
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" ?
Morrow is correct in this statement. I am someone of this class and I often find myself settling for what is easier and less perfect rather than striving for excellence. I think it is very good to figure this out and fix the problem rather than putting it off, which leads me to say that Morrow is correct in this passage that he has shared with all of us.
Q10- Explain what Morrow means when he says (A) "the confusion contaminates character and disables ambition." Do you agree?
He means that when one looks at only the statue that they have been given in society, it blocks their view of the rest of the world and what more they can benefit from it. I do agree with this because I see it happening to many people every day. Everyday I wish that there is something that I could do for these people but everyday I find myself seeing it more and more frequently.
Q11- Argue pro and con the effect of over stimulation and under stimulation as discussed in paragraph 10.
Our society today is over stimulated due to the technological advances that we now have. Some would say that this is a wonderful advancement, but others would argue the opposite. In the 19th century technology was viewed as a cultural resource; therefore, advancements were not heard of that often.
Q12- Contrast practical excellence with metaphysical excellence as used in Morrow's last paragraph.
People often confuse practical excellence with metaphysical excellence. This is because people believe that practical is the big picture though it is only a small piece of the puzzle. Metaphysical excellence is invulnerable, infinite, and ecstatic. With that being said, metaphysical is the real prize that every being should be striving for.
Quotations from Key 32 found at the end of your required reading
Q13- Copy and interpret your two favorite quotes. Explain why you chose them.
“Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.” - Thomas Kempis (1380-1471)
I chose this quote because it brings a sense of awareness to my mind. It brings in the logic that there is a higher authority that is in control of every aspect of the world. This helps me strive to better myself and keep from judging others before fully understanding each situation.
“Let him who would move the world, first move himself.” – Socrates (BC)
This quote is very similar to the one above, showing me that excellence cannot be achieved around me until I find it first within myself. Meaning, that you have to discover what you accept as truth within yourself before you can try to persuade the world around you.