Monta Vista High School
Cupertino, California
 

Excellence: The American Way
By Natasha Naik
11^th grade

"I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul." I am an American, and like all Americans, I take pride in my ability to think and live for myself. Yet with the power to think comes the power to make choices, and these choices define every individual and his unique perspective towards life. Excellence is a choice, and its results are success and peace of mind. The pursuit of excellence is a choice that every person must make for himself, and it is the one philosophy I have always lived by. If we look for examples of excellence in education, technology, and our own lives, we see that excellence in 21^st America is as strong today as it has ever been. It is the American Way.

         
America values education, and it provides excellent learning opportunities to all students. The basis of this education is the inspiration of the millions of teachers who teach simply because they care about children and their futures. Teachers, despite being tragically underpaid, are relentless in their pursuit of excellence. They prove to all Americans that money alone cannot measure success, for fulfillment is a priceless gift to society and self. Amidst the changing atmosphere of the 21^st century, we have seen dedicated teachers changing the world silently, one classroom at a time. Teachers are role models to all, as they exemplify the meaning of unselfish devotion to the betterment of society. We must recognize the achievements of these Americans and remember that they play a crucial role in preserving excellence for everyone. They follow the road to excellence and instill its value in the youth of America, the future of tomorrow.

In our schools and beyond, we clearly see the power of technology in present-day America. Technology has clearly revolutionized the way we view the world, shaping and refining our abstract ideas into innovative new realities. The development of the Internet has successfully produced a global marketplace for information. The answers to our questions are now simply a click away. Keeping in touch with distant relatives and friends is now easier than ever with electronic mail. Away from home, the cell phone provides convenience and invaluable support in emergency situations. Help is now only a short phone call away regardless of location. In the scientific world, the ground-breaking field of graphics and animation helps us create and analyze accurate DNA models and research cures for diseases that were once considered incurable. In the entertainment business, our movies have become so sophisticated that differentiating between reality and visual effects is an almost impossible task. But we must ultimately remember that behind every new innovation lies the inspiration of thousands of men and women who have chosen excellence as their way of life. Technology will forever continue to push the boundaries of our imaginations in ways still unknown to us. Technology is greatly responsible for the preservation of excellence. Excellence lies within innovation, and innovation gives birth to technology.

Finally, the most important place to find excellence is within us. I center my life upon the pursuit of excellence, and my actions and decisions are based upon this central philosophy. Every day, I strive to accomplish the short-term goals I have set out to achieve, and I work diligently until all my work is completed. I am never satisfied with my present achievements, for I know that I should always strive to improve. However, I believe that I am pleased with my progress, because progress gives me motivation to relentlessly pursue my long-term dreams. I put significant effort into my studies and never settle for a mediocre job. I believe that I live and achieve for myself, so I will always be my greatest critic. I strive for excellence because something within me pushes me forward every step of the way. Finally, I try to put human relations above all else, for a personal achievement is never worth the price of a lost friend. Success is tainted if it is attained by deliberately hurting another person. I believe that my life to this point has shown clear direction, focus, ambition, and promise for a rewarding future. Now I can only hopefully watch and wait for the seeds of excellence to bloom into the fruits of success.

America today has not abandoned excellence by any means. Signs of excellence can be found everywhere, if we only take the time to look for them. Excellence prevails in our education, in our technology, and most importantly, in ourselves. America’s success is derived from its people, and as Americans, we have a duty to fulfill. Our duty is to recognize the best in others and pursue it in ourselves every day of our lives. Excellence is the choice we must make, and it is the purpose of our existence. Excellence is the American Way.

Answers To Questions Re: The Required Reading

Ask Yourself:

Q1- Am I really where I want to be?

Currently in life, I do not believe I am really where I want to be…but I believe I am on the path to success in the future. I feel that every decision I make now will lead me towards a future goal—‘right now’ is simply the beginning of the journey. Excellence is all about working towards goals today with the hope of achieving them tomorrow.

Q2- Am I moving in the direction that will enable me to make the greatest contribution?

I do believe I am moving in the right direction to enable me to make ‘the greatest contribution’ to society. I feel that I am focused and determined to achieve my goals. I plan to continue my studies to one day become a medical professional and hopefully help the world triumph over some of the deadliest diseases known to mankind.

Q3- If I could achieve my highest goals, what would my accomplishments look like?

My accomplishments would consist of happiness, security, and success. I would want to have a loving family, a stable career that I enjoy, and a prosperous situation in life after years of hard work. I would also want the satisfaction of knowing that my contributions to the world have made it a better place. This would make the purpose of my life complete.

 Q4- Do I recognize excellence and search it out or do I find mediocre acceptable and am willing to settle?

I believe that I do recognize the value of excellence and try to find it in even the smallest of things. I believe that a mediocre job is simply not good enough in life. I can honestly say that I never settle for anything less than my best effort, and I encourage others to do the same. When I find excellence in others, I make it a priority to commend them for their work.

Q5- Do I seek out people, books, movies and other things that encourage me to be the best I can be?

I enjoy inspirational books and movies that encourage me to try my best and follow my dreams. In fact, I believe that all books and movies have some kind of an inspirational message within them—we just have to find it. My friends and family always encourage me to be the best I can be, and I appreciate constructive criticism from my teachers and peers. Excellence is an ongoing process, so my goal is to move at least one step closer to my destination every day, with the hope that one day I will succeed. I always seek signs in my life that will guide me towards excellence.
 

Q6- Do I recognize the best in others?

I believe I am a fair evaluator of others and myself, and I do not hesitate to acknowledge excellence in anyone. I try to put aside all jealousies and prejudices when I attempt to form an honest opinion about another person. I commend my peers for a job well done, celebrate the successes of my family and friends, and believe that their excellence serves as an inspiration to me in achieving my own goals.
 

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 not personally agree with Morrow’s statement about the inverse relationship between change and the excellence. I believe that excellence warrants change. Change represents creativity and innovation, the very results of excellence. Excellence is when a person is not satisfied with the way things are and strives to make things even better. This journey towards betterment is what we call change. Clearly excellence and change are one and the same, and without one, the other cannot exist.
 

Q8- Interpret this quote from paragraph nine: "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion."

The main message behind this quote is that excellence can have a grave consequence—the end of ambition. In other words, once a person has achieved excellence, he will no longer strive towards improvement and his ambition and motivation will come to a standstill. Even though America is successful, we must realize that excellence is never permanently ours, and therefore we must not take it for granted. We should use our progress as motivation for our future, preventing us from becoming a people without purpose.
 

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" ?

Although the struggling classes of America are obviously aiming to improve their situation in life, their goal may not be excellence. Since so many successful people seem to have easy lives, the poorer classes would obviously want easy lives as well. However, success sometimes masks the hard work and dedication that was put into every step of the way. On the other hand, those who constantly work hard to better their lives end up establishing a solid work ethic—one that does not change after success has been achieved. Thus, inadvertently or not, many people constantly work towards excellence with the conception that they are only working towards ease.

Q10- Explain what Morrow means when he says (A) "the confusion contaminates character and disables ambition."  Do you agree?

When people do not know how to choose between excellence and ease, they are likely to become confused and utterly unsure of themselves and their purpose in life. I agree and believe that confusion is one of worst states of mind, for without a clear objective, ambition and character are likely to be sacrificed. However, I believe that all should strive for excellence and eliminate this confusion. Choosing excellence is sometimes a difficult choice to make, but ultimately, it is the right choice.

Q11-Argue pro and con the effect of over stimulation and under stimulation as discussed in paragraph 10.

I believe that excellence can be attained under any circumstances if a person’s inner motivation is strong and determined to achieve its goal. I agree that under stimulation can lead to the path of excellence, because people may want to break free of their limiting environment and rise above to reach their goals. Conversely, under stimulation can also lead to under-achievement, as many individuals require a nurturing environment in which they can strive for excellence. As Morrow explains, over stimulation can hinder excellence because it distracts the mind from its journey. However, it can also be argued that amidst these distractions, determined individuals will be further inspired to achieve excellence and set their own standards. Once again, I believe the pursuit of excellence is a personal choice, and it may or may not be dependent upon a person’s environment.
 

Q12-Contrast practical excellence with metaphysical excellence as used in Morrow's last paragraph.

Practical excellence consists of what we can perceive directly. For example, we can see excellent new technology at work, we can see a good grade on a paper, and we can read a fascinating new book—these are all the products of metaphysical excellence. While practical excellence is constantly changing with time, metaphysical excellence remains constant forever. Metaphysical excellence is determination, ambition, innovation, and pride. This is the true nature of excellence beneath the surface of the tangible results. True excellence is eternal.
 

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.

Quote 1: "Let him who would move the world, first move himself." - Socrates (BC)

The message behind this quote is direct, and it is as relevant today as is has been for thousands of years. I feel that it gives us all something to strive for and something to live up to. Simply stated, the quote urges us to strive for personal excellence before expecting the world to do the same. Only by striving for our own excellence are we capable of recognizing it in others and encouraging its pursuit by all. After a person moves himself, he has the power to move the world towards a better tomorrow.

Quote 2: "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I chose this quote because it also encourages us to strive for personal excellence. Excellence is a choice, and the result of the choice is success and peace of mind. The quote teaches us to stop trying to find faults in others and rather focus on personal growth. The road to peace is a narrow one, but it can be achieved by one and all. The gateway is within us, within our own minds. If we determine to pursue excellence, then we will we rewarded with peace.

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