Kadoka High School
Kadoka, South Dakota
Teacher: Mrs. Teresa Shuck
Have We Abandoned Excellence?
By: Abbi Handcock
11th Grade
What is excellence? By definition excellence is the fact of condition of excelling, superiority, or surpassing of goodness. Excellence is something that many people strive for in everyday life. Most people want to be the best they can be, so they try very hard to make the most out of their lives? Do you feel that we have abandoned excellence?
No, I do not think we have abandoned excellence. Take for instance our American Troops over in Iraq. All of them are over time; and whether they want to or not, they are giving their all trying to better the lives of the Iraqi people. When our troops were first sent over to Iraq, they probably did not want to leave their homes, jobs, and families. Even though they did not want to, they did, and they gave their lives to help the people of Iraq become a free nation. They gave their all; and they did not, by any means, abandon excellence.
Our scientists are working day in and day out just trying to find a cure for cancer and many other diseases. They are taking their jobs very seriously, and they are giving all they have to help the well being of our people. They are also not abandoning excellence.
Also, our doctors, surgeons, and nurses who work in our hospitals and clinics across the United States are working very hard to help us as well. They go to their jobs everyday to help out the old, young, and disabled. They put their patients first in everything they do. Their patients are their number one priority. Striving for excellence is one of their number one priorities as well.
If you take a look at our schools, the teachers and administration are also working very had so that children and teenagers can get an education and become whatever they want to become in life. They are not only striving for excellence in themselves, but they are trying to get us, the students, to strive for excellence in ourselves.
Social workers are another example of people who strive for excellence in the workplace. They help the homeless to get back on their feet and get a job. They also help many children and adults who have been abused or hurt, either emotionally or physically.
Police officers are the men and women who work to ensure the safety of the public. They make sure we follow laws. If we do not, they enforce them. They protect us, and they help us, whether we like it or not, to follow the regulations that are set up by our government.
Fire fighters also help us out very much. Whether they are saving a kitten from the high branch of a tree, or saving a small child from burning building, they strive for excellence. They risk their lives to save our lives. They too put us as their number one priority. They walk through extremely hot flames to save every person. They do not quit until every person is safe and sound on the outside of the building or home. Striving for excellence is not an option to them, it is a must.
Farmers work from the break of dawn until the nightfall trying to produce food for our country and other countries to eat. Without them, where would we be? How would our lives be? We would be starving! Farmers go unappreciated much of the time, and yet they still work their hardest for us.
Our parents also strive for excellence. They go to work to make money so their children can go and have fun. They support everything we do. They want us to be the best! They want us to be all we can be and give it our all in everything we participate in. Although parenting has many different views, some parents don’t help their kids out in anyway. Some parents would rather beat their kids and hurt them rather than care and provide for them. I believe that parenting is a huge part of life, and I think it’s sad when kids don’t have a good home life. Many parents are there for their kids. They support them no matter what. Even if they don’t like the idea, they will always be there for their children. Parents are very kind, loving individuals that will back their kids up. I feel that even if they don’t have a good home life, or feel that they aren’t loved, they should look around and tell themselves to be better than that. Parents should treat your kids with the respect you would have loved to get, be there for them through and through. Show them you care, and teach them to know that they always have a warm place in your heart. I think parents are very important people, like I said, even if you feel like you’ve been abandoned or treated badly, remember they will always love you, because you will always have a warm place in their hearts.
I don’t feel that we have abandoned excellence. There are many people in the world today that are striving for excellence in everyday life. I feel we are striving for the best in everything we do whether it’s being a part of our armed forces, being a firefighter, policeman, teacher, social worker, farmer, doctor/surgeon, scientist, or a parent. Even if we don’t come out on top in everything we do, we will always know in our hearts that we gave it our all.
Questions
Q1- Am I really where I want to be?
No I don’t feel that I am where I want to be, because I don’t feel that I have made enough achievements in life so far.
Q2- Am I moving in the direction that will enable me to make the greatest contribution?
Yes, I feel that I am moving in the direction that will enable me to make the greatest contribution.
Q3- If I could achieve my highest goals, what would my accomplishments look like?
I think my accomplishments would be great! If I achieved my highest goals I would be very happy with myself. I feel I would be a straight- A student and be a great runner in Cross Country and Track and Field.
Q4- Do I recognize excellence and search it out or do I find mediocre acceptable and am willing to settle?
I don’t find mediocre acceptable. I try my best to recognize excellence and search it out to the fullest.
Q5- Do I seek out people, books, movies and other things that encourage me to be the best I can be?
Yes, I feel that I do seek out people, books, movies and other things that encourage me to be the best I can be.
Q6- Do I recognize the best in others?
Yes, I try to recognize the best in others all the time.
Q9- 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 believe that excellence does have standards, although some people do achieve their goals differently.
Q7- Interpret this quote from paragraph nine: “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion.”
They are relaxed and they aren’t striving for excellence, they are at ease and would just settle for mediocre. So in the future I feel that they won’t achieve many goals because they settle for less.
Q8- Argue pro and con Morrow’s contention that “Americans not yet successful (the struggling, the underclass) are apt to aim at ease, not excellence.”
I think the struggling do settle for mediocre because they feel that they don’t have any more to give, and that they don’t have much to offer to anyone so they don’t strive for excellence they just settle for mediocre.
Q9- Explain what Morrow means when he says (A) “the confusion contaminates character and disable ambition.” Do you agree?
Yes, I agree with the statement.
Q10- Argue pro and con the effect of over stimulation and under stimulation as discussed in paragraph 10.
I feel that people don’t appreciate some of the things that are given to them.
Q11- Contrast practical excellence with metaphysical excellence as used in Morrow’s last paragraph.
Practical excellence is easy goal to achieve and metaphysical excellence is something that is extremely hard to achieve. You would be more likely to achieve a practical goal rather than a metaphysical goal.
Q12- Copy and interpret your tow favorite quotes. Explain why you chose them.
“Let him who would move the world, first move himself.” – Socrates (BC)
“I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” – William Henley (1849-1903)