Kadoka High School
Kadoka, South Dakota
Teacher: Mrs. Teresa Shuck
Have We Abandoned Excellence?
By Ashlee Antonsen
11th Grade
Do you settle for mediocre or strive for excellence? Excellence is seen differently in everyone’s eyes; excellence to one is mediocre to another. America is on a road to success in many different categories, but there are still those things that need to improve. As for myself, I believe I am reaching out to pursue my goals. Do you see yourself reaching for your goals and attaining them?
I don’t think that America has “abandoned” excellence, but our country has definitely lowered its standards of excellence. Excellence is portrayed as something a person needs to obtain to do well; but you see many people, with an excellent profession, who only obtained average grades in school. In academics, the administration and teachers look for their students to reach their best, and many of their student’s top accomplishments are unreachable for others. But recently many American schools have been applying the No Student Left Behind Program to students’ everyday schedules. There is one problem with this program, it seems as if the top students are not getting the appropriate homework necessary to make themselves better because the teacher is focused on the ones who are not up to their grade level. This is preventing those top students to excel beyond their grade level, so their potential is not reached. For a student to succeed, they must be pushed above their limits.
“There are countless ways of attaining greatness. But any road to
reaching one’s maximum potential must be built on a bedrock of
respect for the individual, a commitment to excellence, and a
rejection of mediocrity.” -Buck Rodgers, IBM
I see it as if a person has set a goal for themselves then that is their standard of excellence. Attaining goals are often blinded by the many distractions around us; therefore, we must acknowledge and dedicate ourselves to our ultimate goals of success in order to achieve them. If I pursue my goal (excellence)—rather than allowing mediocrity to take me over—I will stay on the road to success. If I do not reject mediocrity, I am allowing myself to abandon excellence—and will be taking a road of shattered dreams. Excellence is a giving opportunity.
Excellence results in greatness, and past performances predict future results. As a Christian, God gave an EXCELLENT sacrifice to save us from our sins; we need to live up to his word. Many are not striving to give their best to God. God’s people are to be set apart by excellence. “ We should never think of ourselves as ‘doing too much’ (Luke 17:10). God wants us to do more than just the average. “Our standard of excellence for the Lord should surpass that of which we have for our personal endeavors.” ( I Cor 15:18; II Cor 9:6)
Do you believe America is striving for excellence over in Iraq? American soldiers are putting forth their full effort for their country. They have left their families and friends to support and protect America at war. This is one of many cases where America will never give up until excellence is achieved. These soldiers rose to the occasion with brave willing hearts are doing a great job of obtaining their goals of fighting back.
America’s people are striving for the best, but many little things are getting in the way of improvement. American medicine, for instance, has come along way since the early years; but there are those few incurable diseases, like cancer and Alzheimer’s. Although there is treatment for these diseases, they don’t always cure the disease thoroughly. America is still striving for these medicines, and hopefully someday we will achieve them.
And as for myself, I believe I try my best in everything I do, whether I want to be in the position that I am or not. Effort will get a person along way in life, but excellence will get you further. Life isn’t always a box of chocolates, you may have to put in everything you have to get somewhere in life. In other words, don’t dwell on your bad past experiences; go out and show your full potential.
America has brought itself along way throughout the years, and we owe it all to the scientists, teachers, soldiers, doctors, and all the people who have performed to their fullest ability. If there was no such thing as excellence, the world would not be where it is today. Excellence has allowed terrific new inventions to enter the world to better the ways of Americans. I believe excellence is a great achievement that everyone must strive for to improve his or her daily lives. I strive for excellence; but I don’t always achieve it, and that makes me work that much harder. I don’t accept mediocre. Do you accept mediocre?
Questions
Ask Yourself:
Q1- Am I really where I want to be?
No, I don’t think I’m exactly where I would like to be because I haven’t achieved my yearly goals yet, but I am working toward them.
Q2- Am I moving in the direction that will enable me to make the greatest contribution?
Yes, I am working in the direction of success. I’m looking towards my goals for accomplishments.
Q3- If I could achieve my highest goals, what would my accomplishments look like?
If I were to achieve my highest goals, I would be a straight-A student and an awesome basketball player.
Q4- Do I recognize excellence and search it out or do I find mediocre acceptable and am willing to settle?
In academics I try to not accept mediocre, but most of the time I do. In subjects that I dislike is where I accept mediocre, because if I dislike it and don’t understand it, then I am not likely to do well in that subject anyway.
Q5- Do I seek out people, books, movies and other things that encourage me to be the best I can be?
I lean towards people who are encouraging and give out compliments, because that makes me push myself harder.
Q6- Do I recognize the best in other?
I do recognize that many people are better than me in academics and sports, but that just makes me push myself harder for my highest goals.
Time Article:
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.”
Yes, I believe excellence demands standards and it doesn’t usually flourish during rapid change. But I don’t think that our country needs to sit back and relax from excellence at this point in time.
Q7- Interpret this quote from paragraph nine: “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion.”
These people that are relaxing in this religious paradise are very happy, but not pushing themselves to become better.
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 agree with this statement. I believe the struggling do just settle for mediocre because they don’t think they can achieve excellence. But then again I’ve seen myself in a struggling position and I’ve attempted to become better and achieve my best.
Q9- Explain what Morrow means when he says (A) “the confusion contaminates character and disables ambition.” Do you agree?
Those that are struggling don’t know whether to aim for excellence or settle for mediocre and that is not allowing them to show their full potential. I agree with this statement, I’ve been in a similar situation.
Q10- Argue pro and con the effect of over stimulation and under stimulation as discussed in paragraph 10.
The effect of over stimulation normally results in a person getting a big head about the things they were complimented for and under stimulation results in a person who is self-conscious. Stimulation is needed, but whether a person gets too much or too little results in a bad situation.
Q11- Contrast practical excellence with metaphysical excellence as used in Morrow’s last paragraph.
Practical excellence is something a person can likely achieve whereas metaphysical excellence is something way out there that a person is not likely to reach.
Quotations from Key 32 found at the end of your required reading
Q12- Copy and interpret your two favorite quotes. Explain why you chose them.
“It is not alone what we do but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.”
– Mollere (1622-1882)
Some things we do not do lead to under-achievements.