This was an English project, but I liked it, so...why not?
If ever there is a loss to mourn, it is the loss of self. The American student who is beginning to
emerge into a world of uncertainty, but yet is surrounded by criticisms and
pressures, falls particularly vulnerable to such a tragic manifestation of herd
behavior. Rather than surrender his
intrinsic beliefs to outside attack, he must learn to doubt that which he hears
and is taught, and trust wholeheartedly those revelations of insight that
answer. He must summon the bare facts of
life and sing them as a minstrel to his own tune of conjectures, only then can
he surmount conformity’s destructive temptations.
Although schools are
institutions built for the betterment of society, society is due a certain
precaution. Intelligence should not be
torn and calloused. As the
transcendental Thoreau probes, “the laboring man has not leisure. . . He has no
time to be anything but a machine. How
can he remember well his ignorance?”
Just as the body requires rest and rejuvenation to strengthen, so does
the developing mind. Without it, men are
ignorant slaves to occupation. This, in
relation to the student, is where the line in the sand must be drawn between
schooling and education.
Schooling is but a method of education, and can only be
ascribed to true learning when executed in conservative prescriptions. Often, endlessly locked in contention with assignments,
all for nominal grades, the student is forced to cheat himself from the content
of his occupation in return for success.
Here the end goal is misrepresented, and, likewise, the means to that
end are adjusted, and ignorance embraced.
The men that result are specimens of Thoreau’s “machines,” thereby
stripped of their individual aspirations by industry, and lastingly dismissive
of education in its entirety. In this
case, all work and no play make Jack a dull boy. Without the time and freedom of thought
required to enrich God-given talents, the average student becomes a drone for
the future, grouped generally with his countless peers.
Education, contrarily, is a
discipline upheld by those whose minds have been preserved in their naturally
inquisitive state, with an inclination towards chronic self-betterment. Characterized by meaningful intellectual
gain, true education is the bane of wearisome schooling—a little of what you
fancy does you good. Pursuing and being
involved in that which interests you serves both to engage the mind and provide
for an overall positive outlook and fruitful work. In essence, remaining open to learning is in
itself success.
Thoreau’s greater
counterpart, Ralph Waldo Emerson agrees plainly that “There is a time in every
man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that
imitation is suicide…” However, to
imitate and envy is easier than spending the appropriate measure of confidence
on our own opinions, but often requires us to “take with shame our own opinions
from another” willing to make the transaction.
But providing that you are willing enough to make the gamble, “to
believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart
is true for all men--that is genius.”
Genius, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder.
But in a culture where
disparities are shunned, sometimes feared; where popularity and status may
unrightfully outweigh intellect; any good Will Hunting may understandably refer
to the mass rather than forge a separate path.
What is lost is immeasurable and invaluable. A conformed individual’s influence in society
bears a likeness to a Schrödinger experiment—the tragedy is in the immolated
mind, the neglected personality, the card not played.
Individual consequences are
many for those who merely strive for acceptance from their peers. To be unoriginal and altogether dull and
uninteresting is nearly a bona fide suicide in the job market. In the case of the state of California, according
to the Economic Policy Institute for CNN, 1.8 million jobs were needed in 2011
to restore pre-recession economic conditions and keep up with the multiplying
population. Moreover, regardless of how
many positions the enterprising Californians create, an influx of job-seeking
candidates will spell certain difficulty for the undeveloped resume. Nationally, with 310 million human
inhabitants in 2010, and a projected 439 million in 2050, successful job
seekers will be those who stand out from the crowd.
It will be those that shine
with emancipated transcendence that succeed and contribute a cultural
legacy. Stability dissolves occupation,
ironically, for it is an occupation that promotes stability. Productive workers can afford leisure, as
compared to those without funds who bear the mental burden of dependence. Just as Neolithic farmers affected changes in
technology and interaction, science and communication, it is he who affords
leisure and a relaxed mind who is also the pursuant of pleasures and the father
of invention.
At last, success is but an
empty term, a hollow, worthless flask until enough happiness can be mustered to fill it and make it valuable. In essence, in theory, the individual acquires
happiness by retaining himself; and thus it becomes that an appreciation and
honor towards one’s self is the first step in finding success. For each and every one,
there are a set of basic, constitutional, infused truths, and their appeasement
is vital; for these things—the loves and
the passions—have awesome effects on the person, physically and mentally, for
good or for bad. Their suppression, for
lack of an output, can cause them to fester, burn, boil, and rot—acids in a
wooden ship--, but put them to good use, and the beholder is truly blessed. Still, take heed! There are few anomalies in nature that remain
constant, most, if not every, vary about an axis. Even love and faith fall victim; but remain true
to yourself, and be arduous in pursuit of yourself and your beliefs, and these
things will be strengthened and remain unto you a personal blessing.
Uniformity is the enemy of
progress and the poacher of minds and souls. Thus, there is no conformity among students
that does not serve to subtract from the promise of the future; for they are
the future of our country. Set aside
foolishly mundane measures of success.
Instead, depict your quarry as self-reliance and individualism—happiness,
which is the true success. In doing so, your journey throughout life will be
characterized by joy and peace; and, when it comes time to die, rejoice in the
belief that you have truly lived.
