Assignment 4

“I am certain there is too much certainty in the world.”
                                                   -Michael Crichton

           

Certainty is a deadly poison on the mind. It is a substance that breeds arrogance, malice contempt, and unnecessary bloodshed. The most heinous acts in the history of mankind have been committed by those who were certain what they were doing is right. Certainty in a person is a far greater weapon than any bomb or gun. Those with it become possessed by its existence and almost nothing will sway these ghouls obsession.

Certainty should not be confused with either faith or confidence in something. A person who has faith in their religion is willing to enact rituals to show support of their respective deity. A person certain that their religion is the only true path is willing to spill the blood of naysayers in the name of their religion. A person who has confidence in their studies will be ready for a test after their preparation. A person who is certain in his skills will precede to the test without any preparation what so ever and will blame any failure on anyone but themselves. Certainty is the sort of radical forms of faith, confidence, ambition, and hope; and like most radical ideologies it is very belligerent to opposing ones.

Confidence is not a bad thing nor is faith nor is hope nor is ambition. It is just important that we are not blinded by these things for in our blind stumbling we will eventually fall and possibly take others with us. Please think responsibly.   

Assignment 3

“Experience is just the name we give our mistakes.”

-Oscar Wilde

            In our world experience is a driving force towards a better future. It is required in all mediums of work; from the complex work of accountants to the simplistic job of being a bus boy. Those with the experience in their respective fields are treated with the upmost respect in today’s working world while rookies fresh out of college are seen as useless because they will make more mistakes than the experienced one. This sudden need of experience is out of desperation by the employers because they can no longer take risks in this unstable economy. As a result, newly graduated students cannot find jobs because there are those with more experience going for the same job because they themselves were previously thwarted by another person with more experience in a previous attempt to get a job. Thus, we have created a preverbal chain of unemployment.

            If employers would lower their standards for a moment they can see the value of new employees. With rookies, you can shape and mold them into the image of your desire while with veterans;   they are set in their ways because they have been using the techniques they have learned for years. It’s like how American’s use feet and gallons for measurement, we have been using it for so long we can’t just change it. The bottom line is, that allowing someone new to make mistakes will allow them to become experienced.

Assignment 2

“Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is"

            -Vince Lombardi

           

While winning isn’t everything simply giving up without a fight is shameful. If you gave it your all you can walk away with a feeling of pride, even if you didn’t get the gold. True victory is all a matter of perspective and attitude.

This lesson is best exemplified in the hit movie Rocky, in the movie no name boxer Rocky Balboa works his way up to challenge heavy-weight champion Apollo Creed. Rocky did not win the fight but, he was able to last 15 minutes in the ring with Creed which a new record and it works out quite well for him thanks to endorsement deals and merchandise. As a matter of fact, this premise is constantly used in media where the protagonists must face impossible odds against far superior opponents but Rocky is the best example because in the end most of the films had the protagonists win.

In my earlier years I was admittedly a spoiled sport. As a child if I didn’t win I would begin to cry like a brat thus resulting in a well-deserved lecture from my parents. Later as an adolescent I would get very angry and would blame “unfair” advantages of other players: like the fact they put in more effort, practiced harder, or worked out more often. Thankfully, as a young adult approach the age of legality I has finally learned that even though I might not win and long as I try my best I can at least say I gave it my all and gave my opponent a good match. I proved my maturity in sports in a recent fencing tournament I participated in. I was paired up with a left-handed opponent, the likes of which I had never faced, who was also a rank higher than me. Though I knew winning wasn’t much of a possibility I gave it my all and managed to score three points out of the five I needed to win. My effort allowed me to walk away genially proud. It’s like I am the Rocky of Fencing though with a lot fewer bruises.  

Assignment One

“We all wear masks, and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin.”

            -Andre Berthiaume

As humans, we are constantly generating personas in order to be accepted by society. As teenagers we can relate to this the more than any other age group. Any sort difference in opinion, appearance, or heritage is considered outlandish and wrong. In order to avoid isolation and alienation we create a mask. Of course masks are the complete disguise in order to fit into society; it could be a slight change in demeanor towards one person. I for one change masks constantly, while not to the point where it becomes a whole new persona, I just change my style of humor towards different people.

            There comes a time in our lives where we grow tired of living through the guise we have created in order to protect ourselves. However, when we reveal our true nature and our previous beliefs were fabrications to go with the persona we are subjected to the very thing we tried to avoid by making these masks, alienated. We are either judged by our hidden difference or judged by the fact we hid it. The use of the mask is then considered a treacherous act. Of course what is wrong about wearing a mask?

            Without masks we would eventually divide ourselves into smaller and smaller group due to our categorical human nature. The masks we dawn allow us to see eye to eye and work together towards a similar goal rather than judging each other on our each individual detail. Nations would fall at the disappearance of masks and communities would fracture into nothingness. While it is sad we live in such a world where we cannot work together without some sort of conflict our ability to hide certain attributes help avoid conflict.