Essay About Being Predetermined

Are Abilities Predetermined or Do We Have Control?
By: Ijeoma Alozie

Everyone has their talents, whether it be drawing, writing, or playing a sport. No one was born with these abilities. To get to where they are now, they would have had to work. Like Doodle from The Scarlet Ibis, Waverly from Rules of the Game, or even Isaiah Bird. They all worked to be the best at what they do. Therefore abilities are not predetermined and that people do have control over them. In The Scarlet Ibis the main character's younger brother, Doodle, was born with a disability. He was predicted to not be able to walk, talk, and probably not even be aware of the environment around him at all. Then one day, when the big brother saw Doodle smile, he didn't quit trying to train him. He taught Doodle how to crawl, then eventually walk, and many other things. Doodle achieved what he was predicted to not be able to ever do through hard work. If his abilities were predetermined by birth, he probably wouldn't have been able to accomplish these things. Waverly, the main character of Rules of the Game taught herself how to play chess from a used chess set her brother got for Christmas. She started out not knowing anything about chess and struggling to understand. Her brothers beat her every time. As
Doodle from The Scarlet Ibis is an excellent example. It was said he'd die as a baby and even if he did live, he'd never learn how to do anything. Yet he did what was said to be impossible for him. Another example is Waverly from Rules of the Game. She taught herself how to play chess and soon became an extremely talented player and won every match she competed in. Then there is Isaiah Bird. Even though he had a terrible past and was born with no legs, he excelled at what he did. These people make it obvious that one's abilities are not predetermined and that they do have control over