The Measure of Success
The Measure of Success
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” is a familiar, yet complex, question that every child at some time or another has been asked. As a child, it is essentially simple to decide what to be; but as that child grows up his or her ideas and passions change. Passion is what drives people to further their education. Everyone has a dream about what their career might look like once they reach adulthood. It is ultimately what we decide to do with our life that determines how successful one can be. This takes a lot of hard work, curiosity, the ability to think critically, and the support of family and teachers. In the articles “Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths” by Gary Colombo, “The Achievement of Desire” by Richard Rodriguez, and “Learning Power: The Myth of Education and Empowerment” there are many different viewpoints about how to be successful and what education has to do with it. These articles demonstrate different perspectives about the subject of education. The fact remains that the amount of learning a student achieves is measured by the amount of curiosity and determination that is put into it, as well as, the perseverance to succeed. In order to be successful, a student needs to work hard and put a lot of effort into that work. The vast majority of people are trying to achieve the great American Dream that this land has always been known for. “Education tells us that the American Dream can work for everyone.… the path to achievement lies through individual effort and hard work, not blind luck or birth” (“Learning” 111). This quote shows that through education the American Dream is possible to achieve, however it will take effort and hard work. Some people think they can rely on their parents or the fact that they have money or simply just luck to get them by in life. People who believe this way are truly misguided individuals because it takes a lot more than that to have a successful life. Rodriguez states,
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” is a familiar, yet complex, question that every child at some time or another has been asked. As a child, it is essentially simple to decide what to be; but as that child grows up his or her ideas and passions change. Passion is what drives people to further their education. Everyone has a dream about what their career might look like once they reach adulthood. It is ultimately what we decide to do with our life that determines how successful one can be. This takes a lot of hard work, curiosity, the ability to think critically, and the support of family and teachers. In the articles “Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths” by Gary Colombo, “The Achievement of Desire” by Richard Rodriguez, and “Learning Power: The Myth of Education and Empowerment” there are many different viewpoints about how to be successful and what education has to do with it. These articles demonstrate different perspectives about the subject of education. The fact remains that the amount of learning a student achieves is measured by the amount of curiosity and determination that is put into it, as well as, the perseverance to succeed. In order to be successful, a student needs to work hard and put a lot of effort into that work. The vast majority of people are trying to achieve the great American Dream that this land has always been known for. “Education tells us that the American Dream can work for everyone.… the path to achievement lies through individual effort and hard work, not blind luck or birth” (“Learning” 111). This quote shows that through education the American Dream is possible to achieve, however it will take effort and hard work. Some people think they can rely on their parents or the fact that they have money or simply just luck to get them by in life. People who believe this way are truly misguided individuals because it takes a lot more than that to have a successful life. Rodriguez states,
Cited: Colombo, Gary. “Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths.” Rereading America: Cultural Context for Critical Thinking and Writing. 8th ed. Eds. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010. 1-8. Print. “Learning Power: The Myth of Education and Empowerment.” Rereading America: Cultural Context for Critical Thinking and Writing. 8th ed. Eds. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010. 109-115. Print. Rodriguez, Richard. “The Achievement of Desire.” Rereading America: Cultural Context for Critical Thinking and Writing. 8th ed. Eds. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010. 194-206. Print.