Many persons believe that to move up the ladder of success and achievement, they must forget the past, repress it, and relinquish it. But others have just the opposite view. They see old memories as a chance to reckon with the past and integrate past and present.
—Adapted from Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, I've Known Rivers: Lives of Loss and Liberation
Assignment: Do memories hinder or help people in their effort to learn from the past and succeed in the present? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
History is merely a peek into the future. Destined to repeat itself, it is a convenient tool to achieve success without having to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. I firmly believe that memories and knowledge of the past are insuppressible tools to succeed in the present; to see this, I must look no further than the achievements of Michael Phelps and my experiences in the high school admissions process.
The greatest Olympian of all time didn't achieve that title without tenacity and perseverance. On the road to achieve this title, Michael Phelps stumbled multiple times. His journey started at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. On a mission to break Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics, he endured a grueling schedule but came short with six gold, one silver and one bronze. Phelps did not suppress this failure, instead he used it as his motivation. Determined not to make the same mistakes and repeat history, Phelps went on to win eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
As much effort Phelps must've put into his sport, I put in twice as much towards my goal to get into Hunter High School. Studying day and night, my aspiration and determination drove me forward. Despite all my efforts, I pulled short, not scoring enough on the essay potion of the test to gain admission. Instead of letting this have a deleterious effect, I learned from my failure. Determined not to go wrong again, I worked myself to my maximum potential to get into my second choice, Stuyvesant. I was soon accepted, shutting out the chance of letting history repeat itself.
Both Phelps and I learned from our respective failures only to succeed later on. Accepting the past and using it to my advantage, I captured the present. Though I know that I will stumble on the path of life, I will strive for success and work off of the past.
This is much better, even though the conclusion is still thin.
I'd give this one a 5.
Here are a couple of things to avoid:
* redundancy = "to repeat the same mistakes over and over again"
* clichés = "to my maximum potential"
Is this better?
Conclusion Edit:
As I climb up the ladder of life, I can look down at my past and understand the mistakes I committed. Working on these follies and moving along with my strengths , I give myself the better shot at success. Accepting the past instead of repressing it, I will climb up another rung on the ladder.
I'd leave "down" out of the first sentence and "up" out of the last sentence.
It's better -- yes!
Thank you!
You're very welcome!
=)
To answer the question regarding whether memories hinder or help people in their effort to learn from the past and succeed in the present, it is important to analyze the experiences of individuals like Michael Phelps and the writer of the essay.
The essay provides two examples that support the notion that memories and knowledge of the past are crucial for success. In the case of Michael Phelps, his failure to break Mark Spitz's record at the 2004 Summer Olympics served as a motivation for him to improve and succeed in the future. He did not suppress or forget this failure, but rather used it as a guide to learn from his mistakes and achieve his goals. As a result, Phelps went on to win eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Similarly, the writer of the essay shares their own experience in the high school admissions process. Despite falling short of their goal in gaining admission to their first choice, they embraced their failure and learned from it. By understanding the reasons for their shortcomings, they were able to adjust their approach and eventually gain acceptance into their second choice, Stuyvesant. In this case, the memories of their past failure proved essential in achieving success.
These examples highlight the importance of memories in learning from the past and succeeding in the present. By acknowledging and reflecting on past experiences, individuals can identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments in their approach and actions. Memories serve as reminders of what has worked and what hasn't, providing valuable insights for future decision-making.
In conclusion, memories do not hinder but rather help people in their efforts to learn from the past and succeed in the present. Just like Michael Phelps and the writer of the essay, individuals can utilize their past experiences as stepping stones towards future achievements. Memories, when properly acknowledged and utilized, act as tools for growth, improvement, and ultimate success.