This past week we took a literary piece called "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Putting myself in Emerson's head wasn't an easy thing to do. His perspective of life and the way he looks at things intrigued me. But what if he were here right now? What would be the things he criticises, and what would be the things he praised? The internet for example is a world wide accessible source, where people can express themselves and be who they want to be. Emerson, being the nonconformist he is, would highly praise that idea. Something Emerson would harshly shun is how our grades determine what and who we are. Now a days students put an enormous amount of pressure on themselves because they think if they don't get a certain grade then they wont amount to anything. Emerson says "He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness." meaning: you shouldn't stop at one thing and take it into consideration just because it's titled that way, when you believe in yourself thats when the title really matters. A piece of paper with numbers on it shouldn't determine the rest of your future, it should be the satisfaction you get when you do finally realise where you are most happy and filled with everlasting triumph and satisfaction.
