The Elements of Success: Self Motivation and Self Determination

5. Self-actualisation – the need for personal fulfilment and the need to grow and develop.

Reading opened his eyes to his “wretched condition” (2057) and he longed for independence and freedom. He did not desire this for himself alone, but also for his fellow slaves. He “imbue[d] their minds with thoughts of freedom” and sought to “impress them with the gross fraud and inhumanity of slavery” (2077). Douglass took the lead in devising the plans of escape; his skill in reading and writing was instrumental in his plans. While at Master Hugh’s, Douglass acquired the copy-books of his master’s son, Thomas. He taught himself to write and soon “could write a hand very similar to that of Master Thomas” (2059). This ability helped Douglass to formulate the plan of escape from Mr. Hamilton. He wrote several “protections” for himself and the other runaways under the name of Mr. Hamilton’s. Though this escape attempt was unsuccessful, it is a testimony to the Douglass’ genius which would not have existed without his education. His ability to read and write planted the desire for freedom and enabled him to attempt to achieve it.

In "Learning to Read and Write" written by Frederick Douglass, he talks about his experience of teaching himself how to read and write as a slave boy living in Master Hugh's house where his mistress educated him. However, she was dictated by her husband and the instructions given to the slaves on how to read had to stop; in order for Douglass to teach himself, he obtained a book about slavery, The Columbian Orator and read the book every free second he had. Encouraged by the book, Douglass runs away to the north from his master for freedom. Douglass' main ideas include depravity, chattel, and an emancipation, which represents a moral corruption, the slave properties, and an act of freeing someone from slavery, respectively.

1. Douglass taught himself how to read and write. At first, Douglass’s mistress taught him how to read the alphabet before her husband prohibited her from doing this. After that he started to teach himself how to read by reading books and newspapers, and how to write by copying his little Master Thomas’s written in the spaces left in the copy-book when his mistress goes to the class meeting every monday afternoon. However his most successfully way of teaching himself how to read was to make friends with the white boys whom he met in the street. He bribes them with food to get them to teach him. He also learned how to read and understand the meaning of the name on the timber.

At a young age, Douglass learns he must pursue knowledge and education to emancipate himself from slavery. Shortly after arriving at his new master’s home, the master’s wife, Mrs. Auld, teaches him the alphabet and how to spell. Mr. Auld forbids his wife to continue teaching as it is “unlawful, as well as unsafe, to teach a slave to read” and having that knowledge would “forever unfit him to be a slave” (pg. 48). This confession opens Douglass’

In Frederick Douglass’s narrative, “Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass”, he speaks of how he gained his education. He discusses who helped him and who discouraged him from getting an education. He mainly taught himself how to read and write, but he would have been nothing without the help of one of his master’s wife, Mrs. Auld. This narrative has shown that even the slightest education can be very abundant and meaningful. Through this essay it becomes evident that education is only a privilege.

Mr. Douglass was not rich whatsoever. As a matter of fact, he was a slave. He didn’t have much, but the young lad had two positive personality traits that guided him on his path to learning to read and write. Douglass was very perpetual. Despite the fact it took him longer due to not having a constant teacher, and not being able to get a chance to find a book or paper all the time, he refused to give up the fight. Do doubt about it, he was determined to learn the skill even if took until he was old and gray. Which it didn’t. He was also very resourceful with where he got his information and how he caught it. Whenever he found a book or paper, he would often collect it and read it. Other times he would give extra bread to the poor white kids in exchange for them giving him some more knowledge. Since he was a serf, food was not an issue, so he was able to use a little

     Although Douglass’ desire to develop the mind was strong, he didn’t always have it. It wasn’t until Mr. Auld had chastised Mrs. Auld for teaching him the alphabets that he really felt the aspiration to read. Douglass said, “That which to him was a great evil, to be carefully

Many of his audience would expect Douglass to be a brave, courageous man; however, they have to understand that Douglass was a person like any other, and that the pain and suffering he had gone through to get his education. He also used to describe his mistress a “tender-hearted woman,” as a sympathy to show that there are people out there that are caring enough to educate him(1). However, the dark turn of event happened when his mistress became more crucial and punished her slaves, just like her husband. Douglass also explained that he does not feel any sympathy towards her anyways because he was a slave and he knew she would eventually mistreat him. After his mistress’ cruel transformation, he grew weary because when he is caught reading a newspaper, his mistress would be aggressive and snatch the newspaper away from Douglass so he could not read anymore (1). The most difficult time was when his master found out he was learning to read, he would punish him (2-3). Douglass wrote, “learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing,” knowing at the time that getting an education was far more difficult than he anticipated (3). Douglass would think learning to read was not worth the pain he was getting. He thought that getting an education would help him escape slavery, but after his beating, he realized that receiving one would mean he has to endure the hardship in

Even with the strong endeavors to stop the education of Douglass, he still managed to learn to read by getting his hands on any book he could find, and with the "inch" of knowledge the woman had provided him, the alphabet. There was only one problem, Douglass still did not know how to write, and writing was a crucial part of Douglass' career. Douglass was very clever in approaching this large ordeal, for he knew that he couldn't ask the racially influenced adults of his area. So Douglass would have to learn to write from the most innocent of humans, children. These children had not been able to be fully influenced in the art of oppression, and with ambition and trickery, Douglass would learn to write through the "guidance" of the

Before I read this piece of art, I did not think that I would like it; I thought it was a tedious literary work like the ones a part of a colossal textbook at first glance. However, I changed my mind after reading it thoroughly. I am honestly amazed at how Douglass’ words link together to have such easy flow and clarity through each sentence. He is a better writer than some of the people who learned how to read and write at an even younger age than him. Last but not least, I love how he proves that education is important since reading and writing gave him the advantage to become a free man; this excerpt gives a lesson on why education is pivotal to gaining knowledge to have a sense of individuality.

Douglass’ narrative demonstrates how his literary education is both a blessing and a curse. He believed that permitting slaves to read was a contradiction, a paradox if you will, unable to render freedom, or provide them a legitimate education. Douglass reasoned that the education was a ploy to let African Americans believe they were treated fairly. Douglass expresses, “As I read and contemplated the subject, behold! that very discontentment which Master Hugh had predicted would follow my learning to read had already come, to torment and sting my soul to unutterable anguish” (Douglass 1200). Douglass displays the injustice and frustration of this situation; he is fully aware that he is being treated unfairly.

Richard Rodriguez was born in Sacramento, California and his parents are immigrants from Mexico. He went to a private catholic school and was a scholarship boy which means that the other parents that had their kid there had to pay a little extra for Richard to stay. Richard read a lot in his classes and he never understood why reading was so important when it came to his education, but

　　One of Douglass’ first endeavors on his journey of self improvement was to become literate. Upon coming to live with Mr. and Mrs. Auld, he says that he found his new mistress to

"Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them" Jack (2001-2016). Motivational theories can help support an employee to progress in the workplace; a few theories such as Extrinsic Motivation, Intrinsic Motivation, Acquired Needs Theory, Self-Determination theory, and expectancy theory relate to my professional life. I will explain if I agree/disagree with my PsyCap self-assessment and some developing strategies to advance in my career using my strengths. Also, I will talk about how I can employ goal-setting to increase motivation, and how my engagements at the workplace influence my job performance.