A Letter to My Sister
I wrote this during my time in higher education. I know things will change by the time you’re in college, especially since there’s a fourteen-year age difference. Although many things will change, I know some things will remain the same for the both of us. Like me, you’re a people pleaser. You want to do what will help others like you. You hurt deeply when someone has done something wrong and tend to place blame on yourself. You ask so many questions. You have compassion and feel for others- this grows from our family roots. So much of me I see in you and you’re only nine years old. So, my intelligent and loving little sister, here is some advice for your new adult life.
1. Remember all of the endless questions you used
…show more content…
Comparison will steal your joy. Right now, I see many traits in you that I see in myself. Perfectionism is something I see in both of us. I used to think these traits could be a great tool when you work, but then I read The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown and she stated, “Perfectionism is self-destructive simply because there is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal” (pg. 57). Bug-a-boo, I know this isn’t something that you want to hear, but she is right. There is no such thing as being perfect. As I see you struggle as a nine-year-old to perfectly read that chapter book or make all of the kids like you at school, I just want to hug you and tell you that you are and always have been enough. I once heard in a song, “You’ll always measure up if you compare yourself to you”. You are the only person you need to focus on. I don’t mean the ideal “perfect daughter, sister, friend, student” portrait you try to paint yourself to be. I’m talking about the beautiful girl who loves to dance down the hallway, the girl who leaves her school work scattered around the house, the girl who struggles, the girl who is human. Additionally, keep in mind, comparing yourself to others robs you of the potential YOU were given. And trust me, that potential is
When I become a grandfather I will tell my grandkids about different types of success. The story “Failure is a good thing” is told by Jon Carroll, a father and grandfather. The number one type of success is failure and from failure you can learn how to do better for all the other times to come. Success is just a way to prove that you can do something that you already know you can do.
The Case Against Perfection written by Michael J. Sandel explores the emerging probabilities in the realm of genetic engineering and societal consequences if designer babies and genetic enhancement programs are pursued. While Sandel may have a definite stance regarding genetic engineering, he explores every side of the issue to justify his perspective. He envisions a future where science will pursuit human perfection in attempts to eliminate the supposedly “imperfect” people, such as those with down syndrome (a path we’re already on) and hereditary deafness. Consequently, this may lead to a world much more competitive and less forgiving than it already is. Not only will those with “imperfections” will be discriminated against, even more troubling,
In today’s American society, lying has become something that we are accustomed to using almost every day without even realizing it. In “The Ways We Lie”, Stephanie Ericsson, screenwriter, advertising copywriter, and writer, elaborates on the act of lying and how it is used by everyone on a daily basis. She comes up with a list of the common, different kinds of lies that we all have told. Furthermore, the text goes in depth about the significance of lying and how it is an essential part of every human’s life. Ericsson’s essay effectively conveys this idea through the use of pathos, logos, ethos, personal examples, rhetorical questions, and analogies which helps the reader better understand the reasoning behind lies and how it affects our
Through Women’s Eyes by Ellen Carol DuBois and Lynn Dumenil addresses American History from 1865 until present day. The third edition of this textbook includes visual and primary sources over several centuries. I used this textbook in a history course, “Women in the United States, 1890 – Present;” I found the textbook to be engaging, helpful, and useful throughout the course. The way in which in the information was presented allowed me to learn, assess, and analyze the difficulties women faced.
It’s been three hours while I sit here and stare at the blinking bar, symbolizing the fact that I have nothing. My page is blank, but I promise you, my thoughts are not. Thousands of ways to start this essay have run through my mind, but none of them are sufficient. Which, I suppose, is where I will begin. Perfectionism, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is, “a disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable” (“Perfectionism”). It is a trait that numerous people might regard as desirable or something to be proud of; a word used to describe oneself on a resume to impress employers. However, I see it much differently. Perfectionism is a fight for something unobtainable, a cyclical trap in which disappointment reigns, and
In the essay The Ways We Lie, author Stephanie Ericsson writes in depth about the different types of lies used by most people everyday. While listing examples of them, Ericsson questions her own experiences with lying and whether or not it was appropriate. By using hypothetical situations, true accounts, and personal occurrences, she highlights the moral conflicts and consequences that are a result of harmless fibs or impactful deceptions. In an essay detailing the lies told to ourselves and others, Ericsson points out one bold truth; everyone lies. Through her writing, Ericsson causes the reader to look into how they’ve lied in the past and how to effects others and the general greater good of society.
The portrait I choose is the Faces by Nancy Burson, 1992 (figure, 22.7). The portrait is the picture of two boys, and they are twins. In the description, Nancy used a cheap plastic camera for their look. The plastic camera creates a blurry effect on the subject, which is the two boys. The twins have the same shirt with the same pattern on them, and their hairstyle is similar as well. Their face features are almost identical consider they are twins. Looks closely, their face structure seems unusual for them compared to other children of their age. For example, the size of their nose is bigger and wider than the usual size. And their eyebrow bone is more arch. According to the textbook, the unusual facial structure might cause by genetic conditions, accident or disease. The twin may or may not born like this, and there are some other unknown factors decide how they look. However, this picture shows the characteristics of the children, such as pure, kind, optimistic, curious.
Although CHEER may seem hard and overwhelming to students, they have to push themselves to achieve an A in both courses. Establishing a growth mindset in summer school is key to being successful in the classes that are being taken. Students should take advantage of tutoring and lab time that is offered. Wisely using both opportunities, CHEER students have the ability to obtain an A in both courses. In order to do so, students have to keep a healthy brain by getting rest, exercising and living a healthy lifestyle. By doing such things, students will be prompt and ready for class.
Do you push yourself to be the best? Do you get mad at yourself for not doing the best? Do you delay assignments till the last possible limit because of fear of rejection? Do you feel horrible when work isn’t done to your best ability of when minor failures seem like catastrophic ones? These are all signs of what is known as perfectionism (Pacht 1984). If you seem to agree with most of these things then you might be a perfectionist. According to Webster’s dictionary, it states that perfectionism is "a disposition which regards anything less than perfect, unacceptable." Many people in the world suffer from perfectionism. So is that case of Mike Bellah. His perfectionism lead him to a lifestyle where he lost
The current generation is quizzical of the importance that religious teachings hold in our evolving pro-choice society. In past generations, spiritualism was a method of uniting the community and nurturing the young. However, we find that faith has the adverse effect. While separate from other religions, a rise in hate fueled discrimination and separatism is observable between different communities in all corners of the globe. In this generation, it is only logical that as religion is taught, after learning from present and past events, the very essence of the teachings is skewed and put into question.
“In 2009, 33 million people in the United States were second generation immigrants, representing 11% of the national population. The children of such immigrants in the U.S., also known as "second generation immigrants," experience a cultural conflict between that of their parents and that of mainstream U.S. society” (Wikipedia 1). Amy Tan the author of “Two Kinds”, and the young character in the story both are a second generation immigrants, who have struggled in their life with parents, about the culture they assimilating and their real culture.
Michael Sandel is a distinguished political philosopher and a professor at Harvard University. Sandel is best known for his best known for his critique of John Rawls's A Theory of Justice. While he is an acclaimed professor if government, he has also delved deeply into the ethics of biotechnology. At Harvard, Sandel has taught a course called "Ethics, Biotechnology, and the Future of Human Nature" and from 2002 to 2005 he served on the President’s Council on Bioethics (Harvard University Department of Government, 2013). In 2007, Sandel published his book, The Case Against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering, in which he explains unethical implications biotechnology has and may have in the near future regarding genetic
During my freshman year, what I viewed as the worst possible event happened, (PAUSE) I got a B on my report card. I know that sounds dramatic but freshman me thought my world was ending. I now know that a B is a perfectly acceptable grade and that it's not the end of the world. But this raises the question, why did I think that a B was such a bad thing? Last year I worked on figuring out why I viewed B's as a bad thing. The end result of my thinking was that I am a perfectionist. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines perfectionism as “refusal to accept any standard short of perfection.” The reach for perfection can be painful because it is often driven by both a desire to do well and a fear of the consequences of not doing well. The problem is
You are your worst critic, and I’m my worst critic but you can’t spend time reflecting on your flaws, you need to spend time basking in your perfections. You get stressed (and I understand) you want to be a golden child, bulletproof and overall perfect! But let me tell ya’ you’re not and it’s ok!
Remember the times where you assumed you weren 't "perfect" or good enough. How about the times when you could never do anything right for once. Well, I completely relate. Perfection is something us humans want to cope in our daily lives. We see perfection as an ideal way for us to succeed and achieve in growth. Well, life is for us to learn from our failures. I stretch out to perfection because I feel like it’s the genuine way achieve our long-term purposes. As of today, we need to identify that no one is and will never be perfect, including me and that perfection doesn 't exist. Just because if someone thinks they are better than you that doesn 't mean they are perfect. Learning from our misunderstandings doesn 't make us failures, it