Acheivement

I don't know whether it's because it's the beginning of a new year, the fact that I'm starting to feel relatively old, or (most likely), I'm getting bored now the work shifts are drying up, but I've been somewhat philosophical lately.

Quite a strange feeling for me, really, considering that my last philosophical mood led me to ponder why people say "tomato", "mall", and "castle" differently (yep, it's definitely boredom talking). Nevertheless, the current topic has at least some merrit:

During school, particularly in later high school, students are led to believe that they must be high acheivers. Not always the best, per se, as society wants to encourage children that it's "what we are on the inside that counts". Instead, it is generally assumed that each person's gifts and tallents are indeed capable of (to some degree), perfection, and as such should be clearly demonstrated. It is therefore assumed that should that person fail to acheive at least a reasonable level of standing, then they have either not put in enough effort or the system has failed them.

I bring this up because it occurs to me that this attitude has impacted a great deal of school leavers, myself included. By this I mean to focus on the pressure to choose a career. Throughout the later years of high school it is widely believed that the student should have an idea of where they are headed - ergo, their final year of study is supported with "advice" from people who are assumed to be knowledgable in such matters.

The problem with such a system is the presumtion that one knows the path of their career. In fact, having being raised in a christian school, we were frequently encouraged to "pray upon" the issue and talk it over with parents and careers counsellors. When these people are inexperienced, or the person involved is undecided, the course selections can go horribly wrong - like mine. While I have a very general idea of where I'm headed, I still don't have a clue about what the future holds tomorrow, let alone the rest of the year. Will I work? Will I study?

Ultimately the success or failure of such ventures are (I believe) not in the success or failure of the venture itself. Rather, without another's failure to compare it to, how do we know to which level we acheived? In a society that prides itself on high levels of acheivement, we almost take perverse pleasure in the failures of others.

In fact, the same applies to intelect. Take the Wright Brothers, for example. The managed to create the means of flight. This was not amazing simply because they did it - it was because everybody else failed to do it. A C average looks insignificant when another gets straight A's.

I believe quite strongly (to borrow a quote) "it's not what we are on the inside, it's what we do that defines us". There is no doubt that without the ambition of acheivement, our society would be no where near the same level of advancement today. Without our actions, belief and moral standing doesn't affect much at all. But, at the same time, I also believe that we have an unhealthy obsession with the failures of others.

Anyway, that's enough of my ranting. Any thoughts/conclusions?