Undergraduate / "I work harder for me and only me" - Michigan State University [19]

Describe the environment you come from - for example, your family, community, or school - and how this environment has affected or influenced your plans for the future

"Try harder!" I just kept hearing those two words to the point of weariness. How much harder could I work? How much harder could I push myself? Those two words were carved into my brain, chiseled there to stay forever. I never felt like I was good enough. Constantly getting told by my parents that I could work harder, I felt that was always constantly pushed to my limits.The only thing I could do was try to live up to their desires and try to make them happy with me.

All through my childhood, I would incessantly hear stories of my father's successes and how he was the only one out of all his siblings to graduate from college and have a well paying job. At a young age, I began to think that if I didn't try hard enough I would be a failure. Every report card that I got I would rush home excited to see my parents' faces. With that one B staring them in the face, I would just get a disapproving stare. I almost always left disappointed in myself because I wasn't "smart" enough.

Many times when I think about my childhood, I become upset and angry towards my parents; why couldn't they comment on my well comings rather then always looks at the negatives of everything? I was continually told that the only way to succeed in life was to get an education and to become a doctor. I would be successful only if I achieved these two things., but I didn't believe any of that was fair. Yes, that path can lead to financial stability in life, but is that all that matters? Isn't it important to think about how I feel about things and about my happiness rather than success?

I entered high school determined to get the highest grades possible, striving to make sure that I didn't fall behind. Every time I took a test, I could hear my parents in the back of my mind telling me to try my very hardest. My heart would beat uncontrollably when I would receive my report card, filled with excitement to see my grades. Yet, they were never good enough

It was about the end of my sophomore year that I understood that I no longer had to work hard in school to make my parents happy. I realized that I had to work in school to make myself happy - to achieve my goals in life, and not theirs.

"Try harder!"
Those two words are imprinted in my mind and will stay there forever. In my heart of hearts, I know the associations I have with those words have been indescribably altered. When I think of those two words, I no longer see my parents' disapproving faces. I see my future and what I will become.

Book Reports / Beowolf Essay Symbolization (a great king in Anglo-Saxon society?) [2]

Some scholars claim that the creatures in Beowulf represent the major challenges to being a great king in Anglo-Saxon society. Consider writing an essay to support this claim.

Whether it comes to war, poverty, famine, or simple being able provide an heir for your people are some of the many challenges that a king must face. Through out all of these a king must be able to stand tall and not let anything get in the way of being a powerful kingdom.Through out the poem, Beowulf, kings are put through many obstacles that they have to go through in order to keep their land united and to keep their kingdom strong. The challenges that the kings of Beowulf must go through are in forms of creatures. Each creature that must be fought symbolizes something greater than just the creature itself. Each creature in of itself is a symbolization of the challenges that a great king in Anglo-Saxon society must face.

The very first obstacle that Hrothgar, king of Heorot, must go through is Grendel, who represents jealousy. Grendel is jealous of Hrothgar's prosperity as a king and has been fighting against him because of this. " Years after year of struggle and strife, an endless scourging, a scorning of peace" ( Beowulf 114-115). This quote is expressing the many years that Hrothgar has been fighting against Grendel. His people are longing for peace and want the suffering to be over. Grendel in this text may represent the endless wars that went on during the Anglo-Saxon time periods. For twelve long years the king and his people fight against Grendel, but are never able to defeat him. " So Grendel raided and ravaged the realm, one against all, in an evil war" (Beowulf 105-106 ). Grendel comes, destroys, and leaves. He leaves the people in suffering and pain, the people are lost and have no idea how they are to defeat such a monstrous creature. During times of war, countries are invaded, people are killed, and towns are destroyed. Although Grendel is finally defeated by the great warrior Beowulf, challenges do not end for Hrothgar he is then faced with a greater challenge, Grendel's mother.

The second challenge that the king must go through is Grendel's mother, representing vengeance. Wars never end and nations are always jealous of other nation's powers. No one likes being taken over and when this happens you fight back for revenge. " Though the monster was slain, an avenger survived" ( Beowulf 812). This relates to Grendel's mother coming back for revenge of her son who was killed by Beowulf. During these times fighting was a way of life and not taking avenge for a dead family member was looked down upon. The same thing occurs with kingdoms, when a kingdom is taken over, you must build up a stronger army, in order to fight back and regain the land you have lost. In the Anglo-Saxon time periods there was always a struggle for power. Battles continuously went on for whom would have the most supremacy. In Beowulf although Grendel had been defeated his mother came to fight for her son, defeat the people, and show that she was not afraid to fight. Although this obstacle too is overcome, challenges never end for the king. The last challenge that Beowulf, the new king of Heorot, must go through is the great dragon.

The last problem is the dragon in Beowulf representing honor. This symbolizes the honor of a king being able to give for his people even after he has passed away. A king doesn't do this by leaving his people with treasures rather he does this by providing an heir. Someone that will rule after him and like him support his people. In Beowulf the dragon is to be fought solely by the king Beowulf, he wants this to be a battle against him and the dragon. A king not being able to provide an heir is a battle against himself. " While the sword holds out that has served me well,... with hand and hard blade, I must fight for the treasure," (Beowulf 1484-1485). He is thinking about the honor he will have when he finally reaches the treasure. The honor he will earn from his people, the treasure is his heir. Kings are always fighting battles to show their strength and bravery, this is exactly what Beowulf did with this last battler.

Life wasn't an easy one for the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and the obstacles that the kings had to go through, the poem, Beowulf is a great one symbolization of these challenges. It wasn't easy trying to fight off invaders, provide for your people, and at the same time making sure that your kingdom was powerful. Each creature in the poem represented a different challenge. Each challenge was then fought against. Many people go through challenges in their own everyday lives, each struggle is a battle that we must fight. Each battle one just makes you one step closer to being a stronger person.