The prompt:
Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
My essay:
Pikachu, Charizard, Darkrai. Familiar names for most people my age, who spent their childhoods worshipping the cute, little Japanese characters known as Pokemon. But not for me. I grew up a Trekkie. While the other kids were trading cards and plugging away on their Gameboys, I was debating with my sister whether Picard or Kirk made a better captain. I am grateful; not only was Star Trek an excellent source of quality entertainment, but it also helped me set my moral compass, learn what it truly means to be human, and left me with high aspirations for the future of mankind.
I don't know how other people's consciences work, but when I'm faced with moral dilemma, the little voices ask me, "If this were part of a Star Trek show, what would happen?" I can trust that the answer is the right thing to do, because a Starfleet officer would never do anything else. And if I'm ever in doubt about what to say when the going gets tough, I just have to remember Captain Picard's eternal words from the episode The First Duty: "The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it's scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth! It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based!"
One of the main themes of Star Trek is humanity. In every series there is a character who is a sort of outsider among the crew, Seven of Nine the ex-Borg or Spock the Vulcan, for example. This character questions traits that humans often take for granted-humor, impulsiveness, and even friendship-and through the character's commentary the audience gains a whole new perspective on the topic. The android Data is perhaps the best example of how Star Trek explores the theme. His deepest, most desperate desire is to become more human, and by watching him I was able to sum up what it is to be human in a few words: to be on a constant quest for the betterment of oneself.
Another important thing imparted on me by Star Trek is its vision of the future. War, disease, and hunger have been virtually eliminated in Star Trek's version of Earth's future. There is no longer a need for money because everyone is perfectly willing to do their part in society simply to make life better for their fellows. It may all seem too good to be true, but I continue believing that such a world may someday be possible, and I do my best to follow the examples Star Trek has set in the hope that the world of today gets just a little bit closer to the Star Trek vision of the future.
The Star Trek world still feels like a second home to me, and I can't imagine life without it. The many late nights of sneaking upstairs to catch an episode that was on past my bedtime were not wasted; I feel as if my devotion to Star Trek as a child helped shape me into a better person than I would have otherwise been. I hope that my own children are lucky enough someday to not be swept up in their generation's equivalent of the Pokemon craze, but to entertained by something as worthwhile as Star Trek, which is really not so much a trek through the stars, but a journey of exploration of the human condition.
Any sort of feedback is welcome!
Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
My essay:
Pikachu, Charizard, Darkrai. Familiar names for most people my age, who spent their childhoods worshipping the cute, little Japanese characters known as Pokemon. But not for me. I grew up a Trekkie. While the other kids were trading cards and plugging away on their Gameboys, I was debating with my sister whether Picard or Kirk made a better captain. I am grateful; not only was Star Trek an excellent source of quality entertainment, but it also helped me set my moral compass, learn what it truly means to be human, and left me with high aspirations for the future of mankind.
I don't know how other people's consciences work, but when I'm faced with moral dilemma, the little voices ask me, "If this were part of a Star Trek show, what would happen?" I can trust that the answer is the right thing to do, because a Starfleet officer would never do anything else. And if I'm ever in doubt about what to say when the going gets tough, I just have to remember Captain Picard's eternal words from the episode The First Duty: "The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it's scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth! It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based!"
One of the main themes of Star Trek is humanity. In every series there is a character who is a sort of outsider among the crew, Seven of Nine the ex-Borg or Spock the Vulcan, for example. This character questions traits that humans often take for granted-humor, impulsiveness, and even friendship-and through the character's commentary the audience gains a whole new perspective on the topic. The android Data is perhaps the best example of how Star Trek explores the theme. His deepest, most desperate desire is to become more human, and by watching him I was able to sum up what it is to be human in a few words: to be on a constant quest for the betterment of oneself.
Another important thing imparted on me by Star Trek is its vision of the future. War, disease, and hunger have been virtually eliminated in Star Trek's version of Earth's future. There is no longer a need for money because everyone is perfectly willing to do their part in society simply to make life better for their fellows. It may all seem too good to be true, but I continue believing that such a world may someday be possible, and I do my best to follow the examples Star Trek has set in the hope that the world of today gets just a little bit closer to the Star Trek vision of the future.
The Star Trek world still feels like a second home to me, and I can't imagine life without it. The many late nights of sneaking upstairs to catch an episode that was on past my bedtime were not wasted; I feel as if my devotion to Star Trek as a child helped shape me into a better person than I would have otherwise been. I hope that my own children are lucky enough someday to not be swept up in their generation's equivalent of the Pokemon craze, but to entertained by something as worthwhile as Star Trek, which is really not so much a trek through the stars, but a journey of exploration of the human condition.
Any sort of feedback is welcome!
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