What is success? The general idea says that it is when a
person’s basic needs are covered and they have money to spare. Huh; weird eh? I
mean in my mind success is this daunting idea of reaching your full potential,
but according to society it is as simple as going to university and getting a
job afterwards. Now put it into those words and it sounds simple, but for those
who have achieved this and are currently attempting to, they will tell you
otherwise. I myself have not experienced this, but I can say it saddens me. The
idea that millions of people are all doing the same thing, to achieve the same
thing, in slightly different fields and investing their time in this idea of
success. Sad, is the word I will use to describe this; I could go onto the internet
and find elaborate words that could more complexly express what I feel, but for
now sad is good enough. But why sad? Why on earth am I sad about this? I mean
it is completely normal right? People are highly regarded for going to
university and getting good jobs, it’s a social norm. I guess the idea of going
to university and getting a job doesn't sadden me; it’s the stories behind the
diplomas and degrees. The passion that runs out, the potential that is
disregarded. Now that’s not to say studying and getting a job in a certain
field is not some people’s dream and what will make them most happy. However,
how many people go to university due to this idea of the norm or pressuring
parents or just because they don’t yet know what they want to do with their
life?
I myself have had this idea that I MUST go to university
shoved down my throat, and I being the sassy person I am, regurgitate it and
walk away (metaphorically of course). I do not have a problem with education,
or authority, or learning or any of the “typical” reasons for not going to
university. I simply have a problem with people not reaching their full potential due to the fact that they followed the social norm. The one thing I have found to be most powerful in humans is their potential. Now many will disagree with me on that point saying that the mind, love, passion etc. are much more powerful but I do not believe that is so. My logic behind that is from the beginning of your life till the end you always have potential, and it is this potential that can drive the strongest of leaders, the wisest of minds and the purest of heart. With each choice we make, our potential changes, yet it morphs to our decisions and molds so that we might be able to always reach it. It is always within our grasp it is just our choices that depict the outcome. There is not right and wrong when it comes to potential, it is not wrong to be an artist nor is it wrong to become a doctor. Each person has a different mind, which when you really think about it; is an incredible thing. The fact that after all the billions-trillions of people who have passed through this earth not a single person is the same, or has the same mind is absolutely awesome in the truest meaning of the word. If every mind is different, why do we create norms? If every mind is special, why do we limit them to what is, "socially correct"? We look at all the people who have made differences throughout history, and wonder; who will be the next to do so? Within asking that question, we eliminate the possibility of it being us in our minds. We think, "I could not do such amazing things as those people, they are special, they are different." In my mind that is a foolish way of thinking seeing as we have come to the understanding as humans that every person is special and different. Every person has the potential for great things and to be that world changing difference. The problem is, people like things to be normal and ergo follow the social norm.
We see the complexity of the human mind on a regular basis, we see the amazing things that a person can do and we feel and want to be great. However we limit ourselves to what the world says what we can and cannot do. In doing so we limit ourselves. Only we can create limits for what we can and cannot achieve. The social norm fosters the general ideal of success, but is this what we want the definition of success in our society to be?
