Prompt - Does the success of a community-whether it is a class, a team, a family, a nation, or any other group-depend upon people’s willingness to limit their personal interests?
Warren Johnson once said, ‘A community or group cannot function effectively unless people are willing to set aside their personal interests’. There is very little doubt in the truth of this statement. The betterment of a community requires people to focus on improving the conditions of the group as a whole and not just on themselves. This idea can be seen throughout literature and history.
A compelling illustration that shows why a group needs selfless commitment from the people to succeed is ‘The Maze Runner’ series authored by James Dashner. In this story, Thomas, the protagonist, wakes up to find himself in the Glade with sixty other boys and the only memory of his name. He soon learns that outside the Glade lise a Maze that changes everyday and is inhabited by vicious creatures called Grievers. When Thomas gets a chance to explore the Maze, he discovers an exit that will take him to the rest of the world. Soon enough, he reveals his dicovery to the rest of the Gladers and convinces them to join him on his journey to freedom. The Gladers realize that this trip to the exit is fraught with dangers-death by the Grievers. However, they risk their lives to protect their fellow Gladers and ultimately succeed in leaving the Glade. If they had valued their own lives more than the freedom of the group, they would never have been able to escape.
Another persuading example that shows how a group succeeded because of the selflessness of its members is the Indian freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi was born in Porbandar, Gujarat, India and went to South Africa to study law and become a lawyer. When he witnessed the Apartheid movement there, he realized that the citizens of India too needed to fight against the British and drive them out of the country. So, he gave up his studies and returned to India to help unite the people against the British. He successfully spearheaded the Non-Cooperation Movement and by means of non-violence, won India her freedom. He was consequently hailed as the Father of India. If he had placed more priority on his studies and worked on his career, India would have taken longer to win freedom, if not still been a colony.
The examples of ‘The Maze Runner’ series and Mahatma Gandhi show how the group of people succeeded bacause of the selflessness of the people. As Susan Walter once said, ‘To take interest in the welfare of society is to give up on personal interest’.
How much do you think this essay will get me? Also let me know where I can improve.