<p>FYI: My essay took up all my writing space, so if it seems too short, I probably have a big handwriting. Also, grade on a scale of 1-6, with whole numbers (I would prefer not to have something such as 4.5: it's either 4 or 5. Sorry for sounding demanding.)</p>
<p>Time: 25 minutes</p>
<p>Prompt:
"People who like to think of themeselves as tough-minded and realistic tend to take it for granted that human nature is "selfish" and that life is a struggle in which only the fittest may survive. According to this view, the basic law by which people must live is the law of the jungle. The "fittest" are those people who can bring to the struggle superior force, superior cunning, and superior ruthlessness. --Adapted from S.I. Hayakawa, "Language in Thought and Action"</p>
<p>Do people have to be highly competitive in order to succeed? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view.... Support....blah, blah, blah.....(you know the rest).</p>
<p>Essay:
Whether one is in school or at home, one has always heard of the banal proverbs encouraging one to be rough and tough and to "push" people out of the way if they're ever going to succeed. Everyone has the idea that the mentality of every star, billionaire, millionaire, A-student, etc. is of a voracious monster who barks and figuratively claws people out of their way to reach their goals. Yet, there are others who have done pretty well, but didn't need to act like a hog to get their way. In life, like a jungle filled with hungry lions and predators, one needs to be competitive if they're going to "make it to the top," but then again, plenty of people have made the same impact without that kind of attitude.</p>
<p>When one goes to college, for example, it's imperative for someone to be very competitive. Look at those Ivy League schools. They have some of the best college education they can offer to gifted and bright students. Not to mention, a lot of their surroundings are very hospitable. It's obvious why so many students are appealed by these fantastic universities. But what that means is that many teenagers are going to apply to these Ivy League schools. Of course, they can't accept every living soul out there, so they have to be selective. That's one situation why one should be competitive: if so many people are trying to attain the same thing one is trying to attain for oneself, then one needs to "step it up"; he or she needs to have the competitive spirit in full gear and do the best he or she can do. That means doing really well in school, joining an variety of clubs, etc., even asserting him- or herself to an activity that differentiates himself from the group. If he or she finds being accepted to this Ivy League school as a sign of importance, than he or she should be willing to sacrifice a lot and be competitive because everyone could diminish his or her dreams when everyone else gets accepted and he doesn't. </p>
<p>Competition also must exist in things such as "American Idol". The same situation when one applies to a top-notch school such as Harvard - there are thousands of people with the same dreams and aspirations, but in order to become successful and get that contract for a record deal, one needs to adjust one's mind to be couragious, be unique, and be strong enough to motivate oneself to improve. In other words, one needs to have the fervor to beat other people in the game, or match, if there are so many players and the only interest you have is to win. But if you want to be successful, it doesn't necessarily obbligates you to have this kind of attitude: you can still go to college without trying too hard and become a doctor. In conclusion, if you need to be competitive, then fine.</p>