<p>I actually wrote this a while ago but I don't quite trust college board's online grading thing or some other peoples opinions... Just thought I would bring it here. It's not perfect, and I am open to any criticism (just so you know, that facts might not be right always, just ignore it). So here it goes...</p>
<p>Prompt: Can success be disasterous? (The rest of the stuff is pretty irrelevant...</p>
<p>Response:</p>
<p>The notion that success can be disastrous is well supported in history, literature, and everyday life. While on the surface success may seem only beneficial, it can have unforeseen and malicious effects if not handled correctly. Success can draw our attention toward it and away from other aspects of life and other aspects of that success. It can make us overconfident, lazy, and careless of other things around us. It can even go as far as making us arrogant, which can cause even more disastrous effects. This principle was demonstrated in my own life last year.<br>
I play percussion and have been a member of many prestigious groups, most notably the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. After I had made it into that orchestra one year, I assumed that I would make it again, as I had with so many other groups in the past. Unfortunately, I got haughty and this led to disaster in my life. I was expected, not only by myself, but by others to make the orchestra again. My mother had already been nominated vice president and her role would begin the next year! However, due to a lack of practice, I didn't make it into the orchestra. Additionally, I didn't make another orchestra that I repeatedly had in the past. My successes blinded me of the situation at hand, which had terrible effects.<br>
Historically, and on a more drastic scale, this tenet has been exemplified numerous times. At the end of World War One, for example, the allied powers were sure of their ultimate victory over the Germans. It was absolute; World War One precluded any future uprisings. Even as Hitler and others began to form armies, make threats, and invade countries, the allied powers did nothing. In fact, Winston Churchill, after a meeting with German officials, proclaimed triumphantly that the conflict had been averted. Ironically, in the next week, war, the deadliest in human history, broke out. It was the past success that ultimately let this terrible war occur. Had World War One never occurred, than the allied powers would have taken the Germans seriously and the atrocities of World War Two would certainly have been avoided.
These examples, and many others, all attest to the undeniable fact that success can indeed be terribly disastrous. Only through our knowledge and understanding of this can we avoid such disasters.</p>
<p>Yep... I see some lapses now that I look at it today (I wrote this a year ago). I was just wandering what you guys think. Any response is appreciated! And just so you know, the personal experience isn't entirely true (I made the orchestra the second time, but it doesn't matter in this case)</p>