<p>Prompt: Is it best for people to accept who they are and what they have, or should people always strive to better themselves?</p>
<p>Acceptance of what one is given in life can be a difficult task. Most people who are not as fortunate as others ask themselves why they are not as lucky as the people they see around them. But it is not sufficient for one to accept what he or she is given and not try to better him/herself. Several examples from history and current events clearly show that one must always strive to better him or herself, no matter what he or she is given.
For instance, look at the Chinese warrior Xiang Wu, who fought battles in the Xinhai Revolution against the Qing Dynasty in 1911. Wu had come from a poor family and was complacent, although unhappy in his low-ranking position in the war. He longed to become a better-respected general or officer, although he believed that since he had been born into poverty, he would die in poverty. In this period in Chinese history, it was thought that one would stay in his social and economic class from birth until death, and Xiang Wu obviously adopted this idea without questioning it. But Wong had great talent in battle, and everyone knew it, including Wu himself. He could have made an incredible general if he had tried to better his status, but he wrongfully accepted this status without question.
Take, for example, Malala Yousafzai, a sixteen-year-old Pakistani girl who is currently fighting for the right of all people to education. Born and raised in Pakistan, Yousafzai, as a female, was not given the same rights at were males. The Taliban frequently raided and attacked girls schools throughout the country, and girls who wanted an education were constantly in danger. But Yousafzai decided when she was only nine years old that she would do whatever it took to better her status and achieve the same education that her brothers and father had received. She gave public speeches and wrote blog posts on the importance of education and over the years she became more and more committed to her goal of improving herself by getting an education. Because of this goal she was threatened by the Taliban in July 2012 for continuing to go to school, and when she ignored these threats, she was shot in the head and neck by on November 9, 2012. Even after she fully recovered more than six months later, she stayed committed to her goal and is now receiving worldwide recognition for her dedication to education. Malala Yousafzai is a prime example of someone who refused to give up on bettering herself, regardless of opposition, and she is now reaping the benefits of her dedication and commitment.
In conclusion, it is clear that bettering oneself is always beneficial, no matter where, when, or into what class one was born. Improving ones status is the key to a better and happier life, as exemplified by Malala Yousafzai, while complacence with ones status is dangerous, as shown by Xiang Wong. Throughout the world and throughout history, it is always advantageous to try to better oneself.</p>
<p>Please give input, not on any grammar issues, but overall what score you think this essay would get on a real SAT. My real issue is the timing, as I planned to use three examples in this essay but only got to two, and still had to give myself one extra minute for the conclusion. And the first example is fake, by the way, although you might be able to tell.</p>
<p>Thank you!!</p>