Transcendentalism Essay

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” Dr. Seuss

Almost every day, I have felt pressure to conform to society’s expectations. This pressure takes on various forms but almost always tries to cover up individuality. There seems to be a mounting pressure to become a different person, who other people believe to be “better.” We find ourselves swayed by the media, and with the pace of our world, don’t seem to have enough time to fully comprehend what we are seeing. People constantly hurry through life as if it is a race, never pausing to consider who they truly are and how they can achieve their full potential. They hurry by, without taking the time to reflect on the glory that surrounds them. Transcendentalism is about finding oneself,

It begins at a young age. Toddlers are told that they cannot touch the hot stove. Kids are instructed to not stay up past their bedtime. These instructions are all coming from adults, often in the form of parents. While some of these directions make sense, others, particularly those which deal with one’s abilities, serve no purpose but to tear down uniqueness. In his book entitled “Walden,” Henry David Thoreau declares, “What old people say you cannot do you try and find that you can.” Whenever I am told that I can’t do a task, my first instinct is to say “watch me.” I am stubborn and I don’t like to be told that I cannot do something. What hurts me more, however, is to be told that I am not capable of accomplishing one of my goals. One instance that sticks in my mind took place in middle school track. Within the first week of practice, my coach told me that I wasn’t strong enough to be a distance runner. This cut me deep but I decided that instead of being disappointed, I would do whatever it took to prove that coach wrong. With the awards I hold today, I feel that I can justifiably say that I am a very strong distance runner. I refuse to let what someone else says about me dictate what I say about myself. Only I know what I am capable of, no one