Self Reliance

Eli Pardue
10/08/07
AP Lang Comp
LaMags

Ralph Emerson states that self reliance is the key to success. What he means is that the key to success is believing in yourself, and working all the way to the top through your own means with minimal help or assistance from outside sources. IT takes belief in yourself and a knowledge that the potential and knowledge that is in you is also in everyone else, and that you have to use that knowledge to get ahead.

I do not think that this is all it takes to be successful. Certainly, one would utilize the skills that they have to the best of their advantage, but there is not equal opportunity for everyone in the world, which is what I disagree with Emerson about he said that all have the same amount of potential and knowledge in them, and that you must assume this too get ahead. Being that not everyone is born into the same socio-economic status, do not have opportunities to equal education or care, and therefor can have a distinct disadvantage to those around them greatly affects the way that people approach success. Sometimes it is necessary to receive help in order to get ahead, whether it be from a superior or from a peer, to get ahead in success.