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goals—people who do not want wealth-based success and have no interest
in making loads of money. These people have two options: retreat into
obscurity—maybe by building a cabin near a pond—or revolt against society,
working to replace both the means and goals with ones they see as
more worthy. The members of these factions reject society for what it is
and go on their own path.
I believe that respect should be laid at the feet of the retreatants
and the rebellious, the ones who accept neither the means nor the goals
of the world and decide to withdraw from or change society as they see
fit. Like the criminals, they are breaking free of a mold, they’re living their
own lives. But they’re not hurting people, and they aren’t doing it for the
money; they are acting as they are because it’s what they want—what others
want be damned.
~~~
A required class all students had to take in order to graduate from
Don Bosco Catholic High School (population 95) was speech. Rather than
wait till senior year, my friends and I decided to get it out of the way as
sophomores. The class had four main assignments: the first speech required
us to dissect the meaning behind our favorite song (not an easy
task with “Hotel California” I might add). The second was a how-to
speech on something we enjoy doing (play guitar). Neither one was spectacular,
but I got an A in both. The last two speeches, however, will remain
lodged in my brain for the rest of my life. The third was to be about
something important to us, and the final speech required us to interview
someone about any topic we chose.
For the former, I preached about what travelling meant to me; I
talked about how family vacations riding around the country—making
memories and seeing everything the U.S. has to offer— were some of the
best experiences of my life. I could honestly say, and still can, that our
family summer vacations growing up gave me direction.
For the latter, I interviewed my sister Olivia’s boyfriend, Nate,
about his choice to not go to a four year college out of high school.
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