Module #12 - Ambition and Drive - Karla Erdman, writer

Module #12 - Ambition and Drive

4/6/2014

Krissy Venosdale flickr.com

Ambition is a quality that is revered in life. Someone with low ambitions is looked up on as a loser of sorts. However, someone with high ambitions and personal drive is said to be motivated, successful, happy, etc.

Is this is always the case? How is this different for Macbeth? How has ambition played a part in your life so far? Where in modern society might you see ambition as a negative?

There are many questions posed above. Be sure that your response is well-organized, clear, and comprehensive. This is a larger issue, and I expect more substance (or "meat") to your response.

You will need to respond to one (1) peer's posting this week.

Alyson Picione

4/7/2014 06:41:27 am

A person who is ambitious is not always happy. People can feel weighted down by the expectations they are expected to meet to reach their goals. Someone with low ambitions is not always a loser; sometimes they have a different mindset or not as strong of a work ethic as an ambitious person. Macbeth is ambitious in his goal to become king and he even devises a plan on how to become king, but he is too much of a coward to go through with his plans without a push from Lady Macbeth. Ambition has played a role in my life throughout my school career. My parents have always wanted me to do better than they did, so they pushed me to do well in school and keep a strong work ethic. It was not always easy to live up to their expectations and it's not fun to fall short of those expectations and be criticized for it. Ambition in modern society has a negative connotation when ambitious forces people to overextend themselves to the point where they are mediocre at everything and great at nothing.

Tori McCaslin

4/8/2014 06:12:30 am

I agree with what you said about how not everyone who is ambitious is always happy. Sometimes people can have unrealistic expectations and goals. I also included in my post about how not everyone who has low ambition is a "loser." These people could have a different mind set and way of thinking about their goals before they try to accomplish them. I talked about sports ambition in my post but I'm also pressured by my parents in school. They expect so much from me and sometimes I worry that I won't live up to what they expect of me.

Mrs. Erdman link

4/10/2014 06:02:26 am

Alyson,
I like the ending of your post "forces people to overextend themselves to the point where they are mediocre at everything and great at nothing." You know I constantly tout the saying of moderation and do things in which you are passionate. For example, I like to paint. However, that does not mean that I have to start a painting club, be the president, and get an award for my efforts. I enjoy painting, so I take a class twice a year. I go in, paint, and go home. There is nothing wrong with enjoying something or being part of something and not controlling it.

Cole

4/7/2014 09:52:46 am

I don't agree with that. I know a lot of people who don't have high ambitions, but are really great people. I very good friend of mine doesn't have much ambition for anything, but he is a really good friend to me. Although in Macbeth, it is the opposite. If someone doesn't have high ambitions, they are looked down on and are considered "peasants". Much of the world was like this back then, and there are still some areas of the world that think this way; China for example. Ambition has played a very significant part in my life. It has helped me during my 4 years of high school wrestling. The ambition to win and be better than others kept me going strong in even the hardest of practices. The ambition to have a good future has also kept me going in school. I always think about how I want my future, and if I don't go to college and get a good job, it won't turn out like I want it too.

Mrs. Erdman link

4/10/2014 06:04:56 am

Okay, Cole, so I'm going to push you a bit.
So is being a good friend enough? And is this person a good friend to everyone?
How does being a good friend relate to being or not being ambitious?
Are you sure this person doesn't have ambitions that you just don't know about? Is it possible for young people to look unambitious because they are young and just "finding their way"?

Cole

4/10/2014 10:15:15 am

I think that being a good person is key to having friends which would make you the opposite of a loser. And I suppose not to everyone. Being a good friend relates to being ambitious because if you're a good friend, then that means you are trying to be a good friend which means you might go out of your way to help others sometimes which, to me, is ambitious in itself because you have to not be afraid to go out of your way. That may seem scary for unambitious people. They could possibly have hidden ambitions which makes them happy. Also, I think that is the main reason why older generations look down at our generation and think of us as unambitious because we don't know yet what inspires us and makes us happy. Growing up, the older generation might not have noticed that they were the same way. And it is worse today for teens in that aspect because we are faced with more difficulties than other generations.

Alyson

4/11/2014 03:21:39 pm

I also have friends who are second semester seniors and have no plans or goals for their future. They always are a great friend to me, but I sit there and wonder how all of the preparation of school has led them to this point of not caring. We are about to receive our first taste of adulthood and freedom, and this person is wasting it on screwing around. I think being the person that I am and always knowing exactly what I want and how to get it, I have to force myself to hold back my opinions about their lack of plans for the future. One day these people won't always have us around to push them and then what?

Alyssa Saggio

4/8/2014 03:38:17 am

I think it's a little inappropriate to say that someone who has low standards or ambitions is a loser. People who have high ambitions do not always have those ambitions for the right reasons. For example, although Macbeth had strong ambitions for becoming the Thane of Cawdor, he went about the wrong way to get there. At the same time, he was driven by his wife Lady Macbeth. Therefore, he ended up murdering Duncan to become the Thane of Cawdor; he went as far as setting up the scene of the murder to make it seem as though his own sons committed the murder. Ambition has driven me for good and bad reasons too, I suppose. But I have never killed a person. I can't imagine how I would have had the motivation to do well in school, learn and play field hockey, or even apply to colleges without having high ambition. I want to become successful by achieving the goals I have set for myself. However, I know many people who do not have high ambitions but still continue to do well in life. Depending on how a person looks at something, ambition can be seen as negative by many in modern societies. If you're highly ambitious and want to get somewhere in life, then you must also have the ability to get where you want to go. Often times, people with high ambitions do not exactly have the mindset or ability to accomplish those goals. This can happen when a person has too many high ambitions, making them unable to accomplish even one of them.

Devin Blattner

4/8/2014 08:01:51 am

Alyssa,
You made a lot of good points in your post. I highly agree with you when you say that you think it's "inappropriate to say that someone who has low standards or ambitions is a loser". Also, you made a great point when you said that even though some people have high ambitions they may not necessarily be positive ambitions. Someone could have really high ambitions to be a serial killer or drug dealer but they are still considered to have high ambitions.

Kasey Gallagher

4/10/2014 12:58:40 pm

Devin,
I think its funny that you agree with what Alyssa said about it being "inappropriate to say that someone who has low standards or ambitions is a loser" when I've heard you say that people who decide to work full time right out of school instead of going to a 4 year school are going no where in life.

Mrs. Erdman link

4/10/2014 06:08:00 am

Alyssa, [I'm pushing you as well to think deeper.]
I like your comment, "People who have high ambitions do not always have those ambitions for the right reasons."
Who decides what reasons are the "right reasons"?
Also, how does someone do well in life without high ambitions?
What is the definition (or your definition) of high compared to low ambitions?

Tori McCaslin

4/8/2014 05:11:45 am

I think that it depends on the person. Sometimes people who are very ambitious aren't always the happiest people. If they constantly have high expectations of themselves and other people, they have a higher chance of being let down if something doesn't work out. People who don’t have very high ambitions aren’t always sad or bad people. People with low ambition could be more realistic and know the possible outcomes of their actions than people who go full force at everything they do and expect the best ending. I think this is different in Macbeth because the people who don’t have high ambitions are frowned upon and aren’t considered the best people(losers). Ambition has played a big part in my life when it comes to sports. I am aware of the talent and skill level that I have so my expectations of what I can do aren’t too high. However, there are times when I need to realize that I can do better and push myself to be a better player. Sometimes pushing myself and expecting more has left me disappointed when I don’t achieve what I want, but those are great learning experiences. I think that ambition can be seen as a negative in society because it can drive people to so unrealistic that they expect things that are nearly impossible. This can cause people to act out in abnormal ways and drive themselves crazy when they don’t get what they were expecting.

Alyssa Saggio

4/9/2014 01:10:23 am

Hi Tori, I really liked your response. You took a different approach in saying that people with low ambitions are more realists than they would be losers, and I really liked that connection. I would also agree that when people try to accomplish and achieve everything or expect highly of others, they will be unhappy because if even the slightest mistake happens, they will be disappointed. Also, I have let myself down plenty of times by not achieving my goals...you aren't alone in that! While it may feel bad at the time, there's a point where people have to overcome the negative feelings when they do not accomplish a specific goal, and keep fighting for it. Although I am still guilty of that extreme let down feeling when I don't meet my own standards, I try to bounce back and do better the next time.

Mrs. Erdman link

4/10/2014 06:12:54 am

Tori,
Does ambition always need to be in excess in order for it to be fruitful? What about the saying "you can be anything"? Do you think that is true? How does ambition play a part of that?
Also, do you see a correlation between hard work and ambition? [I noticed some things you wrote in your post.]

Kasey Gallagher

4/8/2014 05:40:49 am

I don't believe that every one with a low level of ambition can't be just as happy as someone who is driven. I think that when your ambition is fueled by what other people want you to do and the expectations of society, it is harder for you to be the "motivated, happy, successful" person society wants you to be. I think that a high level of stress comes along with a high level of ambition. I think that wanting to do more takes a lot of effort. I also believe that having a low level of ambition allows you to take things as they come. That doesn't make someone a loser.
Macbeth is ambitious to become king, but his drive isn't personal. His motivation comes from pressure from Lady Macbeth. We know where Macbeth wants to end up and we know how he wants to get there, but we also know that he's unhappy with the decisions he and Lady Macbeth have made. Even though he has "drive" he isn't happy.
Ambition hasn't played a huge part in my life until this point. I've always wanted to well and be successful and happy, but I think that I have a lower level of ambition. I know what I want and how to get it, but I'm the kind of person who will take one step to get there at a time. I'm not an overachiever or highly driven to get what I want. I think that as long as I do what I have to do, I'll end up where I want to be.

Mrs. Erdman link

4/10/2014 06:16:16 am

Kasey,
What categorizes "low" ambition? Taking it one step at a time, or just sitting around waiting for things to fall in one's lap?
Does taking one's time equate to low ambition? Or is that just a person being realistic about demands, priorities, and time?

Kasey Gallagher

4/10/2014 01:07:28 pm

I think that a low level of ambition varies in meaning from person to person. I know that personally, I work hard in every thing I do and I've worked hard to be where I am today, but I'm not obsessed with the idea of my goals or the way I'll achieve them. I know that everything takes hard work but I take these steps one at a time. I think that I think realistically when it comes to demands, priorities, and time. I know that I can't take on everything I need to do all at once.

Devin Blattner

4/8/2014 07:54:38 am

In my opinion, I believe that someone with little or no ambition may at some times be different than someone with high ambitions. With that said, it doesn't mean that someone with high ambitions is always happy and their life is perfect and someone with low ambitions is always depressed and they don't have a good life. That may be the case in some people, but for the normal average person, it's not. Someone with high ambitions is always reaching for their dreams and trying to achieve them. Someone with low ambitions aren't really driven a lot to accomplish their goals or dreams. In Macbeth, the main character Macbeth could be described as a very ambitious person because of his goal to become king. He thinks of steps to achieve that goal but isn't actually ambitious enough to make it happen without the help of Lady Macbeth pressuring him.

Ambitions play a huge part in everyone's everyday life. Most young adults have ambitions such as going to college, getting a good job, getting married, etc. Everyone is different and has different levels of ambitions. In modern society people may have negative ambitions. Some negative ambitions may be murder, theft, drug use, or some type of illegal action which could result in a very negative consequence.

Mrs. Erdman link

4/10/2014 06:18:26 am

Devin,
I really like your statement, "Someone with low ambitions aren't really driven a lot to accomplish their goals or dreams." This I think gets to the heart of the idea of ambition.
Now, let's analyze the word "driven". Is being "driven" a negative? Can someone be "driven", but also want to take his/her time to realize a dream?

Cole

4/10/2014 10:22:03 am

I agree with what you said about that not being the case with the average person. Some people have high ambitions, but those high ambitions turn out to be their worst enemy, which in could make them depressed. Also, that was a really good reference to the story. I didn't think of that when I was writing my response, but it is so true. He wants to be king, but he doesn't want to do what it takes to become the king.

Brian Burke

4/8/2014 08:56:47 am

Ambition is what pushes a person into doing something. I cannot see that as a negative effect in most matters. No matter the person, ambition drives that individual to gain what they want. And if a person has ambition to gain what they want or what makes them happy, I believe it is a positive effect. Ambition for me is the driving power that gets me through tough times. As long as I have a goal, I will do whatever I can to achieve it. Ambition keeps my eye on the prize and pushes me to exceed. In Macbeths case, his ambition is the royal life ahead of himself. If Macbeth were to be successful, he would have nearly everything he has ever wanted. If you were given the chance to have anything you wanted by doing an inhumane task, would you? Depending on your ambition and how much you are willing to do to achieve your goals will decide how to answer to that. Society today in my opinion, has no ambition. People settle for what they are told and there no questions. On the negative side, ambition has played a huge effect in the world today. Although people may have their different view on political members, it is clearly shown how ambition effects man. It's not about their jobs or making society a better place. It's their greedy ambition that drives these people. Ambition to gain wealth and power. And unfortunately for society today, wealth and power is the illusion of happiness and success.

Alyssa Saggio

4/9/2014 01:02:26 am

Personally, I do not think I could ever commit an inhumane task to achieve a goal. When I think of something inhumane, I think long the lines of torture, animal cruelty, and even murder. While my ambitions are high, I don't think I could do something like that at all. Therefore, I don't think it's okay for you to insinuate that if a person's ambitions are hight enough, they will go to extremes by committing an inhumane act just to achieve a goal. I'm sure you yourself have wanted something badly enough to achieve that goal without do something inhumane. So I guess depending on what you mean when you say "inhumane task," people can interpret your post in different ways. In addition, I can see why you states that people in modern society have "no ambition." But, I'm not sure what you mean by that. I tried to link the fact that this generation of people are very lazy to that statement. However, I feel as though you may have contradicted yourself; this is because you then when on to say that people can have "greedy ambitions" even though you stated people have no ambitions. Maybe you meant that "society in today's world do not have the right ambitions"?

Mrs. Erdman link

4/10/2014 06:21:36 am

Brian,
Wow! You have some really meaty comments in this post.
Let's focus on this one: "Society today in my opinion, has no ambition. People settle for what they are told and there no questions."
This is a very forceful statement about society. Why do you think this is the case? How has ambition been tamped down in society so much that even young people like you are already jaded by the idea?

Comments are closed.

Module #12 - Ambition and Drive

Mrs. Erdman

Archives

Categories

Writer

Proudly Powered