In Malcolm Gladwell's mind opening book, Outliers, he is able to inform the reader about what society has come to think of success, and what it takes to be successful. Starting from part one titled, The Matthew Effect, Gladwell explains the “meritocracy”(14) of Canadian hockey, where boys initiate “before they are even in kindergarten”(14) and they have the opportunity of joining a league for their age group. These boys are trained and examined to determine whether or not they are apt to play, those who are fit to play hockey move on to the next level and those who are not, get kicked out. This is the way it is seen for most sports, however, is ability actually the way these players are being judged? The real explanation on who gets to be a successful hockey player was found by a Canadian Psychologist, Roger Barnsley. He had found that, “the very best of the best- 40 percent of them will have been born between January and March”(23). Gladwell later discusses how the same thing occurs in Czech’s National Junior soccer team and education! Economists Kelly Bedard and Elizabeth Dhuey had investigated that if two students, one older and one younger in the same grade, were to take a test, the older student would score higher than the younger, leading the older student to be eligible for a gifted program. Capacity should not be determined by age or by the month one was born in. Society has deceived us into believing that success comes along with those work hard and have fought hard to achieve their goals. I chose to talk about this part because it blew my mind, Gladwell was able to show me the unfairness of what is perceived as success. I am unable to grasp why its so hard for society to create an equal balance for everyone, why can't everyone benefit from the different opportunities that are given? Looking over my life I have tried to accept and take any opportunity given to me because I am the minority. I am constantly stressing over my future and by reading Outliers, I realize that this generation needs to work hard to change the way success is seen.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
What It Actually Means To Be Successful
In Malcolm Gladwell's mind opening book, Outliers, he is able to inform the reader about what society has come to think of success, and what it takes to be successful. Starting from part one titled, The Matthew Effect, Gladwell explains the “meritocracy”(14) of Canadian hockey, where boys initiate “before they are even in kindergarten”(14) and they have the opportunity of joining a league for their age group. These boys are trained and examined to determine whether or not they are apt to play, those who are fit to play hockey move on to the next level and those who are not, get kicked out. This is the way it is seen for most sports, however, is ability actually the way these players are being judged? The real explanation on who gets to be a successful hockey player was found by a Canadian Psychologist, Roger Barnsley. He had found that, “the very best of the best- 40 percent of them will have been born between January and March”(23). Gladwell later discusses how the same thing occurs in Czech’s National Junior soccer team and education! Economists Kelly Bedard and Elizabeth Dhuey had investigated that if two students, one older and one younger in the same grade, were to take a test, the older student would score higher than the younger, leading the older student to be eligible for a gifted program. Capacity should not be determined by age or by the month one was born in. Society has deceived us into believing that success comes along with those work hard and have fought hard to achieve their goals. I chose to talk about this part because it blew my mind, Gladwell was able to show me the unfairness of what is perceived as success. I am unable to grasp why its so hard for society to create an equal balance for everyone, why can't everyone benefit from the different opportunities that are given? Looking over my life I have tried to accept and take any opportunity given to me because I am the minority. I am constantly stressing over my future and by reading Outliers, I realize that this generation needs to work hard to change the way success is seen.
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I have to say, this part of the book blew my mind as well. It made me evaluate how one achieves success and the advantages that they could have. I was upset when I read this, because one should not have an advantage due to when and where they were born. One should have an advantage due to their school and the effort made to make it to the top. The fact that many boys born half the year are unaccounted for was astonishing to know.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Milena, because society really doesn't create an equal balance for everyone. Only the highest scoring people and most fortunate tend to end up living their dreams and being successful. I also see how it is so unfair and ludicrous it is that your birthday month can define your success and whether or not you can live your dreams. I keep thinking how if someone born in say, September wanted to play hockey and has work really hard, but are told that they can't because of their birthday and how the system and society is structured, it's just unfair.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Milena, because society really doesn't create an equal balance for everyone. Only the highest scoring people and most fortunate tend to end up living their dreams and being successful. I also see how it is so unfair and ludicrous it is that your birthday month can define your success and whether or not you can live your dreams. I keep thinking how if someone born in say, September wanted to play hockey and has work really hard, but are told that they can't because of their birthday and how the system and society is structured, it's just unfair.
ReplyDeleteThe opening chapter had astonished me as success was not necessarily about who worked the hardest or longest anymore but rather who's given the opportunities to succeed and become someone big. As presented in the book it signifies there will be many people (in this case hockey players) who will miss out on success simply because they were not given the opportunity to succeed. In the case of the hockey players it was age, and in the case of the soccer players it was also age meaning opportunities were lost. In the case of students, those who were the oldest typically did better in the test then those who were the youngest which give the older student the advantage. This isn't because he/she smarter then the other but rather matured (for they are older) meaning the opportunity are lost for the younger children leaving them in a huge disadvantage in a competitive world.
ReplyDeleteThe statement that you make which is stuck in my head is when you said "Looking over my life I have tried to accept and take any opportunity given to me because I am the minority". Personally, I really do not want opportunities because I am a minority. I would like opportunities because I deserve them and because I've worked hard for them. Not because of my race or culture. This applies to my view on college admission. I do not want a college to accept me because they pity me or because I am a minority. I rather them accept me because they feel like I am an asset and would contribute to the success and reputation of the school. I do agree with you that this generation needs to work harder for success. As this world is evolving, this generation and future generations need to work to develop new and innovative ways to survive.
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