Russell Wayne Baker was born on August 14th 1925 in Virginia, USA. He is an American writer winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1982 for his autobiography “Growing up”. Apart from being a writer, he was a columnist for the New York Times from 1962 to 1998. He is perhaps better known for introducing the TV program “Master Piece Theater” from the PBS Network.
From his autobiographic story “Growing up”, the excerpt tittle “No Gumption” presents the main idea that:
<u>Trying and trying until you get it right might not be the best attitude for every situation. There are occasions where there is no point in exhausting ourselves into pursuing something that we do not like, have interest in, or have the talent for. It is true that being an easy quitter is never good, but there are times when the best you can do is redirecting your efforts to better causes. There are things for which we are done and there things for which we are not. The key to success is identifying what we are done for.</u>
The sentence from the passage that best exemplifies the previously presented main idea is:
<em>“My mother finally concluded that I would never make something of myself by pursuing a life in business and started considering careers that demanded less competitive zeal.”</em>
<u>When the mother realizes that her son has tried and tried really hard to make things work with the business world and failed, she starts to acknowledge that her son might not be done for selling and that maybe there is something else he can pursue and succeed in. </u>
If I were George Washington, and I saw the corporal refuse to help his men, I’d be filled with such rage and sadness. It would overcome my ability to stay put. The amount of disappointment I’d feel in those moments would nearly rip my heart out my chest. The corporals refusal to help his men had mentally abused me in every way. I am no longer George Washington, but a victim of mental abuse. It is within my reach and my power to overcome said abuse, but in all reality, am I ready to? Am I ready to overstep the lines and overcome the inability to feel happiness? Am I ready to step out of my comfort zone and step up for myself? I’m not sure. At this point, I do not control my life. I am nothing but a character in your story book. It is ultimately your decision wether you would like to keep reading or not. Ever since corporal has refused to help his men, my anger has filled skies, my tears have filled empty oceans, and my fear has brought back the dead. Viewing my life in an outsiders perspective, I see how much of a monster I’ve become. I’m watching my life fall apart right before my eyes. Me, being silly old George Washington, cannot do anything about it. My life is crumbling before my very eyes without a singular blink. Although, you may think I am overreacting, I am not. Everyday decisions impact everyday decisions. Watching corporal refuse to help his men, just proved my very point. There is no justice in this cruel world. All we can find is pain, misery, and ache. All we feel is sadness, disappointment, and anger.
If I were George Washington, and I saw the corporal refuse to help his men, I’d be filled with such rage and sadness.
-Hannah (fake name)
Have a good day!
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