Respect as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary is stated as “a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something, elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.” Respect is something you cannot teach through words, it is something you earn. After reading Wes Moore’s The Other Wes Moore I believe that success or failure in life is not a result of where you grow up, the education you receive or even the genes you are born with. Success in life comes from instilling virtuous qualities from those you respect and exemplifying them in your own life. To live a successful life is to live a life that is meaningful, meaning that it mattered you ever walked this earth. The Other Wes Moore illustrates why people are successes and failures
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In essence through this novel I see that the success or failure of a man isn’t what he has or what he does, but rather that he lives a life of meaning, a life from which derives from the qualities those you respect implant in you. You can argue both Wes’ were told which path to take and had an equal opportunity to get there, however it was whom they appreciated and idolized that set them down different roads. From a young age the other Wes’ mother was negligent and often too involved in her own life to be involved in her sons’. The other Wes’ side of the story begins with him being sent to his grandmothers so his mother could go out to the club to blow off steam after finding out she’d recently lost her job. With his mother being so young, having no father in the home, as well as providing little guidance the other Wes’ never truly respected his mother, he often bypassed her words with little to no thought. He frequently turned to his brother Tony for advice and guidance through his development. Tony earned the respect of Wes by protecting him and looking out for …show more content…
Without my mother or in a situation, I don’t know where I see myself, but I know that all my accomplishments and all I stand for are a product of her example. Success and failure in many aspects are often ambiguous, a successful grade for some may be a failure for another. You may lose a football game, but a coach it may be a success because he found a new play that works or that his team is better than he thought. In life, however being successful is simple and is touched upon by Colonel Murphy towards the end of the novel, he says “When it is time for you to leave this school, leave your job, or even leave this earth, make sure you have worked hard to make sure it mattered you were even here” (Moore 2011:133). In essence, a meaningful life is a successful one; we can defy the other Wes’ life as a failure, for it is meaningless. The author Wes, however made a difference, and his impacts are felt, he was a decorated Army vet, scholar, and successful businessman. Wes made something of his
In essence through this novel I see that the success or failure of a man isn’t what he has or what he does, but rather that he lives a life of meaning, a life from which derives from the qualities those you respect implant in you. You can argue both Wes’ were told which path to take and had an equal opportunity to get there, however it was whom they appreciated and idolized that set them down different roads. From a young age the other Wes’ mother was negligent and often too involved in her own life to be involved in her sons’. The other Wes’ side of the story begins with him being sent to his grandmothers so his mother could go out to the club to blow off steam after finding out she’d recently lost her job. With his mother being so young, having no father in the home, as well as providing little guidance the other Wes’ never truly respected his mother, he often bypassed her words with little to no thought. He frequently turned to his brother Tony for advice and guidance through his development. Tony earned the respect of Wes by protecting him and looking out for …show more content…
Without my mother or in a situation, I don’t know where I see myself, but I know that all my accomplishments and all I stand for are a product of her example. Success and failure in many aspects are often ambiguous, a successful grade for some may be a failure for another. You may lose a football game, but a coach it may be a success because he found a new play that works or that his team is better than he thought. In life, however being successful is simple and is touched upon by Colonel Murphy towards the end of the novel, he says “When it is time for you to leave this school, leave your job, or even leave this earth, make sure you have worked hard to make sure it mattered you were even here” (Moore 2011:133). In essence, a meaningful life is a successful one; we can defy the other Wes’ life as a failure, for it is meaningless. The author Wes, however made a difference, and his impacts are felt, he was a decorated Army vet, scholar, and successful businessman. Wes made something of his