Organization
Abstract
The battle of grades as opposed to the battle of wits has always been an intriguing topic for the modern man. There are many people who possess the remarkable skill of attaining their objectives with the help of practical learning and experiences. Patrick Goldstein’s essay, “Tiger Mom vs. Tiger Mailroom”, talks about few of these talented people who made their fortunes on the basis of their skills and abilities despite their seemingly unfavorable academic statuses.
Thesis Statement: The practical implementation of a person’s ideologies is what plays the most important role in today’s fast paced world. And these are the people who defy the notion that college degrees are the only keys to a successful life.
In this essay, Goldstein reflects upon the practical methods implemented by various successful people in order to defy the preconceived notions and the overrated importance attributed to a formal education. The author opines that there are many factors which decide a person’s success or failure, and a college degree is not always one of them. He validates his opinions by taking the examples of people, mostly young and successful businesspersons, who have proved their mettle in the real world without the help, or rather the perk, of a college degree. To further justify his claims, the author also reflects upon the qualities which people posses, especially in the field of movies. Goldstein contends that there are many people, who have achieved fame and glory, not to mention the worldly riches that come along with it, in the world of Hollywood and if we were to consider taking a look at their resume, we would not find the credentials of a reputed college in that particular document. At times, they do not even feel the need of having a resume at the first place. This defiance of having a sheet of paper to document one’s academic abilities speaks volumes about the kind of zeal these men harbor and work upon in order to attain their coveted stature.
Evaluation of the essay: The usage of logos, pathos and ethos
Goldstein, in his essay, reflects upon many concepts which are quite modern and arguably intriguing. In order to justify his claims, the author has given appropriate examples for each observation. First, Goldstein contends that it is quite an inappropriate way of parenting when all that matters to the parents is the degree that they expect their child to earn. Most parents seldom realize the true potential of their child and base their expectations on the grades that the child would earn right after he or she is admitted to an educational institution. In order to prove them wrong, the author takes the example of Mark Zuckerberg, who has amazed the world with his social networking platform, and who happens to be a college dropout. The author argues that if a person like Zuckerberg, without a formal degree, can possibly become one of the most successful men on earth, then it would not be incorrect to state that the formal degrees are not that important after all.
Second, the author also makes use of appropriate ethos to prove his point when he says that at times all you need to attain success in life is the “do-it-yourself” attitude. He gives the example of Ron Meyer, the president of Universal Studios, who once led a tough life working as a messenger boy. Goldstein opines that if a person has the will to succeed, then there are no forces in the world that can stop him from attaining that. The hardships of life cannot be avoided, but can certainly be dealt with if only a person has faith in his own abilities and is perseverant.
Third, the usage of ethos in this essay comes from the fact that the author has not only taken the examples of famous people but has also included their opinions and quotes. For instance, the essay includes the words of Ron Meyer when he says “The truth is that if you have a particular talent and the will to succeed, you don’t really need a great education.” (Goldstein 273). Considering the fact that these words come from a self-made man, there is no doubt about the credibility of his judgment and opinions.
Response:
I agree with Goldstein when he contends that a formal education is not always a prerequisite for success. The reason why I agree with the author is because what he is trying to prove in this essay is already visible, and has been proved to be true, by the likes of Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates whom the world knows as rich, powerful and influential men without the much coveted college degrees.
Conclusion:
In this world of competition, it is often considered to be inappropriate to explain one’s refusal of a formal education. The concept becomes even more intriguing when such people, who decide to write their own story and make their own lives, succeed in attaining their goals. They mock the so called educated society with their talent and their denial to contain their abilities in some sheets of paper. And this is something truly worth contemplating as it would only encourage people to come of their shells and “do-it-themselves”.
Reference:
- Goldstein, Patrick. "Tiger Mom vs. Tiger Mailroom." Times, February 6, 2011. 2014: Print.
