I don’t think the question is whether or not good should be rewarded while evil should be punished, but it’s how we as a society can’t expect anyone to behave well if there is no reward. Is it reasonable to assume that people would not do bad things if they weren’t going to be punished? No. That is why from a young age some kids will be taught that when they do a chore, they’ll get an allowance or when they do good on a test, they’ll get a prize. By creating a positive outcome through doing “good” things it encourages one to want to continue to do so. Whereas punishing “bad” actions motivates people to avoid repeating those behaviors. But that also brings in the point that there is no distinct universal definition of good or bad or in better terms those definitions change in small ways from person to person. So yes, generally morally correct things like treating people with kindness should be rewarded so people can choose to use things like compassion and selflessness towards others more often than not, but there isn’t always going to be a reward for choosing the “good” thing so people will have to learn to do so by their own accord. People also get away with doing bad things without being punished all the time, and because they don’t reap any consequences, they continue to do bad things. That is why the criminal justice system is in place to begin with, by instilling fear of being punished most people will avoid breaking the law. But that doesn’t mean people don’t find ways around it. It is more of a comfort thing to believe that by doing good, good will come back, and that karma exists for people who do bad things. That’s all it is though, a comfort thing, because if the world truly worked like that a lot less a lot less evil action would persist. Good should be rewarded but it can’t always be, so it is better to choose it because of one’s own moral fulfillment not because they expect something.

I’d like to say that I justify my fortune by working hard for it and truly deserving it, but that would be somewhat delusional for me to claim. Yes, I do dedicate myself to achieving my goals and sacrificing time to get things done, but that doesn’t mean more factors aren’t involved in my good fortune. I am aware that things like luck and privilege are heavy components of a positive outcome. However, being aware that I can’t just rely on my own commitment to success is an uncomfortable realization. What’s the point of even putting in hard work if you can’t control the luck that heavily decides the outcome? That is why so many people believe in the American dream and the meritocracy because it is so scary to think about how much is out of one’s control. It is comforting to believe that if you work hard, you can achieve anything but it’s not entirely true. A lot of this luck can be seen in the college process. You can work just as hard as someone else to get into a specific school, but schools don’t accept you based on the hard work they can’t see. However, being aware of how much luck has to do with good fortune doesn’t mean one should stop trying entirely. It is still necessary to put in effort towards a goal because it does increase the chances of success. It is important to realize that just because you work as hard as someone else doesn’t mean you will reach the same outcome. So don’t look down on others who don’t succeed where you do and it’s not fair for them to do the same. So, no, I don’t justify my good fortune. I try my best and hope that I am lucky enough for it to aid in my success.

People should act ethically simply because it aligns with their personal moral fulfillment not because of what they expect out of it. It is alarming to think that the only reason someone would choose to do good is out of fear of what would happen if they didn’t. So, people should choose good simply because they want to. Being kind to others should feel good without a reward, one can build stronger relationships and a better community by being nice out of the kindness of their heart. If everyone was choosing to act a certain way because of what they would gain no true good would ever occur. If one could build the belief system that doing good is the first instinct, then the world would be a much more positive and lighter place. If choosing to act ethically made one feel fulfilled on their own, then fewer negative actions would be taken. However, if people could be punished by choosing to follow an ethical standpoint, then there is a high chance that they would abandon trying to act good at all. That is why choosing to be good because it is what you believe in is stronger than choosing to be good based on how it will and won’t benefit you.

God allows the Satan to punish Job as a test of his faith in God. God didn’t permit punishment towards Job because he had done any wrong, in fact, Job in a lot of ways had done right since God saw him fit enough to withstand punishment and remain faithful. Though of course Job was not aware of this he just had to trust in God and that there was some form of justification for what was occurring, because if there wasn’t then what he believed in would be a lie. The “Book of Job” goes against the idea that doing good leads to reward and doing bad leads to punishment, as God’s way goes beyond human understanding. Job was punished because God needed him to show unwavering faith and then God rewarded Job in the end for being able to face so much struggle and loss and not curse God’s name. However, although Job technically got back double what he lost it still seems unfair that he had to face so many hardships that he did nothing to deserve. But this is because God’s way is not based on fairness, God is a divine and omnipotent being meaning he does not need to justify his actions in any way. Job was used by God to prove a point; Job’s purpose was beyond human comprehension and leads one to question whether or not it is worth choosing to do good over evil as following that path doesn’t necessarily mean good is bound to come back in return.

A. The poem, “Eden is that old-fashioned House” by Emily Dickinson explores themes of leaving something behind and how you do not truly miss something until it is gone. It also focuses on the loss of innocence as time passes. These themes connect back to the story of Adam and Eve. As Adam and Eve are kicked out from Eden they are forced into a world of pain and sin. Once they had eaten the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they had disobeyed God but also gained knowledge in which they could never return, causing them to lose the innocence they once had, “and the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” (3). Adam and Eve were now aware of shame and wrongdoing no longer living in an ignorantly blissful existence. In Dickinson’s poem she starts by saying, “Eden is that old-fashioned House” which meant that a place that one no longer lives in and has drove away from is now what one would consider their paradise, they just hadn’t realized that it was paradise in the moment. Adam and Eve had not realized the weight that would come with wisdom, the serpent had tricked Eve into eating from the tree by telling Eve, “[her] eyes shall be opened” which in the moment must have made it seem as though gaining knowledge was something one should aspire to do. But this addition of knowledge would get Adam and Eve kicked out from the garden of Eden (literal paradise) and Adam and Eve will never know what it is like to not be unaware of evil again. Just like in Dickinson’s poem, once one leaves a place behind, they realize how special it truly was, but they can never go back. Adam and Eve can never go back to paradise and because of that they can realize how peaceful their existence could have been but will never be.

B. it is bizarre to think about how this is my last few months being a full-time resident in my current home, going to my town’s high school, and being only a few minutes’ drive away from all of my closest friends. In just a few months these luxuries will all be gone. I’ll be surrounded by new people and strange places and have a sense of independence that I have never experienced before. Despite all of these facts I have never been more excited to grow, I am eager to see what is out there and what new things the world has to offer. However, as I am finding myself looking forward to the future, I know that I will miss so much of the past, my now present. Adam and Eve had been living in paradise blissfully unaware that evil existed. They were sheltered from shame and didn’t even know how lucky they were. I would be a fool to take the comfortability and familiarity I have now for granted, because it is only once I leave my home behind that all the things I can never return to will truly be missed. Once I graduate high school there is no going back, no freezing time, I have always been on a path of continually getting older, in this moment, I am the youngest I’ll ever be and the oldest I’ve ever been. When I graduate, I will be so close to being an adult, which is why right now I must take advantage of all the privileges I have being a child in a place with people I know and streets I can navigate with ease. Although, this isn’t my first time leaving a place behind. I spent the first seven years of my life growing up in Startford in a house that I remember with a probably ignorantly large amount of fondness. I think back on that home and how much fun it was to grow up there with my sisters, so much laughter shared, so many memories created. Whenever I am in Stratford now, I drive by that home and remember what it was to truly be a child, and the nostalgia is overwhelming, so I can’t imagine leaving the home I am in now. A decade of my life has been spent growing here and soon I will accept that it has to be left behind, that I will have to endure adult responsibilities and face challenges in a place that I am not familiar with. So, as I prepare to accept change, I become extremely grateful for the home and people that I have in my life now. Unlike Adam and Eve, I am aware that these things are not permeant and that nothing last forever, so with this knowledge I will make sure to make the most of the time I have left as a teenager.

C. I guess the thing that I am afraid will change when I get back from college is the people in my life now. I am afraid that my family and friends will have grown so much that I barely know who they are anymore. Growing apart is not necessarily a bad thing and is completely healthy, but I just hope that the connections I’ve made in the past seventeen years of my life won’t be completely ruined by time apart. It is unnerving to think that I could come home, and it would feel completely empty because the people that mattered most to me when I grew up here are disconnected from me. Although I fear this, I don’t entirely believe that it is possible that some of the friends I’ve made now, and my family, will ever fully be gone. I suppose I also fear that I will change into a person that who I am now wouldn’t like, but because I am aware that is a possibility I will try my hardest to be someone that all versions of myself can be proud of. Change is inevitable so I would rather embrace it instead of fear it, I just hope that I will grow with grace and continue to have some of my favorite people always a part of me no matter where life takes me.

Growing older comes with a lot of fear and a lot of responsibility. Every year, especially leading up to today where I am senior in high school applying to college, it seems as though the stakes become higher and higher. I am on the cusp of being an adult and facing all the challenges that come with growth. But it’s not like I’ve never delt with the fear of change before, transitioning to new sports teams, moving to new schools, and meeting new friends while drifting from old ones are not new concepts for me. As I become anxious for a future I can never predict, advice from my mother reminds me that it will all be ok. My mom is someone who has great faith in the universe and likes to be in touch with her spirituality and whenever fear of change starts to worry me, she tells me that, “Everything happens the way it’ supposed to”. It can be hard to believe in this notion when things seem to be going terribly wrong, but even through mistakes, bad grades, and tough loses I would never change a thing because every struggle has helped me become the person I am today. I have learned more from trying and failing then I ever could if I always succeeded. As I am writing this blog, I am coming off of losing one of the biggest soccer games of my life, the majority of my youth has been spent playing soccer and, in some way, leading up to the moment where I could use my skill to win something as big as the SCC championship. So, what possible reason could there be for losing that game especially when we were so close to winning? The simple answer is it wasn’t meant to be, and although losing is not at all what we desired, the character that my team showed, and the resilience portrayed is an outcome I wouldn’t change for the world.

The first time I truly heard and absorbed my mom’s advice was when I was eleven years old. As a preteen full of anxiety and insecurity it seemed as if the world was against me. I had finally decided I wanted to take the next step with my soccer career and join a club team which was a huge commitment. There were two big programs in my area. I desired to go to the same one my best friend and next-door neighbor would be trying out for. We both went to the try out and I was so consumed by fear that it seemed I forget anything and everything I knew about soccer. As I awaited the response from that team I tried out for a different one. I knew no one on this new team and had no clue if they were any good. Again, I was so scared but also so determined as I loved soccer and only wanted to get better. When I finally heard back from the teams, I hadn’t made the first one where my best friend would be playing. I was feeling down and hurt and wished that I was a different person and a better player, but my mom, even though she hated seeing me upset, didn’t seem half as worried. She looked at me with love and care and told me that “Everything happens that way it’s supposed too.” and gave me a hug. In the moment I wanted to believe her, but I just couldn’t trust that something that hurt me so bad could ever lead to anything good. It turns out that I had been invited to play with the second team I tried out for. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t very good at the time, but I was only eleven. I started the team as a bench warmer but as the weeks and months progressed, I got better and better. I worked my way onto a starting spot, became more athletic, and earned the respect of my teammates. As years continued to go by, I stayed with this team and met some of my best friends in the entire world and my love of soccer and my skill grew to heights I never knew it could. Six years have gone by and I’m still on that team, the team I knew no one on and knew nothing about became one of favorite places on earth. I sometimes reflect on what would happen to me had I made the team I initially wanted to be on, I knew many girls to have gone through that program and hated it and stopped playing soccer altogether and because of that I feel protected as I don’t believe I would be half the player or even person I am today had I not ended up at the second team I tried out for. After six years of playing club soccer for them it helps me realize that everything truly does happen for a reason, even though in the moment the rejection eleven-year-old me felt was seemly inescapable, the joy that I feel now at seventeen overcompensates for the pain younger me went through. It is almost serial to be able to look back at a moment in time when things seemed to be going wrong and realize that I needed to fail in order to end up where I was supposed to be, and that’s the beauty of the universe and trusting in it, that’s coming to the realization that, yeah, maybe everything does happen the way it’s supposed too.

Now the idea that everything happens for a reason isn’t just a concept that my mother made up, as trusting in the universe is something that has been rooted in humanity for a long time. It can translate in many different religions as it is essentially faith in God and as some people put it, Gods plan. Without faith humans would feel as though any hope they felt for a positive future was fruitless. Faith is a base of all human function and for me that faith means believing whatever path I choose is the “right one”. As college decisions are coming up it is hard to not feel anxious about making the “wrong choice”, but because of my faith and my trust I know that whatever happens, I will end where I’m supposed to be. The future is one great mystery but at the end of the day were all headed towards an inevitable end so I might as well go through this world with hope instead of doubt and regret. I won’t let my fear of the future take me away from living in the moment and trusting in the universe.

Figuring out whether a life has value does not have one constricting and defining answer. Some may see a person’s life as valuable based on what they have contributed to society. Others will say it is based on the joy and happiness that they bring to others and themselves. I personally like to view value in every life as I follow the belief that everything happens for a reason and each person was placed on this Earth with importance whether they are able to see it or not. So for me there is no deciding whether a life is valuable or not, the value is proved simply by one’s existence. This means that each person’s life purpose should not be to make their life have value but to create a positive impact and use the value they already have to make connections and help others to the best of their ability. 

For my five things I want to have possessed or experienced by the end of my life I chose travel the world, fall in love, lifelong friendships, peace, and to never stop learning. To me these five things would mean I have lived a fulfilling life that I am proud of.

Travel the world –  Traveling the world is important to me because while I’m on Earth I want to be able to see all the incredible sights and cultures it has to offer. There are so many different places and people that exist that I feel it would be a waste to not try and absorb as much as I can. traveling is so important to humanity. For many years it wasn’t possible for humans to be able to travel and even have knowledge about the other places and people that existed. Today there are so many tools to explore other areas and by doing so we can become more understanding of other people’s backgrounds and become aware of the beauty and diversity of the world.

Falling in love – Falling in love is important to me as love is one of the greatest connections humans are capable of.  I want one day to be able to find a person who I can have full confidence and trust in and be certain in my decision that they are the right person for me. I hope to one day be able to have a fulfilling marriage and to feel comfortable but never bored. Falling in love is a root of all humanity and is a deep emotional connections one can have with another. Connection is what makes humanity humane and what makes a group of people a community. Love is a foundation of support and adoration for another person and humans need it in order to fulfill deeper connections. 

Lifelong friendships –   I have already made so many wonderful and valuable friendships that I hope to keep for the rest of my life. I know it’s not a bad thing for friends to come and go as we grow and change but some friendships can withstand all different stages of life and I feel I have friends that no amount of change could ever destroy. Having friendships that can withstand time is of incredible value to humanity because connection with others is what makes life worth living and having someone who knows who you’ve been and how you’ve grown is a level of understanding and support that is so important to have. Lasting friendship is stability in a world that is always changing.

Peace –  There is so much stress and insecurity that surrounds life especially as a teenager and by the time I die I hope I have achieved peace with myself and the world around me. It is hard for me to feel ok with letting things just be and to not try and control the uncontrollable. Peace is a hard thing to obtain and I hope one day I am wise enough to truly have it. I want to be able to say that I am at peace with who I am. Peace is valuable to humanity because it allows stability and when stability is achieved prosperity is also achievable. When one finally reaches a state of peace within themselves they are able to fully help others and be confident in who they are and what they are capable of changing which is what has allowed humanity to grow positively. 

Never stop learning –  knowledge is something nobody can have all of. I hope to never be naïve enough to believe that I truly have learned everything. Learning comes in many forms, I have so much more to learn about myself, others, and the way the world works and I will never fully stop trying to learn about all the mysteries that surround me. learning is the foundation of humanity’s capabilities. By learning we unlock knowledge and knowledge is the key to understanding how and why things happen. By learning, humans are developing the world around them and opening themselves up to new found wisdom and positive change.

I want to be remembered as someone who was kind, determined, and selfless. I want people to say that I never gave up and that I was a hard worker. I want them to say that I chose to be kind and help others especially when they needed it. I want to be selfless and realize that putting others first will always fulfill me more than being selfish ever could. I am far from being able to say I exhibit all of these qualities all the time but I try my best and will continue to try my best to be the person I wish to be remembered as. It is more important for me to be remembered as a “good” person rather than someone who received a lot of awards or made a lot of money because what is truly valuable to myself and humanity is the light I can help create in the world.

The quotation “There is no permanence.”(106) is essentially saying that everything in the world is subject to change and nothing ever stays the same. Humans are constantly growing and developing and this growth leads to an inevitable death, no stage in life is permanent because humans are on a path that is constantly in motion. Gilgamesh had attempted to cheat death, but Utnapishtim (who had gained eternal life) had obtained wisdom about the meaning of permanence and that there truly is none. 

Even though nothing ever stays the same this does not mean that humans should not care about anything. Life is about the smaller moments and the connections humans can make with one another. It is important to look past the notion of an inevitable end and focus on the now. If one is constantly fixated on the fact that all humans will be gone someday, it makes it difficult to put any effort and motivation into everyday life. 

When Gilgamesh witnessed Enkidu’s death he panicked as he was, “afraid of death,”(97) and then decided to search for Utnapishtim and everlasting life. This mission would instead lead Gilgamesh to learn a lesson far more valuable than immortality. He became enlightened to the importance of being mortal. He realized that in order to make a meaningful impact on the world he did not need to live forever but instead needed to positively change the world he was living in now, for then his legacy could be immortal. Giligamesh’s journey is one of great significance for the rest of humanity, because each time one feels worthless and loses sight of the point of living, they can remember that life is far more meaningful then the end they know is coming. Every relationship, personal growth, and kindness accomplished is a part of the story humans leave behind. By savoring each happy moment and connection it encourages positive change. Gilgamesh’s ability to be so affected by Enkidu’s death is proof that Enkidu had left the Earth with a meaningful connection created, and he was the catalyst for Gilgamesh’s change which helped to create a better world. 

Every tradition, invention, and person is created by humans who came before them. By people who may already be gone, but their creations and inventions live on. The earth is a museum of everyone who ever lived, for everyone leaves a mark in some way, shape, or form. Humans continue to evolve and grow but this growth would not be possible without the mistakes and accomplishments of the people of the past. Every life is worth living and humans should focus on the fact that we are alive every day and that in itself is a gift, another chance to create joy and make relationships. When contemplating the meaning of life looking past the “big picture” and focusing on the intricate details will lead to a more fulfilling conclusion, because at the end of every human life is just fragments of the moments they have experienced. So, cherish every moment and every person one cares for, use the inevitability as death for motivation to create as many positive changes as possible and leave a legacy as Gilgamesh did.

A hero is someone who is supposed to be selfless, resilient, and courageous. In most stories, a hero will have to overcome great challenges and setbacks in order to achieve a goal or fulfillment in their lives. In stories like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, the main characters are considered to be the “chosen ones” in their novels and act as the protagonist that must defy great odds in order to fulfill their destiny’s. They are considered heroes because of their ability to persevere through challenges and sacrifice their safety for the greater good. An action is deemed heroic when bravery and selfless motives are involved, but it is also important to remember that the cause they are fighting for must be deemed noble. A protagonist may not always be a hero in every story because they could have flawed motives or a skewed moral compass, which may make it harder for people to view them in a heroic light. 

Women can most definitely be heroes and can express great selflessness and resilience. But, in many stories’, especially older ones, a woman’s role was to be a damsel in distress and someone for a male hero to save. Women were not commonly viewed as strong, brave individuals who had the ability to achieve great success. No one wanted a woman to be representative of heroic behaviors, as women were supposed to be passive and nurturing and leave the courageous acts to men. These stereotypes made it so men were getting more credit as leaders in society and were easily expressed as heroes. The historical bias surrounding women is obviously untrue, as women have made significant and positive impacts in many parts of humanity. It is becoming more and more common for women to be portrayed as heroic protagonists in stories, and although many parts of the stereotypes surrounding women are rooted in society still, people are finally becoming aware of the need to break these stereotypes.

A hero is supposed to be a model of bravery, strength, resilience, and many other noble qualities. Heroes are meant to represent the best parts of humanity and to influence others to always choose good in the face of evil. Heroes never give up and always find a way to succeed by being selfless and courageous. Humans need heroes to inspire them to persevere and find hope in times that feel hopeless. Heroes show the “ordinary” person to always have faith in a better future. The quotation, “Unhappy the land that needs heroes,” expresses the idea that people and societies requiring a hero are in need of great change and acts of bravery. It suggests that only large-scale issues and humans with great discontent require a hero. It is not likely that the title of hero is granted to someone who helps with small everyday tasks that are seemingly easy to complete; a hero does acts that seem almost impossible to complete, making them stand out from the accomplishments of the “ordinary” man. The words of Brecht bring out the question: why would a society that appears to have no massive issues need heroes to be represented? Do they? I believe they do because even if a land is technically not unhappy, it is important to remember to choose bravery and compassion in any mundane task.