Extra Credit Assignment

I have noticed a general trend in society that very few people overcome.  Not only are people too busy for anything besides work or school, but there is such a strong emphasis on perfection.  Because of this tendency, people stick to the one thing they are good at and very rarely branch out.  I believe this to be a great sadness in how society runs today, and I would love to see more people doing more things, because it is fun and enjoyable.  I would love for us to return a little bit more to the Renaissance Man.

I propose an assignment to do just this.  I would include it in our Belief section because it deals in the belief in human capabilities and the belief in ourselves.  In class I would start by talking about this idea of the Renaissance Man; how people used to have so many talents because they worked to become great at many things, including language, music, dance, poetry, etc.  I then would direct the class discussion to self confidence and self esteem.  I would talk about how people become discouraged when they are not good at something.  It is important to emphasize the busy society we are in - that people only have time for work related things.  People so often load their lives with so much work that they have little time to rest or do anything else fun.  Because of this specialized world we live in today, people become amazing at a specific talent, but lack in others.  But a more "Renaissance" type person is much more rounded and fulfilled.  Yes, it is wonderful to be so skilled at something in particular, but try to have other talents.  Try to make time for other things.  Try to enjoy life and do those things you are too busy or too scared to do.  This assignment deals with Belief because it is the belief that we are capable people and that humanity truly can be amazing when people "spend themselves in a worthy cause."

The media example I would use for this project is my favorite quote, The Man In the Arena, by Teddy Roosevelt.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

This relates to what I would discus because it highlights the act of actually TRYING.  So many people give up, even before they start.  But in this quote, Teddy Roosevelt emphasizes how the importance is in TRYING.  We do not need to be the best.  We do not need to live in fear of failure.  We do not need to let others determine what we will do in our lives.  We should decide what we want to do, and not be limited to one thing, and the one thing we are good at.  This quote shows the belief in a strong person who desires to do better and be better.  Trying new things, whether we are good at them of not, is better than the bitterness of never trying them at all.
 
Assignment Description:  Choose something that you have always wanted to do, but either never have time for, or were too afraid for fear of failure.   This could be creating a painting, writing a piece of music, exercising, trying out for something, etc.  Make sure this is something that you have thought about before but do not do on a regular basis.  Spend the week creating or doing this particular work or activity.  How did you feel after completing the project?  Did you feel more accomplished?  How did this activity help you grow?  Did it help you grow?  Keep a journal of your impressions and feelings during your progress.  Did this help you find meaning and purpose in doing different things?  Do you think you will keep doing it or other things you don't usually have "time" for?  Do you feel it is important to be more of a "Renaissance Man?"