At New Trier, we value students who are intrinsically motivated. It's a goal of our academic institute to impart this value onto its pupils early so they may practice this self-motivated learning in future endeavors. However in other aspects of our lives aside from school, those who live intrinsically may easily be mistaken as selfish. For example, the girl down the street who has a lemonade sell to turn a small profit rather than to donate her earnings to charity, can be seen as greedy. Although a girl selling her neighbors a refreshment and a student who makes A's for their personal satisfaction are different, why may one be mistaken as self-absorbed where the other is deemed good? It is important to distinguish that one who is concentrated on succeeding for self-pertaining reasons rather than for external forces is technically selfish, but not in the common sense of the word. Those who live intrinsically are concerned with making their personal success, however often it is not without regard to others-as the definition of selfish states. It's important to have these intrinsic goals to ensure that what one is working towards is for their self benefit, and not just for external reasons. Therefore it's good to be a bit selfish sometimes and live intrinsically. After all there's not an "I" in intrinsic for nothing.
1 comment:
This is a really interesting post, Jacqueline. I agree that it is good to live intrinsically. When it really comes down to it, the only person you should be trying to please is yourself. If you are happy and do what you want to do, people around you will see that and want to be happy too. If all they can see is greediness, then they are jealous of the intrinsic motivation you have found. So I agree, be selfish and do everything that you want to do with your life. If others cannot do the same, then they are missing out.
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