Morgan Gray and Lauren Farello Over the course of time, humanity has faced and overcome various obstacles in order to be successful. People have struggled to survive in a world where challenges are endless. However, with that comes the opportunity for individuals to become heroes by overcoming these adversities. In The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, Tom Joad faces numerous obstacles throughout his journey to California until he finally declares that he will be the voice of the people. Similarly, with the start of the Revolutionary War, George Washington brought fourth his potential to be a leader, a powerful general, and later the first President. However, not always is adversity necessary in order for one to discover one's talents. Some people merely discover their abilities at a young age while learning about themselves and trying to discover one's passions. Shawn Johnson, Olympic gymnast, learned of her natural inclination towards gymnastics at an early age, without facing obstacles in order to discover it. Although adversity may enable people to discover their hidden talents, people do not necessarily have to overcome obstacles in order to reveal them.You could add more in the introduction, more philopsophy about the quote and not just start with novels. You could start a better way into your second paragraph.The Joad family's difficult plight to California allowed the eldest son, Tom, to discover his ability to be a leader to those who needed one. Upon finding that his home had been destroyed by the extreme wind and lack of rain, he and his whole family packed up their belongings and moved to "the land of milk and honey." However, Tom finds that this plight may be much more difficult than he expected. He struggles to find work to support his family, which causes his family great distress. However, Tom's plight becomes a constant escape when he violently defends his friend Jim Casey. Knowing that staying with his family could be dangerous to them, he decides to leave them, for their safety. Tom's consideration for his family proves how he overcomes adversity in order to save his family. Additionally, he portrays great leadership when he determines what he is going to do after he leaves his family. He states that he will be the voice of the people and will lead them in order to overcome their struggle. Tom's circumstances force him to make a decision that will not only affect his family, but will positively affect everyone who has struggled just as he has. Had his circumstances been different, Tom may have never fought for the migrants. George Washington's talents were elicited through the country's need for a strong leader during a time of revolution. The colonies were in a time of constant turmoil; some residents wanted to remain loyal to Great Britain while others were tired of the regulations and taxes placed upon them. This split in allegiance called for great leaders and powerful generals. Consequently, George Washington fulfilled the role of a strong leader, both in politics and in the time of war. He faced adversity through the colonies' struggle to become an independent nation and decided to become a leader through his words and actions. The challenges that the country faced even elicited political leadership, when he was elected the First President of the United States of America. Without these obstacles, the colonies may have never have been successful in their plight to become a new nation. Consequently, George Washington may never have been the well-known figure that he is today, unless the country had faced these challenges. Good, nice vocabulary. In contrast, Shawn Johnson is a good example of someone who did not have to overcome obstacles to reveal her talent. From an early age, her parents enrolled her in gymnastics because they had seen her climbing up cabinets and jumping off tables. When she was six years old, Liang Chow opened a gymnastics school in her home town, Des Moines, Iowa. Over the years, her talents have become more and more prominent and will continue to astound the entire gymnastics world. While Shawn Johnson lives a normal life, attending a public high school, whereas many professional athletes train anywhere from forty to fifty hours a week. With her talent, she leads a very typical life partaking in several extra-curricular activities; she even used a tutor for homeschooling when performing on the show of "Dancing with the Stars" in the spring of 2009. Shawn Johnson never had a hidden talent, it was always visible, even at an early age. Although sometimes it takes certain circumstances in order to discover one's talents, they are not always hidden. Although the majority of people overcome obstacles to achieve success, some cases are the opposite. As a persons life progresses, they learn more about themselves and their strengths and weaknesses. In Tom's case, as he discovered what it meant to be a dust bowl refugee, he realized that this type of adversity called for a leader to fight for others, like himself. As for Mr. Washington, one nation's revolution caused him to realize his potential as a leader in war and as a leader of a nation. However, while for some people it takes an adversity to discover their abilities, for others they are merely concealed until they are revealed through personal growth. With Shawn Johnson, she discovered her natural gymnastic ability at a young age, as she was learning about herself and who she wanted to be. Many adversities that people face take place at different times and at different locations, whether it be in their own personal experiences or those that surround them. However, the key is discovering oneself through various experiences.Your conclusion could be a lot longer. Carolina Your essay needs more philosophy. You explain it well but use too many examples and not enough examination of the quote. Elaborate more.
Julianne Allison
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