9:37:32PM Monday, June 11, 2001
Danny Lange
Period 8
Old Man and The Sea – Determination and Perseverance
Determination and perseverance are two of the most important things in one’s life. Without these things, one would easily give up, not follow through, and never get anything that he wanted. Determination is the mental drive inside of each person that keeps him going and pushing. Perseverance, by definition, is a steady persistence. These two words are very closely related, and have almost the same meaning. Determination and perseverance are needed in one’s life in order to live any form of a good life.
The novel, The Old Man and The Sea, demonstrates a form of determination and perseverance. Santiago, a fisherman, goes out fishing one day, prepared to catch the biggest fish of his life. He hooks a fish, unsure of it’s size, and follows it for hours on end. Eventually, he sees it, and kills it. Santiago’s battle with the fish seems to never end. He shows determination and perseverance in their purest forms. Most people would simply give up and let the fish go. Santiago, on the other hand, didn’t give up. He decided that the fish was something important to him, and that he didn’t want to give it up. Santiago was persistent, patient, and determined to catch the fish.
Once Santiago kills the fish, he begins sailing home. On the way, sharks attack the fish and most of it gets eaten. In the end, although the sharks ate the dead fish, Santiago prevailed. Many would say that Santiago failed. Although he did not enjoy eating the fish, Santiago worked endlessly to catch it, and succeeded. One does not need to necessarily “eat the fish” to win the battle. Santiago shows us this through his determination and perseverance. In the end, although he is without a fish, he gains respect from the other fishermen, and a sense of pride from catching the fish.
One following the path to stardom in the entertainment industry, in my belief, shows us the same qualities that Santiago showed us. In order to succeed, there are many barriers and obstacles that one must pass. I’m interested in directing movies as a future job. This can only happen through hard work, perseverance, and determination. The film industry requires that you start from the bottom, and work your way up. Most prospective directors start out as coffee boys, running to and fro, fetching various items for other people.
I have been fortunate when it comes to the film industry. Recently, I found out about a company, located in Maplewood, that produces films. They were set to begin working on a new film in early April. I called the company and got involved. We began shooting the film in May. Fortunately, I did not start out as coffee boy. Rather, I began my film career as the boom (microphone) operator in this movie.
Although I skipped from coffee boy to boom boy, there are still many obstacles to come. While reading the newspaper the other day, I read of a man in his early twenties who went to college to get involved in the film industry. He graduated college, began a job, and was soon let go. He was never able to find a decent job after that, and his film career, in his mind, went down the drain. This man was not as determined as need be. He gave up, which is the wrong attitude. To succeed in the film industry, you must accept bad jobs, start from the bottom, and slowly work your way up. Determination and perseverance are important, and many times, like in The Old Man and The Sea, it may appear that you lose, but you are really winning. Even getting a job as a coffee boy on a movie set is an accomplishment. Every little thing helps, and many people don’t see this. Instead, they are offered the job of coffee boy, turn it down, and never get any other offers. People don’t recognize the need to accept starting low. They need to realize that getting to the top requires work and determination.
I’d like to believe that I’m like Santiago, although that probably isn’t true. While thinking about it, I realized that I give up too easily, which isn’t a good trait to have for the industry that I’d like to be involved in. I, like most people, would probably turn down the crummy jobs. My life, as well as that of many other people, would be better if everyone learned that patience, determination, and perseverance were important and necessary. Santiago possesses qualities that everyone should have. If people had the qualities that Santiago possessed, they would prosper more, and maybe even lead a better life.
Determination and perseverance are very important in life. They help us to lead a good life, and to succeed. Santiago would not have been able to catch the fish without determination, perseverance, and patience. We should all learn from The Old Man and The Sea, and Santiago’s teachings.
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