Sources cited in MLA format.


Butler, Smedley. "General Butler and Doctor Oppenheimer."  People Paths, 26 Feb. 2012. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. <http://pastparallelpaths.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/general-butler-and-doctor-oppenheimer/>.

Unknown. "Quick Biography of Benjamin Franklin." ushistory.org. 4 May 1995. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.    <http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/info/index.htm>.

Unknown. "Eleanor Roosevelt Biography." Famous Biographies & TV Shows. Biography.com, 1 Jan. 2012.    Web. 12 Dec. 2012. <http://www.biography.com/people/eleanor-roosevelt-9463366>.

"Never settle in life" - Kevin Stolsig

Kevin, my father, has provided me with guidance since as long as I can remember. He has always been there for me; he coached me through several years of youth football, and has been involved in my recent shift towards track and field. He has always provided for me and the rest of my family, and for that I will be eternally grateful.

A picture taken of my father, my brother, and myself in my early childhood.

One of the most important lessons that my father has taught me is to never settle in life. Never be okay with "good enough", in any aspect of your life. I learned, throughout my childhood, to always do as best as I possibly could on everything I did. This lesson has driven me to pursue perfection academically and athletically, and provided the determination required to excel in both categories. While it has been challenging at times (when a "B" is considered sub-par), I have usually found it in myself to rise above the tribulations and meet the my father's expectations, mainly because I know that he only desires such high marks because he loves me and wants me to succeed in whatever I do.

 Over time, I began to learn to seek perfection for personal satisfaction, rather to meet the demands of my father, which of course is the goal of any mentor, parent or not.

"The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true." - J. Robert Oppenheimer.

J. Robert Oppenheimer was a brilliant physicist of his time, ultimately proving vital to the construction of the first atomic bombs.

Julius Robert Oppenheimer was one of the great American physicists of his time. Working with Albert Einstein, Oppenheimer was one of the leading researchers of the Manhattan Project, and was instrumental in the development of the first atomic bomb. After the detonation of the first nuclear weapon, he regretted everything he had contributed to the project, knowing that he had just created a true "weapon of mass destruction". 

This quote holds amazing complexity and depth while maintaining a beautiful simplicity. The first half, "The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds" focuses on the good in life, shares a view that has faith in the nature of us humans, and hopes that in all of our advancements we have come to make this world the best place that it could possibly be. This outlook is heartening, but is optimistic to the point of naivety. However, the second half, "The pessimist fears it is true", lands on the other side of the spectrum. The second half brings to mind the considerable flaws in our world; the widespread of starvation and disease throughout Africa, or the thousands killed every year in wars motivated by cultural and political differences. The pessimist fears that the world we have created is as good as it could possibly get, because he knows that overall, it's not that good.

"You're only competition is the clock." - Coach Valentino Espinoza

The logo of the local elite track club, Escambia Elite.

Coach Espinoza is man that I consider a mentor of mine. He is the best trainer in my area for track and field, and I have worked with him for over two and a half years now. He has guided me through many setbacks, including injuries, motivational struggles, and even the occasional mental breakdown. He has attempted to instill his vast amount of life experience into me over the years that we have worked together, and I appreciate everything that he has done for me. 

While this quote may not carry much significance out of its context, this is one of the most important lessons my coach has ever taught me. This saying will be heard often from Coach Espinoza as he prepares the members of his track and field club, Escambia Elite, to compete. His message is simple: do not compare yourself to the other runners (or in my case, throwers) while competing. Rather, strive to compete against yourself. Try to set a new personal record every time you compete. It does not matter what place you come in or if you get a medal; it only matters that perform to the very best of your ability.

A picture taken in 2011 of all competitors and coaches from Escambia Elite Track Club

Under his training and guidance, I have grown from a thirteen year old county runner-up to a fifteen year old national competitor. With him, I have traveled twice to the USA National Championships, placing in the top eight in at least one event both years. Needless to say, he has helped me along greatly, and has helped me understand the true meaning of competition and sportsmanship. 

"Character building begins in our infancy and continues until death." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt, wife to Franklin D. Roosevelt, revolutionized the position of first lady.

Born in 1884, Eleanor Roosevelt later became one of the most influential women of her time. She was married to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1905, who went on to become President of the United States. Rather than to remain in the background and regulate domestic matters, Eleanor Roosevelt revolutionized the position of First Lady. She often gave press conferences and spoke out for human rights, and worked on behalf of the League of Women Voters. She emphasized aid for America’s poor and fought against racism and prejudice.

I sympathize with this quote because it reinforces the idea of continuous development. No matter how old or experienced you are, you would be able to grow and learn from everything that happens. It allows us to realize that one is never finished in the quest for knowledge and for betterment, and that even on our deathbed, one may still learn and grow. It provides a purpose for the later years in life, and gives hope to those that have failed to develop emotionally and spiritually, by telling them that it is never too late to continue to improve and build upon your character.

"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." Benjamin Franklin.

Ben Franklin was one of the most influential figures in early U.S. history.

Benjamin Franklin is a unmistakable figure of American History. An inventer of many things, ranging from the lightning rod to bi-focal glasses, Franklin also served as America’s first ambasador to French and was vital in convincing the French to aid against the British in the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Franklin was then elected as the first American Postmaster General, and served several terms on continental congress. Franklin played a vital war both in the winning of the revolutionary war, and the establishment of a centralized governnment afterwards.

I believe this quote to be great because of the truth that it carries. Applying not only to entire nations but individuals as well, Benjamin Franklin’s words resonate with meaning. It holds true in any society that one who is vicious and corrupt must be watched carefully, often even calling for imprisonment or other rehabilitaion measures, to keep the innocent safe. The unjust must be contained; the just can be given the freedom to live and do as they please, as they can be trusted to follow both moral and lawful regulations. It is on a similar principle on which the structure of our country is based.

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what." - Atticus Finch

Spoken by the admirable Atticus to his young son Jem, Atticus goes on to clarify Mrs. Dubose's situation and inform Jem that rather than being just a racist, mean old woman, Mrs. Dubose was actually very courageous. Because of a terminal disease, Mrs. Dubose had become addicted to painkilling drugs. Rather that to die a easy and painless death, however, she chose to rid herself of her dependence on said drugs, even though it made no difference to her health.

A lone man stands strong to stop the advance of Chinese controlled tanks, just moments after a group of protesters was forcibly removed.

This quote is especially relevant to the young men and women roaming the halls of high school. It attempts to portray the lesson that courage is not being violent, that it's not being a bully. True courage is to fight for a cause that you know is doomed, simply because you know that it's the right thing to do. It is to battle against all odds and great opposition to provoke change where change is needed, and courage like that is increasingly hard to come by.