David Ho In the mid 1800s, a philosophy developed, in which the veracity of life cannot be found through observation, rather

the truth transcends over time! "he true definition of this lifestyle has not been found, but after years of its e#istence, men such as $merson, "horeau, %&', or (andhi all ac)uired )ualities of "ranscendentalism through their different e#periences, finding that this philosophy relates to all differently, since a mans time determines his purposes! "hese men happened to find some *ey points of "ranscendentalism, however! "o this day, their writing relates to daily situations+ even the predicaments of their time can still be traced to the present as well! , transcendentalist does not familiari-e himself with another, but ta*es his )ualities of his time and situation to transcend in his generation! ,ll people born into this world have one similarity. to loo* at the world through their own eyes! /eing only fifteen years of age, I have come to reali-e that the ma0ority of our world has lost that ability! "he worldly views of today has strayed all other perspectives to the point of undermining other cultures or re0ecting those who are different! 1e have forgotten how people are not the same, how having different opinions is natural, how the only progress that can be possible in life is through contrast, a change in technology! 2epudiation of individualism, isolation from those who stand out in a crowd, discord to differing opinions, all contribute to our unacceptance of various cultures, ideas, and people! 3ot only has this tension decreased confidence among most people, rather they have lost their voice, a voice that allowed them to spea* out their beliefs! 4or these fifteen years, I have e#perienced and reali-ed the correlation between by life and %&'s. how being a minority leads to much more dissent, overall non5 conformity! Hitherto, there have been many patterns in our generations that have confused me! "he ,merican Dream, a popular standard for the youth of ,merica, influences the lives of many people! "his so called Dream is essentially a goal for many to have e#ceptional mar*s in school and once they have reached the adult life, they e#pect to succeed and have the credibility and s*ills to raise a family! "his ritual for ,mericans remains foreign to my mind due to one thing. our stability and lac* of ris*! 1e enter life not to wal* the same path as everyone else, but to diverge, differentiate, digress from other opinions to ma*e up your own! &oo* at those who too* the ris*s, those li*e %artin &uther 'ing 6r!, who spo*e discord in a sea of discrimination, or 6esus 7hrist, who once born into the world, )uestioned at a young age, was an e#tremist for love and truth! %ore modern non5conformist successes li*e /ill (ates, who too* the ris* of leaving college to pursue his 813 dream, solidify that life provides multiple paths for a reason, for us to ta*e them! "his ,merican Dream hinders all progress by laying out one path for others to follow! 1ould you prefer to be a wave, pathetically hitting the shore, or would you prefer to be a torrent of water, crashing down on the beach9 7ontinuing in the vein of the relationship between being a minority and non5 conformity, I was raised differently in my household compared to many others! "he principle of discipline grew li*e a household weed, whipping me into shape, cutting down my bad habits! :chool prioriti-es itself over all else, sports, anything e#tra5curricular!

"he only piece of my life I had full control over9 2eligion! I strongly developed many of my principles in 7hrist and (od, transferring those principles to the discipline that was hammered at a young age! ;es, a minority does grow up in the environment around him, but the e#periences he endures, the family that raises him, the paucity of companions at a young age, all contribute to the difference that he ma*es in society! :o, what really does non5conformity lead to9 If everyone were to not conform, would the non5conformance become a conformance in itself9 I define those who do not conform to be salutary conformists ! 1hy are they conformists9 "hey healthily conform to their 813 &I4$, they do not become illuminati, they do not become non5conformists to follow others who dont conform, rather they solely disagree for their *nowledge of their 813 &I4$! , man who truly *nows who he really is can become a salutary conformist+ a man who has integrity in his life can become a salutary conformist! "his universal complication does not re)uire a organi-ation, for it is purely a choice! 1hether you are a minority or ma0ority, you have the option to ta*e a leap of faith, for you may become one step closer to what you<re trying to reach!