What IS The Definition of Success?

     Three times a week I have 4th period free and I always go the the second floor rotunda to sit with my friends. While I was there today, Mr. Sally, who is apparently the assistant superintendent, came around  asking people if they would like to be filmed for a video that would be shown during the teacher's institute day. He said that in the clip, you would describe your definition of success, how you thought New Trier defined success, and if you thought they were defining it right. No one accepted for obvious reasons, but it really got me thinking. It seems like a very simple question, but I could not give an answer. Dictionary.com defines success as "a person or thing that is successful"(which is not helpful at all). But what did I define as success? Getting a B+ in physics? Moving up a level in French? I didn't know. And I still don't know. Maybe no one wanted to be in the movie because no one actually knew what success meant for them. To be honest, I don't know what success means for me. I never really feel successful. Even if I get straight A's one quarter, I don't feel like I've accomplished anything. My parents will tell me good job, and sometimes even my grandparents will call to congratulate me, but I don't understand why. I don't feel like I really did anything that amazing. I guess you could say that I succeeded, but aren't you supposed to feel something more than indifference?

     Then I tried to think about what New Trier defined as success. And I came up with two definitions, one that they tell parents and students, and one that isn't necessarily said, but everyone pretty much knows. The first and what the school would say is: getting good grades, getting into college, and having good morals, (hence the ECGC that no advisory actually does). And now the underlying definition, which is just an extension from the first: getting good grades in all 4 levels, getting into an ivy league school, participating in extracurriculars, sports, and social service, and having good morals. I think New Trier students set unrealistic goals for themselves that no one would be able to accomplish. It astonishes me that people can be in two AP classes and three other level 4 classes, all while managing a social life. In the words of my history teacher last year, "If you want to have a life next year, don't take AP history". Needless to say, I followed her advice.

     I guess what I'm trying to say is that New Trier pushes its students to the limit. They know that the students who go here will be the next generation of great lawyers, doctors, politicians, and businessmen. They push us and push us and load us with work until we crack or have a mental breakdown. And I can say from personal experience that it can definitely happen more than once a year. For me, I work so hard during the year that by the time summer comes around, I can't see my success because all the work and suffering blinded me to it during the year. But maybe that's just me.