The statement posits that young people should be encouraged to follow long-term, realistic goals rather than seek immediate fame and recognition. I agree with this statement, although I have my reservations. While I acknowledge that fame and recognition come with great rewards, I firmly believe that there are more important goals in life than merely seeking them

I believe that fame and recognition are means to a greater end. Certainly, they are powerful motivators, and there are many examples of people who have risen to great fame and recognition without possessing any innate talents or abilities. Tiger Woods, for example, was an amateur golfer who honed his skills for several years before achieving worldwide fame and recognition. Since he possesses exceptional physical abilities, he achieved his goal, which was to become a professional golfer, and in the process became one of the most famous athletes in the world. Fame and recognition are valuable tools if used properly. However, they cannot be the only means through which an individual achieves greatness. Even those fortunate enough to achieve extraordinary fame and recognition must still possess other qualities and skills. In sports, the greatest athletes are often the ones who possess the right combination of natural athletic ability, mental toughness, and cunning. Vladimir Guerrero, for example, was a gifted baseball player who excelled in spite of having an awful batting average. The Dodgers eventually traded him to the Montreal Expos, where he proceeded to hit .318 with 38 home runs and 102 runs batted in over the course of two seasons. The Expos then traded him to the Red Sox, where he continued his dominance, hitting .309 with 29 home runs and 104 runs batted in. Guerrero was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1993 and the American League MVP in 1995, and he holds several baseball records. Thus, Guerrero achieved fame and recognition, but he did so primarily as a result of a combination of his talent and sheer determination to succeed. Similarly, musical artists gain fame and recognition largely as a result of a combination of their talents and their ability to sell records. Although Michael Jackson was undoubtedly talented, he achieved his greatest fame and recognition not as a result of his musical talent, but as a result of his astounding ability to put on a great show. Jackson was truly unique, a combination of a powerful dancer and a powerful singer who transcended the bounds of normal musical talent and become world-famous. Fame and recognition are important, but they should not be the sole goal of those pursuing a career

While I agree that young people should be encouraged to pursue long-term, realistic goals, I believe that there are more important goals in life than fame and recognition. Fame and recognition, while valuable, are transient. They last only as long as a person is famous, and once that fame diminishes, so does the recognition. After a person achieves fame and recognition, he must continue to work hard to achieve even more recognition. Unlike fame and recognition, the skills and knowledge attained through the pursuit of long-term goals are permanent and invaluable. A musician who learns a valuable skill, such as how to play a musical instrument, can employ that skill throughout his entire life. A carpenter who learns how to properly measure, cut, and assemble wood can make a furniture that can last for many generations. A writer learns how to write well and can employ that skill for the rest of her life. Certainly, the skills acquired in the pursuit of fame and recognition can be valuable, but I believe that the skills attained in the pursuit of long-term goals are more valuable

The pursuit of fame and recognition can nearly destroy the individual. On many television shows and in movies, the protagonist is a talented individual who pursues fame and recognition, but in the process commits crimes and acts immorally. Fame and recognition can be intoxicating, and a person may lose sight of his morals in the pursuit of them. A person who achieves fame and recognition must constantly work at maintaining his fame and recognition, which can be very difficult. A famous football player, for example, must train hard to stay in shape, or he will lose his allure. As time passes, fame and recognition become more difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. Even more important, the pursuit of fame and recognition can wrack a person’s body with aches and pains, limiting his ability to perform at his peak. Fame and recognition are powerful motivators, and in the best of circumstances they can be highly rewarding, but they can also be very harmful, and I believe that there are more important goals in life than the pursuit of fame and recognition.