Band 7+: In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough. What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

The topic of whether young ones should be constantly made to believe that anything is possible through hard work and dedication is one that has been debated in different cultures. Although, while some cultures believe that it is beneficial to arm youngsters with such information, others believe that the demerits outweigh the merits. In this essay, I will explore both viewpoints as best as I can, and try to give a balanced perspective of both.

On one hand, telling youngsters that anything is achievable just by hard work may give them a false sense of hope that hard work alone is all that is required to attain success. This could negatively impact their self esteem when they are unable to achieve their goals through hard work alone. For example, some children may not be able to accept failure in an exam or at sport because they feel they put in enough work to achieve success, and could feel like losers or even end up depressed.

In contrast, encouraging young ones to aim for greatness from an early stage through hard work can do great wonders in the life of children. A major benefit is that it pushes children to work hard and strive for greatness, rather than settling for mediocrity. Additionally, children raised with a mindset if being able to achieve whatever they out their mind to are more likely to become successful in future, giving rise to adults who are at the forefront of their respective industries, such as innovators, CEOs of companies, political leaders and so on. Personally, I was made to believe that I could achieve my dream of becoming a doctor by my parents, and this positive mindset helped me in achieving this dream despite all the setbacks that I experienced.

In conclusion, the idea of whether children should be encouraged that anything is attainable via hard work can be both beneficial and not beneficial depending on the approach taken. As the popular saying goes, “life is not a bed of roses”, it is important to strike a balance between the two opposing viewpoints in order to raise well-rounded children.