Jay Gatsby: Who I Should and Should Not Be

Some people may question why I would choose the character of Jay Gatsby to influence my life, but considering that Gatsby knew his dream and worked diligently to make the dream come true inspires my goals. Gatsby’s uniqueness of purpose and consistent loyalty are characteristics that I wish to emulate. In an increasingly dishonest world, Gatsby, unfortunately, lost his morality while working toward his goals. I am also working toward my life goals, but I will also keep my sense of righteousness, even when it forces me to stand out in a crowd.

Jay Gatsby’s major purpose in life was to marry Daisy. He was not born and bred from a wealthy background, but he knew that the way to win a woman’s heart was by being rich. His tenacity for Daisy allowed him to triumph to become the person he wanted to be. His life was full of sacrifices, and therefore his success signifies the rewards of an unyielding determination. As an experienced and committed musician, I possess Gatsby’s passion and his willpower to change my own life.

My passion for changing for the better is already active. Through my volunteering experience, I am not only shaping my own life, but also for others as well. These similarities and qualifications are imperative for my aspiration to become a causative individual in society. I have also learned my uniqueness. One cannot have significant effect if they only remain as a number within a huge student body, hence making Gatsby’s obsession an extremely attractive aspect in my life. I realize that the power of adjusting and believe that self-realization comes due to needing change.

Although I admire Gatsby’s success, I possess a quality, which leads to his demise: naivety. At the end of his lavish party, Gatsby lets Daisy drive his car. She accidentally run over a woman and the husband murdered the innocent Jay Gatsby. Gatsby’s death was tragic because it was avoidable. I fear making a similar mistake in future endeavors. Despite my desire to venture and work hard, I am in need of guidance. My father is my guide who motivates and advises me about the ways to achieve success.

He reveals to me the merits and flaws of characters like that of Jay Gatsby. Endowed with my father’s wisdom, I realize that the need to further my understanding of life necessitates discovery of more wisdom from others. As Isaac Newton once said, “If I saw further than other men, it was because I stood on the shoulders of giants.” Just like Newton, I require assistance when learning the necessary skills to prosper. With a good college as my giant and inspiration of Jay Gatsby’s determination, I will have a close link to Isaac Newton, whose depth of perception and wisdom create a lasting impression no matter where he resides.

Academic-related challenges will increase but the biggest of them all will be the ability to manage change and accept it as the catalyst for positive change in society. Academic achievements are a channel of information, which is very useful in solving most current and future challenges and for that reason, I will work in close reference to Martin Luther King saying, “The true goal of education is intelligence and character.”