Are you happy?
Editor's Rant
By: Anthony Cesarini
Issue date: 6/29/07 Section: Ed-Op
Originally published: 6/28/07 at 11:48 PM EST
Last update: 6/29/07 at 2:32 AM EST
Originally published: 6/28/07 at 11:48 PM EST
Last update: 6/29/07 at 2:32 AM EST
This isn't a joke, and I'm not asking if you're in a good mood. I'm asking if you're truly happy - completely content with the way your life is progressing.
If you're honest, and answered no, good job; now keep reading. If you answered yes, then either you are one lucky SOB, or (more likely) you're kidding yourself and have begun to travel down the dangerous path of confusing mediocrity for success.
This mistake isn't too hard to make. Today, I see people everywhere being rewarded for mediocre offerings to society. Just look at most politicians.
We make the mistake of concluding things are the best they can be and subsequently we stop working towards improving our lives or better yet, society as a whole.
I've been at Drexel for four years now, and I've seen countless examples of people confusing mediocrity for success. Whether it was someone who dated a shallow, spoiled brat for two years because he thought he couldn't do better, or the person who hates their job but continues working anyway because the pay is good, people make these mistakes all the time - and they pay dearly for it. Is a hot chick or lots of money really happiness? If I were to ask these people if they were happy, I'm sure the honest answer would be "no." Nothing can cover up the mediocrity of these situations.
Mediocrity doesn't just affect individual people; it also affects groups of people in society. Just look at Drexel.
This school definitely has its inadequacies. For example, the University's contract with Sodexho is causing students to be charged a premium for mediocre food and service. So, why was this contract signed? I would assert that mediocrity was confused with excellence. Other examples abound, such as the unpopular MusicSelect program and the paperless billing system (mentioned in this week's editorial).
Sure, something is better than nothing, but that thought is the same one that allows people to accept mediocrity. If we want Drexel to become a better school - and I'm talking about real improvements, not just rankings - then we have to stop accepting trash for gold.
Tomorrow, when you roll out of bed, put up your guard. Don't accept mediocrity. Strive for excellence. That's the key to happiness. And, as a tip to George Michael Bluth, that's the key to a good life full of hard work.
Anthony Cesarini is a senior majoring in computer engineering. He is the ed-op editor and a former editor-in-chief of The Triangle. He can be reached at anthony@thetriangle.org.
If you're honest, and answered no, good job; now keep reading. If you answered yes, then either you are one lucky SOB, or (more likely) you're kidding yourself and have begun to travel down the dangerous path of confusing mediocrity for success.
This mistake isn't too hard to make. Today, I see people everywhere being rewarded for mediocre offerings to society. Just look at most politicians.
We make the mistake of concluding things are the best they can be and subsequently we stop working towards improving our lives or better yet, society as a whole.
I've been at Drexel for four years now, and I've seen countless examples of people confusing mediocrity for success. Whether it was someone who dated a shallow, spoiled brat for two years because he thought he couldn't do better, or the person who hates their job but continues working anyway because the pay is good, people make these mistakes all the time - and they pay dearly for it. Is a hot chick or lots of money really happiness? If I were to ask these people if they were happy, I'm sure the honest answer would be "no." Nothing can cover up the mediocrity of these situations.
Mediocrity doesn't just affect individual people; it also affects groups of people in society. Just look at Drexel.
This school definitely has its inadequacies. For example, the University's contract with Sodexho is causing students to be charged a premium for mediocre food and service. So, why was this contract signed? I would assert that mediocrity was confused with excellence. Other examples abound, such as the unpopular MusicSelect program and the paperless billing system (mentioned in this week's editorial).
Sure, something is better than nothing, but that thought is the same one that allows people to accept mediocrity. If we want Drexel to become a better school - and I'm talking about real improvements, not just rankings - then we have to stop accepting trash for gold.
Tomorrow, when you roll out of bed, put up your guard. Don't accept mediocrity. Strive for excellence. That's the key to happiness. And, as a tip to George Michael Bluth, that's the key to a good life full of hard work.
Anthony Cesarini is a senior majoring in computer engineering. He is the ed-op editor and a former editor-in-chief of The Triangle. He can be reached at anthony@thetriangle.org.
is a member of the 
Jake
posted 7/11/07 @ 4:49 AM EST
Dear Mr. Cesarini,
Perhaps excellence is defined by each and every one of us in our own terms. Maybe you don't think that it's excellent that someone got a date with someone else. (Continued…)