I gave up my art and enlisted.

Have you ever wondered what the “right” way to live your life is? Or do you just think everything is determined and whatever happens is “right?” It is hard to believe that one is destined to become a CEO or to become a farmer since professions in general are elements of our environment. However, it is evident that we are all born with certain gifts and talents that may be more beneficial to becoming a CEO or farmer. But it is hard to imagine that CEOs were simply destined to become CEOs ever since the womb. One must acknowledge that our environment plays a role-if not a huge role- in a person’s plan for life. It is certainly easier for a middle class child to grow up and go to college compared to someone in poverty. Many environmentalists have acknowledged this and the creation of social programs like welfare and public schools occurred. But on the other side, many people believe that those that are poor and lazy cannot change no matter how many social programs are created. They believe that people are born a certain way and are destined to turn out that way. The right answer to this debate is unknown but it is hard to rule out entirely one of the two spectrums: nature or nurture.
First, the side of nature. No one can come close to explaining the essence of reproduction or birth. All we know is that this magical process along with the nine months spent in the womb greatly shape who we become as individuals. Everyone has grown from one single cell into trillions of them. We all have inherited certain gifts from our parents and ancestors and most believe some were given by a higher being. Even though this divine intervention is hard to prove, it is not that hard to buy into, it is the closet we as human beings can come to trying to explain our nature. Human nature in itself is hard to get a grasp. Conversations about souls and spirits seem arise. But, even though most people believe that everyone’s nature is unique, there are certain aspects of our nature that are the same. For example, everyone is competitive in some regard and some form of addiction also seems to show up. To argue on the side of nature, life must have winners and losers. There are those who are destined to achieve and those who are destined to fail. Despite one’s environment this is the case. To quote a Darwinian theory: if you are not the “fittest” you won’t survive. Furthermore, those that are smart were born smart and those that are athletic were born athletic. And to enhance this argument, the use of a divine being is utilized. God made people this way and God has a special plan for all of us. This is why there is no use to social programs and a “better environment” because we cannot change our destiny. However, free will is a belief but our nature will determine our free will. Overall, human nature in general will determine whether or not we will succeed or fail in life. There are certain genes within us that will stimulate this or that life, we have no control. For the most part this is the case of nature.
Now, for the nurture argument. Indeed, we are all born with certain gifts and talents that make us unique. However, we must be nurtured in an environment so we can use those gifts and talents to excel in life. Environmentalists don’t argue that certain genes lead towards certain lifestyle choices, this has been proven. But a person could have a proclivity to learn different languages but if he or she isn’t given the opportunity to excel in this desire then there is no point to her ability. Also, an artistic child who has the ability to become a successful artist but isn’t given the time or is discouraged by his or her environment may never reach that apex. Its one thing to have the gift or talent for something it’s another thing to be nurtured in an environment that discourages that gift or talent. Furthermore, it is hard not to argue against the idea of predestination. How a person doesn’t have control over whom he or she becomes is hard to imagine. Aforementioned was the idea that professions in general are elements of our environment. Thus, it is hard to believe that there is a certain gene inside each of us that will lead us to our future job. It is hard for anyone to fathom how we don’t have any choice in life. To argue against the nature claim that everyone is competitive, maybe it is our society that has created this competitiveness. But of course the argument is that humanity has created this competitive society and thus it is in our nature to be competitive. But why would God create human nature so that the weak lose out? Also, if a child is overly spoiled by his or her parents, this may lead to an addictive adulthood rather than the claim that mostly everyone has some addictive qualities. It is more about how you were raised than whether or not “that’s just how you are.” Everyone is a product of their environment and who one becomes is a matter of choice rather than a matter of destiny.
Now both these statements are mostly one-sided. So in that case I definitely won’t choose one or the other as being correct. However, it is vital to look at both of these arguments and see how they affect one’s life plans. A more nature based person may see the inequalities in social standing as being natural and or right. On the other hand the environmentalist may claim that identity can only be found through a stable environment. I believe both nature and nurture have their own merits. But it is hard for me not to see that environment has a great effect on a human being. When I see an intelligent person I don’t believe that he or she was born that way. I think that that person was raised in an environment where intelligence was encouraged. And the same I believe with someone who is a professional basketball player for example. I don’t believe he or she was born a professional, he or she worked and was given a good environment to reach that potential. Realizing one’s potential is the key to being successful. Some can see their potential and pursue it but others either give up or live in an environment where potential can’t be reached. I am forced to chuckle sometimes when someone will come up to me and say that he wishes he was as smart as me. At first I want to yell at him for not trying to be smart but then I feel sorry for him for not being encouraged to be smart. Overall, I’d say there is a little bit more nurture involved in finding one’s identity. I think there is a middle ground between the two, but I find it hard not to see that one’s environment plays a huge role in one’s life. In regard to Appiah’s question about urgings and advice, I’d say take a little bit of both. If you have an urge to be a writer go after it but take advice along the way. In a sense, the urgings are the nature part and the advice is the nurture part. In the eighteen years of my life, so much of who I am has been influenced by my parents, teachers, and social elements. But now I have a choice to decide upon the urgings within where to take my life. One may argue that nature and nurture are phases in life. And that my nurture stage is over and now is when my nature takes over and leads me in the “right” direction. But I would disagree and say that yes now I have big personal choices to make but in a way I’ve been making personal choices my whole life. I think it would be better to decide on my urgings but at the same time listen to the advice-whether it’s from my teachers, parents, or society- in the best way to reach the pinnacle of those urgings. So is it more nature than nurture or the other way around? Who knows? It is hard for us to know everything about human beings when we are all different in so many ways. What’s important is to look at both sides of the coin when deciding on a life plan. It would not be wise to approach an urge blindly nor would it be wise to only follow your parents’ advice when deciding on life. It’s better to reach a compromise on the two and then go from there. The nature versus nurture debate has significant merit in discussing life plans, so hopefully now the reader has a better understanding of the way to find the best life for oneself.