Transcendentalism5 Essay, Research Paper

Essay Emerson and Thoreau

It is debated whether is possible for high school students to be nonconformists among their peers. To settle this dispute, it is indispensable to define what exactly a nonconformist is. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a nonconformist as one who does not conform to, or refuses to be bound by, accepted customs, or practices. Now that there is a truth, whether a high school student can be a nonconformist can be defined. A high school student is able to be a nonconformist for the following reasons: he/she is a distinct person emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Because a high school student is a distinct person emotionally they can become a nonconformist by reacting to certain situations differently. For example, if one certain high school student reacts to a homework assignment differently than any of his peers, he/she could be classified as a nonconformist. Because this high school student does not have the same reaction as any one of his/her peers, the certain student does not conform to an accepted custom; in this case the custom is any particular reaction to homework.

Because a certain high school student is a distinct person physically, he/she can become a nonconformist by having a different physical appearance. For example, if a certain high school student wears clothing his/her mother fabricated and none of this high school student s peers choose to wear clothing from his/her mother, this high school student could be considered a nonconformist. Because the certain high school student does not wear clothing that his/her mother made, this student does not conform to an accepted custom; in this case it would be in what high school student dresses.

Because a certain high school student is a distinct person mentally, he/she can become a nonconformist by having a different thought process. For example, if a certain high school student manifests an unheard of mathematical process, and none of his/her peers have affected him/her coming up with this mathematical process, this high school student could be considered a nonconformist. Because a this certain high school student does not let other ideas interfere with his/her thought process, this student does not conform to an accepted custom; in this case it would be how a high school student thinks.

In conclusion, Emerson and Thoreau were referring to a nonconformist as one who does not let others influence one s outlook on life. In these three cases, the high school student makes choices independently and does not assent to the accepted customs or practices of his/her peers. Personally, Emerson and Thoreau s values hold up today because the general public can be enlightened just by creating one s own set of ethics, morals, and standards of living for one s own life independently.