Art, luck, and talent....

I would disagree with art depending on luck and talent. Creation of art, no matter how mediocre is a wonderful thing. Even if the creation is pure nonsense it will still convey some sort of message to someone who watches it, and might very well inspire them to create something better. As far as luck playing a role, I believe that's just hog wash invented by artists on their high horses to bear down creativity so they remain supreme.

Fear and Failure

I think the thesis statement to this essay is that fear and failure can be a positive teaching tool, whether economic or academic. The reason I feel this is the thesis is because although the writer focus's mainly on school issues, she also refers to how it effects them after schooling is over. It's a lesson that's still used by employers when they threaten to fire people, laws that threaten to lock people up, and even the rules that govern our society.

Unfortunately, I would have to disagree with this. I feel personally that threats don't provide a proper motivational way of thinking. It has been fear that has led us to wars, hatred, and violence. Fear has separated man and by condoning such a philosophy we are not better than those who burned witches at the stake for "fear" of the unknown. Reverting back to the original topic, fear of failure has caused us to create the infamous AIMS test that has become a problematic situation with school as we find that the students haven't learned a thing until it's to late. We can not dictate what others do or say, we can only motivate, and to motivate with fear is no better than holding a gun to someones head and telling them to fill the bag with the cash from the drawer. 

Instead we need to realize not everyone will make it in this world. Some people are perfectly content being wastes of space. It's not the drugs, it's not the family's upbringing, it's a personal choice. I've seen many on a road to no good who suddenly figure out that they'd like more in life, with no form of motivation at all. It all boils down to personal choices of the person, and not what threatens them.

Regrets

As of today I am unaware of any regrets I have. Sure I think about things I could have done differently, maybe handled problems more appropriately for a better outcome. However, I don't regret the actions I've taken. To me, every day is a possibility to learn and evolve as a person. If I make a mistake, I don't sit there and sulk in how I should have handled it. Instead I learn from the situation and address the errors so that the next time a similar situation would arise I will be able to handle it from a more realistic way. I let these new ways of thinking influence my actions and if ever a situation I've handled in the past is brought back up, I'm able to say "yea, that's the old Ricky."

I take influences from people, books, movies, almost anything I can get my hands on. With these influences in my cerebral cortex, I find it easier to handle things. Take the broadway RENT for example, which has inspired me (as well as countless many) to live without regrets. With their motto "No day but today" and their constant reminder to "forget regret or life is yours to miss" I rarely focus on what could have been changed in the past and set my goals on what can be changed in the future.