The Man in the Arena - PDF Essay by Alise Gendreau

Gendreau 1 Alise Gendreau Adam Johnson 12 December 2024 Word Count: 577 The Man In The Arena “It is not the critic that counts, but the man in the arena marred by dust.” President Theodore Roosevelt used this metaphor in a speech to rally his count...

Gendreau 1 Alise Gendreau Adam Johnson 12 December 2024 Word Count: 577 The Man In The Arena “It is not the critic that counts, but the man in the arena marred by dust.” President Theodore Roosevelt used this metaphor in a speech to rally his country together towards action. When I hear President Roosevelt’s quote I see myself in the arena. I see the dust on my feet and the blood on my hands. I can hear the outcry of the crowd around me. His quote gives me strength when I feel my critics' voices drowning me out. My upbringing has set me far apart from my companions. From a young age, I have been taught to put my best foot forward even in the face of defeat. I want to win inside the arena, not for comparison, but for the completion of my own goals and to steal satisfaction away from my critics. President Roosevelt’s strong use of imagery brings his metaphor to life. My feet are covered in dust because I am running away from the temptation of cheating and lying. The blood on my hands symbolizes my own struggle and loss of friends along my way. I have struggled for years with being my own critic. When I fall down, it is sometimes my own voice holding me back. Looking back, I realize that I needed to prioritize taking breaks and expressing my creativity in several outlets. When I was eight years old, I experienced a life changing event. I was rushed into surgery and received two chest tubes because my lungs were suffocating and filling with liquid. When I woke up from surgery I was confined to a bed for weeks. I felt trapped. I decided from that moment on that I would live my life to the fullest, and  Gendreau 2 never take freedom for granted again. My arena cannot hold me back. I may have less friends, less money, fewer jokes, smaller groups, but what remains with me is worth more. The beginning of my tenth grade year, I learned that the critics will always surround me, but I don’t have to listen and take their jabs. I moved from a quiet and small school in Washington State, all the way to a loud and bustling public school in Georgia. I have had to stand up in my classes when everyone else was silent. A few weeks ago, I was placed in an unjust situation. I had to turn in my peers and face their backlash, or turn away and live with guilt. I chose to report my peers and face their resentment towards me. In my arena, with my struggles, I remember the feeling of being trapped. I gather myself and the strength I have left and I keep going. I dust off my feet and wipe off my hands. I will stand even if I am standing alone. I will never be held down by the voices around me. I am striving to express my creativity however I want. Roosevelt’s quote pushes me towards action, not towards a stagnant life. I continue to work on ignoring the critics and putting my best effort forward. I no longer seek the need for perfection, but instead for adventure and fun mistakes. Many years ago, I didn’t understand Roosevelt’s quote. Standing resilient today before my critics, standing up for others, standing together with my peers, I finally comprehend the struggle of the man in the arena.