Dinner with President Abraham Lincoln by Edward

Dinner with President Abraham Lincoln by Edward - October 2017 Scholarship Essay

Dinner with President Abraham Lincoln
Edward Standley
10/8/2017
University of Phoenix
 
Dinner with President Abraham Lincoln
If I could have dinner with one United States President, it would be with President Abraham Lincoln because, despite the setbacks in his life, he became successful. Quoting Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung (1875-1961), “I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” Unquestionably, life’s unfortunate events can weigh one down. Moreover, misfortunes are inevitable; they happen when least expected and throughout one’s existence. During this social media age, where persons only display the positive outlooks of living, it is easy to be envious or give up. The truth is that every being experiences problems more than once in his or her life. If metaphysical order granted me the opportunity to live in the nineteenth century, I would invite President Lincoln to dinner, so that he could advise me on how to prosper in the face of tribulations.

Harsh economic realities have been a persistent challenge, not only in the United States but also globally. Students are cumbered by hefty loans, organizations are reporting losses, and stocks in the money market keep fluctuating; fundamentally, one’s job security in this economy is uncertain. In 1832, President Lincoln faced two failures: he lost his job and was defeated for state legislature. Nevertheless, during that year, he was elected captain of Illinois militia in Black Hawk War (Fehrenbacher, 1992). Two disappointments within a year can result in depression. It is impressive that President Lincoln overcame the situation.

One year after his defeat and job loss, President Lincoln failed in business (Fehrenbacher, 1992). According to Wagner (2013), more than 80 percent of startups fail within two years. The failures do not come from lack of preparation; rather, they come from unanticipated economic conditions or negative changes in consumer demand. Looking at the statistics, as a business enthusiast, one or more of my businesses would likely fail. Even Warren Buffet, a successful investor, described some of his ventures as failures (Woods, 2017). It would be important to understand how President Lincoln overcame his business’s collapse.
President Lincoln’s problems were endless. Between 1835 and 1838, he lost his spouse, suffered a nervous breakdown, and was defeated for the speaker seat. Even with the setbacks, he was admitted to practice law in the country’s district courts (Fehrenbacher, 1992). The 1840s were smooth for him, as he established his law practice, got elected to congress, and was permitted to practice law in the Supreme Court (Fehrenbacher, 1992). In the 1850s, President Lincoln faced a series of rejections. He was twice defeated for United States senate and for the vice president nominations (Fehrenbacher, 1992). He realized success when he got elected as president in 1960.

President Lincoln suffered every problem imaginable. Assumingly, he experienced poverty when he lost his job and failed in his business. Coupled with those failures, losing a spouse and facing rejection from colleagues, was certainly painful. Rather than spiraling to depression or alcoholism, the president maintained focus and attained his goals. Undoubtedly, the dinner with President Lincoln, would have provided me with a positive outlook on life.
 
References
Fehrenbacher, D. (1992). Selected speeches and writings/Lincoln.
Wagner, E. (2013, September 12). Five reasons 8 out of 10 businesses fail. Forbes. Retrieved
from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericwagner/2013/09/12/five-reasons-8-out-of-10-businesses-fail/#b39323c6978d
Woods, L. (2017, May 12). Warren Buffett’s failures: 10 investing mistakes he regrets. Retrieved
from https://www.gobankingrates.com/net-worth/7-investing-mistakes-warren-buffett-regrets/