GMAT Essays (AWA)

Prompt

When someone achieves greatness in any field-such as the arts, science, politics, or business-that person's achievements are more important than any of his or her personal faults



There are arguments to be made on both sides of the issue presented by the author. While some may argue that personal achievements are more important than personal faults and cite example of great scientist Albert Einstien, others may argue for the reverse side of the issue. For me, because personal greatness makes an individual a role model for the society and hence increasing the visibility of their personal faults in a larger way, i give more importance to an individual's conduct and disagree with the author's assertion that important achievements should overshadow personal faults of a person.

Great achievers are looked with highest regard in the society and should serve the society not only with their achievements but also with their conduct. People only laud the achievements of great pesonalities as long as individuals are morally correct. Let's look at one of the highlighted case of recent times that of golf super star Tiger Woods. Not long ago he was considered the best golfer of all times and was a brand ambassador of some of the most expensive brands and everyone wanted to be around him or like him, but with the exposure of his infidelity with his wife and his involvment with a number of women, he has only a few supporters or admirers around him. A indication that society still puts moral values above all achievements.

In today's world where moral values fall by leaps and bounds, its everyone's responsibility to improve ethics in the society. Great achievers are the icons of a society and can help improve the ethics and morality more than others. There are several individuals who are still remembered for the things they did for the good of the society, take for instance the Mahatma Gandhi, who got India's independence almost single handedly. He is still as remember as the father of the Nation in India and his birthday is celebrated as a national holiday to date. On the other hand there are numerous instances in the history where personal faults have lead to downfall of an individual whose achievements were otherwise exceptional. Two of widely known individuals are Bill Clinton, for infamous Monica Lewinsky's case and Adolf Hitler for his treatment of Jews.

Therefore as it finally stands, true achievers are the ones that not only benefit society with their achievements but also with their actions. Their achievements will be of little importance if they don't supplement their actions with greatness.