On May 8th, 2017, Imagine Dragons released a single called “Whatever it Takes.” In the lyrics, the lead singer mentions that he is “a product of the system, a catastrophe, and yet a masterpiece.” This is incredibly relatable to school. If you go through your education passively, then you are simply a product of a system. An obedient worker bee that most likely doesn’t have any meaningful life skills.
In fact, we are all products of a system, which brings us to the next part of the quote. He says he is a “catastrophe.” This means that the system didn’t work on him. The education system failed to confine him to the mold that shapes the majority of people.
Instead, he chose his own way. This is why he is “a catastrophe, and yet a masterpiece.” You cannot become the best version of yourself if you are trapped in a mold used on everyone.
So how can you escape this? An earlier line in the song goes like this; “always had a fear of being typical, looking at my body feeling miserable.” A fear of being typical means that he was afraid of turning out like everyone else. The use of “body” in the next line can be analogized to his life and referring to it as “miserable” could stand for how he felt when he was living it passively. Identifying this feeling in yourself is the first step, and if you are reading this, then I know you have this feeling.
The second step is described in a verse from another one of Imagine Dragons songs, “Thunder”. “Kids were laughing in my classes, while I was scheming for the masses.” While being forced to go to school, you must be creating a plan to escape. You have decided you are atypical, so you need to know how exactly you are atypical and how you are going to live your life in that atypical manner.
Once you have a plan, all that's left to do is execute. Don’t be hypothetical. Work towards something you can be proud of. Whatever it takes.
Athlete-Student
BucketsoverBooks
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