A1

When you are “A number 1” you are deemed to be, per definition, very good or excellent. Looking further at A and 1 by themselves we realize that A is used to introduce someone for the first time or to introduce a class of person. An example would be he is a doctor. 1 then represents unity and a single entity. These definitions only somewhat define what this letter and number mean to us in our daily lives.

When we are students we strive to make our parents proud by getting A’s. At some point those A’s become important to the student themselves as they have a role in where we will go to school and what we will study. That one little letter early in the alphabet plays an important part in where we think we need to go. Along with that letter comes a ranking. If we make enough A’s we can move higher up the rank and aim to be number 1 in our class. Not only does being number one open doors it means you are the best of that particular place. The stress we felt to get to that peak will then only be amplified once we start the next endeavor where we are then placed with others who were also number ones. “Making A’s” gives us opportunities that B’s and C’s may not. It’s funny how two letters so close to A separate us by far more than there spacing in the alphabet. We might as well call them U’s or W’s.

Now to being number 1. It is really simple: To the victor go the spoils. When you are number 1 you are again the best in your arena. Whether it is academic or athletic being number 1 gets you noticed. The funny thing about being the best is that it can be fleeting. Yes, there are those that can hang on to the spot for a good period of time but many times success leads to complacency. Continuing to be successful takes more work than the first time and if it doesn’t work and we fail we question why we tried so hard to repeat. Being the best also has limitations. Being the best in your county is amazing but there can only be one who is number 1 in the state. This is also the same for your region, the country and the world. Being the best is just that. What are the aspirations after you have succeeded? Is there a satisfaction with being the best at your school? Is there talent and desire to be number 1 higher up the chain? These are questions that must be pondered deeply by those involved. We, as a society, can surmise that it should be a forgone conclusion that “the one” would want to strive for more. While our thoughts are often entertained, and create amazing chatter we have no idea what it took just to get to this level. There may be nothing left for the individual to accomplish in their own mind. One 1 may be enough. Satisfaction is a great feeling and at times the end. The internal push to be the best hurls people to take risks that they would not normally attempt and to possibly lose everything they thought they loved.

Whether it is an A or a 1 the stress can be overwhelming. Now combine the two and become A number 1 and the supreme are made. We think of these people so highly but do we really know what drives them or what they feel inside. If we did there would be more of them.