The Wright Brothers
David McCullough
1. I was most surprised by how modest the brothers were. The fact that they could create something so advanced at their time still amazes me. Their father even was mentioned for how proud he was of his sons. They expressed modesty and were known to be true gentlemen. Wilbur is the person I admire most. I like the way he was described as quiet and reserved yet hiding a brilliant mind. I can relate to someone who is very reserved and focused on their own world. The thing that I least admired was their lack of effort in making a relationship. I can respect that they may have been too busy to settle down, but I feel like they may have missed out on a big part of life. Wilbur encountered serious adversity growing up. With the burden of his own health problems, Wilbur had a sick mother. Wilbur's health deteriorated causing serious pain and leading him to depression. Despite this, Wilbur managed to care for himself and his mother as long as he could.
2. Wilbur's competencies included responsibility. Wilbur was known for his devotion to caring for his mom despite his own health problems. It was noted that he may have extended her life by two years because of his care. Another competency demonstrated is teamwork. The brothers stayed very close and developed their ideas together. Despite arguments and disagreements, the brothers developed a historical invention together.
3. The most confusing part of the reading for me was understanding who was being talked about. Sometimes it would seem like they were talking about Orville, but they were actually talking about Wilbur through Orville's perception. It would be like that or they would talk about someone through someone else's perception which got a little confusing.
4.If they could fly anywhere on Earth would they prefer to fly in Ohio or somewhere else? I would ask this because they were so proud of their location growing up. There are so many more beautiful places to explore.
Would they attribute their innovation to boredom or a desire to be something? I would ask this because their ideas seemed pure without an incentive to make a ton of money. They seemed to have formed their ideas from their own perceptions of the world and their own journey for a thrill.
5. I think their opinion of hard work was basically just a way of life for them. They knew that they were devoted to something but didn't seem to want it any other way. I respect their passion and dedication, but I don't see myself to have a strong dedication like they did. In the future, I hope to feel as passionate about something as they did and all the hard work that I put in will not be anything more than a day in the life.
3. The most confusing part of the reading for me was understanding who was being talked about. Sometimes it would seem like they were talking about Orville, but they were actually talking about Wilbur through Orville's perception. It would be like that or they would talk about someone through someone else's perception which got a little confusing.
4.If they could fly anywhere on Earth would they prefer to fly in Ohio or somewhere else? I would ask this because they were so proud of their location growing up. There are so many more beautiful places to explore.
Would they attribute their innovation to boredom or a desire to be something? I would ask this because their ideas seemed pure without an incentive to make a ton of money. They seemed to have formed their ideas from their own perceptions of the world and their own journey for a thrill.
5. I think their opinion of hard work was basically just a way of life for them. They knew that they were devoted to something but didn't seem to want it any other way. I respect their passion and dedication, but I don't see myself to have a strong dedication like they did. In the future, I hope to feel as passionate about something as they did and all the hard work that I put in will not be anything more than a day in the life.
Hello Matt! I thought this was a great reading reflection that was well formatted. One aspect of your post that I enjoyed most was the two questions you would ask the brothers. I thought it was funny that you pointed out that there are a ton of more beautiful places to explore besides Ohio. Your second question was interesting because you suggest their desire to create came from a genuine place without chasing a lucrative idea. Finally, I enjoyed in section five when you explained their work ethic was simply their way of life. Great post!
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