Blog 2

        The first eight chapters of Franklin’s Autobiography describe his early life through his travels and beginnings in Philadelphia. As I read through the autobiography, there were a few things about both Franklin’s characteristics and some of the situations that he went through that stood out to me. Franklin for the most part did not seem to complain about anything he’s was going through. He might have in person and there were a few disgruntled writings such as mentioning that he and the others that were heading for Amboy had been on the water for thirty hours with no food or drink; yet, his writing style and how he would switch to a happier topic showed that it really did not bother him. Often in today’s society, we find it so easy to complain about things since everything is nearly handed to us. When it is this easy for us to be warm and sheltered, well fed, and go nearly anywhere without having to walk the whole distance, we tend to get upset at whatever does not follow this ideal. I think Franklin understands that everyone has to go through hardship at times, and to not complain about them since there is reward at the end of it all. Also, the personal drive that Franklin had was very remarkable. The entire account of his travel towards Philadelphia in chapter three sounded grueling. Personally, I do not think that I would have been able to make the same journey, yet his determination pushed him to make it the whole way. I think Franklin’s determination is one of the main reasons of why he was a respected and accomplished person.

        What also astounded me about Franklin’s character was how young he was during these chapters. He was only eighteen by chapter five, and yet had a solid and giving personality that was shrouded with self-motivation and intelligence. Today, by modern psychology’s point of view, his mental age was likely that of a late twenty, early thirty-year-old. It makes me wonder where along the line of Franklin’s time to today did we lose this gumption in young adults and this standard of maturity. Possibly it could be due to our easier life styles since the majority of us do not have to worry about working in our early teen years in order to set up a business of our own like Franklin did. There also could be the possibility that there are still young adults in the world that are willing to work as hard as Franklin and are just not noticed. In any case, if young adults today had the same work ethic as Franklin did then, they would probably be able to advance this nation in a more holistic way.

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