Greatness Doesn’t Stop…
Today, we had our first quiz where I actually knew all of the answers! Praise the Lord! I will be forever indebted to my fellow classmates who decided to stand, with me, and be the leaders we are all capable of being. This was glorious and beautiful and I can now leave class with a little more pep in my step because I know I did well. Thank you class…thank you Dr. Sandridge. I proudly accept this A on my quiz. *inserts hand wave and tears*
Now that my acceptance speech is over, let’s get to the nitty gritty! *rubs hands* (Total time elapsed: 1 hour, 20 minutes)
Day Twenty-Five (November 17, 2015):
Read Plutarch’s Life of Alexander the Great, Parts One and Two (of seven). Compare and contrast Alexander to Cyrus, especially in terms of their character. What stories of Alexander, or themes of his early life, remind you of stories we have read of Cyrus?
In comparing Alexander and Cyrus, I think among the most obvious things to mention is that they both are leaders. Cyrus is a good leader who has a reputation for uniting. He is admired and respected by many and his followers are loyal and extremely supportive. There are several accounts throughout the reading that depict Cyrus as a caring and thoughtful person, let alone leader. Moreover, he is courteous, genuine and extremely loyal. Alexander, on the other hand, is strong and his strength, in my opinion, stems from his genuinity. He was respected for not only being Phillip II’s son, but also for being Alexander and being such a relatable and trustworthy person. Alexander is the real deal, authentic. (He’s Ralph Lauren and not U.S. Polo Associated. EL OH EL.)
Both Cyrus and Alexander are able to draw a crowd and followers, but not in the same way as Alcibiades. These two are able to garner support for being themselves, such genuine and ardent souls. (Total time elapsed: 3 hours, 40 minutes)
Day Twenty-Six (November 19, 2015):
Read Plutarch’s Life of Alexander the Great, Parts Three through Seven. Select three stories from the Life of Alexander that seem especially implausible. How do you think these stories got started and were passed down to Plutarch four hundred years later?
Alexander, The Horse Whisperer?
Okay, so from my understanding, there is this horse that no one, and I mean absolutely no one, can tame. But, surprisingly, Alexander is able to calm the horse and charm him. He comes out of nowhere and is able to influence and persuade the horse to calm. How sway?! I, for one, do not believe in dog whisperers and quite frankly, I have never heard of a horse whisperer. I think that this story is a bit of a stretch to show how likeable Alexander is, however, I do not think that this was necessary. Alexander was great in being just himself. Unnecessary fluff and stories similar to this one just take away from his natural born greatness.
This story seemed to be the only implausible one, in my opinion. I never seem to question the writing of history. However, some stories that I feel others may find implausible and hard to believe would be the story regarding Alexander becoming upset with Aristotle and his work. Which, in itself, is weird. I mean, why would I get upset about my professor sharing his success stories, especially if my story was one of them. That makes absolutely no sense. I feel that Aristotle did nothing wrong as he simply was showcasing his good work. Who doesn’t like to shine every now and then? (Total time elapsed: 3 hours)
Here is a job listing for the Dean of the college of arts and sciences at Clark University in Atlanta. Note that there is a long list of knowledge, skills, and abilities expected of the role. Do you think Alexander would make a good candidate? Why or why not? What other characters from the Life of Alexander might be more qualified? Would you yourself expect to be qualified for this role in 10–20 years?
That awkward moment when this job listing is no longer available. However, one good thing about me is that I can have a vivid imagination when I need to. So, that being said I can imagine the list of knowledge, skills and abilities that would be expected for a dean of a college. And with this same imagination, I can see Alexander being an exceptional choice. For one, he is handsome and he smells good. What woman would turn away a nice looking man who smells like heaven? (Not I.) Furthermore, based off the readings, Alexander was a great leader and had a sound mind. I imagine that leading a country and empire is far more difficult than acting as a dean of a college. Can’t be too hard, right?
I think that I would be a pretty good dean of a school, if I ever had the desire for it. However, I do not have the desire to do so. This reminds me of a conversation that I had not too long ago where I was asked why I wasn’t an RA. I mean, I could be an amazing RA and I love to mentor and look after people, however, at this point in my life I am being selfish. Like, you don’t get your 20s back; I cannot relive these years and so I have chosen to be selfish with my time. (And rightfully so.) But, maybe in a few years, I could retire and be a dean, but I would need the proper workings and inside scoop on running a university before making a final decision. After all, the education of the youth would be in my hands. However, Alexander was an exceptional leader and this is why I am now studying and learning about him, years later! Like I said, greatness does not stop!(Total time elapsed: 2 hours)