The Bravest and Scariest Word

In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride.
Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still
alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this
history; for even if I could conceive that I had compleatly overcome it, I should probably be
proud of my humility.
In 1741, Benjamin Franklin wrote this in his autobiography. One of the most successful
and brilliant founding fathers, even he was forced to admit that human perfection was an
impossible task. However, humans are the most determined creatures: we insist that donkeys are
the most stubborn, while we ourselves are resistant of alteration, an argued truth. Somehow this
pride clouds our ability to display weaknesses, faults, any imperfection. Help: the scariest,
bravest word one can utter.
I have failed tests and assignments because I was afraid to ask for help. Somehow,
inquiring as to how to make up this grade is less fearful as asking for help to understand it. I have
made excuses and redirected the blame to avoid verbalizing such a word as help.
The pride that clouds our ability to request help has always existed within humans.
Leonardo Da Vinci, like Benjamin Franklin, attempted perfection, yet in another way: through
art. He spent many years working on the Mona Lisa, though never considered it to be a finished
piece. The Mona Lisa was Da Vincis attempt to capture human perfection, to attempt the perfect
portrait. He referred to his greatest regret in life was that he never completed any of his work;
they were not a faultless, therefore incomplete.

In Edgar Allen Poes short story The Oval Portrait, it tells of a young man who
becomes so infatuated with painting the flawless picture of his wife that she dies as he finishes
the portrait.
Humanitys obsession with perfection is most likely the source of this relentless pride.
Had it been difficult for Franklin, Da Vinci, or Poe to ask for help? Is myand many others
difficultly asking for help a result of the bullying in schools, or an austere education system?
Does it have to do with this idea that humans can be perfect?
Inquiring for help can often be scary. Sometimes its necessary, its not a big deal; but
oftentimes, it seems to be a display of weakness and ineptitude. As everyone has heard many
times: dont be afraid to ask for help. But no matter how many times a teacher may say this,
there are always those who are. Though peers may see a request for assistance as pathetic or
weak, I think its brave. Its brave to speak up when you must, its brave to be able to see this not
as a weakness but as a strength, an exercise of resources. Courage does not mean invincibility; it
means to do all within your power to overcome a challenge. If seeking help from another assists
in accomplishing this problem, then so be it. Unfortunately, many peoplemyself included
forget this, making this reminder all the more important, making help the scariest and bravest
word.