Can Hard Work Ensure Success?

It’ s widely believed that as long as one works hard enough, he will surely succeed. Students are always told by teachers and parents that as long as they work hard, they are sure to get good grades, rank higher or be the top student in their class. Employees are told by their colleagues and bosses that as long as they work hard, they will get promotion someday. But can the prevailing belief be completely justified? In other words, is hard work the only factor that leads to success? I have long-held doubt toward the belief. In my view, hard work plays a vital role in attaining success. But it cannot guarantee success in that apart from hard work, other factors also matter.

To begin with, rationality counts in one’ s pursuit of success. That is to say, we need to be realistic and think carefully about our choices and purposes. For example, a high school student in grade 3 has average academic performances at school. But he wishes to be admitted into Peking University for university education. Can he have a breakthrough in the last year before the coming of College Entrance Examination? I believe the answer is No. The instance is used to demonstrate that success demands rationality. Don’ t be indulged in the wildest fantasy in our life.

Secondly, one’ s state of mind can have great influence on the results of one’ s endeavor. Exam is not an unfamiliar to everyone since we grow up with exams. One’ s efforts and preparation prior to an exam is the prerequisite of his success in an exam. But if he gets exceedingly nervous and anxious in an exam, he may not be able to have a clear mind and is likely to be confronted with failure. That is the reason why some good students get lower grades than usual. On the contrary, some students get better grades than usual because they are so calm and patient that they don’ t get anxious when confronted with somewhat difficult problems on exam paper.

Thirdly, as for success in one’ s career, factors differ in different industries. For instance, as is known to us all, an actor or actress needs to be good-looking. That’ s reasonable since audience would like to see beautiful actresses and handsome actors. Although those who are good-looking but act poorly are always criticized and despised, we can’ t deny the importance appearance plays in an actor’ s career. The same is for those jobs including models, airline stewardesses.

In short, apart from hard work, rationality, state of mind, appearance and other factors unmentioned also play their respective roles in one’ s success. So the belief that as long as one works hard enough, he will surely succeed are not tenable. 

作文题目为“只要努力就一定能成功吗”。一是要求考生描述此观点，说明很多人认同这一观点。二是要求考生表达自己针对这一观点的看法，并论证。可以对这一观点表示赞同或反对。如果表示赞同，可以以一些成功名人为例加以论证。如果反对，可以提出有其他因素也影响一个人是否能够成功，并加以论证。