Being yourself in a world that constantly tries to turn you into something else is a person's greatest achievement simply because it is so rare in our world today. People tend to give in to conformity for the satisfaction of others. If you have individuality, you have the world. Individuality not only sets you apart from society, but from the world itself. Individuality is not always praised in today's world, but it is vital to creating change. In the poem A Psalm of Life, the text Self-Reliance, and the artwork The Wanderer we get a sense of how individuality is a good thing and should be embraced and encouraged. To be an individual, one must create one's own life without limits, express one's own way of being without fear, and continue to move forward despite obstacles in one's way. In CD Friedrich's painting The Wanderer we see a feat -like a man standing on a rock looking at the horizon. The vision is foggy and distorted, making the audience uneasy about what lies ahead. The man seems determined to move forward even if the journey is unpredictable. The man in the painting is any individual in the world who wants to pursue his own ambitions. The foggy backdrop is life and all the struggles one must overcome to succeed. The man's business suit symbolizes his wisdom and success in his life. The fact that he is on top of the rock and looking forward symbolizes his drive to continue climbing even though he has already reached a point of success that is worth settling for. He stands out from most people who conform for a decent time in their life and creates his own limitations as he continues to strive for more. The fact that it is imperceptible means that it could be anyone who is willing to be... in the center of the card... such as Pythagoras, Socrates, Jesus, Luther, Copernicus and Newton. He concludes by saying, “To be great is to be misunderstood,” meaning just because others doubt you doesn't mean you have to respect them, but should instead boast about your individuality. To be an individual you need to be independent and self-sufficient. . Confidence and determination are important to be an individual. A Psalm of Life, The Wanderer, and Self-Reliance all help clarify the meaning of individuality and how, even though it is frowned upon, it is necessary. It's difficult to be different in a society that craves conformity, but it's not impossible. If you are capable of thinking your own thoughts and you should embrace it and flaunt it. You are different from everyone for a reason. Find it and run with it. Next time you think about conforming, remember that only dead fish go with the flow.