People's behavior is determined largely by forces not of their own making. 

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position.

The aphorism "You can do whatever you put your mind to!" seems to represent the pith of modern western, American, thought on human will and behavior. However, this claim oversimplifies an individual's strength against society. Although to a point, an individual can choose to behave exactly as one is willing, however, a helpless individual is bound to be affected (whether positively or negatively) by the forces of society. 

The Outlier, the single best-selling non-fiction of our time, author Gladwell compares two of the most intelligent individuals in America. Two men who had the top IQ's in America came out with different results in their lives. One man became a leading politician who was the mastermind behind the famous Manhattan Project, the other lived a rather mundane life in Ohio. What caused this divergence? Gladwell, agreed by many of his readers, points to the importance of perspiration over innate talent in guaranteeing an individual's success. The popularity of his conclusions in this book represents many people's belief that an individual can shape one's own success working sedulously enough.

It is true that one needs to put in the hours to succeed and become an outlier in the field, but one should not overlook the circumstances that allow for individuals to put in the effort. Bill Gates was born into an affluent family and had access to a computer lab at 17, at a time when computers were not widespread. It was because his high school had decided to invest in a computer lab that Bill Gates was able to toil numerous hours on the computer. A combination of luck and effort shaped his success.

Gainsayers to the claim that people's behaviors are determined largely by external forces would provide self-made millionaires as one of their most compelling evidence, that they were born into poor families and made themselves up. However, the rarity of such examples proves just that it is extremely difficult to overcome situations one is born into. If people's behavior were determined largely by their own making, it would not be as difficult for people to overcome poverty that has been handed down to them spanning multiple generations. The case is similar for minorities in corporate America. Strong-willed individuals work assiduously to climb the corporate ladder yet report to facing the "glass ceiling" or the "bamboo ceiling." It is reductionist to simply say to these people to "try harder" because "you can do anything you put your mind to!".

In conclusion, if an individual puts great effort into realizing his or her will, he or she is highly likely to achieve it. However, this does not mean that individuals are able to behave entirely according to their internal will. Situations not of their making will inevitably affect an individual's behavior and decisions. External forces may largely determine an individual's success.