Humanism during the Renaissance caused a huge shift in how people viewed themselves and their role in society, focusing on the importance of individual choice and reason.

Humanists during the Renaissance primarily focused on two key ideas: individualism and secularism. I mostly agree with the concept of individualism, which emphasizes that personal achievements are valued more than one’s class or family background. I do believe that anyone form anywhere could make positive contributions to the society. However, from my own experience, I recognize that achieving greatness often requires access to sophisticated education and resources, which usually requires a certain level of wealth or support from family. As a student, success is often measured by good grades, and I’ve noticed that classmates from families who can afford extra classes or tutoring have significant advantages in achieving better grades. While it is certainly possible for individuals from lower-income backgrounds to leave a positive legacy, those with greater financial support generally have more opportunities to succeed, regardless of their personal drive or talent.

I completely support secularism, the idea that religion should be separate from government, since I believe that fair laws should be established based on reason, logic and human rights, rather than religious beliefs. In my community, I have witnessed many irrational decisions made due to an over reliance on religious believes, leading to conflicts and misunderstandings. Religion would have a more positive impact on society when it acts as a guiding ethical framework. In this way, laws can serve as a baseline for individual behavior, while religion can inspire individuals to become better people.

I rated the idea of questioning everything a full 5, as I strongly agree with its importance. People often follow orders from their superiors without thinking. However, it’s important to realize that sometimes these orders can hold us back from achieving our goals. I have been part of the student council since joining ISB and have loved being on stage as an MC. But after years of preparation and experience, I was suddenly told I could no longer host events. While many students acceated this decision without question, I chose to challenge it. After discussing my concerns with my superior, I realized that this management style would prevent me from contributing to the student community and growing personally. This situation conflicted with my goals, so I decided to step down. Looking back at the recent assembly under the new management, I see that my choice was the right one for my development. This aspect of humanism has inspired me the most, as my personal experience has taught me that questioning the status quo can help create a better environment for ourselves and others also allowing everyone to thrive.

Humanists during the Renaissance not only focused on philosophical ideas and past achievements but also aimed to push beyond those boundaries. I strongly agree with this approach, rating it a full 5, as it emphasizes the importance of observation and experimentation in advancing knowledge. By encouraging students to engage in these methods, humanists laid the groundwork for future scientific and technological developments. For instance, the shift from accepting traditional beliefs to questioning and testing them through observation led to countless discoveries. I’ve seen whether in science classes or everyday life, experimenting with ideas and gathering evidence allows us to draw more accurate conclusions and help the humankind to improve as a whole.

In conclusion, the humanist ideals of individualism, secularism, questioning authority, and the value of observation and experimentation have greatly influenced my perspective. On behalf of my overall agreement with these principles, I approximate myself as a humanist to be around 85%.