3 Definition of Success and Some problems/support I have

Economically successful is a sign of success in life. People in society measure one’s success with how much wealth they have acquired. Economic success is a good indicator that someone is successful in life. They had done what is necessary to obtain a large amount of money to show off their richness. For example, people like Bill Gates are considered to be very successful because they are rich. This assumption that money determines success is relatively true. For me personally, I think it is a good way to tell if someone is on the right track in life to prosper. Having money is a sign of success since it means someone worked hard to become rich. In addition, Mark Zuckerberg is a billionaire who created the internationally famous social media website called Facebook and is considered to be very successful. I think he is successful and the position that he is now in is a good indicator. Zuckerberg is a successful person because he is economically recognized by the people in society as a successful person.

Personal achievements are a form of success. By accomplishing a personal goal, it creates a feeling of joy and happiness. The achievement is a big milestone in life that a person has finally overcome. This is a form of success since it helps make a person feel fulfilled inside. In the book, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, the main character named Christopher McCandless achieved his personal goal. “It appeared more beautiful to live low and fare hard in many respects; and though I never did so, I went far enough to please my imagination.” (167). I think that McCandless has achieved his personal goal. He was successful to get to Alaska just by hitchhiking. He was also able to reach his first goal and is admiring the beauty of it. “I am reborn. This is my dawn. Real life has just begun.” (168). McCandless has finally reached his personal goal and is going to continue to survive. I think he finally reaching his goal is a big personal achievement and is considered a success. It is considered a success because the feeling of accomplishing something is the same as suddenly winning the lottery.

Relationship is also a success in life. Relationships can be more than a romantic relationship. It can be a comforting relationship or a business relationship. A relationship is one of the many things in life that everyone needs. Without it, people can’t endure struggles or further their career. “I think it was one of the reasons Chris and I were so close. We learned to count on each other when Mom and dad weren’t getting along.” (107). I think it is good to have a relationship to help endure the hardships in life. One could only shoulder for a limited amount of time before giving up because they have no support to encourage them. To have a relationship for comfort is a good thing since it can give passion to be successful. “Hiking up the mountain became a father-son tradition; they climbed Old Rag almost every year thereafter.” (109). A successful relationship makes bonding easier. I also ensure that there are people out there that care deeply about someone. If a person is to be successful, they need to have successful relationships or else life will just get harder with no support.

Personal goals help me succeed in my community. I have to set up goals to work towards in the future or else I’ll just be wasting my life away doing things I don’t like. To have a goal in life would help anyone succeed if they are working hard enough to achieve it. For example, I set up the goal to graduate high school and for the next 4 years at high school, I worked hard to accomplish that goal and graduated. To accomplish a personal goal creates such a good sensation. It leaves a feeling of success and helps push us forward. For me, it is that same feeling of finally accomplishing something that makes me strive to accomplish the rest of my goals. “I have lived through much, and now I think I have found what is needed for happiness.” (169). Chris McCandless has accomplished his personal goal. He has finally succeeded and knows what he wants to do in the future. I believe that by accomplishing his own goal, he has set his way to accomplishing more personal goals. To succeed, it is important to complete personal goals first then move on to the bigger things. Such things could be improving society or helping other. Bottom line is, if your life goal isn’t accomplished then there is no point in helping others if your life is just as hopeless as the others.

Money limits people’s success. Money is an indicator of success but it can also be a person’s biggest obstacle. Without money, the first step towards success is really hard. For me it was a big issue because college cost a lot of money. This big issue is a struggle for many students just like me. For example, in the book Bread Givers by Anzia Yezierska, Sara the main character struggled to pay for college and had to work to pay for it. I think money issues are the biggest problems a college student has to go through. It is ironic that one of the things that define success also hinders it. Without money to start, success will be a longer journey to achieve. Sara is poor and had to work just to make enough money to attend college and will have to continue to do so if she wants to earn enough money to attend her courses to graduate. Also, Chris’s father, Walt McCandless, struggled to pay for college as well. “To make ends meet, he held down an assortment of part-time jobs through college…” (105). Even though McCandless is a smart and eventually a wealthy man, he still struggled because he had no money. I think money is the key since it is a resource that everyone needs to make the first step. With money, a person can get the best education and pursue what they want to pursue. This will lead to success in the future and a prosperous life.

Transportation is a major problem that interferes with success. Even if a person is successful, it will be a problem if they can’t get to their jobs or appointments on time. To have transportation is an essential component to success since it means a person can get around easier to get better opportunities. Without transportation, it is difficult to be successful. For example, Chris McCandless abandoned his car after a flash flood hit it and resumed his journey on foot. “But there was a way to avoid such aggravation: He could simply abandon the Datsun and resume his odyssey on foot.” (29). I think this loss of transportation has set his journey back. McCandless now has to walk and hitchhike to Alaska which would consume a lot more time. It also made his journey longer to the point where it took him 2 years to reach Alaska. If he still had his car, he could have reached it in about a month or two. I take the bus and bart every day to get to school and it is a huge pain. I am fortunate to have them since it is a public transportation accessible by everyone. “I’ve been stuck here for a couple of days now, trying to get a lift.” (158). I think the lack of transportation is a major setback to success. For McCandless’s case, he can’t get to his destination fast enough and had to wait for days just for a ride. For me it is a big setback since I can’t get to school on time or I will have trouble getting to school. That is why transportation is a huge limit factor in my life.