Define success

  How do you define success?

 One definition of success is feeling content with yourself in the workplace. Most people as kids dream to be one thing but as they get older those dreams get crushed, so they end up in a poor work environment and they hate what they do.  When waking up everyday the feeling of going to work should be exciting. It is those people who thrive and feel successful when they enjoy what they do for a living. It is not the paycheck that is reward but the craft someone truly is passionate about. Furthermore, when Chris is working his manager says,” Alex, I don't mean to be on you about everything. You're doing a great job. I wanna keep you on and we all wanna help you get to Alaska, but you've got to start wearing socks”. Since this job for him was just for the time being so he can get to Alaska it didn’t bother him too much. For those people who are continually harassed by their bosses it is frustrating and it dehumanizes the person. Being that the person hates there job has always compounded into other areas, which makes them hate the life they are living. It is going through the motions day in and day out that eats a person from the inside out. Success comes from how you feel when you are at work rather than satisfying the social acceptance of having a high paying job.

            Another definition for success is being able to achieve what goals you have set. There is not greater satisfaction than finally achieve what you have worked so hard for. The challenges you face in the road toward your goal are going to make success feel that much better. It is failures that shape how magnified your success will feel. Those who attain a certain goal without any hard work and struggle behind don’t feel like they have won, rather you feel worse. When Alex was eating with his parents, they said,” Since you graduated college, why don’t we buy you a new car. No I’m fine with the one I have.”  He was content with the car he had even though it wasn’t the greatest car. Those don’t work hard for what they want will never actually value the material good they have, for them it’s something mom and dad gave me. It’s the struggle that changes how you view your achievements; it will give you so much pride.

What helps you succeed in your community? What prevents your success?

                   One reason that helps me succeed in my community is the friends you keep. The biggest influence on your life besides your parents are you friends. Most people are peer pressured into good or bad things. You don’t want to be the person who doesn’t agree to do something when the rest are going with it. It’s the company you keep that your success is greatly based on. Those that are doing the right thing help guide you into doing the same thus increasing your chances of being successful. The people Chris met on the road had the same ideas as Chris. The people who he met on his voyage to Alaska actually fueled his fire to get there. Many encouraged him instead of putting him down. 

                   The biggest factor for me in trying to succeed throughout college is my culture. Being that I am the first to go to college in my family education doesn’t have such a big weight on it as getting a job and helping out the family. I can understand where my parents are coming from being that in a time of recession. I am the first generation to be born here in America, which plays a huge role in how much support I get.  Being able to have support from your family can greatly increase success. Only I know the importance of having an education after college so I have to self motivate myself to not give up. On the other hand my little brother gets all his support from me. I think it is the support system that it is set up for you that will have big impacts in your success.