Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.
Each of
us humans is strong, creative, very opened-minded individuals that all have
many different talents and personalities. Sometimes people can’t decipher from
the good and the bad or what’s right and what’s wrong for them. Everything in
life is certainly a challenge and a struggle. If we take a step back and take a
look at the entire package, you might find out things you didn’t know before.
Figuring out who you are, certainly another challenge, the who, what, where,
when and how we even made it through each and every obstacles that caused each
individual madness and frustration, as it still does today.
In this novel, Into
the Wild by Jon Krakaeur talks about a young boy who struggled thought ups
and downs within his family. His own father was living a lie; he had already
had another family. That’s what makes Chris a bit angry with his own father.
Chris had everything he wanted, but he felt it wasn’t enough, he was still
missing something. After Chris graduates he decides to take off and has his own
journey in mind. He goes off into the wild with barley any food or water to
survive. Just crazy if you asked me, but this is Chris’ life not mines.
Eventually Chris doesn’t make it, ends up dying of starvation. What a horrible
way to end your life but in reality that’s what Chris wanted.
Another example I am using for this paper is this film
called The Passion Project by the
student of Chabot College and Mr. McFarland himself. This film is based on
student’s lives and how they feel about education and who they are and what
they would like to become someday. Of course things don’t come easy and
everything is a challenge. Parents get in the way as well as money,
transportation, and all these new laws and regulations occurring day in and day
out. In the end those who survive and follow their dreams as well as their hearts
will become successful.
In this paper I will discuss problems and solutions about
education, family, passion and privilege as well as equality and the many
trials and tribulation of life. Also I will investigate the good and bad facts
of life, especially sense a lot of people come from noting but yet still make
the best out it and strive to be a great person and be successful. There are
many people as well as students who strive to make a better path and life for
themselves as well as their families no matter the struggle. That’s what this
paper is about an I use myself as an example because I have been through the
same issues that many people today still go through on a daily bases.
As we discuss the many ideas of passion, education,
privilege, class we look at the trial and errors of each. From the great
aspects of getting an education and so forth to passion and what your desires
and needs and love for life are. As well as the equality and desire to feel
some value of importance. With these thoughts in mind how do you address these
matters to make sense to where we collaborate the facts that class, passion and
education as well as equality play a big part in our daily lives? Some ideas
are much more important and valuable to others, we all have different
priorities and morals in our lives and some just don’t make any sense at all.
First I'll start with how this book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer which is about a young boy who came
from a high class family who only wanted the best for himself. He certainly had
everything he needed and wanted, he did have to ask for much, because his
parents were willing and ready to give him all he wanted. His parents had money
and both wanted the best for Chris their son, who wants more to life than the
material things, he wants to go deeper with his thoughts and feelings about who
he truly is and what his passion is. An example was, “In truth Mc Candless had
been raised in the comfortable upper-middle-class environs” (pg19 Kaureur).
Even thought Chris came from a good standing family, once again that didn’t
mean much to him after all. There was
one big turn that I believe is the reason for Chris just disappearing like he
did, and its cause he felt alone, isolated from who is really way and where he
came from. After finding out his own father was living a lie, he already had a
family elsewhere and yet he with Chris's mom and now that Chris knows this he
totally reacts accordingly to his deep thoughts and feelings about it all and
sets off to this world of being alone and fighting to stay alive with little
food and survival things, he lose hope and eventually dies, fighting for so
long this is where Chris wanted to be, sad yet true.
One way that passion intersected with the
book Into the Wild was with self-
determination. Right after his college graduation he set off for a long
adventurous journey into the wild. He came across many different people and
always made the best out of each encounter. Christopher had this desire, this
passion to be away from society, he wanted to just get away from it all. He
tells his parents, "I think I'm going to disappear for a while" (pg
21 Krakauer). Shortly after that, he did just that and disappeared for a long
time. Soon after he burned his id and cut all his credit cards and make sure he
became anonymous. He definitely accomplished that goal, pretty gutsy move but
that's something that he wanted, he hoped for, his passion so he did what he
had to do to make sure he was happy no matter what. He felt that by making this
move he might figure out what his passion truly is or who he really is. Another
example was when he mentions how you have to just go with the flow at times,
especially when you don’t understand. In this example, “It is in everything and
anything we might experience. We just have to have the courage and turn against
our habitual lifestyle and engage in unconventional living” (pg 57 Krakauer).
Chris simply wanted to live his life, with less structure as possible; he
wanted to be free from civilization and all responsibilities. This was his
destination, his passion this is what he wanted and no one was going to stop
him. When a person is driven to their passion, they have a goal and they most
reach it, and no one will interfere with their battle to achieve what’s in
their heart.
Another way this book intersects with passion
is equality, which comes from this fact that Chris wanted to feel some type of
importance in life sense he wasn't getting it from his own family. We ask
ourselves, do we think that if we make a decision right now, this moment, could
or will it jeopardizes us in any way possible? Did Christopher think about that
when he was hurting his family, not one bit? Does that make it right that he
just left without saying anything, yes maybe? His parents were in fact worried
about him and didn't know what to do or what had happened. His own father
mentions, "That really scares us, say's Walt, "By that point we had
absolutely no idea what Chris could be up to" (pg 31 Krakauer). Chris felt
it was all a lie especially after he went to L.A and met some family friends
and they told him how his father was already married and had a family so Chris
wasn't his first. His own father used to hit their mother and argued all the
time, even in front of Chris and his sister. So Chris left to find some
equality within him sense he couldn't get any from neither one of his own
parents. Another example from this is, “Eventually Chris rebelled, when he
finally did, it was with characteristic immoderation. He told his sister he
finally reached his breaking point” (Krakauer). He set off on a journey
anonymously and continued his passion to find equality and freedom from all
society and all of its rules and regulations about life; he just wanted to be
free from it all no worries whatsoever. He felt that he would be happier out in
the wild instead of feeling like an animal living in the zoo with all the lies
and nonsense already going on in his own home. Instead he just left, and no one
knew about his where bout’s at all, which was what Chris wanted.
A third way that this book Into the Wild intersects with passion is
this concept of class is based on how wealthy his family was so he came up with
very good standings, went to a good school had a car, lived in a big home, his
parents both worked. The father worked for NASA as a scientist. So we get the
picture, and right after his graduation Chris meets with his parents and they
tell him they want to buy him a new car in case his old one breaks down or
falls apart. He mentions how he doesn't want the materials things in life, he
wants deeper, like love and honestly and loyalty. He doesn't get that from
them, so he feels like he doesn't owe them anything. Chris tells us this in one
of his journals, "I'm going to have to be real careful not to accept any
gifts from them in the future because they will think they have bought my
respect” (pg 21 Krakauer). He gets a bit angry and questions them back and
tells them how he is not interested in the fancy cars and material things, he
doesn't want anything, and those things aren't what are important to him. Chris
wants more than these materialistic things, he wants to feel like he is loved
and what’s to feel like he is special and came become a real man like his own
father, but actually it’s the opposite. His own father betrayed him and his
mother and sister, so why would anyone want to become like this man, father
figure at that. This shows how you can have everything and still felt like it's
never enough, all Chris wanted was to feel equal to his own family as well as
his own father, but he felt as if he didn’t have anyone but himself which is
why we left into the wild anonymously. “Only a life lived for others are a life
worthwhile.” This quote which I found on the internet explains in reference to
this story how a boy struggled to find himself and through others he felt as if
he could live his life and figure out his destiny, I do believe that sometimes
these issues come up and it's hard to say if this is true or not, but through
this story and many others I do believe this quote to be right on point with a
compare and contrast model that can help an individual find themselves or at
least a step in the right direction.
Whatever your passion; Explore
it, Go for it, let it flow! Watching this
movie, The Passion Project gave me a
lot of insight about my future and who I am and what my passion truly is and my
struggle through it all. I will never forget the first time my best friend s
mom asked me, "Stephanie have you found yourself?" I laugh about this
all the time, but it was true, she was just curious if I found my passion for
life. It’s like you have to know what desires you have each day you wake up.
What drives you into this world with many ideas and career’s? It definitely
took me a long time to figure it out until one day a friend ask me, "Steph
why don't you look into Photography, you’re always taking pictures." I
thought that might be a good idea and I should look into it, and now I've been
doing Photography for 5 years now and still pursuing my career and now thinking
of combining graphics design with it as well. It’s now a part of me and I can
only shape and form a better future for myself. An example from The Passion Project movie Tiffany
mentions this important fact, “It’s something that drives you that excites you,
makes you feel good.” That is exactly what passion is, and that is why I enjoy
taking photos, it’s something about life that speaks to me a way no one else
can. I never thought I would doing what I am doing today, but truthfully if you
figure out what your strengths and weakness are in life you should be able to
pin point your passion and the rest should follow and flow like it was second
nature. Just like this quote I found on the internet as well, “The purpose of life is a life of purpose.”
Without this there is no purpose, you can't have life. Find yourself and figure
out what makes you happy. Soon you will have sense of what your desires and
passion of life is. When you make it this far, get out there and make it
happen, only you hold the power to do so!
With that in mind take a look at how the differences
between passion and privilege matter and yet are similar. The difference between
these two concepts varies in many different ways, meaning there could be more
than one answer for this. Passion is something you love to do, you desire to
do, something that just comes naturally because you love it so much. Were as
privilege is something that can’t be seen, in fact it's the complete opposite
of passion. Privilege can be seen as something that you have or it could be
anything of value, meaning who you are individually. For example your religion
could be a privilege or even how you were brought up in this world, meaning
your class. In the book The Bread Givers by
Yezierska, the youngest sister who comes from a family of religion and old
fashion rules, wants an education and more to life than she was given but the
other’s disagree, “Come, Bessie Let’s leave her to her mad education. She’s
worse than Father with his Holy Torah” (pg 178 Yezierska). This young girl had
passion for education and to become what she wanted to become and not what her
father or other’s in her family thought of her, she continued to fulfill her
dreams. No matter the consequences she was a brave girl who knew what she
wanted out of life. Those are things that could be considered examples of
privilege. Another example between these two concepts is that passion comes
naturally, because it's something you love to do and you do it alone, like
being your own leader yet privilege is something that you end up doing because
others are as well, for example following the leader instead of being a leader.
So the difference between them two is being a leader verses being a follower.
When you lead you follow your own heart and mind. When you follow you not only
following someone else's heart and wishes but you’re not standing for what you
as the individual believes in. Like they say if you don't stand for something
you will fall for anything. A example of this comes from the video The Passion Project this quote in the
beginning from Ray makes sense to this, "in order to love life you have to
find your passion; you have to find what truly makes you happy and when you
find what truly makes you happy you gata chase after it; you gata take those
risks." He's saying in order to enjoy life you first must find your
passion and when you find your passion you will then have to continue chasing
after it and thus taking risks which could lead you in the wrong path or the
right path, sometimes you have no choice to do certain things especially when
you’re only trying to succeed and become a better person and be able to help
the next individual find themselves as well. This is where both passion and
privilege could have some sort of connection, meaning to find your passion you
have to take risks' these risk's could damage you or help you and that's what
privilege does at times, not knowing what the outcomes is could be detrimental,
but you do it anyways to help you determine your next step in success and or
your desire and passion for your life, something like that. Just like photography,
we develop through the negatives & together come up with a theory that we
all develop differently but yet were all looking for our life's purpose and
figure out our passion and develop thorough these many obstacles we face and
become a success in life!
Now let’s take a step back just for a second,
this video I found was very interesting about how low-income communities, such
as east Oakland need the help and support to help one another succeed instead
of killing one another. A huge battle we, the world faces every day. I also
feel a connection with this subject in reference to privilege as well. If only
we could change the way people thought or even change how we talk, or act in a
matter of seconds, life could be much greater view to look at over all, yet the
grass certainly isn’t always green on the other side though neither. In this
video by Jeff Andrade named Growing Roses in concrete found on YouTube about
how we can help others with change and build a house with bricks thrown at you,
deeply touched me in many ways, in fact I struggle day in and day out just like
you, and you. Sometimes you have to step out of your element, for example
Samira in The Passion Project film
mentions this, “Alleviating that stress. It doesn’t change that’s going on
outside of you but it starts it slowly will start to change how you deal with
it. Knowing that I can come here every day; it’s a safe environment. I can do
what I need to do.” If you just take yourself out of the mess or maybe just
maybe you could get something better out of your life by simply taking yourself
out of all the hardships around you. Sometimes that’s just what’s best if
separate yourself from bad people and things around you and watch how much you
blossom into a beautiful flower. My response to this video is very deep in the sense
that I have seen and heard so many different things that’s it hard to grasp
what I am truly trying to say. I mean that I feel that if people want change
then they have to start with themselves. First find yourself figure out where
your heading, find your goals and reach for the stars. If Obama can do it then
so can you. Anyone can come from the bottom and still make their way out and
become someone. It's up to you as the individual to make anything happen in
your court. All these crimes and killing have to stop sometime, or else were
only making our communities smaller and smaller. I’m certainly not making any
type of justice with you as the people destroying your own city. These
important people build youth center and after school programs for children who
want to get out of that lifestyle and make a better one for them. A perfect
example to this is spoken by the narrator of the The Passion Project film, “Instead of fearing mistakes we can learn
to welcome them as a mentor teaching valuable skills of appreciation.” Everyone
is going to have a different reaction, but if you’re scared of what’s going on
around you, instead of being fearful, learn from it, and help others learn from
it as well. We are all human and make mistakes. Wish we could read people’s
minds, because some just don’t think about the consequences or just don’t care.
I don't know what could or can’t happen but maybe if you watch this video you
may have a different feeling or vibe from it, but in all reality, get up, get
out and make a difference or just sit back and watch your entire world crumb
piece by piece. It’s never too late, to become what you wanted or what you
dreamed of always being.
Many students or even people struggle day in and day out
with these obstacles we face daily. One thing that has been a struggle for me is
school. It has always been difficult for me, especially since I have a learning
disability and I have troubles understand many issues. No matter what I stuck
through it all. My parents helped me a lot during high school by getting tutors
for me left and right. That was the only possible way for me to get through
high school. I wasn't going to give up no matter what. For example, in the
movie The Passion Project, Emily
say’s something and it’s exactly how I feel about learning, “Learning about
other cultures, other ideas, other people, learning in general is like a
passion to me.” I do struggle but indeed I enjoy learning especially when it’s
something I’m interested in. Now today as I still struggle through college,
money is also an issue I face each and every day. It's only been a rough
road but I am still here and haven't given up. I believe in myself and when I
got to college and got my first A and B I was stoked, Yay, I did it and all by
myself. I knew that I could handle this with our without a disability. I was
strong and made sure no matter what I was going to get my point across and make
my way to reach my goals. I felt that was a huge deal breaker, meaning that I
knew after the entire struggle that if I kept pushing myself I would make it as
I did. No matter if I had a learning disability or I was low on funds,
I didn't let that discourage me to thinking that I'm not good enough
or I can't do this or that. I did the opposite, I made it happen and that was
the best feeling in the world especially when others doubt you. Perfect example
from the movie The Passion Project is
when Katrina mentions “I need to survive so I need to get money enough money so
first they think about that. They’re thinking about surviving-and passion-it
could come after I guess.” Sometimes you have to make sacrifices in order to
make the next step into your process of success. Nothing comes easy; it’s just
definitely worth it all. Whether I had to share books or even go half with
another student I made it happen. Just like
my disability I didn't let those obstacles affect my goal
to become a professional photographer, which is now my passion and I strive to
make it happen. Step by step and speed bump by speed bump, I slowly but
surely made my way to the next step and now I’m just a couple classes
away from being a professional. I have made a lot of progress and still in the
process of making better moves for myself to better my career. Since then I
have sold 3 photos in each school show we had, and that there was a true sign
that I was made for this, the art world is
where I'm needed! Exactly my point, I have not failed with these
struggles that I got through; I just simply find ways that won't work for me.
The truth is you have to fail here and there in order to make it right and
figure out your weakness and build that into strength and overcome
your obstacles! I am now feeling like a professional photographer and
have sold 3 images already.
As children we
want to learn as well as grow and adventure out to different directions. Then
we grow into adolescence & end up learning responsibilities and how to be
independent and eventually adjust into adulthood where things only become
difficult. No matter the struggle you must continue to keep on pushing through rain
or snow. This one boy showed how much desire and passion he wanted to learn and
get his education and demanding he get it the right way. If more teachers got
involved with their student’s I could see a change in each student’s passion to
learn and make something out of themselves. An example of this from The Passion Project movie is when Emily
mentions, “They should consider passion because how can they invest in the
student if they don’t know the student’s passion?” Exactly how I feel should
happen, and more often, if teachers would get more into their students, a lot
more could happen in favor to both parties.
On the other hand
some students are simply fed up with teachers and want to actually learn, well
let me tell you about this boy who did just that and was not necessarily
rewarded but he certainly didn’t get in to trouble. After watching this video I
would LOVE to meet this guy, I totally agree with him with the idea that
teachers should put way more effort in their job and teach us individuals what
we need to know. This boy had went back to school at 18 years old and after
having a disagreement this guy Jeff totally calls out the teacher and tells her
how she's lazy and to actually do her job as the teacher, have a passion to
help student that are eager to learn. If not then don't be a teacher, choose
another job that fits you better. Another example from The Passion Project is from Emily, “I’ve been in many classrooms
where the teacher just teaches and doesn’t interact with the students much.” I
see his point I also had to call a few teachers out myself here at Chabot
College. Teachers feel like we’re lazy and were the ones half-assing things yet
it's on them as the teacher to help us want to learn have fun with it; make it
so we enjoy coming every day. I know I enjoy Mr.McFarlands class,
because he makes it interesting, he's real, he's been one of us at one time and
he has a passion to for helping others succeed. That’s what we students
need! Something interesting that happened was the boy never got in
trouble, this video went viral and even on the news, I think this is what the
world needed was for someone to finally stand up and say "Hey, were here
to learn and to better ourselves and to become someone" and by teachers
being lazy and not actually doing their jobs, certainly makes us students have
the same affect and that’s not what us children need, we need strong, eager to
teach and help others in need especially those that want to succeed. Here is
the link for reference, Fed up Student. This guy
just blew me away when I first watched it, but it's real, I feel like I'm
there, Can You Feel it?
As a student I believe that you definitely should be able
to critique a school that you either attend or will be attending. To some
student's education is very important and they actually want to learn as much
as possible to make a better life for themselves or maybe to help their
families. So in essence, yes I do feel us students should be able to evaluate
our teachers and figure out which teacher could help benefit our education
verses those teachers who just do their job and don't care much about the students
and who learns what. In my case and many other’s students who have learning
disabilities and struggles in school should personally be able to get teachers
who specialize in helping disability students. An example of this is when Romeo
from The Passion Project says, “We
can learn things about our self that we don’t know or other people by just
listening to them.” This is very true which is why I like when we get into
discussions about life and ourselves, I always have lots to say. I'm eager to
learn a lot about everything, this is reality, this is my life and I want to
know about everything so I can further my direction and have a better vision on
which direction I am heading and further more to challenge my fears of battling
my learning disability. Which I have made a lot of progress, I am getting A's
and B's and all by myself. No tutors or nothing, which makes me feel good and
helps my self esteem. For example I have learned from each of my struggles and
Tiffany from The Passion Project film
replies to this by saying, “What you take in like it kinda like it shapes you,
it molds you, like it defines you.” I'm here to help and tell those who have
learning disabilities that it's ok, you’re going to make it, with just a little
push from individuals like myself you too can feel as good as I do now, just
keep on pushing through the speed bumps and you'll feel accomplished. This is
how you will successful, take what you learned from yourself or others and let
that help you shape and mold you into the person you dream of becoming.
Feel this for a moment, this is real and I felt it as soon
as it touched me. With this idea of having student's evaluate themselves
through their past, their families and struggles could give them a better sense
of where they are in life this present moment and also to guide them into their
future. Yes, I believe that each student should be able to take a step back and
look into their "situation" at hand and figure out who they really
are, what are my strengths, what are my weaknesses. What support do I have, if
any? Who is willing to support me if I do this or what if I do that? Sometimes
it could be the complete opposite and no one is there for you, or no one is
willing to help or support your decisions you make. Next question, if you don't
have anyone to help you and you feel alone, do you still push on through and
follow your dreams, of course. For example in book Into the Wild mentions, “Do
nothing in haste; look well into each step; and from the beginning think what
may be the end” (pg200 Krakauer). After a while I bet someone somewhere will
see you and will be willing to help you along your path of success. I have
noticed through my many struggles that if others around you see that you’re
going well, they will help you. If you’re screwing up and always messing around
and not taking things seriously, then no one will be willing to help a hand. For
example, when I went back to school for the 4th time, no one thought I would
stick with it, but after a year of making progress, I showed those who doubted
me how good I was doing, showed them my grades and how much improvement I made
and after that my family started seeing a whole new person and they were
willing to help, if and when they could. Now today I have sold 3 photos’ and
have about 3 classes left and I will graduate. If you want the positive help
and change you definitely have to work hard and earn it. It wasn't easy but in
all it's definitely worth it all at the end. That’s the way the cookie
crumbles, that's just life.
All of your goals and dreams are
different but each of us is achieving our goals with many obstacles in between.
We all have to start somewhere and mostly from the beginning. If we don't start
from the beginning, you will end up in a dilemma worse than before. In order to
build a house you have to start from the ground up. With education
it's the same thing, keep going to school to better your chances of success. After
watching this video, I consider myself a dreamer pushing through forming myself
into this idea of a laser. I have found my strengths and weaknesses through
many battles I have faced throughout my journey. This is helping me conquering
my next task during my path of success. An example of how I felt after I
figured out where I wanted to go was spoken by Samira from The Passion Project film, “When I finally got into the world I was
like, “Holy crap is this what it’s like?” As of right now I wouldn't change much about
what type of student I am today, because I have made progress and worked so
hard to get to where I am today. I realized a lot after many battles of
attempting to take my next step, but sometimes I would get things I wouldn’t
expect or something like that. Things can certainly be a drag but most
importantly it’s definitely worth it remember that. Things don’t go the way you
want, you have to take risks and sacrifice things, that’s just how life works,
well for those wanting certain things out of life. Another example of this is
mentioned from Ray in the Passion Project film, “The reason why you would task
risks is better outcome, so why wouldn’t you take a risk to pursue a better
outcome.” You have to take risks in life and make sacrifices in order to get
where you want to be. I made many sacrifices and went without many things I
needed or wanted just to make it where I am right now, so brace yourself, these
things don't come easy, but it's definitely worth it all at the end. This
video Laser Video is where I came up with this idea about which type of a
student I am, it’s definitely something I would recommend anyone lost in life.
It gave me incites on things I didn’t think about, so maybe it can help you
too.
At times us human beings can’t or just won’t try to figure
out the true meaning of life and seriously can’t get their life in order, I
believe it’s this idea that change is unknown; it’s almost scary to a lot of
people. An interesting example that relate to this subject matter is the basics
of getting what you want out of life, living happy and not making excuses. This
video about this idea of wanting more out of life yet you just don’t have the
means to do which leads to denial and never asking for help. I felt it
definitely related to this topic about passion, privilege and this idea of
change. It's about being yourself and keeping it real no matter what. If you
need help with things ask a family member or someone who you trust, don’t just
sit there and not try. If you want to make a change, then do so, don’t wait for
anyone to do it for you. Tell the truth and know that you yourself are the one
who makes a difference. Just like when people always tell you I’m fine. There’s
this word the F word, FINE. People always say I'm fine, oh I’m ok. Well like
Mel said, “Carrying around the extra 40 pounds, Your fine? Really? I don’t
think so?” Tell the truth people, you know you’re not fine, or ok. It's okay to
say you’re mad, sad, pissed off or whatever. I know it's hard to trust and to
find your passion and take risk's to find "who you are" but in
reality you just have to dedicate yourself. Were not all promised tomorrow or
next year, make the best out of what you have. With any area of your life, you
have the ability to get up and do it, meaning your job, your school, whatever
it is that you do, you have the physical ability to do so, so stop wasting time
and making excuses and just do it like Nike! Another example is when Mel from
this video states, “Does someone who needs to go on a diet, go on a diet? No,
Do you think they want to eat boil chicken and peas. I don’t think so?” It’s
that push, that force that drives you to get up and do it with no questions
asked. You have three choices so instead of making excuses, just give it all
you got and you will have already given that much effort and will feel one step
ahead of everyone else that did even try to give it all they got! Mel Robbins How to stop
screwing yourself over this is the link for Mel
Robbins who spoke the truth and nothing but the truth, defiantly a must see.
This lady was incredible, she’s funny but most important she is speaking the
truth and nothing but it. She makes sure she speaks to you and has you feeling
the vibe that she wants you to feel. She even got down into the crowd and was
very passionate about what her point she was trying to get across to everyone
in the audience and those watching. I recommend this video to many whom can’t
quite get the push to get over the “speed bumps” we deal with in life. Those things
help us become better individuals.
Many of us struggle for one main goal; to be successful.
I’m sure there are many reason’s or excuses as to why we all can’t be
successful people, but in fact were all not meant to follow the leader, were
more entitled to lead ourselves into many direction’s which can cause us to
fail or to improve in our lives. Wither it’s a financial issue or maybe a
religious or family issues to where school just isn’t for you. No problem, in
fact school just isn’t for everyone and I know a few people who have made a
successful lifestyle without attending college. For example my mother who
didn’t graduate from college is a legal secretary and works for three to four
different lawyers and she does a great job at doing so. Next is my father who
was a truck driver for many years, which was something my father loved to do.
Now today they own two homes three cars and still seem to put a smile on their
face each and every day. So my point that I am going to be making is that;
there are many trials and tribulation you will come across in life as a seeker,
an dreamer, a entrepreneur trying to figure out where to go in life with many
different obstacles and myth’s that can bring you up and benefit you and or
bring you down. Sometimes all the way down but you are the future and you are
the one who decides your destiny. Those that do, struggle to maintain during
these ups and downs that education bring to the table. It’s certainly up to you
as the individual to make the best out of everything and keep pushing through
to better yourself and to become what you always dreamed to become, a success.
Success is the greatest feeling over everything. It gives
you this feeling of accomplishment and achievement. Its vibe is greatly
appreciated all over the nation. Who wouldn't want to feel successful or even someone
close to you reaches success and helps you through your struggles to get to
where they are today. I absolutely have people all around me to motivate me, to
strive myself to achieve all my goals and to never ever give up. Success is
definitely something you feel, that you have after years of accomplishments.
Its' this idea of overcoming an obstacle that you either thought you couldn't
achieve or that you struggled so hard for and in the end you achieved that
goals and that is what you call success!
One
example of success that could make you or break you is economic success, having
all the money, cars houses and all you could ever want in life. Having no
worries in all, yes it was definitely a struggle or maybe it wasn't, but
overall economic success could definitely go in both categories; this could
make you a better person or this could just totally destroy your self
confidence. Having too much pride and feeling like your unstoppable or no one
is above you, a sense of cockiness as you could say. In fact having everything
in the world, some people still feel like they don’t have it all and want more
out of life. For instance in the book Into
the Wild by Jon Krakauer Chris talks about why he burned the money before
he set off into the wild his response was," I don't know how much more you
can depend on"? Chris was discussing this was the hippy's wife and after
she told him that you need to be cautions he replied as if he did care and just
brushed it off like I don't need money to live in the woods. He destroys everything
just for that reason to get away from society and civilization itself. Chris
had it made, good education and came from a good standing family who was
willing to help and support him no matter what. Yet he still didn't feel like
it had enough for him to become successful. He was a good student as well;
he was at a 3.72 to be exact. Another example of how good Chris’s background
was, “Here is a copy of my final transcript. Grade wise things went pretty well
and I ended up with a high cumulative average” (pg 21 Krakauer). He was a good
student and achieved many goals and yet Chris still didn’t feel he was
satisfied as a human being. In many cases it’s true; you could come from a good
standing family and have a good job, and as a student have good grades and
never seem to have much difficulty in any other areas. Sometimes things just
happen and its how life goes. In Chris’s state I guess I could see both sides
and why he made the choices he made. We are all different and have different
issue we face, it’s up to the individual to deal with it the way they feel is
needed.
A
second example of how success feels or how it can damage you is personal issues
like self improvement. Maybe you had a bad past and did a lot of things you
shouldn't have and now you need to fix it all and make your path a bit clearer
to see down and enable yourself to become a success. Even thought his task
maybe hard or easy depending on how you take it as the individual. For myself I
went down a wrong path and it messed up a lot for me and my future but I seen
it, I caught it and I am still here standing today and here to tell you so. In
Chris's case it didn't take him very long to branch out and literally become
invisible and Chris situation sure pulled him far away from his family. In the
book as well as the movie his sister mentions something specific and
interesting, "Violence, we were forced to witness it." (Into the Wild, film) This was exactly why Chris did what he did. He felt ashamed
or maybe a bastard if you will. His father was a liar, unfaithful and just over
all not a good father figure. His dad was living two different lives, literally
he had another family. From a previous marriage where he had a son, which Chris
found out from other relative and totally disowned his own family. This example
is simple and to the point that Chris wasn’t the only child, “There were eight
children in the extended family” (pg 20 Krakauer). I think after Chris found
out, he felt his own father lived a lie. Chris’s own father was living two different
lives or maybe even more who knows. As the solution Chris felt he wanted to
just get away from all the lies and deceit. This is why people do the strange
things they do to become success or whatnot, the way you grow up tells a lot
about who you are and what you may become. Chris felt what he had to do, was in
his heart that why he did what he did, it was his passion.
Lastly,
I thought the example of our resources could definitely affect us especially if
were limited. Which ties to transportation for example which involves money,
could certainly drive you up the latter to reach success or possibly down the
latter and reach no success after all. Some people just don't have the means to
send their children off to school, or college. Which is understandable, school
or I should say college isn't for everyone. I know some people who didn't
graduate college or even high school and have good paying jobs with benefits to
help them maintain. Maintaining sometimes gets discouraging, we all have wants
and needs but our needs are important. In the movie Chris tells his parents how
he doesn't want a new car, after they tell him they would get him one, "I
don't' a new car, no material things, none at all." He didn't want a new
car he was perfectly fine with the one he had. Although this does makes sense
material things come and go people don't. Money is so important for many
reasons but we need a ruff over our heads and food in our stomachs and clothes
on our backs. Those are most important to us without that life is certainly a
struggle and could definitely prevent you from succeeding. In this movie/book
Chris totally nails this idea to the tee. He came from a good family, went to a
good school had a car and even had money, and yet he totally wasn't satisfied
and lived alone, anonymously in the wild where he felt safe and could find
passion. Another example was when Chris mentions how he doesn’t want anything
from his mom and dad, “I’m going to have to be careful not to accept any gifts
from them in the future because they will think they have bought my respect”
(pg 21 Krakauer). Chris didn’t want anything from his family, he had enough of
gifts and material things, those things didn’t make him happy, he wanted to be
left alone, alone in the wild where no one or nothing could bother him. All he
wanted was to feel free from all worries and civilization; those things
bothered him all the time.
In conclusion we all must look at this as a
guide to figure out who you are, where you really come from. You ask yourself,
“Where are you to go from here,” there’s so much more to see and to learn.
Don’t waste your time over analyzing every situation you come across or even
people. People are going to be people, it’s that simple, no explanation. If
people would take the time to think and take a look around at what they already
have, they would realize their blessed and to accept it and continue to become
a better individual each and every day. This life were given is all about
exploring your many opinions. Just keep an open eye and know that things happen
for a reason but you must know your fact from false accusation and be able to
carry a good sense of what right verse wrong is as well, Things can happen and
any time of the day or night, good or bad. If we want the bad to stop or to at
least minimize it, we must come together as a whole and together make a
difference and I bet you we could make this happen if people weren’t so diverse
and overall judgmental and can’t control their emotions and be an adult. Some
things will never change but those that do want change will certainly make it
out alive and successful.
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