Success

Courtney Curtiss

One Can Always Change Published in 2005, Jeannette Walls’ powerful memoir ​The Glass Castle​ explores the notions of poverty and success. She survived the worst of life lacking money, food, clothes, an education, and stable parents. Walls’ novel exposes the realities of poverty through her recounts of feeling starved daily, struggling to make friends, and lacking a drive to succeed in life due ignorant parents. The feelings experienced while reading shift from sympathy and anger to respect and admiration as Walls climbs out of the hole in which her parents lived.\. She offers an eye-opening example of a person's ability to improve their life, beginning when she makes her own braces. I constantly felt captivated by her drive to attend school and fight for an education. Her will to succeed took her places that most children with a stable upbringing and easy access to education could not even fathom. Jeannette Walls represents success. Her life went from barely survivable to enviable all on her own accord. She made the changes necessary to give improve her life and, as a result, lives happily in a stable environment.

Exploring the realizations that come from recognizing the faults in ones life, Emilie Richards’ 2012 novel

One Mountain Away​ conveys a new idea of success. Charlotte Hale accomplished her goals early in life, living as a successful real-estate developer in her early 20’s. She built a life purely on her brains and ambition, but during the process lost touch with everyone she cared about, including her only daughter. As she examines what truly became of her life, she accepts the idea that while she achieved wealth, she did not achieve happiness. She compares her life to mountains. Her current one, filled with wealth and shallow personalities brought her what she always thought success looked like, but it filled her with emptiness. She sets out on a journey to amend relationships with her family and put heart over money. With her constant goal of creating a new mountain for herself to stand on, she uncovers her own meaning of success. Success only becomes a reality with one's own happiness and love for those around them.

I prefer to read ​The Glass Castle​ over ​One Mountain Away​ due to the message of hope it presents. This memoir teaches everyone, no matter their age, that one's current situation does not define who they will become.

Additionally, it provides millions of affluent individuals a new perspective into the hardships of an impoverished life. This book shoots down any idea that a life in poverty does not present challenge, but illustrates that everyone holds the ability to escape from it. Walls’ memoir offers readers a wide-range of emotions making the book impossible to put down. Ranging from the humor of Rex’s irrational ideas to the anger from parents neglecting their children, ​The Glass Castle​ does it all.

Happyness and Paying it Forward The Pursuit of Happyness​, a nonfiction movie directed by ​Gabriele Muccino, follows the life of Chris Gardner, a single father, struggling to make a life for himself and his son. After his wife abandons them, the weight of life's different responsibilities quickly falls onto Chris’s shoulders. Jobs with good pay seem like an unavailable luxury. Chris and his son end up spending many nights in homeless shelters as they begin to lose everything (​The Pursuit of Happyness)​. In their lowest point, Chris has no other option but to spend the night in a gas station bathroom.

Gardner eventually finds a job as a broker but he feels completely underqualified and at a strong disadvantage due to his lack of work hours.

Breaking protocol and working day and night he manages to make a name for himself at his company and steaming off that success, ends up becoming a multimillionaire. Chris’s raw and exposed story goes beyond the struggles of poverty and deep into the emotional instability of feeling as if he failed everyone he loves. His story embodies the purest form of success as everything he earned came strictly from his own will to work hard and improve not only his life, but his son’s as well.

A nonfiction movie released in 2000, ​Pay it Forward​ tells the story of 12-year-old Trevor McKinney and his dream to fix the world. Haunted by his father’s abusive nature and his mother’s alcoholism, when given a project in Social Studies he decides to promote the idea of everyone doing good to others. The movie follows his project “Pay it Forward” in which each person who gets something good done to them, must pay it forward by doing something good to others. By working to enhance the lives of strangers, he allows people to feel good about themselves as they in turn go on to do the same to someone else. Focusing on the theme that small ideas can change the world, ​Pay it Forward​ embodies the idea that improving the lives of those around one can bring happiness, fulfillment, and success.

I would rather watch ​The Pursuit of Happyness ​simply due to its raw, honest portrayal of what it truly

means to live a successful life. In an era of materialism and wealth, ​The Pursuit of Happyness​ breaks all the

stigmas surrounding money leading to happiness. While money does lead to a comfortable lifestyles, genuine joy and contentment steams from holding the ability to look back on one's life and feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. Chris Gardner provides watchers with this experience as his and his son’s lives drastically improve due to hard work. Watching a helpless, single father struggle through the worst life could throw at him and come out victorious conveys a true picture of success.

From Hopeless to Harry Potter J.K. Rowling, a world famous author, lived a life harder than anyone could imagine. The ​Harry Potter author began writing at age six, “publishing” books for her parents to read. Fueled by her mother’s praise, she began to pursue a career as an author. Rowling’s early life did not come with the happiness of most children’s. It very quickly became tainted with her mother’s 10 year fight with Multiple Sclerosis, a disease in which the immune system attacks the body's nerves(Gillett). Her difficult childhood ultimately gave her inspiration for many of the characteristics of the figures in her novels.

As her life progressed, Rowling thought she discovered happiness with a husband and daughter, but after a rocky, 13 month marriage, she and her daughter lived alone in London. Additionally, at 25, her mother, Anne Volant Rowling, passed away (Gillett). Rowling’s life quickly spiraled downhill as she lived as a single mother, on welfare, with no job and no money. As thoughts of suicide loomed in with her depression, the only thing keeping her going became her daughter and the first three chapters of Harry Potter, tucked away in her suitcase.

As an author, she struggled in the same way thousands of others do: getting her first book published.

Finally, after seven years of working agency after agency and writing endlessly, Bloomsberg published ​Harry

Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone​ on June 26, 1997 and her readers changed her life. Rowling’s series of seven Harry Potter ​books has sold over 450 millions copies worldwide (Gillett). In 2011, Forbes estimated her net worth around $1 billion, however this has since declined due to her increasing involvement in charities (J.K. Rowling Biography). After climbing out of a hole filled with poverty, depression, and helplessness, Rowling not only started her own charity and medical clinic, but pledged her active support to multiple other charities around the world. Her charity, Lumos, helps the 8 million orphans around the world to reunite with their families or find new homes. Additionally, she founded and funded the Anne Rowling Clinic, in memory of her mother, to help research new therapies to improve the lives of the 20 million people each year diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease (Gillett). Lastly, Rowling supports and donates to both Gingerbread, a charity for single parents, and Comic Relief, an organization fighting poverty around the world (Gillett).

J.K. Rowling’s life accomplishments paint a true picture of not only the ability of people to overcome their problems in life, but also how everyone holds the power to change the lives of others. J.K. Rowling uses her success everyday to improve the lives of people experiencing the same conditions she lived in not many years ago. She gives others little pieces of happiness in the hopes that they gain the ability to improve their lives the same way that she improved hers.

The Habitats that Renewed Humanity

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Millard and Linda Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization working to provide

housing for all American citizens, in 1976(Habitat for Humanity). Their small business has grown from one or two houses to working in over 70 different countries, in addition to 1,400 communities around the United States(Habitat for Humanity). Their annual slogans revolve around the idea that shelter empowers individuals to live their best life. The Fuller’s journey represents success through their struggle to find happiness through the overall improvement of not only their life, but the lives of those around them.

For Millard and Linda, life before Habitat for Humanity did not provide any happiness. Millard, a self made millionaire, watched his business flourish but his personal relationships and health go down the drain.

After almost losing his wife due to his lack of integrity and morals, he forced himself to reevaluate his life.

Searching for a new beginning, he slowly amended his relationship with his wife and renewed his faith in Christianity. Realizing that material items did not promote their happiness, the Fuller’s decided to sell everything and give tons of money to the poor They left their homes in Georgia to try and find some meaning in life. After stumbling upon a Christian haven, Koinonia Farm, his idea that would change 13.2 million lives began(Habitat for Humanity).

Habitat for Humanity stemmed off the Fuller’s desire that everyone receive access to equal and comfortable housing. Millard and other men who worked at this farm began building modest, no interest homes, where the homeowners put in work to help with the construction. By reducing the cost of housing, highlighting the pride of homeownership, and dedicating their time to fostering positive relationships, Millard and Lisa began a successful organization. The Fuller’s took their four kids to African in the early 1970’s to help the lives of the impoverished overseas (Habitat for Humanity). Their organization impacted thousands in the developing, third-world country, giving many desperate individuals a place to stay. With the help of thousands of volunteers and supporters, including former President Jimmy Carter, Habitat for Humanity turned into a lifeline for the millions sinking into poverty. Not only did Millard and Linda improve their own lives by building something of which to be proud, they also changed the lives of millions around the world.

Conclusively, Millard and Linda gave happiness to those who thought they would never experience it again. They changed their lives to help others. The transition from multi-millionaires to non-profit extraordinaires left them with a life that they can look back on and feel accomplished. With a legacy that will outlive them for years, Millard and Linda represent the truest form of success. They lived a life that allowed them to improve the lives of everyone the met as well as themselves.

A Father’s Take on Success Do see yourself as successful?

Yes. I do see myself as successful. To me, success is about having the satisfaction in knowing that you have tried to do your best to achieve great results and reach your potential. While I have experienced failures and setbacks, I have also been fortunate to have a great career, pursue my passions and be part of a great family. The culmination of these experiences makes me happy and successful.

When in your life did you feel most successful?

When I was younger, I often equated success with winning. Whether it was through sports, grades or other tangible accomplishments, I tended to view success as outperforming other people. As I have gotten older, I view success differently. It’s more about reaching my potential and helping others’ also reach their potential.

Success now is more about how I deal with setbacks as well as accomplishments and having a positive impact on those around me whether they be family, workmates or those in the community.

Who inspired your success?

I have been fortunate to interact with a variety of people who inspired my success. My parents have been supportive and encouraging. They also provided me with a constant example for what I wanted in my life. My junior tennis coach was an awesome role model who inspired me to grow and develop. I have also had many positive role models at work who have played an important role in my views of success.

Did you encounter struggles along your journey to success?

Struggles are a huge part of success. I believe that how people handle struggles and setbacks is a huge indicator of their character and likelihood of success. Taking risks and being willing to try new things is critical, but can sometimes lead to failure. Learning lessons on life’s journey is a critical component to realizing one’s potential and achieving success.

Who helped you achieve your success?

The list is long. From family to friends to coworkers, many people have helped me achieve my success. Some have helped by being a positive role model and reinforcing good habits and successful qualities. Others have helped me through challenging times and struggles. Allowing myself to receive help from others has helped me grow as a person. Most importantly, having a great family which supportive and caring has played the biggest role in my success.

Who and what determines your success?

I think success is largely determined by how I feel about myself and my approach to work, family and life. It is important to listen to feedback and to learn from others. But ultimately, success is largely about the choices we all make to achieve our potential, do our best and help those around us.

I live in the small town of Chagrin Falls Ohio and attend the local high school only a 10 minute walk from my front steps. Living in the same, close-knit community my entire life has enabled me to make life-long relationships as well as truly become a part of a community. I credit my town with a big part of who I am today. I participate in many activities inside and out of my school such as tennis, two different philanthropy groups, tutoring impoverished children and teaching Sunday School. Beyond daily life, I love to travel and experience the different cultures and ideas all around the world. Traveling often forces me into situations that push me to my limits, but looking back on them I feel grateful for those opportunities to grow and understand more things about myself. My brothers and loving parents constantly provide me with examples of what success looks like and the many ways to achieve it in and out of the classroom. Witnessing my older brother overcome two years of sickness and go on to thrive in college pushes me to realize all my potential. Additionally, success as an overall goal can feel quite daunting and vague, but watching my parents grow in their jobs and live lives they feel content with allows me to understand what I want from my future. A life where I feel happy and where I can improve not only my life, but the lives of those around me.

Growing up, I remember participating in a multitude of different sports and loving the experience of playing on a team. This whole part of my life was snatched out of my hands at a very young age. At only 13 years old, , I endured my first hip surgery and then a second one only a year and-a-half later. These procedures took away my ability to play any sports for years and therefore took away a huge part of my life. I worked day in and day out for years to get myself back to full strength. This took a toll on both my family and me.. However, the struggle made the end result that much more of a victory. Through my experience with this life-altering injury, the notion of success now seems more apparent. After four long years of pain, annoyance, and finally triumph I can look back and feel successful with myself. With my will to move forward and the help of those around me, I not only improved my life drastically, but put myself in a situation where I feel constantly happy and content.

Success gets measured by a multitude of different things in life, however true success stems from improving one's life and happiness Â

Works Cited

Fuller, Lisa. “Volunteer”, ​Habitat for Humanity,​ Habitat for Humanity, 2018,​www.habitat.org/.

Gillett, Rachel. “The Rags-to-Riches Story of J.K. Rowling.” ​Business Insider​, Business Insider, 18 May 2015, www.businessinsider.com/the-rags-to-riches-story-of-jk-rowling-2015-5.

Goff, Jared. “Author and her Works”, ​Business Insider,​ Business Insider, 18 May 2015, www.businessinsider.com/the-rags-to-riches-story-of-jk-rowling-2015-5.

“Habitat for Humanity.” ​Habitat for Humanity​, 2018, www.habitat.org/.

“J.K. Rowling Biography.” ​Biography​, 27 Feb. 2018, www.biography.com/people/jk-rowling-40998.

“The Pursuit of Happyness.” ​Sony Pictures​, Sony, 2006, www.sonypictures.com/movies/thepursuitofhappyness/.