What the word success means to me - Essay Example

Meaning of Success Success is not a destination, it’s a journey (Ron). Treading every day the path called life, a person is faced and defaced by different demands of this world. Every stride has its purpose. Every step leaves a mark. At my earlier days, I have underrated the value of walking. My lack of experience has directed me to the path where I thought of nothing but myself.  Everything seemed easy. The end did not need to justify the means as long as it was what my heart desired. I have been putting behind what should be done and giving in to what I felt like doing until responsibility of being a mother slapped me back to reality.

Being a teenage mom, who have yet to finish high school, meant unemployment. Not completing high school can lead to a life full of hardships for both myself and my child; given that high school diploma is the usual requirement in any job, and usually it is the low-skill, low-compensation ones (Cooper 4).It had been a struggle to joggle time, mind, and body between motherhood and teen hood. Though growing fast had been the consequence of my actions, I had opted to do the opposite. Taking things slow and learning to absorb every experience as if I had been reborn.

This is one of the few hurdles I managed to be triumphed. I have decided stop sauntering my way through life. It had dawned on me that the fun is not about the catching; instead, it is in the chasing that one feels to be the true meaning of success. I achieved one goal after another and have never failed to push myself further until I have gotten a degree in statistics. As my hands firmly grasped my diploma and the tiny hands of my child, I now take every step with a grin on my face, knowing I can conquer anything.

I had conquered everything before.My views in life are now clearer than ever. My steps begin to be more precise. Now I have goals in my mind that will commence my journey (and the journey of my child) to a better life. John Wooden once said:“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming” (Whelchel).I have yet to arrive at my destination. And nothing can stop me in covering the distances; this is my personal definition of success.

The thrill of the chase, of not knowing what is going to happen next, the what-ifs, and the endless possibilities that come with it excite me, fuel me to go on and continue to improve my life. Once I realize I have achieved a goal, I immediately strive to set new heights to reach to get that same thrill over and over and over…Others consider success as an upshot wrapped up in many costly things; however, I consider that success coincides with striving and vigorous efforts, that is, with meaningful living.

The moment a person decides to open his or her eyes, breathe, and face another day of uncertainty, there is success there. Giving me a chance to make up for yesterday’s mishaps, to keep on learning, and to preserve what I hold dear – these things I push myself to do. Works CitedCooper, Merrill, comp. "Teen Moms and Poverty." Seeds of Success: Seeking Solutions for Teen Mothers and Their Children (n.d.): 1-24. Print.Ron. “How Do You Define Success? Six Factors to Consider.” The Wisdom Journal, 2007. Web. 19 Aug. 2012. .

Whelchel, Hugh. "The Gospel Coalition." Mark Zuckerberg and the Biblical Meaning of Success – Blog. The Gospel Coalition, 18 May 2012. Web. 19 Aug. 2012. .