Finding a Small Measure of Success

Defining success can be a deceptively simple endeavor. Can it be quantified? Is it something that is intangible? For the most part anyone can jot down the most common and practical answers such as money, power, and fame. That's all well and good, but it is a bit boring isn't it? If you don't bother to think twice about what success truly means to you then that is what most will probably blurt out, but we all know each and everyone of us is molded from difference experiences that shape our personalities and moral values which, by and large, dictate our most fundamental beliefs. To me, the basis of success just happens to be one of these beliefs. Now, just because I defined the following qualities as success by no means is an indication that I have achieved them. Some cannot be further from who I am, but being consciously aware of this is the first step toward the goal.

Being self-aware.

One selfie to rule them all.

This is actually something I only became aware of recently in the past two years. It dawned on me that our sense of self worth and identity plays a huge role in how we perceive ourselves in our surroundings. The way we behave, conduct ourselves, and treat others depends hugely on how we view our self in the grand scheme. In short, what I mean is that part of success is having a good understanding of what role each and every one of us plays in this world and a good understanding of what position in society you occupy. I found a passage that Chris McCandless, from the novel Into the Wild, highlighted from a book he was reading titled Family Happiness by Leo Tolstoy summarily exemplified my feelings: "He was right in saying that the only certain happiness in life is to live for others..." (p. 169). We all have just as much right as the next person to be where we are and acting like an asshole or thinking yourself more important than the person next to you not only poisons the relations you have with people, but creates an illusion of self-importance that, let's be honest, in most cases couldn't be further from the truth. Part of the definition of success comes from acknowledging the love for one's neighbor and developing a relationship with all those around you.

"You started your day," says Neil deGrasse Tyson in a discussion about the cosmic perspective (the literal grand scheme), "with an unjustifiably large ego. You thought more highly of yourself than, in fact, the circumstances deserved." What I take from this belief is a method for toning down the rampant and pathological individualism that runs through American culture. It is a means to un-condition yourself of this lifestyle we've been raised to believe is normal. In Chris' final moments, he came to a similar epiphany when in his darkest moments he realized that his lifelong goal of distancing himself from the burden of human intimacy was misguided as he scrawled: "HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED" next to this passage in Boris Pasternak's novel Doctor Zhivago, "...an unshared happiness is not happiness..." (p.189). We are too self-interested that we don't treat each other as well as we should. Take the simple act of driving on public roads, which in itself should be considered a highly social engagement, and you can observe the poor road etiquette and lack of camaraderie that exists as an extension of how we treat others. Is it due to our heightened level of self-importance and entitlement? Possibly. Probably. Most likely. A big part of success, to me, is being aware then finally ridding myself of this toxic behavior. To finally come to terms with everyone around me and find the small measure of peace we all desire.

Being unapologetically yourself. 

*Making car noises*

Be yourself. At the end of the day, all we have is who we are. So why hide it? Sure there are parts of yourself that probably should be kept from the public eye (you know what I mean), but part of success entails being unapologetic about your identity. The idealist inside me wishes for a world of acceptance, not tolerance, but acceptance. If this were to happen, then this measure of success would be much easier, but it isn't and the reality is that it probably won't be for quite some time. "Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth" (p.117). This is a passage highlighted by Chris McCandless in a book he was reading entitled Walden, or Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau that sums up my thoughts very well. It states that at the end of the day what a man desires most is the truth. Not some embellishment of the truth or a false identity, but what it means to be true to the core of your identity. Nothing should ever stop us from being our self. There is also this wonderful quote I happened across by actor Simon Pegg that said:

"Being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection. It means never having to play it cool about how much you like something. It's basically a license to proudly emote on a somewhat childish level rather than behave like a supposed adult. Being a geek is extreme liberating."

I don't make it my business to hide from others that I'm pretty much a nerd. A geek. Dweeb. Four-eyes. Et cetera. And Mr. Pegg's quote sums up how I feel quite succinctly. I take interest in some of the most mundane things like the complexities and precise mechanical engineering of a manual transmission or differential.  It might not seem like much to others, but I can read about them for hours absorbing the knowledge like a sponge. I love classical music and the sound of the violin and piano. I played chess as a kid and build computers for my friends. I don't understand the thrill of watching basketball and football, but I appreciate physical activities like backpacking and hiking. Do I hide these facts from others? Absolutely not. But is it apparent when you look at me? Maybe, maybe not. Whatever the case, all these things I do are because it is who I am and who I have accepted myself as. It might not be glamorous but I'll tell you what, it's extremely gratifying on an almost indescribable level. There is a quote by a student named Elaine in the film The Passion Project that ties this all together very well. Elaine states, "If you don't know who you are you will never find out what you want."

Being really good at something you really really love. 

They're really good at what they do. Probably because they took McFarland for English 1A.

In other words, have a passion. **** me there's that word again. To me, this is probably the least important of the bunch, hence coming last, but that's like saying air is more important than water for survival, they are all equally important in their own ways. There's a reason why professionals are called professionals. They excel at their craft and get paid doing it. Why not make that craft something you enjoy? For a while I always tried my best to separate work from play because I was subscribed under the thought that if you turned what you love into work, you're only going to just end up hating it. Part of me still thinks that way, but the idealistic, and at times irrational and impractical, little kid inside me believes work should be something you enjoy. Lest you fall into the trap of waking up at the age of 45 and realizing you're entire career has made you miserable. Why do you think people call it a mid-life crisis? Though I must say, it is difficult nailing down whether or not we will enjoy our future career choice when we have to decide so early on, but that's an entirely different topic.

One obvious direction to go is your passion. Passion and enthusiasm go hand in hand and when you go and do whatever work may entail with an upbeat and excited attitude, then you will know whatever choice made early on was the right one. When you truly do enjoy something then you will in all probability excel at it as well. Be top of the class. The very definition of your craft. Going to work excited is something many cannot honestly admit. Try and be that person who can. The enthusiasm will also inject new life into any workplace you enter and permeate throughout your co-workers. Evidence of enthusiasm spreading to those around someone can be found as McCandless interacted with the handful of souls whom speak highly of his passion for life. "There was something fascinating about him" (p. 67), explains Mary Westerberg, mother of Wayne Westerberg whom was McCandless' employer for a short time, as she doesn't typically take kindly to Wayne's company, but immediately felt a connection with McCandless. Everyone that met McCandless became immediately enamored by his enthusiasm and passion for simply existing. This energy can easily be translated into the work environment. "One person's passion can flourish into and become other people's passions," states Emily, a student interviewed in The Passion Project. What can be more successful than bringing happiness to yourself and those around you?

So as you can tell success isn't just money, power, and fame. Once you sit down and seriously think about it, success wasn't necessarily that difficult to define with three qualities because we all know what it takes to make us happy. There are plenty of values we all hold near and dear to our hearts that don't exactly align with others, but to us it is important and that is why this assignment was created. To look within yourself and honestly ask what we value most in life. These are the things that we should all stride to achieve because without them, then by our own admission we will be unsuccessful.

"So, what helps or hinders success?"

It's hard to put a single finger on what helps or hinders my ability to succeed, but since we all come from different cultural, economical, and social backgrounds, it's easy to say that these things will vary from person to person. There are the obvious factors such as infrastructure and transportation that allow me to physically pursue success. Then there are also monetary factors such as financial support and government aid, but there are also discrete factors that aren't immediately obvious such as mental and physical well-being. Our professor listed a number of key factors such as family, religion, crime, hunger, transportation, personal, and money that appear to be the major players that help or hinder a student's chances at succeeding in their own rights. I believe these factors can be categorized into the three classes I listed beforehand: infrastructure, money, and health. 

Exit I take to Chabot. Thanks infrastructure!

Infrastructure is an important part to the mobility and success of any modern society. It comes to no surprise that transportation and networks is among my top contributors to success. Yes, while improvements can always be made to our highways and road network, it is important to recognize that the Bay Area has an decent public transportation network, decent highway/road system and a healthy combination of industries designed to support it. The combination of these things allow students who live significant distances from colleges to attend class. Without roads and cars it would be difficult to funnel students from all over the Bay Area to Chabot or other colleges. The campuses would be limited to local students which effectively excluding a large portion of the population. Without public transportation we only further limit the number of students that can efficiently travel long distances to attend class and earn a degree. And lets face it, the entire reason we go to college is for a degree.

For me, personally, I am glad that I have options open if I cannot personally transport myself to campus. The healthy bus network that travels along all of the Alameda county with a very clear schedule that is easy to follow and access allow me to plan ahead of time. The infrastructure of our society is the very foundation that allows everything else to be built up and with it, we can begin to observe and address other factors that contribute to success.

A footnote on my diploma should say, "Sponsored in part by...."

Money makes the world go round. It is an unfortunate realization, but it is one we must acknowledge nonetheless. There was a similar realization I had not too long ago when I finally accepted that colleges, like many other institutions, are essentially businesses and when it comes to business money is king. The availability of financial aid is an extremely important factor when it comes to success. Whether it is through my own means or from an outside source, it is so ingrained with success that the two are rarely separated. Having the money to go to college is becoming more and more of a factor on whether or not prospective students can attend class. Financial availability also plays a huge role in where the student will transfer to and what options are available. As the cost of education continues to rise and more banks abuse and take advantage of student loans, it is becoming increasingly difficult to remain self-sustainable as a full-time student without working unreasonable hours.

That's why financial aid from the government and my relatives are so important to me. It is a luxury many cannot afford, but it is something I will never take for granted because they relieve a great deal of potential stress and strain on my life making it easier to focus on the things that matter - such as my classwork. I made a similar connection in a previous post, but I feel it is appropriate to reiterate because of its importance. In relation to infrastructure, it is all well and good that I can make my way to the campus, but without the cash to pay for tuition I may as well have walked into an empty field. 

Chris embarking on his final voyage to find peace of mind.

Physical and mental well-being are the health factors that are the final gates to cross in order to achieve success. Being physically healthy and protected from physical harm is one of the most basic human needs. With it, a person can begin to concentrate on other pressing matters, but without it, a person is forced to mull over the implications of dangers that pose physical harm, taking away precious awareness for other factors. The same applies to mental health because with it, the mind is stable and able to think rationally and objectively. Without it, the mind is cluttered and cannot focus or concentrate.

This reminds me of Chris McCandless, the focus of attention in the novel Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. The novel makes it more than apparent that Chris' childhood upbringing, while initially amicable, took a sharp dive as he grew older and more conscious of his parents hypocritical and damaging behavior. The dark storm that began to brew at this point eventually erupted as he kept his anger to himself. "In 1988, as Chris's resentment of his parents hardened, his sense of outrage over injustice in the world at large grew" (p.123). This shaped his outlook on the world as he became more focused on the corruption and injustice that seemingly plagued everything around him. I see this as a gateway that led to his voyages. It was Chris' yearning to distance himself from his parents and the corruption in society that caused him to seek out the undisturbed purity and relative innocence of nature. Chris sought to, in the words of arctic explorer and Nobel Laureate Fridtjof Nansen, "find lonely places, where these anchorites might dwell in peace, undisturbed by the turmoil and temptations of the world" (p.97). It brings to question how different things may have been if Chris' didn't experience such turmoil in his youth. The same applies to all of us. Would we be where we are had things been different? Chris is evidence enough that a shift in mental health will ultimately change the direction of our lives and thusly should be something we are aware of and constantly striving to maintain.