I will be Successful (Paper 3)

When I was ten years old, I realized that I wanted to be a teacher and leave a lasting mark on children’s lives. Unfortunately, teaching isn’t the highest paying job in America. Although family and friends have advised me to pursue a different career, I know that I will wake up every morning looking forward to work. The main reason why others say I shouldn’t teach is because of a teacher’s salary, and they seem to believe I won’t be as successful in life as someone who becomes a doctor or a lawyer, and that I will never have a “glamorous life.” I, however, beg to differ. Just because magazines, television, and movies depict people with wonderful lives as only those with more money than the regular Joe doesn’t mean that it’s the only way to lead a fulfilling life. Although the media portrays successful people as having millions of dollars, a gorgeous significant other, and extravagant homes, I feel that as long as I become an elementary school teacher, have a husband who thinks that I am perfect, and a family living in a house that I own, then I will have succeeded in life.

The chance of turning on a television and changing the channel to a program about a rich man, woman, or group of people is more than likely to happen. Americans are influenced by the media and use the media to get an idea of what is good or bad, right or wrong, pretty or ugly, successful or a failure. When looking at magazines, I never see people with “normal” lives who work from nine to five, have three kids, and live in an apartment. The ones who are glamorized and portrayed to be a “success” are wealthy individuals with millions of dollars, the type of money so many of us dream of having, but probably never will. To be honest, I sometimes wish I could be a millionaire, but I quickly leap off that cloud and realize that money does not decide the amount of success I will have in life. I am currently pursuing a degree in elementary education, and although that won’t make me the next Oprah Winfrey with billions of dollars to my name, I will strive just as she does to make a difference. What I want is to be able to change people’s lives, not by influencing young girls to dress like me because I have a thousand dollar dress on, but by teaching children and helping them achieve their goals. Being a positive influence is an achievement to me. I want those who underestimate teachers to realize that money doesn’t define how successful one is in life. To have a career that leaves a lasting impression on a child’s life is a success and is far more important to me than being on a magazine cover.

Another thing celebrities always seem to have is a stunning, gorgeous significant other, no matter how unappealing they may be. It seems that in order to be seen as a success, one must have a “trophy” wife or husband. For example, Donald Trump, in my opinion, is an exceptionally unattractive man; however, he is married to Melania, a exceptionally attractive model. Almost everyone I know says she’s with him for the money. On the other hand, if she truly loves him for his mind, body, and hair, then I find that admirable because my idea of a “successful” marriage is when one can look at their husband or wife, and view them as perfect, through all their imperfections, and not care what others think. The most important thing, to me, is being in a marriage that isn’t based on looks, because in the long run, if that’s all there is to a relationship, it more than likely will lead to divorce. A definition of an unsuccessful marriage to me is divorce.

Once I’m married and have a family, I hope to be able to raise my children in a two story house. All my life I’ve lived in a one story, two bedroom apartment that I whole heartedly appreciate and am thankful for, but I have always wanted to be able to provide my kids with something I never had. In spite of the media depicting successful individuals with possessing a personal resort in Maui, a castle like house in Los Angeles, and a loft in New York, I don’t want that. All I will ever want is a home, not homes, a place where I feel my family will be safe. Watching Cribs on MTV is mind boggling because I don’t see the need for a mansion with fifteen bedrooms, ten baths, and a pool that alone costs one hundred thousand dollars. Celebrities seem to believe that their homes and what’s inside those doors define how successful they have been in life, but to me, it only shows how their “success” has altered their priorities in life.

People tend to focus on the lives of the rich and famous instead of their own. Someone has always got a celebrity they look up to and want to be more like, but they should be more concerned about being their own person. My mind set has been, and always will be, to have my own goals to work towards, not ones that someone else has already made. I will accomplish what I want to do with my life. I will become a teacher. I will make a difference. I will have a family and home. I will be successful.