Chris McCandless rejects a traditional path of success and instead defines success on his own terms through freedom, experience, and personal meaning. Reflect on what success means to you at your current stage in life. In the response, explain how success is currently defined (grades, college acceptance, achievements, happiness, etc.) and where those ideas come from. Then, consider whether that definition truly reflects personal values or if it is shaped by expectations from family, school, or society.

Prompt Response: Currently, success means keeping my grades up, finding colleges I want to apply to, finding a source of income, and working towards starting my hobby of blacksmithing. I want to keep my grades up not only to get into a nice college but because I want to do better than before. Prior to sophomore year, I was doing average in school but I realized that average isn't what I want. Additionally, I want to find a college that has what I want so I don't end up going to a college because of other people. Furthermore, I want to find a source on income now so I have the ability to spend money when and where I need and want to.  Right now, I can't get a job because I have to "focus on school" but with my current standing, I think I could handle both. Having to rely on my parents for money is okay for a while but now, I want to be somewhat independent financially. Lastly, I want to start practicing as a blacksmith because it is something I've always been interested in. As a child, I would always find myself drawn to metal work and it's something that never left me. For the most part, all of these reflect my personal values, but really taking them into consideration, getting into a nice school and doing well is something shaped by family and society's expectations. Being accepted to a great school isn't always needed to be successful. Often times, people can become great and do amazing things without a college education.

Summary: Today, we began reading chapters nine and ten.

Reflection: Krakauers choice to compare McCandless to other people like him was really interesting and I never thought leaving a nice home for self discovery was such a common theme.

 

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