Donald Axhami
English Composition 1173
10/23/2014
The True Meaning of Success
Growing up, parents and teachers have told me to study and work hard so I can be successful in the future. The question is: what does success mean? According to Merriam-Webster, success means "the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame." In this day and age, modern western culture and the media define success as obtaining face-value accolades such as appearance, possessions, and wealth. Even higher education institutions delude students worth to test scores to project their future success. I believe this definition of success is poisonous. True success is reached by having good values, being a well-rounded person and being self-fulfilled.
The media plays a large role in this faulty definition of success. Most famous actors and celebrities flaunt the latest fashion, gadgets and fancy cars. Many of popular mainstream music that is heard on the radio talks about making money and getting more material wealth to be happy. Throughout the popular song Can’t Tell Me Nothing by Kanye West, Kanye is promoting material wealth. "Let the champagne splash/ let that man get cash." (Kanye West). This is also seen in the song I Wanna be a Billionaire by Travie McCoy. I wanna be a billionaire so freaking bad Buy all of the things I never had
Uh, I wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine
Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen (Travie McCoy)
The song not only pushes material wealth, but also excessive fame and glory. This is exactly what success is being defined as in Merriam-Webster: "the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame." These are the type of popular songs that gets played on the radio excessively. This definition of success is being pushed on the public. This is what the youth are singing along to. They will grow up with the poisonous interpretation of success permanently branded on their brains. Attaining money and/or fame does not mean one is successful. True success will come will self-fulfillment and a wide array of life and people skills.
I will say this again. Having material wealth does not equal success. Along with being a well-rounded person, success is attained when one is content with themselves.In an advertisement on for the 2014 Cadillac ELR, the man in the video is confident in himself because of his high amount of wealth and material goods as he pushes the sale of the new Cadillac ELR being advertised. He says, “As for all the stuff, that’s for only taking two weeks off in August.” (2014, February 27). In the video, the man has many glamorous possessions that include a massive house with a pool – hence the title Cadillac ELR: Poolside – and the reasoning for his statement was if one works hard, they too can have all of the material wealth that he possesses. I agree that hard work is an important factor in attaining success, but if it is only for the money or fame, then success is far from grasp.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was correct: “Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.” According to the University of Chicago’s General Social Survey, nearly three-quarters of Americans wouldn’t quit their jobs even if a financial miracle enabled them to live in luxury for the rest of their lives. Also it was the people with the least education, the lowest incomes and the least prestigious jobs that were actually most likely to say they would keep working, while the elites were more likely to say that they would just take the money and leave their positions (Brooks).
The youth gets their interpretation of what success is at early stages in life. Passing through grade school and high school, success is simply defined. High test scores meant the youth were on the right path for success. When applying for college, most institutions look strongly at standardized test scores to define their students. Much emphasis is put on students’ standardized test scores. A single test is many times considered more into account than a student’s grades in admission. I remember when all of the students in my class got back their ACT test scores. All of the teachers were praising the students who got a 32 or higher and saying that those students were going to be the most successful. How can one test determine a student’s future success than their four years of hard work in school or their determination? In the article:Do ACT and SAT scores really matter?, a study done by former dean of admissions for Bates College, William Hiss,showed that standardized testing may now be hurting rather than helping students. Students who had worked harder in high school by showing intellectual curiosity and hard work are more likely to succeed. With that, students that also have an interest that they have brought to a higher level such as sports or debate do better. Being a well-rounded individual means that one is on the path of success. This shows that success cannot be defined or assumed by a test score. In reality, much more is needed to be successful. One should rely on their test score to see if they will be successful. Without being well rounded with communication and social skills along with life tools, true success will not be attained.
Merriam-Webster says success means "the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame." Attaining money and fame to be considered successful is a poisonous way to define success. The youth need to have a strong idea of what success really is. The youth need to know what is truly required to be successful in their future. Success means having strong values, being well-rounded as a person, and being self-fulfilled.
I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in completing this work, nor have I presented someone else's work as my own.
Works Cited
Brooks, A. (2013, December 14). A Formula For Happiness. NY Times. Retrieved from
Cadillac. (2014, February 7). The First Ever 2014 Cadillac ELR: Poolside. Retrieved from
Sheffer, S. (2014, February 18). Do ACT and SAT scores really matter? Retrieved from
Success. (n.d.). Retrieved 2014, from Merriam-Webster: