Every Action Makes A difference

vincent van gogh (Starry Night)

Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats. ~Voltaire

Like Santiago I to have a destiny,to impact someones life immensely in a positive way. Even though I haven't accomplished this dream of mine I know that with my positive attitude I will. I always try to remain positive no matter what the situation is and keep a smile on my face. Even though at times I'm not always happy and smiling i hope people see beyond my bad moments. There have been many times where i have stayed positive when everyone else is in a abominable mood. For example on Malaysia week, we were climbing the mountain and everyone was tired and angry. I trying to remain on the positive side kept making jokes and trying my best to help people along the way. Yet I was with out a doubt feeling very exhausted. I know that to many people I'm probably just a girl who stays up the whole night fussing on what she should wear the next day, the girl who could spend more time on her makeup then her homework, or the girl who cares more about her social status then her GPA. So this year I am trying my best to step up to the plate and change what people think of me. I do this by actually giving time to my school work by not making such a big deal about my outer appearance, so far it is working!It's working because through this process I have been staying positive by waking up everyday and telling my self "Mehza you doing the best you can, smiling and saying hi to others in the hall way can brighten up someone's day!"

“My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer” This is a passage spoken by Santiago to the alchemist. At this point in the story Santiago is confused and telling the Alchemist that his heart is not yet ready for the challenge of him pursuing his destiny and that he doesn’t know what to do about the situation. Many people know that they have a destiny and many people have been able to achieve theirs. The main character Santiago, a young shepherd with a dream to travel the world, is trapped in a small village located in Andalusia, Spain. One day he dreams about going to the great Pyramids to find treasure. This dream leads him to series of events that teach him a few lifelong lessons and to many inspirational people. Being inquisitive, determined, and brave, Santiago is able to find his destiny.
Throughout his journey Santiago has asked many important questions; these questions have led him to find his destiny. The majority of the questions Santiago asks are to the certain people he meets. In the beginning of the story Santiago asks Melchizedek, “Why are you telling me this?’’ This quote is when Santiago first starts his chase after his destiny. Melchizkedek came up to Santiago at the plaza and begins to talk to him about his personal legend and tells him a story about a man who found happiness by fulfilling his. Since Santiago is only human he questions Melchizkedek statements and asks him more about his so called personal legend. For Melchizkedek to introduce Santiago to this whole idea that he has a personal legend really made the boy determined to find his own.
Santiago gets inspired and from then on is determined to find his destiny. As Santiago sets off towards the pyramids, he learns that he must sacrifice a lot including his current lifestyle as being a shepherd. So Santiago sells all his sheep and begins his journey. At first Santiago is lost; he does not even know where he is going, until he goes to Tangier, Africa. However it isn’t the best choice he could make because Santiago gets robbed by a thief and is left with no money. All alone and in this whole new world with no one to comfort him, Santiago states, “I’m an adventurer looking for treasure.” So Santiago goes on with his journey. This quote shows you how resolute the boy actually is in finding his treasure and how badly he wants it. So Santiago finds a crystal shop. To get all his money back Santiago has no choice but to work for the shop. Within a year the shop owner and Santiago have become very good friends. Santiago inspires the shop owner and therefore improves his business immensely. For example, the boy tells the crystal merchant to put up a cabinet full of crystal to attract customers. Though the owner has many doubts about this idea he still listens to Santiago. As a result more customers come to buy the crystal. Business becomes so great that Santiago gathers enough money to cover his losses. Very gloomy about the year lost Santiago stays on track and tries to continue his quest on his destiny. On his way Santiago meets an Englishman, who searches for the knowledge about alchemy. He also meets a group of people that are headed to the pyramids and joins them on their caravan journey. Meeting the Englishman and seeing his passion for knowledge and his relentless quest to uncover the secrets of alchemy, Santiago is even more motivated to find his destiny. After a few months they all arrive at an oasis were Santiago meets a girl named Fatima and falls in love with her, thinking he has found his personal legend and he currently understands one aspect of the soul of the world, love. Meanwhile a war is about to start at the oasis and a masked stranger, the alchemist, reveals himself to Santiago. From this point on Santiago has to become courageous in the choices left to come with the Alchemist there to watch him.
Santiago does not want to leave the desert. He is madly in love with Fatima and feels that leaving her is impossible. However Santiago stays brave and doesn’t give in to his emotions. “I’ll return, just as your father came back to your mother,” he says. So far Santiago is explaining to Fatima that he is leaving because his destiny is not at the oasis but at the pyramids. Later on the boy and the alchemist leave the oasis and head to the Pyramids. However on their journey they are taken captive by a rival tribe and are held at an enemy camp. The alchemist tells the tribal leader that Santiago is an alchemist and that he can change himself into the wind. The tribal leader is shocked to hear that such a young boy can do this great task so he is put to the test. If Santiago cannot turn himself into the wind, he and the alchemist face death. After three days of consulting with nature, the wind, the sun, and the desert, Santiago succeeds in the challenge. Exited to leave, Santiago and the Alchemist ride on their horses for hours until they reach a small old church near the pyramids and ask a monk if they can use the kitchen. The alchemist takes some lead and turns it into gold in a frying pan. Then he takes the gold disk and splits it between the boy and the monk, leaving some for himself. The alchemist explains that this was his personal legend. The alchemist tells Santiago that this is where they go their separate ways. “’Good-bye’ said the boy.” Now that Santiago does not have the guidance and support of the alchemist he must be brave and find the courage within himself to finish his journey. So Santiago heads to the pyramids. However, he sees a dung beetle on the ground. He believes it’s an omen and begins to dig there because Santiago thinks the treasure is near. After hours of digging, bruised, frustrated, and hopeless is what Santiago has become. He sees a group of men coming his way. In a panic mode Santiago does not know what to do and is worried that they will steal the gold given by the alchemist or take his treasure. The men do attack Santiago. After hurting him they ask why he thinks there would be treasure here. Santiago hopelessly explains his dreams and the muggers begin to laugh. As the men leave one stays behind for a moment and tells Santiago about a dream he had- That there is a treasure buried under a Sycamore tree in the yard of a church in Spain- but that he never was stupid enough to go to Spain and find it. Santiago is angry and shocked because he knows what church the man is talking about. It is the church Santiago slept in and it is the first place Santiago was when he started his journey. So he heads to Spain to find his treasure. He digs in the church. At last he finds the treasure.
Santiago is very brave when it comes to finding his treasure. He is brave emotionally and physically, he questions people he isn’t sure of and he is determined no matter what comes his way. The three traits that Santiago has in his character allow him to finish his journey and to find love and a greater meaning in life. Finding his destiny, Santiago is left being more confident and grown-up. This story gives everyone a message of hope. For Santiago ending up where he began is a message that tells us that sometimes your treasure can be right there in front of you.