Scratch Beginnings

Have you ever wondered why successful people seem so unhappy? In my opinion its not because they don't have everything they want or need it’s because they have what they thought would make them happy. Occasionally you get a raise in life or a high point but in a month or two it will just be normal and then you will want another high point in order to sustain happiness levels (Stillman).Then when you do not receive that high point everything you have does not seem so great anymore. Many people who believe that they are successful are unhappy.People use social comparisons to determine their level of accomplishments (Stillman).Deciding wether or not you are successful is your opinion, not every one else’s. The flashy care, job title, and mansion does not decide wether or not you have become successful.Only you can decided wether you have achieved your goals. In the book Scratch Beginnings, the protagonist has already made his mind up that he is successful but yet has nothing. His determination and strength to become something is and are what has made him feel like he is succeeding. In Scratch Beginnings Shepard said, “If you had asked me in July 2006 what I had the potential to accomplish during this project, I would have told you that I thought I …show more content…
Many people would consider him successful because he created something that people use each and every day. But what people don't think about is how many times it took Thomas to perfect that light bulb. Thomas Jefferson failed 1,000 times before he ever comes close to a superb light bulb (Estrem). Many people avoid the prospect of failure, we focus so hard on not failing that we don’t aim for success (Estrem). In the book The Great Gatsby, Gatsby bought a house hoping that she “Would wander into one of his parties, some night”(Fitzgerald). In the end, the money, the house, and the fancy car meant absolutely nothing because he didn't get the