Thinking About Success

Importance
1. hard work
2. opportunity
3. skill
4. luck

     I believe that hard work is the most important of these four words because if someone doesn't work hard or have the drive to do so, then they will never get anything done.  Opportunity is second on my list because if someone has the ability to work hard but doesn't have the opportunity to work hard on anything in particular, then that hard work and drive is gone to waste.  Skill is third because skill is only useful when you work hard.  One can have the skills to do many things, but if they don't have any opportunities or the drive to do anything, then that skill isn't necessary.  Luck is third because being lucky is not really a thing.  Everything that happens happens for a reason.  It is kind of like opportunity but it can relate to anything.  With luck, not much can be done and it is only occasionally that one gets lucky.  It isn't a constant thing.

Fashion

While doing research in class today, I found one of the few articles to be particularly interesting.  I ave never really thought about fashion designers and why they design/sell the clothes that they do.  This article answers that question, saying that some people sell clothes according to trends and others according to the quality of the clothes.  This makes me wonder how do they figure out what kind of trends will be popular in the future and how do they know customers will buy their product?  Also, what makes the quality of a piece of clothing good?

This is a Uniqlo store, showing many different colors and trends.

Ch. 18 Letter

Dear Mom,
     Today has been rough, just like the many others.  I have been here for a while now and it still has not gotten any easier.  I get made fun of and ridiculed for the way I look, dress, and what I believe in daily by all of these Americans.  I know that it's only because I'm different but it's so embarrassing.  But I know that it will be worth it in the long-run.
     I have joined another group of people from Ireland.  They are so nice, but sometimes it makes me miss home even more.  It's supposed to make me feel at home here, and it does sometimes.  But when I leave there and go back out into the real world, it brings me back to reality and that is that I'm not at home and I'm stuck here.  I know that it will get better, I just need to give it time.
     I really want to become more like the people here.  Being in the "ethnic neighborhood" with other Irish people is nice, but spending time with them will not make it any easier when I go out into the real world.  I am trying to branch out and eat the food from here and hang around Americans so that I can be more like them and maybe one day I will be accepted into their culture.  But as for now, I am focussing on my job and making money to support you, dad, and the rest of the family.

Much love from America,

your daughter.

This is our ethnic neighborhood