Introduction
Success is a multifaceted concept that includes several definitions and understandings; nevertheless, in general, it refers to achieving goals and meeting expectations. Naturally, the objectives differ from person to person making it highly complicated to define success. However, there are certain factors that influence the life of every individual and might have a profound impact on their goals and overall happiness. These criteria are a sense of self and place, personal values, engagement in education and community, and career exploration. Therefore, by discussing these primary factors, it is possible to define the concept of success for most individuals and analyze how these parameters affect the students at Kapiolani Community College.
A Sense of Self and Place
The first criterion is the concept of identity and place, and this factor might heavily influence the well-being of the individual and his or her desire to achieve success. According to Hague (2007), the sense of identity allows people to distinguish themselves from others and formulate their own objectives and desires. Identity plays a vital role in the process of goals setting since success is generally defined as the achievement of personal goals. Therefore, it is essential to have clear objectives in order to focus on them properly. The sense of self-identification is also interrelated with the concept of place since identity frequently develops based on social interaction and the surrounding environment (Hauge, 2007). The concept of place generally refers to the physical surroundings, including homes, neighborhoods, and schools, where the students of KCC spend most of their time. Therefore, the surrounding environment plays a vital role in formulating the identities of the students and influence their social experiences.
The concepts of identity and place are particularly significant among students due to the nature of college education and adolescence. Most teenagers need to feel unique and want to have a sense of belonging to mitigate stress from their studies and potential social insecurities. As a result, the concepts of identity and place are highly significant to students, and the members of KCC are not exceptions.
Personal Values
The consequent criterion concerns personal values and proposes the idea that, in the contemporary world, people are frequently obsessed with material things, such as money and accessories, which do not necessarily make them happy. Whillans and Dunn (2017) support this hypothesis and claim, “people who say they prioritize time over money appear to be better off” (para. 15). While the wealth issue does not affect the students of KCC directly, it is essential to maintain a healthy balance of education and personal values. Frequently, the students might be overwhelmed by their studies and problems in social life; in such cases, it is vital to turn back to personal values and support from relatives and friends. Naturally, it does not mean that education makes people unhappy per se, but rather it frequently takes the majority of the limited time that students have. Therefore, it is essential to reconsider the schedule to prioritize personal values since they are so vital for the well-being of the individual.
Engagement
The journey to success is a life-long process, and experts have emphasized the significance of engagement in education and community in the school years of the individuals. Adolescence is the period of time when a person acquires the majority of his or her social connections and experiences; therefore, engagement in various activities plays a vital part in personal development. Willms (2003) emphasizes that engagement might have a beneficial impact on students concerning their social interaction with peers and enhance their sense of belonging. Therefore, engagement in education and community activities might greatly improve psychological state of students at KCC and help them achieve success.
Career Exploration
As mentioned briefly before, good education might cost a lot due to the vast investment; nevertheless, professional development might be highly significant in achieving success. For a high number of people, career exploration and personal growth are the primary objectives in life, which will eventually lead to personal success. While it might not be the ultimate objective for the majority of people, career exploration is a necessary tool for the students to understand what they want to do in life. Furthermore, this factor is particularly significant to the students of KCC and might help them achieve personal success.
Personal Perspective on Success
After acknowledging the utmost significance of the aforementioned factors on success, it is essential to reflect on the topic and understand my own perspective. Personally, I find it difficult to decide on one exact factor that contributes the most to my success since both personal values and engagement are highly significant concepts in my life. I believe that one of the Hawaiian proverbs explicitly describes my position, “Life is an echo. What you give out comes back”. This perspective particularly emphasizes the engagement in social interaction, and I truly believe that I can achieve success and happiness through communication with close people and helping the community. Nevertheless, I also believe that this perspective does not refer to engagement alone but also to personal values.
Conclusion
The four primary factors of success, such as identity, personal values, engagement in the community, and career exploration, are highly significant for adolescents and might beneficially affect the students of the Kapiolani Community College. Furthermore, these criteria might significantly enhance the well-being of the students and support them in achieving their objectives and aspirations. It is essential to remember that the students might frequently experience problems concerning stress from education and social issues. In such cases, they need all the support possible, and keeping the aforementioned factors of success in mind might greatly enhance the psychological state of the students at KCC. Additionally, I have discussed my personal perspectives on success and which of the aforementioned factors influence me the most. After reflecting on the topic, I have realized that both personal values and engagement are highly significant to me and have had a profound contribution to my success.
References
Hauge, A. L. (2007). Identity and place. Architectural Science Review, 1-15.
Whillans, A., & Dunn, E. (2017).To promote happiness, choose time over money. Web.
Willms, J. D. (2003). Student engagement at school: A sense of belonging and participation: Results from PISA 2000. Publications de l’OCDE.