Welcome
Journal #2
“The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion”-Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian writer, his most famous book is The Alchemist which has been translated into 80 languages. According to A&E Network’s Bio.com, he had always wanted to become a writer but didn’t start writing as a novelist until later on in life. His life has been through many different stages. In his teenage years he had been committed to a mental institution because he unwaveringly dreamed of becoming a writer, which his parents thought were unrealistic. He went to law school for a year, then quit and lived as a hippie and traveled the world. Coelho became a songwriter, working with some of Brazil’s most famous artists. He went to jail three times for political activism where he was subjected to torture. Then came a turning point in his life where he finally decided to do what he had always dreamed of doing which was becoming a writer. In this quote, Coelho tells us if we want something in the world to change, we must do something about it. He is motivating people to take a stand and do what they need to do in order to be happy, hoping that by doing this, others will follow. Coelho is an example for his own quote. He was a man who made his own decisions on how he wanted to live his life. He stood up for what he believed in, and even paid the consequences that came with his decison. He realized he was the driving force that could make people pay attention to the problem at hand. His decision led to the life he wanted and sacraficed for. As well as somme of the most top selling books in the world. People who have changed our nation, our world, had ideas and they took those ideas to create and mold the present. We in turn need to take action and do the same. Since I was little I knew I wanted to travel. I loved the experience of new scenery and culture. Starting in middle school I had gotten offers from a group called People to People to go on tours around the world. However, I was young and my family did not have the funds to spare for a big trip. Around my sophomore year in high school, I got another offer from People to People. This time, my mom finally agreed since we had saved and I was older and more mature to appreciate the trip. Since the trip was not cheap, I took the whole year to fundraise and to save. I took initiative and worked towards my goal, raising enough to help pay for some of the trip as well as spending money. By working hard at saving I was able to save enough to go experience the dream I have always had. I even have a friend who is going into the eighth grade who decided to go on the same trip, and I was able to give her tips on fundraising. I believe traveling around the world opens up one’s perspective on life and the lives of others. It is overall beneficial and hopefully by sharing my experiences, others will want to explore the world too.
Works Cited
"Paulo Coelho Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 2015. Web. 31 Aug. 2015.