Never Stop Trying...

Right Beneath Your Feet

“The people who come here have a lot of money to spend, so they can afford to travel.” His father said. ‘Amongst us, the only ones who travel are the shepherd.” “Well, then I’ll be a shepherd!” – Coelho, page 9. In the book The Alchemist, Santiago, a young boy who decided to be a shepherd, leaves his beloved home in Andalusia to seek out his personal legend. After dreaming of a treasure buried beneath the Great Pyramids in Egypt, Santiago leaves his home to follow his destiny. Along his significant journey, he meets many notables who support him achieve his destiny. From the struggles in Santiago’s journey, he finds love and a greater sense of himself. Ultimately, with qualities such as bravery, intelligence, determination, help him successfully reach his destiny.

During his journey, Santiago learns to be courageous and shows bravery in different ways. On his way to the Egyptian Pyramids, Santiago meets a girl named Fatima in a small oasis. When he had to chosen to ask her for marriage, he courageously asked her to marry. But Fatima tells Santiago that he mustn’t give up his destiny and that she will wait until he achieves his destiny. Later on in the oasis he meets the Alchemist who disguised himself. He first meets the boy at night, “Who dares to read the meaning of the flight of the hawks?” he demanded, so loudly that his words seems to echo through the fifty thousand palms trees if Al-Fayoum. “It is I who dared to do so,” said the boy.” (104-105). During the conversation with the alchemist, Santiago shows that he is brave and he shoes that he wasn’t afraid. Finally through the journey Santiago and the Alchemist were captured by a group of tribesmen. Alchemist makes a deal with the tribesmen that if Santiago can turn himself into the wind, they will let them go. During this part of the journey, Santiago learns that he must face his fears and trust his heart. “Well then, help me do that,” the boy said. “Fill this place with a sandstorm so strong that it blots out the sun. Then I can look to heaven without blinding myself.” So the wind blew with all its strength, and the sky was filled with sand…” (141). Thus, Santiago realizes the Soul of the World and learns to turn himself to the wind. The bravery Santiago gains on his journey helps him to achieve his destiny but he must also be smart to overcome difficult situations that he encounters along the way.

On Santiago’s first arrival in Egypt, he fell for a trick and loses all his possessions. Santiago starts working for a crystal merchant who was kind enough to offer Santiago a job, while working at the shop Santiago shows his intelligence by coming up new ideas to promote the shop. While working for the merchant, Santiago learns from the merchant’s life stories of how he tried to fulfill his journey but he couldn’t because destinies change. As days past, Santiago came with a new idea that helped the business, “That day, the merchant gave the boy permission to build the display. Not everyone can see his dreams come true in the same way… Two more months passed, and the shelf brought many customers into the crystal shop.” (53) Santiago created a shelf outside the store to draw people’s attention but it was very dangerous because it could have been stolen but instead the shelf brought more customers. The crystal merchant was very happy about him working; he thought it was an omen from god. Later on when the store became a grand shop that sells tea and crystals, Santiago decided that he now has enough money to travel and he is going back to Spain and buy a flock of sheep. When Santiago asks for a blessing, the crystal merchant tells him about “Maktub” and how destiny is written. Santiago realized that he must carry on with his destiny and go to Egyptian Pyramids. He now knows that working for the crystal merchant was a part of his destiny and that he must use the money he made to go to the Pyramids. The intelligence that Santiago has helps him realize his destiny though he must be focused and ready through his journey.

Throughout his journey, Santiago becomes more and more determined of his destiny. From several challenges and distractions, Santiago realizes what his true destiny. During his stay at the oasis, he did not give up his dreams for the love of his life and carried on his journey with the alchemist. Finally at the Pyramids, he realizes his true destiny and knows that his determination helped him achieve it. “If he wanted to, he could now return to the oasis, go back to Fatima, and live his life as a simple shepherd… The boy told himself that, on the way toward realizing his own destiny, he learned all he needed to know, and experienced everything he might have dreamed of.” (152-153) Santiago realizes after reaching his goal that because he did not give up and followed his heart. He knows he could have chosen to abandon his journey but instead chose to carry on his destiny. During his journey with the alchemist, he learns how to make wise decisions and to speak the Language of the World. The alchemist was more than a teacher, he was like a father he didn’t have and Santiago did not want to leave him but he knew that he must not get distracted and achieve his destiny. “The alchemist said, “No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in history of the world. And normally he doesn’t know it. The boy smiled. He had never imagined that questions about life would be such importance to a shepherd. “Good-bye,” the alchemist said. “Good-bye,” said the boy.”(151) Santiago leaves the alchemist without a second thought and carries on his journey. He knew that he was close to reaching his destiny and he chosen to follow his destiny and not stay with the alchemist. Santiago becomes determined through his destiny and learns that even through hard challenges that appear along the journey, he must focus and follow his heart to achieve his destiny.

Santiago’s adventure across Africa and successfully reaching the Pyramids of Egypt, Santiago’s journey takes a full circle back to his home of Andalusia, Spain. Buried under the sycamore tree, he finds his treasure and fulfills his destiny by learning the true values of life. The young boy, a simple shepherd goes through a journey that thought about love and a greater sense of him. Through this journey he not only finds treasure but he learns to faces his challenges and to trust his heart and to follow it. Santiago’s experience shows everyone that to find your own treasure you must follow your dreams, listen to your heart and remember that your treasure could be right beneath your feet.

The Long & Lonely Road by Uronelle
Many qualities and traits describe a person but there only a few that help that person when it comes to achieving their destinies. Determination has helped me be a participate in my destiny because it helped me not give up and keep on going no matter how many challenges there are. "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Thomas Edison, this quotes shows that Thomas Edison did not create light bulbs in one day, it took him 10,000 light bulbs to find one that works. Determination keeps you going and if you are determined to do something, you can achieve it by never stop trying and facing your challenges.