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we understand the meaning that smile are for PEACE

Monday, November 24, 2008
CONCEPTIONS OF SUCCESS 8:11 AM


From the common viewpoint, a person who is successful is one who has the power to afford all the luxuries in life or the power to rule and command without breaking the laws in acquiring whatever one demands in life. For years, too many people have believe that success is all about the realisation of material things . He may be the richest man in the world or the President of the USA. It is not uncommon for people to associate one with education, credentials, intelligence and good looks as factors to define success.
On the other hand, anyone who adds value to another person's life is a success in my eyes. As long as they provide something to make you happier or feel good about yourself , they are successful. The best way to succeed is to discover what you love and find a way to offer it to others as a form of service. It takes a lot of hard work too but I guess if you work on your passion, everything will fall into place and your work will be a joy. Of course, the fame and fortune that you acquire along the way would be nice too.

One famous personality whom I would consider to be successful would be THOMAS EDISON. He was an American inventor and businessman who developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph and the long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. He was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large teamwork to the process of invention, and therefore is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory.He is credited with numerous inventions that contributed to mass communication and, in particular, telecommunications. His advanced work in these fields was an outgrowth of his early career as a telegraph operator. Edison originated the concept and implementation of electric-power generation and distribution to homes, businesses, and factories - a crucial development in the modern industrialized world. His first power plant was on Manhattan Island, New York.


Thomas Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. His parents were Samuel Ogden Edison, Jr. and Nancy Matthews Elliott. Thomas was their seventh child.
Edison started school late due to childhood illness. His mind often wandered and his teacher Alexander Crawford often called him "addled". He was kicked out of school three months after starting. Edison was then home-schooled by his mother, who was previously a teacher. She encouraged and taught him to read and experiment. Many of his lessons came from reading R.G. Parker's School of natural philosophy.
Edison's life in Port Huron was bitter. He was partially deaf since a young age, and became became a telegraph operator after he saved Jimmie Mackenzie from being struck by a runaway train. Jimmie's father, station agent J.U. Mackenzie of Mount Clemens, Michigan, was so grateful that he took Edison as an apprentice and trained him as a telegraph operator. Edison's deafness helped him as it blocked out noises and prevented Edison from hearing the telegrapher sitting next to him.
One of Edison's mentors during those early years was a fellow telegrapher and inventor named Franklin Leonard Pope, who allowed the then broke youth to live and work in the basement of his Elizabeth, New Jersey home.
On December 25, 1871, he married Mary Stilwell, and they had three children, Marion Estelle Edison, Thomas Alva Edison, Jr., and William Leslie Edison. His wife Mary died in 1884. On February 24, 1886, he married 19 year old Mina Miller. They had an additional three children, Madeleine Edison, Charles Edison (who took over the company upon his father's death) and Theodore Edison.
Thomas Edison died on Oct. 18th, 1931 in New Jersey at the age of 84 years.

Thomas Edison is one successful man because his inventions are made to save and advance human life. He finds out what the world needs, then proceed to invent. His inventions were always useful in terms of the service it gave to others.

Although Thomas Edison was nearly deaf all his life, he had attained awesome achievements which many healthy peple could not do. He persisted in his work and invented many inventions which are useful to the world. This just proves that everyone could do much more, could attain even better results, only if we persever and focus upon doing something useful and work very hard at it.

Some inspiring quotes:


  • If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.

  • The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn't like to do.

  • Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

  • I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.



SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE WHOM I KNOW PERSONALLY


I believe that all teachers are successful people because they add values to the students' life, passing on precious knowledge and giving students the chance to have a better future. They educate students, and does tremendous amount of work and research just to make lessons more interesting for students. They help students learn and touched someone's heart by making a difference in the direction their lifes took. Teachers' strong passion for teaching help mould the lives and future of the students of singapore, indirectly giving back to the society and help bring singapore to even greater heights.

Teachers' strong passion for teaching has made me feel automatically inspired to become an effective learner and strive to do my best in order to not disappoint them. Also, teachers' patience, love, and care would also motivate me to excel in my studies.

I would gain more experience and not just learn what is taught in the classroom but also has the opportunity to discover and explore more about the world outside by joining this programme.


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