Many people believe that education and career are essential ways to achieve success. However, I think success is not a vague concept, and its meaning varies from person to person. Even small actions, such as feeding a cat, which some people may not consider an achievement, can still be regarded as a form of success.
Success can take different forms, including academic, social, and cultural success. Being academically strong does not necessarily mean that someone will be successful in life or personal relationships. It is common to associate success with financial outcomes, but this view is rather limited. In reality, success can be defined as something that brings happiness and inner peace. For example, in the 1970s, there was a community known as the “Flower Children.” Due to the post-war effects, their main goal was to live peacefully without following the capitalist order that was becoming dominant worldwide. They organised many peace-related campaigns, which attracted significant public attention. Although they did not rely on formal education to spread awareness, they were successful in achieving their goals.
From my point of view, success is a process of achieving something meaningful through personal effort. It is related to neither money nor career alone. A person can have a well-paid job or earn a large amount of money, yet still feel unsuccessful. What truly matters is the process and personal progress involved. For instance, I was not good at cooking, but I wanted to make a birthday cake for my grandmother. Although I had no formal training, I was able to follow recipes online. It took several attempts, but at the end of the day, my grandmother loved the cake. This experience made me feel successful and honoured.
In conclusion, success does not require a dramatic or life-changing outcome. Its meaning may differ from one person to another, but the sense of satisfaction it provides is ultimately the same.