Success 

There are many factors that determine success, such as luck, hard work, skill and opportunity. The most important of these four factors is hard work. You can not have anything in life without having to being open to work for it. Many of the worlds most economically successful had to work extremely hard to obtain the fortune they now have. The rapper 50 cent is a great example for someone who has worked hard to get where they are now in life. There is a story that 50 cent was on the set of his movie and at the same time,  he was recording the soundtrack for the movie. So one day a reporter came up to 50 cent and asked him "So when do you sleep 50?" he boldly replied “Sleep, sleep is for those people who are broke. I don’t sleep, I might miss the opportunity to make a dream become a reality.” So this shows that success and handwork go hand and hand. The second factor that I would say is important is opportunity. If you are willing to work hard and seize the opportunity that you have then you will be successful 99% of the time. I feel as if the other two factors do not have as much to do with success. 

Today I learned about the "Made in the U.S.A." crisis that is going on in the Marianas Islands. There is a good amount of well-known brands of clothing that are taking advantage of the labor laws in this United States Pacific Island territory. For many years these companies such as GAP, Banana Republic, Geoffrey Beene, and Levi all were taking Chinese immigrants and shipping them onto this island and shoving them into poor living conditions and into a dark labor filled slave like life. There are many sweatshops scattered over the main island, Saipan, with huge american flags flying over them. Many people are against this and are trying to stop the "slave-like" labor that is going on in these islands.


NY Times Article

Dear Susan,

                      I have now been in the united states for 3 weeks now. It is a whole new world over here, I knew this from the moment I sailed into the harbor and saw the huge statue of liberty. How are things back in Ireland? It has been incredibly difficult for me to find a well paying job over here. There is such a large influx of people coming over from over seas that the job market is flooded. I read in the paper the other day that the urban population of Chicago is now 84% Immigrants. I have listened to your advice as far as giving up all of the cultures and traditions that we had back home. I am trying my best to live the most American life I can.
                      My main complaint about this new life overseas is my living conditions. My house is currently shared with 10-15 other irish immigrants just like me. We are all shoved into one small room with a few beds and no windows. The stench in these houses they put us in is nothing that I can describe with words. Although I moved it still feels a little like home here since there is so many young Irish immigrants here it seems remarkably close to home. I know I have spoken a lot of negativity about this new land but I do see hope and promise, I know this was the right choice for me, and out family.
Love,
          Jake