GRAPHIC BY DEVYN KELLYBy CAROL LI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Naturally, change comes with time; students slowly grow their intellectual skills, companies gradually expand their footprint with small adjustments and we, as individuals, become different people through the conflicts and happy memories that occur in life.
This is why events such as the lottery jackpot and overnight success can capture the attention of so many; individuals who are able to experience great accomplishments without dedication or time are the very factors in the equation of life that hinder normal people from achieving their dreams.
When these people achieve extreme prosperity in a short time, they become prone to a sudden wealth syndrome. Ironically, becoming extremely successful can result in personal upset—when people do not learn the importance of what they have, or can become stressed and fatigued. Consequently, despite contrary belief, a price tag cannot be put on happiness.
Take, for instance, the few individuals who have been extremely lucky to become the winners of the lottery. On the news, we see wide smiles, intense emotions and celebration. However, we are not exposed to what happens behind the curtains. According to cnbc.com, lottery winners are more likely to declare bankruptcy within three to five years, indicating that this excess of wealth brings a landslide of misfortune.
In fact, Jack Whittaker, a winner of a $315 million lottery, was robbed of $545,000 within eight months. Then, his daughter and granddaughter passed away due to drug overdoses.
Clearly, state of mind is not something that can be purchased, or a factor that can be easily manipulated with financial changes. As a society, we may all be caught up with the problems in our lives, and wishing that we had a little more of either wealth, prestige or fame to improve oneself.
However, more is not always better, and instead of hoping for an instantaneous miracle, work to achieve what you want, because there are no easy shortcuts to life.