“It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” ~Paulo Coelho

12/16/2019

DUE: Wednesday, 12/18 at 11:45am
Response Due: Friday, 12/20 at 11:45am

Choose 2 of the questions and answer each of them with a minimum of 5 sentences each, answering the question AND connecting your answers to your own life.

1. Santiago became a shepherd rather than a spriest as his parents had hoped. Why is this so significant to the story? What advantage does being a shepherd offer him?

2. Before his journey begins, Santiago asks a gypsy woman to interpret his dream about finding treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. She requests for one tenth of the treasure in return for the favor. When Santiago asks an old man to show his the way to the treasure, the man asks for one tenth of his flock as payment. Although both interactions represent the fact that one must pay a price to follow one's dreams, only one of these payments will yield the desired result. Which one? Why? Which payment is a representation of false hops? How can you tell?

3. When we are children, "everything is clear and everything is possible" says King Mechizedek, but he cautions that as we age some mysterious force convinces dreamers to abandon their dreams. What do you think of this statement? What are the mysterious forces that cause people to abandon their dreams?

4. The Alchemist talks about a "universal language;" the language of the world. What is this language? How is it different from spoken language? Why would people's "fascination with pictures and words" cause people to forget the universal language? What are the consequences of forgetting it?

5. Santiago is repeatedly encouraged to read signs and omens/ What do signs and omens have to do with his quest? How are they related to the "universal language?" What kinds of signs and omens have you experienced in your life?

6. What is a "Personal Legend?" How does one find their own Personal Legend? What is your own Personal Legend?

7. At one point the alchemist reveals to Santiago the secret of turning metal into gold. Why did he share the secret? How does it relate to finding a Personal Legend?

8. Are you surprised at where Santiago's treasure was hidden? Why is it significance that his treasure lies buried in the exact place where his journey began?

9. What aspects of the story are the most relevant to you? Has reading this novel changes the way you see your own life? How?

10. Many spiritual quests involve a journey into the desert. Why do you think that is? In what ways is the desert a perfect setting for a spiritual journey? How did the desert help Santiago on his journey?

11. Discuss the significance of the novels' ending. What does the tree, beneath whose roots the treasure is burred, represent? Why did Santiago have to travel so far when the treasure was at home the whole time?

91 Comments

Peyton Stringer

12/16/2019 12:49:50 pm

Question 1: Throughout our life our opinions are shifted greatly by others in our life. Even at a young age our opinions and views are shifted greatly by our parents. This matters to the story because Santiago instead of following into what his parents wanted followed his passions and what he wanted out of his life. This relates to my own life not because my parents tried to sway my opinion but just how we view our world. When I share that I enjoy making games people think of it more as something that will go away soon or is just a short fun thing. Instead I think of it as a possible career option for the future.

Question 6: Ones personal legend is a goal or motive in which to do something. In life if you spend your time without a goal that could leave you to feel like your life was meaningless or you might have a lack of pride for what you did. For me in my life my personal legend is to continue and strengthen human connection. Keeping a good group of friends is very important to me. Also through my creations of games, writing, speeches, or whatever I do in my life I can strengthen that human connection.

Kainon Kachele link

12/16/2019 10:02:19 pm

This is truly a beautiful response to the selected questions. One question.. What is your personal legend

Katie Sjolund

12/17/2019 09:19:53 am

I think that you brought up a very interesting and controversial idea. I agree with you though about the idea that your parents influence the way you see the world even if they don't mean too. I also agree with your second paragraph when you talk about the idea that the people you surround yourself with influence who you are because I think that it is very true and evident in everyone's lives.

Kione

1/8/2020 04:10:28 pm

I like your comment

Hugo Nava

12/18/2019 09:14:38 am

I can agree with what you said for question 1. I have been greatly influenced by my family since I was young, but not in a bad way my family always taught me to respect others and taught me table manners. Personally I don't think that I have a personal legend I don't think that I have a big goal in mind I just go with the flow.

bocaj scibetta

12/16/2019 01:50:41 pm

The tree being buried underneath whose roots represents that sometimes personal legends can collide to create one. The leader of the egiptian group had a personal legend witch was under that tree but he gave up on it. So that could mean 2 things. The leader is a part of santiago's personal legend or since he gave up on it, it was transferred to another person who believed in it. Santiago had to travel very far so he could learn about the world and meet new people. His personal legend took him places he didn't think he could go. He was restricted in the mind that he couldn't go or travel to far. He knew that he could but wasn't prompted to. He wasn't told or felt like going. He had to tend to his sheep but when he was told to go it made him a better person. He learned many things and it was probably life changing.
The part of this book that is the most relevant to me would probably be him just learning about things. Him experiencing new stuff and learning from it. I could relate this to my music. Im learning anything i can from any type of music. Im on a journey to recreate different styles of music. Reading the book has opened my mind i guess i can say. I kinda think differently about things as I now know that everything that happens, happens for a reason. That the little things could be just as important as the big things.

Joaquin Barraza

12/16/2019 06:30:13 pm

I really like the actual writing in this blog but I think that the format it is in could improve. Your first name should be capitalized as well as your last name. I think it would also look more professional if you spelled your actual name and separated the two question responses. Other than those minor things, it is a quality blog.

Jessica Espinoza-Flores

12/16/2019 10:11:47 pm

It's really interesting how you said that maybe personal legends are transferred to someone else. I really like how you were personal with it and connected yourself to the text. And how the book changed your way of thinking.

Jake Fragala

12/16/2019 02:26:10 pm

Question 1: The significance of Santiago becoming a priest rather than a shepherd is that he was taking a step toward his Personal Legend, even though he didn’t know it. Also, becoming a shepherd allowed him to travel, which allows him to discover his Personal Legend easier. If he hadn’t met King Mechizdek, then he almost definitely wouldn’t have gotten to his Personal Legend. He most likely would have been a shepherd for a very long time, always wondering whether he should have tried to find out more about the Pyramids.

Question 3: When we are kids, everything is clear and possible because we haven’t learned of all the things we “must do” in life, like going to college and “getting a good job.” instead, the only thing that limits us is our imagination, which hasn’t been dumbed down by society yet. Since we have almost no limits imposed on our imagination yet, we can, at least in our minds, do anything. As we grow older, peer pressure to be “cool” and also role model like parents and teachers often cause kids to abandon their dreams. Obviously they’re not trying to squash dreams--they’re just trying to look out for the kids and make sure that they don’t end up broke and homeless. However, doing this also takes all of the dreams that kids have--especially the most important ones, their Personal Legends.

Peyton Stringer

12/16/2019 06:31:17 pm

Do you feel it is the ignorance of being young that makes us feel their is no restrictions to our dreams. Or do you think its the ignorance of the old that makes them not follow their dreams. For me growing up I have almost had more passion in what I am doing. As I grow older I learn more about the conflicts we face in the world, the beauty in the world, and the possibilities I have on this earth. Meaning as I get older I almost feel like I can do anything even more. However I do see how influence can change peoples views on there dreams as they get older.

colin dake

12/17/2019 09:07:08 am

I don’t know if he would even have thought about the pyramids in the first place, because he only became interested in them after meeting the gypsy. He only met the gypsy because he was a shepherd, so he would have never have thought that much about the pyramids as a priest. Also, if he had not met King Mechizdek, that would mean that he would be on the right track to his personal legend, because the king only shows up when someone is about to give up one their dreams.

Jack Flanagan

12/16/2019 03:24:48 pm

Santiago became a shepherd because he wanted to travel the world. The significance of it is that he followed his personal legend and it also started the story. it can connect to my life by all my relatives have started their oun company and I dont even want to start a company. my grandpa has even had 3 jobs at a time two of which were his oun companys. I have vary limited leadership skills so I can see why I dont though.

A personal legend is a job that you want to do and will be the most happy doing it. you find it be looking at a lot of jobs that connect to your interests and then choose the one that you like the most. my personal is a game designer. I choose it because it connects to all the interests I have. The interests I have are video games, art, and programming so all the thing for game design.

Kyla Stubbs

12/16/2019 04:55:38 pm

6. What is a "Personal Legend?" How does one find their own Personal Legend? What is your own Personal Legend?

A personal legend is when you find something that you are passionate about and want to pursue. I think that you find what your personal legend is when you try new things and see what makes you happy. I don’t think that I know my personal legend yet. I believe that everyone finds out their personal legend at their own time. There isn't a certain time or age that they will know.

10. Many spiritual quests involve a journey into the desert. Why do you think that is? In what ways is the desert a perfect setting for a spiritual journey? How did the desert help Santiago on his journey?

I think that in the desert you can just have an open mind and be able to think for yourself instead of others telling you what to do. Sometimes you need a break from noise and people to clear your head and I think that the desert might be a good place for some people. I think camping in the desert might be like a spiritual awakening for someone. They could know what they might want to do next in their life after spending some time alone. The desert made Santiago appreciate the things that he had for example he realized that he has Fatima and his sheep among other things.

David Lopez Jr

12/16/2019 07:22:54 pm

I agree that you need a break sometimes. We did a project in 8th grade that revolved around how going outside can help with a lot of things like health problems. It can also be a great place to think about things, such as something spiritual.

walker settle

12/17/2019 09:05:13 am

I like the way you went about talking about the personal legend. I like how you put your own view on the subject. I think it puts a good spin on the view point of a someone's personal legend. I have one question do you think there is a different way to view a personal legend. If so what would it be and why do you think that.

alina lopez

12/16/2019 05:40:18 pm

Question 6:
A personal legend is something you enjoy doing and want to pursue in life. I’m not to sure what my personal legend is because I like to just enjoy now and not worry about my future. I feel that as I grow up and maybe mature I will find what I’m passionate about but for right now I’m just exploring.

That sounds so dumb lol.

Question 3: I’m kinda dumb so I don’t know if the way I’m understanding this quote is right. But the way I look at it is when you’re a kid your mind is more open and you have more dreams that seem realistic then, but as you get older reality hits you and what used to seem possible and easy you realize now is not so easy and unrealistic. I think people give up on their dreams because it’s hard to work for what you want when facing struggles. I think people aren’t scared for the obstacles they might face and they’re scared to take the risk.

Anthony Mercado

12/16/2019 07:16:17 pm

First, don't call yourself dumb. Your answers are good. Especially the second one. Your answer was exactly what I thought when I saw the quote. It is easier to dream as a child because we don't know the struggle that comes with trying to reach that dream. Once we get older we start realizing that life is harder than what it was as a child. A good example of this is an astronaut. Kids want to explore. But the journey to try and get there is very, very difficult. One must know astronomy, and I am sure that is only part of it.

Gwyneth

12/17/2019 10:10:52 am

I don't think you are dumb. You are a kind, interesting person! I also believe that my Personal Legend will find me when I'm older. I agree with your interpretation of the quote that when you are young, you have big dreams for the future.

Jeni

12/17/2019 11:23:56 am

I like how you talked about fear as one of obstacles we face because I can agree. I like how you explained what a personal legend is and how specific you were in your comment.

Kira Cook

12/17/2019 11:28:37 am

I find that everyone has their own way of perceiving a quote. I also see that quote in the same way as you do. Do you know what you want to do later on in life?

Brisa

12/17/2019 11:33:50 am

I am also still searching for my personal legend as well and I agree that i wanna just enjoy life now.

Josefina Espinoza

12/17/2019 08:49:39 pm

this doesn't sound dumb and you are not dumb i like how you are just enjoying life.

Mariah Flores

12/17/2019 10:49:36 pm

I see what you mean by enjoying life, but I also think personal legend isn't just the future and it can be the present. What I mean by this is you might be working towards your personal legend without even knowing it. A personal legend makes you happy, so what if you accomplished your personal legend by becoming carefree and have learned to enjoy life to the fullest?

Rishi Halker

12/16/2019 06:05:33 pm

Question #6: Someone’s personal legend is their destiny to do whatever makes them content in life, and just because they want to. An example of this from the Alchemist is when Santiago is observing the candy merchant. The text reads,“ This candy merchant isn’t making candy so that later he can travel or marry a shopkeeper’s daughter. He’s doing it because it’s what he wants to do.” When someone realizes their destiny or whatever they want to do, that is when they realize their personal legend.

Question #8: I was surprised where Santiago’s treasure was hiding! This is because when the gypsy woman and the king of Salem said that his treasure was in Egypt, I actually thought that it was hidden in the desert! It actually kind of meant that the person who will lead you to your treasure is in Egypt. It’s very significant where Santiago’s treasure actually was because it brought him home to where he was from. This means that no matter how far you stray away from your roots, you’ll always come back to them.

Jane Fletcher

12/16/2019 10:11:14 pm

I was surprised too! I agree after thinking about it for a while it made sense for the treasure to be back at the begining. Where would you want the treasure to be if it was you? or How would you feel if you had to go all the way back to the begining?

Jake Fragala

12/17/2019 07:38:46 pm

I agree with your answer to question number 6. I would add that it's sort of a calling, something that we can't exactly explain why we want to do it, but we still have a burning desire to. As for question number 8, I think that almost all, if not all, of us were surprised when we found out where his treasure is! That's a really hard plot twist to guess.

Colin Dake

12/16/2019 06:33:35 pm

1). Santiago became a shepherd rather than a spriest as his parents had hoped. Why is this so significant to the story? What advantage does being a shepherd offer him?

Santiago becomes a shepherd instead of a priest because it allows him to travel more. The significance to the story is that he has to travel to the pyramids of Egypt, and meet many people along the way that will teach him all he needs to know to achieve his personal legend. Since he is already able to travel and do what he likes, he is more able to follow through with his personal legend. Santiago also learns many things from being with his sheep in the fields that help him on his journey. In my Makerspace elective, I was first planning on just building some small aquariums or fishing lures from wood, but now I have decided to make a submarine instead because it is less boring and a more engaging thing to do. Like Santiago, I have decided against doing something that will most likely work out and be feasible, and instead gone and done something much more risky that will make me happier.

3). When we are children, "everything is clear and everything is possible" says King Mechizedek, but he cautions that as we age some mysterious force convinces dreamers to abandon their dreams. What do you think of this statement? What are the mysterious forces that cause people to abandon their dreams?

I believe that this is true, as we grow older we start to reason more against ideas because they do not seem like they will bring us great wealth or a stable lifestyle. I believe that the mysterious force is many things, not just one single reason for us to stop believing in our dreams. As we get older, we start to become more attached to the people around us, and begin to build more complicated social reliances and groups. At this point, we begin to second guess ideas by first thinking about how everyone else would react to our idea. We also begin to think much farther into the future, and if there is a small but still significant chance of failure in the long run, we may decide against following our dream. Also, as you get older, you are taught more that you need to make a lot of money in order to live properly, which usually means working an un-interesting job that does not quite make us happy.

Rishi Halker

12/17/2019 10:11:19 am

I agree because when Santiago chose to tell his parents that he did not want to become a priest, he instead chose to travel which led him to the gypsy, the king, the thief the merchant, etc. One choice caused this chain of events which led him to finding the treasure. When we get older, we tend to question and reason things more,and I think that this is a part of that mysterious force.

Nathan Garcia

12/18/2019 11:30:15 am

I like how you decided to go with something harder to work on instead of something thats really easy. A lot of people would rather go with the easy way instead of challenging themselves just because they would rather get over with it. In my opinion I feel like its better to challenge yourself because there could be a time where you hit a roadblock or a challenge and you will either be prepared or unprepared depending on whether you challenged yourself before or not.

Anthony Mercado

12/16/2019 06:48:14 pm

Question Number 1: This is so significant to the story because it ian act of independence. This is an important theme in the book especially in the first part where he decides to go out an find his treasure. An advantage of being a shepherd is that he is able to adapt to the foreign terrain better then a person who does not travel.

Question Number 8. I am surprised that the treasure was in the exact spot his journey began. I thought it was going to be back at the oasis. I knew that the treasure was not going to be near the Pyramids. That would've been bland and predictable storytelling. Which is bad obviously. But I never expected that it would be back at the church. It was a good twist that I didn't expect. It is significant where his treasure was buried because one's life isn't just about the reward, it is about the journey.

Jack Flanagan

12/17/2019 09:05:41 am

The theme dose work with independence but there is a problem. He had been independent from the beginning. In the beginning he wanted to travel the world by himself, thus making him independent. I feel like a better topic would be self discovery.

Alanna Archuleta

12/17/2019 09:17:33 am

I like how you added your own way of saying how the story would be boring if the treasure was exactly where he thought it was. I especially liked the end of this book as well.

David Lopez Jr.

12/16/2019 07:14:36 pm

Question 3: I believe that this statement is true. I feel like people give up on their dreams because of what it takes to get there. This happened to me while doing a project in 8th grade. It wasn't a dream, but it was what I wanted our final product to look like. The thing that I wanted to do was possible, but I didn't want to do it so it resulted in looking worse then I wanted it to. Also, I think the reason that someone doesn't follow their dreams is because of their mindset. From the beginning, they don't think the can do it and they don't.

Question 1: I think this is very significant that he was a Shepard. If he had become a priest, he would be in the same town and wouldn't have met anyone. This would mean he wouldn't have met anyone. That means that he wouldn't find his personal legend. If I become something that my parents want me to do, I might not experience things that I want to do.

Jenisis B

12/16/2019 07:16:51 pm

3-I think some mysterious forces that people tend to abandon their dreams from, is fear and failure or thinking there not capable.. I think that one has to push them self and find their personal legend.

6-A Personal Legend is a desire and being passionate with a sense of purpose or something greater than yourself. I think one must follow their intuition but take risks to find their own personal legends. Also not “polluted” by financial gain.. My Personal Legend is to be happy, inspire, and to impact those around me.

Gelsey Perez

12/18/2019 08:52:10 am

I think you did a really good job explaining how people tend to lose connection to what they want to do in life. I can definitely agree with you because it's something I always see with people in our world. Sometimes they just want life to hand them everything and so they lose the effort to make their achievements stronger.

Ashley C

12/18/2019 10:27:03 pm

i agree with you on question 3. i think that its true that some people do give up on their dreams to easily.

Jacob Sherman

12/16/2019 07:44:33 pm

3. When we are children, "everything is clear and everything is possible" says King Mechizedek, but he cautions that as we age some mysterious force convinces dreamers to abandon their dreams. What do you think of this statement? What are the mysterious forces that cause people to abandon their dreams?

This statement reminded me of something that happened recently. It was were I noticed that I did ask the questions I used to. This got me to wonder why this happened, not sure on what caused it tho. This to me seems like the mysterious force that stops people from dreaming or accomplishing their dreams. It feels a little odd to think about now. The only think I can think of is either a change in environment or chemicals in the brain. Not sure which is the cause, but pretty sure it is one of them. I would say that people do loose or forget the dreams that they used to have. Its one of the thinks I dislike the most.

11. Discuss the significance of the novels' ending. What does the tree, beneath whose roots the treasure is burred, represent? Why did Santiago have to travel so far when the treasure was at home the whole time?

The ending of the book wasn't very specific of the meaning. It is meant for one to find their own meaning in the text. I think I hurt someone say in one of the classes, that the whole book is just one big metaphor. Which I can agree with. I guess maybe a message is how true treasure is always in the place where you laded your roots, place you came/started from. Like I said, the book is a giant metaphor. He does need to go on his adventure to know/learn how to live the best way possible. That's not my opinion its just what my interpretation of the book means. Kind of how someone wins the lottery and then is usually screwed over by themselves, however some of the people who win big know how to deal with life and knows not to waste the opportunity. Same thing in the book. The boy goes on a journey to find the true answers to everything. He knows how to live the way he wants and how to accomplish his goals. He won't screw himself over, he will find the best possibility for himself and for his future.

Aquetzalli Lira-Prado

12/17/2019 08:00:53 pm

I agree that people forget and loose their dreams as they get older. It may be very frustrating losing a dream you had and being led to a path that you are not happy with in life. I also agree that it may be a change in the environment whether they be surrounded by new people who negatively influence them or an environment where it is very unlikely they may achieve their dreams, since they do not have the resources.

Jessica Espinoza-Flores

12/16/2019 09:40:52 pm

5. The most important signs in my opinion were the thief, the hawks and the guy that beat him up and led him to the treasure. The hawk’s in my opinion were one of the most important because if he hadn’t “read” them then he probably wouldn’t have interacted with the alchemist the same way if he had. They’re related to the “universal language” because the hawks are a part of nature, the thief is human and humans make mistakes and it just happens to be that and the same goes for the guy that beat him up. Also it’s about courage and that is something that he has trouble with at the beginning with.

9. Some parts of the book that are most relevant to me are seeing people that are happy and wanting that too, just enjoying life and living in the present. It has changed the way I look at things by realizing that a small detail can impact your life. For example if we get a red light while we’re late for an interview and when we drive more we see that an accident happened, and we realize that the light saved us. It reminds me of when Santiago met the thief in that bar and convinced him that the other guy was the thief. It makes me realize that all details are important no matter how small or big they are.

Evonna Esparza

12/17/2019 09:04:31 am

I really like how specific you were in your examples. I like how you challenged yourself to choose difficult questions. I agree with the signs you chose because I feel like the story would have been very different without them.

Jane Fletcher

12/16/2019 10:06:15 pm

Question # 8: I was a little surprised to find that Santiago's treasure was back at the begining, thousands of miles away. But when I thought about it more, it made sense, I think that the knowledge he gained throughout the journey is apart of the treasure too. There is a saying that " knowledge is power" and Santiago realized amazing things with the things he learned. I think that he also wouldn't have been able to find it without learning, obviously because it was hidden , but because he learned to speak the language of the universe, that everything is connected and has a personal legend and meaning that they must fulfill.

Question #6: I think a personal legend is like your puprose, something you're meant to do. Everyone has a specific quality to them or unique talent to them that they need to find within themselves. Once do that they can truly be succsessful in their lives and they'll have lived life to their full potential. No words left unsaid, no regrets or what if's. They will have compeleted everything they needed and maybe that comes much later on down the road or for others much sooner than they'd think.

Kyla Stubbs

12/17/2019 08:57:20 am

I really like what you said about a personal legend. I kind of said the say thing in my response as you did. I think that everyone has their own personal legend that they will follow through out their life.

ruby

12/17/2019 09:00:54 am

I like the way you talk about the personal legend.

Jake Ryan

12/17/2019 09:12:56 am

Your definition of a personal legend is spot on, in my opinion. I also liked what you said about how Santiago needed to go on that journey to learn about how to read the omens and become wise. He discovered how to speak the language of the world which led him to his treasure, which was back at the abandoned cathedral.

Kainon Kachele link

12/16/2019 10:18:25 pm

1. Santiago became a shepherd rather than a spriest as his parents had hoped. Why is this so significant to the story? What advantage does being a shepherd offer him?

Santiago choosing to be a shepherd is extremely significant because it taught him how to travel and communicate by the "language without words". He learned this language by interacting with his sheep and being able to uunderstand their emotions and what they want or need.

2. What is a "Personal Legend?" How does one find their own Personal Legend? What is your own Personal Legend?

A personal legend is a want to for something or to chase after a dream that is bigger than you. One finds their personal legend by living through everyday events and experiencing different options to take in life to discover their personal legend. My personal legend is to be successful in life and be able to be who I want to be.

Daniel Barbosa

12/17/2019 09:09:42 am

A personal legend is a goal or a Dream that you want to accomplish. To find your personal legend you have to listen to your heart and trust your instincts. My own personal legend is to become a Pro soccer player this has probably been my personal legend for a long time. Since I was 5 .

alexis

12/17/2019 02:45:01 pm

How do you manage to make your personal legend true. I do agree on how to find your personal legend I think it is very true. Do you think you can reach this goal in the near future.

Kione

1/8/2020 04:08:39 pm

I Like your personal legend I like how u are gonna do it

Katie Sjolund

12/17/2019 09:14:19 am

I think that when we are young we believe that the world is a safe place and that anything is possible. As we get older we start to believe that the world is a very scary place. We come across things that spark our interest but don’t go after them because that would require taking a risk in this already scary world. We want to be safe and we see that the person next to us seems to have found a safe path and we want that and so we try to recreate that in our own lives. And then the person on the other side of you see what you have done and then tries to do the same thing that you did and it is an ever lasting cycle. There are the few exceptions of people that do go after their personal legends though.

I think that the idea behind every person having a personal legend is really unique and not something that anyone can explain. I believe that a personal legend is the thing that you were meant to change or influence in the world. It doesn’t have to be anything big or something that lots of people recognize. I think that a lot of people come across their personal legend but don’t realize that it is their personal legend until it's too late. I think that that's what makes the people who do realize their personal legend so special and so looked up too.

Eunice Flores

12/17/2019 08:31:38 pm

I agree with what you said about how when we are young we think the world happy and safe. In reality its not there other people want to put us down because of what we think or say. Same with personal legend, we feel like we will never make and we never even tried to make the effort and just give up and look back until it's too late.

walker settle

12/17/2019 09:15:12 am

one's personal legend is what they are trying to achieve at that point in there life. You would chase that until you would achieve your goal no matter what it is. my personal legend is that I want to make people smile and be happy no matter what I am doing. I try to make people smile everywhere I go. It makes me happy when I make people laugh or smile.
In the story when the boy here's the glass merchant story and how he will not chase his dream. I think that relates to me in the fact where I want to do a certain job. I also feel like I am under aquipt to do that job. maybe one day I will finally be prepared for that job. This is where I feel that I connect to the alchemist.

Alanna Archuleta

12/17/2019 09:15:39 am

Question 4: The language the Alchemist is talking about is love. This is different from the spoken language because you truly can not speak this unless you have a feeling for someone and if they feel the same. They might forget that love is something that is hard to find and hard to move on from. The consequences of forgetting this is that you might not realize the feeling you have for someone. This connects to my life because I see a lot of people get together and date for a bit but not actually like each other and just date to be popular.

Question 8: I was surprised at where the treasure was because it was right under his nose, but I knew that it had to be somewhere is Andalusia. Because that where he got the idea of his personal legend and that's where everything started. I didn't expect it be at the place he slept and thought about his legend. This relates to my life because I haven't realized if my personal legend started and it has been started. i'm scared because I don't know what my personal legend is and I haven't realized it yet.

Lauren Zirinsky link

12/17/2019 09:59:18 am

I was also surprised on where the treasure was hidden, but I also think that it was a very wise decision on the authors end.

Star

12/17/2019 09:17:47 am

1. I feel like the alchemist reveals to Santiago the secret of turning metal into gold, Because he wants to show Santiago that he is able to achieve is personal legend no mater how hard or impossible it seems.
2.I feel like when we are younger we believe that we can accomplish any dream we have because we haven't seen the "hard" part of life.Its kinda like listening to music without analyzing the lyrics or meaning. If you take time to understand the lyrics you realize how much the song has changed itself. Just like life, once you grow up you understand the world more because of analyzing everything as you grow.

Jake Ryan

12/17/2019 09:23:38 am

1. The significance of Santiago becoming a shepherd is that he is following his dream to travel. Also if he never became a shepherd, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to go on the adventure to find the treasure.

8. I was surprised at first about where the treasures actual location was, but after some thinking I discovered how it was relevant to reality. By having the treasure actually be at the cathedral the author was trying to tell us is that sometimes treasure is right in front of us, not across the entire world.

Daniel Barbosa

12/17/2019 09:24:33 am

The reason why the alchemist show the boy how to turn metal into gold because he want to the boy that he didn´t need money and it also encourage him to turn himself into the wind. This relates to his personal because that means he has a new skill.

Brenden Pache

12/17/2019 09:28:37 am

What is a "Personal Legend?" How does one find their own Personal Legend? What is your own Personal Legend?
A personal legend is what your meant to do. Where all the universe conspires to complete for you. Yet the universe doesn't do for you. My personal legend is to be wild to venture into the wild with the wild. Or become a musician that changes the world. Whatever it is I’m waiting for it.
Santiago became a shepherd rather than a spriest as his parents had hoped. Why is this so significant to the story? What advantage does being a shepherd offer him?
Because he wanted to become a shepherd. It was him who want to travel and became a shepherd to find his personal legend. If he didn’t became a shepherd he wouldn't be able to find the love of his life and his treasure. The advantage of being a shepherd is able to travel and wool.

ruby

12/17/2019 09:31:32 am

What is a "Personal Legend?" How does one find their own Personal Legend? What is your own Personal Legend?
I my opinion a personal legend is the thing that will make you happy in life and feel fulfilled in life. I don’t think you find you own personal legend I think it finds you and show itself to you. My personal legend is to be happy and to make others happy.

What aspects of the story are the most relevant to you? Has reading this novel changes the way you see your own life? How?
The aspects of the story that are most relevant to me was the crystal merchant because he knows his personal legend but he doesn't pursue it and that's how i’m kinda feeling because I want to do one thing but I’m too scared to I don’t know if the crystal merchant was scared but I don’t know.

Gwyneth

12/17/2019 09:34:43 am

7. At one point the alchemist reveals to Santiago the secret of turning metal into gold. Why did he share the secret? How does it relate to finding a Personal Legend?

The alchemist said to Santiago "Everything that happens once will never happen again, but everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time." Santiago was robbed twice, so the alchemist gave him some gold. He was sure that Santiago would be robbed a third time. I feel like the alchemist revealed his secret to show Santiago that he was close to discovering his Personal Legend.

8. Are you surprised at where Santiago's treasure was hidden? Why is it significant that his treasure lies buried in the exact place where his journey began?

I didn't expect Santiago's treasure to be located in Andalusia. I believe his journey to the desert was significant because he got to meet so many different people who taught him valuable life lessons.

Lauren Zirinsky link

12/17/2019 09:53:15 am

I agree that somewhere in our life, we abandon our dreams. I’m honestly not sure why, but it might be because we don’t think it's possible, or it isn’t worth it, or we generally gave up on it. I would assume that the age that this would happen around, is probably in college, so in your early 20’s. I know that it is a choice to pursue or give up and abandon your dreams. I think that maybe as we begin to start the life that we will live forever, we start to question everything, even if we know that it is something that we want and we know we want.

A Personal Legend is your life’s spiritual purpose. It is a passion that you when you have to pursue something in which you find a purpose in and want to live with a purpose. You find your Personal Legend by discovering what you are desired to be of purpose. My Personal Legend is to have a purpose in my career job. My career job is going to be in the Medical Field (Anesthesiologist) and this allows me to give back and have a purpose in life.

Brenden Pache

12/17/2019 10:57:28 am

Your writing is awesome. Maybe you should put the question with it too. it ‘s a bit hard to understand without the question.
Question: what is your personal legend is?

natalia

12/17/2019 10:57:11 am

A personal legend is something you are very passionate about. I think you know you found your personal legend when you become extra passionate about something or have more interest in wanting to do something. So I think it's important to always try new things. I haven't found my personal legend yet but i'm working to find it.

I think this novel is important because it teaches us that even with obsticles and other things in the way, it's still possible to get to your personal legend. After reading this it gave me hope to find and achieve my personal legend.

Josefina Espinoza

12/17/2019 08:53:23 pm

I agree with you this book gave me hope to achieve my personal legend.

Eunice Flores

12/17/2019 11:06:07 am

Question 1:
The fact that Santiago wanted to be a shepherd then a priest was the beginning of his adventure. I want to be a doctor and my dad was so proud and then I want to go to the Navy. My dad was pretty sad and he still wants me to be a doctor. Santiago’s advantage of being a shepherd is being able to sell his sheep and travel to where the king and gypsy woman told him.

Question 8:
I was surprised that Santiago traveled so far only to start off where he began. I think it was a sign for his treasure there because it shows that the journey is what matters not the end. It connects to me because when I get out of college I’ll go through the good and bad things that may since impossible. But I’ll learn from the mistakes I made to restart to get right.

Corinne Bains

12/19/2019 09:36:41 pm

I was also surprised that Santiago's treasure was at home, right where he had started, instead of in the pyramids. I agree with when you said that the important part is the journey. Not the end or the destination.

Joaquin Barraza

12/17/2019 11:06:56 am

Question #1: The fact that Santiago became a shepherd instead of a priest is so significant to the story because it shows how independent he is. His parents hoped that he was going to be priest but his independence told him otherwise because of his passion to be a shepherd. Him being a shepherd has actually taught him a couple of very useful life lessons like independence, bravery, and self-confidence. In my life, these values have been applicable to me as well. I am independent because I can do things without having being told to do so or ask for someone to do things for me. I know that I am very self-confident because of how much everyone tells me that I'm a leader. Being a leader takes a lot of self-confidence because if you're idea isn't right to everyone else, you have to be strong enough to pursue your ideas and not everyone else's.

Question #7: In the book, The Alchemist shows Santiago how to turn metal into gold. He demonstrated how to do this because it was his own personal legend. Santiago asks him how to do this but he doesn't give him the answer because it wasn't Santiago's personal legend, it was the Alchemist's. This can relate to anyone because everyone has their own personal legend but they are all different because no human is the same. For example, my personal legend is probably way different than any kid in the class and the school because no one has the same personal legend.

collin hoyer

12/19/2019 11:33:03 am

I like the way that you looked deeply into the text with these answers. I also can tell that you care a lot about the book and its deeper meaning.

Kira Cook

12/17/2019 11:20:43 am

Question #6
A Personal Legend is your life’s “mystical” purpose. It’s a spiritual calling that awakens a deep desire to live with a sense of purpose for something greater than yourself. Some people might call it a mission however, it’s more of a true purpose that helps you leave a lasting legacy behind. For example my personal legend is to get a scholarship for softball. The only thing that is stopping me is that it is in the future and I have made all the steps to get as close as I can but I have a little step back with it being in the future.
Question#1
I think this is significant to the story because if he would have become a priest he wouldn't have traveled to see the merchant's daughter.He wouldn't have met the king or met the crystal merchant and he wouldn't have been able to meet the alchemist.The advantage of him being a shepherd is that he gets to travel, which is what he wanted to do.He was also able to take his journey to the pyramids and find his personal legend, and meet the alchemist to take him along on his journey to find his treasure. If he was a priest he would stay home and at the church and he wouldn't be able to explore the world and pursue his personal legend.

Gavin I link

12/19/2019 09:46:38 pm

Really well said in the first paragraph, It convalesce a lot of detailed. Also cool spin on your meaning of a personal legend. Had a spelling error in daughter and he. Nice and clean explanation on the 2 paragraph

Alexis

12/17/2019 11:31:08 am

A personal legend is usually something that you are passionate about. One finds their own personal legend by finding something that makes them content and makes them know what they want in life. My own personal legend is to find what makes me happy and at the same time to make the others around me happy.

some aspects that are most relevant to me are how he goes and doesnt give up on his personal legend and it does change my way that I see life because it shows me the ways on how I can be at my top.

Gelsey Perez

12/17/2019 11:31:48 am

What is a "Personal Legend?" How does one find their own Personal Legend? What is your own Personal Legend?

A Personal Legend to me is almost like a statement that talks about a passion you’ve always wanted to follow. I feel that anyone is able to find their Personal Legend at any time of their life. As we were reading the Alchemist, Santiago already knew what he wanted to do at a young age. I do believe that Personal Legends take time to find because I remember when I was thinking about mine, I had to really consider the things I really wanted to follow when I grow older. My Personal Legend is " Don't be afraid to stand up for the things you love to do", I really wanted to incorporate something that I had trouble with, so that way I could some sort of motivation to push other people, like the Alchemist when he told the boy to follow his treasure.

Santiago became a shepherd rather than a priest as his parents had hoped. Why is this so significant to the story? What advantage does being a shepherd offer him?

This is significant to the story because it shows that the boy was willing to give anything up just to follow his dreams and not someone else’s. Throughout the whole story there’s many challenges that the boy has to go through, like when he was robbed three times. It was like he wanted to give up because all of his earnings were gone. One advantage that Santiago has is that he gets to travel and gets to see the world, something that he wouldn't have been able to do if he became a priest. This connects to me because while traveling there's a lot of things that we are able to do and along the way we also end up meeting people that will help us, just like Santiago had.

Brisa

12/17/2019 11:32:38 am

A personal legend is something a person has a passion for. I believe that every person finds their personal legend on their own time when they discover what they're passionate about. I am still exploring my personal legend.

I think people abandon their dreams cause they are scared to face difficulties and take the risk

Jesus sanchez cruz

12/17/2019 03:14:37 pm

My personal legend is always be kind to others. Being kind is my personal legend because doing good will allow good to come to me. Being nice and kind to people and care for people. If someone is upset, I want to make them feel better.

Corinne Bains

12/17/2019 05:18:20 pm

1. A significant aspect of Santiago becoming a shepherd instead of a priest, is that it shows that he is very brave. He makes the courageous choice to follow his heart, which leads him to discover his Personal Legend. One of the biggest advantages was the thing that drew Santiago shepherding in the first place, the ability to travel. Being a shepherd instead of a priest made it so he was available and flexible enough to follow his own personal legend. Being a shepherd also taught him to observe the earth, universe, and to fight for his independence. This connects to me because I think that the one of the ways that will help me make progress on my personal legend is to make new connections with people that will help me, and this is what Santiago does in his travel.

11. The twist at the story's end, that the treasure was always near Santiago after all, reinforces the teachings of the alchemist. Just as the alchemist insists that the secrets he holds are in fact simple and easy to understand, so too was the treasure was always at home. Therefore, the secrets to living a happier, more fulfilled life are not far away or exotic. But, they are quite often right in front of us, right under our noses. The representation is that often we must travel far and wide in order to realize this. This connects to me because I have gone through very complicated processes to solve a problem before, only to later realize that the solution was actually quite simple.

Aquetzalli Lira-Prado

12/17/2019 07:53:28 pm

Question #3
I do agree with this statement, however I don't really believe it's a force. I think that we are just maturing and realizing not everything is possible and that some stuff we thought we were able to do when we were younger, are not achievable. Reality has set in and we are more realistic and not dreaming anymore. I could see this in my own life. When I was younger I set on becoming a vet or working with animals as a career. It was very clear to me that's what I was going to be and what I wanted to do. Now that I'm older, I'm focused on becoming an ER Physician or Forensic Pathologist, even though they are not things I am most passionate about. I chose this path because I feel like I won't be able to make a living wage working with animals. I'm not focused on making money, I just want to be able to make a living wage.

Question #9
The most relevant aspect and message of the story to me is the individual's pursuit of one's personal legend, which is what we are born to do. We should also listen to and read the omens and signs given in life. I feel like the novel has slightly changed the way I see my life. In the novel everything happens to Santiago for a reason, and the reason was so that he could find his personal legend. Now I believe more than before that everything in life happens for a reason. The novel has pushed me to try and find my personal legend and find something I am passionate about. From reading the novel, I also feel like everyone I encounter has something to teach me, whether they be good or bad.

Josefina Espinoza

12/17/2019 08:34:54 pm

6 A personal legend is something that you enjoy and that you can keep pushing for. Honestly I don’t know how you can find your own personal legend. You can find personal legends in things like school and sports. For right now, I don’t have a personal legend right now.

9 Reading the alchemist has kind of changed the way I look at life. One of the quotes in the book said “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” this quotes change the way I see my own life. I now know that if I want to achieve something the universe will help me or guide me towards the right path. It’s interesting how the universe can help with the path you want to follow.

Evonna Esparza

12/17/2019 09:15:09 pm

6. What is a "Personal Legend?" How does one find their own Personal Legend? What is your own Personal Legend?
A Personal Legend is a goal or dream that you are constantly making decisions towards achieving. To find my Personal Legend I started by listing things that I want in my future and things that I don't want. Then I found a statement that included everything I want and excluded everything I don't want. My Personal Legend is to spread happiness to the world around me. Using my Personal Legend as a guide to help me make decisions is really helpful.

11. Discuss the significance of the novels' ending. What does the tree, beneath whose roots the treasure is buried, represent? Why did Santiago have to travel so far when the treasure was at home the whole time?
At first I was pretty surprised by The Alchemists ending. I thought it was pretty ironic that the treasure was right where he started. After thinking about it, I think that the tree represents Santiagos path of branching off to meet and learn from new people. I think the roots represent him returning back to his home or his "roots". I think Santiago had to travel so far because he needed to learn from all the people he met along the way .

Mariah Flores

12/17/2019 10:45:56 pm

Santiago became a shepherd rather than a spriest as his parents had hoped. Why is this so significant to the story? What advantage does being a shepherd offer him?

I believe this is significant to the story because it’s how they start to show his growth. Also, his desire to do what he wants, even when he has to deal with his parents disapproval. It is the exposition of the story and frames the rest. It helps add to the idea that he wants to work towards his dream. An advantage being a shepherd offered him was to be able to travel, which was his first dream. That went on to lead him to his personal legend, so without it he wouldn’t be able to accomplish that dream.

What is a "Personal Legend?" How does one find their own Personal Legend? What is your own Personal Legend?

A personal legend is one's destiny in life. It’s an inner calling that awakens a deep passion to live with a sense of purpose for something greater than yourself. It's identifying our purpose in life and pursuing it. In the story, Santiago goes in search of his personal legend. Along the way, he encounters many other characters who help him either directly or indirectly accomplish his goals. Those were referred to as omens and people get these different signs that lead them on the right track. I think my personal legend is finding my own inner happiness and becoming more carefree about the things around me. To let go of anything toxic and bring more positivity into my life.

Nathan Garcia

12/18/2019 09:21:24 am

1) Santiago becoming a shepherd instead of a priest is significant because it shows him choosing his own path instead of whats expected of him. This is important because it helps with not being afraid of other people judging your dream. An advantage he has being a shepherd is never being alone. He also had to learn how to survive and not only feed himself, but his animals too. This helped with his journey, especially in the desert.

8) I wasn't suprised that his treasure was back at where he first started. The leader of the refugee group that beat him up forshadowed it. The reason its important that his treasure was right where his journey began was because it shows that your dreams can be right I front of you, but your too distracted by the thought of having to chase it you never realize its right in front of you. It also shows that you might have to go chasing for your dream to realize that it was where you started.

collin hoyer

12/18/2019 11:34:15 am

Santiago becomes a Shepard for a few reasons. The first one is that he wants to travel around the world and see new people. The second is that he doesn't want to stay in his village and just settle down. It is significant to the story because it makes him find the gypsy and the king. The Shepard offers him the advantage of travel and a peaceful life.
I think that the signs and omens have a lot to do with his quest. One of the first signs he got was finding the gypsy and talking with her, which showed him his personal legend. Another big omen was the thief stealing all of his money, which taught him to be more cautious. They are related to the universal language because anyone can find omens usually. I have experienced a few omens in my life, usually ones that warn me not to do something or make me do something else.

Hugo Nava

12/18/2019 10:15:11 pm

I can agree with the quote from question #3 because when we are young we think that anything is possible until we get older and reality hits us. I can relate to this quote because when I was younger I wanted to be an astronaut. Then reality hit me like a truck and I realized how much work I would need to do to be able to pursue that career. I also realized that even if I work hard to reach that point there still is no guarantee that I will be able to actually go to space.

So in the beginning of the book, Santiago decides to become a shepherd instead of a priest because he wanted to roam the land and learn its many secrets. This played a huge role in the story because if he hadn’t then he wouldn’t be able to find the treasure and complete his personal legend. There are benefits of being a shepherd instead of a priest like roaming the land and learning about it, learning about tools of the trade like the right prices for his sheep and their wool, learning about the sheep and what their natures are like. When you’re a priest you just stay in one place and devote your life to someone else, but when you are Shepard the only thing that your life is devoted to is the land

Ashley Castro

12/18/2019 10:20:11 pm

Question 1: It plays a big role that Santiago became a shepherd because by doing hat he learned things that he probably wouldn't if he had become a priest. And if he had become a priest then he wouldn't have had impact full experiences that got him to his personal legend.

Question 3: When you are younger people then to let you dream about things that might not be real. What i mean by that is that people say chase after your dreams. And then after you start to understand more thing then that's when their like no forget about those silly dreams and start thinking about real life. And there making a path for your future that might not be the thing that you want in your future. They shut you down without a second thought.

Gavin I link

12/19/2019 09:41:52 pm

Question 3: I feel as when I was younger, I had a dream but the problem with the dream. Like King Mechizedek said everything is possible when you are a kid. But there's a flaw in his quote, kids can’t do everything they want to but they can perceive it. But as we get older we know that those dreams are outlandish or not sustainable for a lifestyle. I feel as when we were kids we didn’t understand the gravity of our dreams or didn’t know the preparations to get that dream. But I am not saying that it’s impossible but I feel that it’s improbable.

Question 6: What is a personal legion? It’s a dream, desire or hope. I say the way you find your personal legion is by looking at yourself and seeing where you belong in the world. Another way to find your personal legend is to be one with the world and what you can do to be one with it. I feel as my personal legion is to be there when needed were I don’t know but when I fell that help. I don’t feel as you need to find you personal legion but if you are content or happy with life I would say find your who knows it might be good.

Abigial Chavez

1/1/2020 01:52:44 pm

When Santiago goes and becomes a Shepard instead of a priest it is important because of the way he made decisions for himself. How he learned to do what he wanted and be instead of doing something that would make him successful but hating it. It has significants to the story because of the way he was able to follow his personal legend. It replayed to my life because instead of staying at my old school I was able to go to a school that will help me in my personal legend.

At the end of the story his treasure was buried where he had started his journey. He had to remember the hardships that he had went through to get to the place where it had all started. Like in the house on mango street where Esperanza had to remember that she had to come back to her home and save the others that could get out. It relates to me because after everything I have went through I have to remember the people that helped me get into the place I am in.

Zubin Rashid

1/6/2020 05:05:25 pm

2. I think only the king's request will result in the outcome he wanted. When the king asked for a tenth of his flock, he saw that Santiago had the flock in that moment and could see what he was asking for. They gypsy saw where the treasure was and asked for a tenth of the treasure once he got it. The gypsy's payment is a representation of false hopes. She did not know if Santiago would find the treasure, and even if he did, she didn't know he would actually give her a tenth of the treasure. It's difficult to ask someone to give you something they don't know they'll have. It was also negative for Santiago because it made him start his journey already worrying about paying her back.

3. I completely agree with this statement. Children don't really have a filter on what's realistic and what's not, especially when it comes to their own lives. We think we can do anything. As people grow up, the harsher and darker life can become. For most children things are simple and easy, but as we grow everybody reaches negative points in their own lives. I think "the force" is just growing up and seeing how life actually is.

kevyn

1/7/2020 06:24:12 pm

A personal legend is what a person’s future will be like. for example i like to help other people and when i grow up i want to be a doctor.that is what i am passionate about helping others .if i like something and i am interesting maybe something that involves that will be part of my future.

I think the most relevant part of the book for me was when santiago decided to follow his feelings and not stop because he knew that there was something for him and those things were that he had to be brave ,strong,and determined .this connects to me because i like to learn new things and try my best to accomplish my goal

Kione

1/7/2020 08:58:15 pm

i see the world ass good now and things have purpose n life. Everything matters no matter how little it is. I think everything matters now and people should care about other people . I see the world as a happy place but I didn’t get tk read the whole book

Kione

1/7/2020 08:59:54 pm

i see the world ass good now and things have purpose n life. Everything matters no matter how little it is

Kione

1/8/2020 03:46:00 pm

A personal legend is when someone has a purpose and they wanna make it possible and its something they like. One finds there personal legend by testing what they like. Also it when something they wanna do like make the world better or cure sicknesses. My personal legend is to help people. I wanna help the homeless and people who don't have jobs or struggling

Nicholas Castro

1/8/2020 10:39:44 pm

Question #9:
The most relevant part of the story, in my experience is the fact that Santiago is surrounded by opportunities. While this is so, like me, he takes hold and advantage of some but lets others slip away. He sometimes got second chances. Realizing how lucky he is for this reminder, he rises up from those mistakes and tries to overcome those setbacks and reestablish himself. I'm constantly trying to do this myself, dealing with procrastination, getting easily distracted or being a distraction my self, or just, feeling that I wont be able to accomplish that goal even though its totally attainable if I just control my procrastination and stay on the right track. He would always get relieved and find the good in a bad situation. He would learn from it. Being thankful for the people and omens that provided him those opportunities and try to help them (mostly if he already owed them), in return.

this is the thing well... person that I found most relatable throughout the story. Like how he rather take it all in ands have first hand experience, rather than reading about something and only dreaming of it. Santiago really made me think and reflect on myself. there were so many times I found him relatable. His personality and how he perceived the world.

Carolina Sanchez

1/9/2020 06:13:36 pm

1). This is important because it shows that he is following his personal legend. This book is about finding your personal legend. He did not want to become a priest he wanted to travel and see new things. Being a shepherd he gets to travel for work. I can connect to this because I also want to travel.

8). I think that I was a little shocked but I had a gut feeling that it would happen. I think that one on hand it was ironic because all these things happened to him all to end up right where he started. And on the other hand, it shows that it is not always about the destination but the journey there it depends on how you see it. Another way you can see it is that the tree is a symbol the branches represent him going off to a new place. The roots are a symbol that no matter how far you go a part of you will always be there.

“It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” ~Paulo Coelho

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