Personal Legend Essay

PersonalLegendResearchPaper

Astheclockstruck3AM,Ihadrelentlesslyscrolledthroughmyphone.Likeanyotherpre–teen,I hadspentmysummerdayshoveringthroughsocialmedia.AsIrelentlesslycontinued,Ihad stumbleduponaquotethatread,"Bethepersonyouneededwhenyouwereyounger"Atthe moment,somethinghadhitme.Itwaslikeoneofthosedramaticflashbacksthatyouwouldseein movies,butinreallife.Afterall,thoseninewordshavestuckwithmesincethen.Mypersonal legendistobethepersonIneededwhenIwasyounger.Somebodymyyoungerselfwouldaspireto beorlookupto.Whetherthedeedbigorsmall,likefindingacuretosomesicknessorjustbuying someoneacoffeeBeingabetterperson,learningandgrowingarethefoundationstomyown personallegend....showmorecontent...

Callitbeginner'sluck.Itookthatopportunitytodesignandcreateabenchcalled"Equality."

Equalitywasabouthavingpeace,love,andrespecttowardsothers,regardlessofwhotheyareThis benchwasauctionedofffornearlyonethousanddollarstoraisefundsforscholarships.Thatwasa majorstepinmypersonallegend.Althoughitwasn'tnationwide,Iwasabletohelpsomebody. Whetheritbethroughtheprideglazingoffthebench,orhelpingastudentfinanciallyinourpricy world.Iknewmyyoungerselfwouldaspiretodosomethinglikethat.AsIcontinuedonmy venture,mybeginner'sluckkeptrunningIwasimmergingmyselfintomyowncultureafteryears ofneglectingit.Ievenbegandoingpublicspeakingabouttopicssuchasappreciatingwhoyouare, regardlessofhowdifferentyoudeemyouare.Iwasstrivingtomygoaltobettermyself,while receivingpositivefeedbackfromthepeoplearound

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THEALCHEMISTByPauloCoelhoNewYork:HarperCollinsPublishers,1993ISBN#0–06–250218–2(paper)174pagesCommentsbyBobCorbettNovember2009Thisisalovelybook, tenderbutprofound.Itisabouttheimportanceofseekingone'sownmeaningoflifeandspending one'slifefulfillingit.Coelhocallsitseekingone's"PersonalLegend."Itremindsmeverymuchof whattheExistentialistswouldhavecalled"authenticity"However,unliketheExistentialistswho writeratherdarklyaboutthisprocessofseekingone'sownmeaningsystem,Coelho'syoung shepherdboyisseekinghisPersonalLegendinsomethingmuchlikeafairlytale.However,Coelho atleastgivesusaprocessandsetofobstacleswemightwellexpect,andhisshowmorecontent Coelhowritesabeautifulandmovinglegendoftheboy'sjourneyandenlightenment.Ididfindthe titleratherodd.Thereisanalchemistinthenovelwhomtheshepherdboymeetsandwho,indeed, helpshiminmanywaysandactuallysortofmakestheshepherdboyintoanalchemisthimself.But theuseofthedefinitearticle"the"inthetitleseemsabitconfusing.Itwouldseem,onCoelho's account,thatanyonewhoactuallyachieveshisorherPersonalLegendbecomes"an"alchemist, changingthebaserlifewehavefrombirthintothegoldofourownPersonalSuccess.Butthisisa journeyuponwhichanypersonmayembark.OntheotherhandCoelhoseemsrighttomein bringingintheinfluentialalchemistwhomtheboymeetsinthenorthAfricandesert.Ithinkmostof uswhohaveseriouslyundertakenthisjourneymeetpeoplealongthewaywhoteachusandinspire ustowardthismysteriousandevenoccultroutetowardourPersonalLegendI'm70nowandstillon myjourney,andliketheboy,havearrivedatvariousstagesIoncewasalmostsurewerearrival points,onlytodiscoveranotherstageofenlightenmentalongtheway.Everyonewhoissucha seekershouldreadthisoptimisticbookofonewhoseemstohavesucceededintheprocessof turningapotentiallybaselifeintoagoldenachievement,atruealchemist's

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Thereisacertainpointinpeople'sliveswheretheybegintohaveayearningtodiscoverwhattheir purposeintheworldactuallyis.Thispurposecanalsobedescribedasa"PersonalLegend".Whatis aPersonalLegend?Itisone'sdestinyinlifeandsomethingtheymustachieve.ThroughoutPaulo Coelho'snovelTheAlchemist,theprotagonistSantiagogoesthroughmanyexperiencesand challengesashetriestoachievehisownPersonalLegendSantiagodiscoversthat"Thesecretof happinessistoseeallthemarvelsoftheworld,andnevertoforgetthedropsofoilonthespoon" whichstatesthathappinessisfoundthroughthebalanceofresponsibilitiesandthejourney(22). Althoughthejourneyisimportant,one'sresponsibilitiesisalsoimportant,anditrelatetoSantiago's journeyandmyownbecauseittellsusthatbalancebetweenachievingourPersonalLegendandour responsibilitiesisthekeyingredienttobehappy.TheKingofSalem,Melchizedek,tellsastoryto Santiagoaboutaboywhoissenttofindthe"Secretofhappiness"(21).Hewentaroundthepalace withaspoonofoil.Thefirsttimehewentaroundhewassofocusedpreventingtheoilfromspilling thathedidnotseethebeautifulpalaceThesecondtimehewentaroundhewastoofocused on...showmorecontent...

IhavechangedwhereIwantedtogo,whatIwantedtodo,andwhoIwantedtobe.Itwasfrequent duetomycircumstancesatthetime.NowIunderstandwheremyPersonalLegendlies.Itlies towardstheoccupationofNursing.BeinganursehasalwaysbeenPlanB,butasmyPlanA constantlychangedIrealizedtheonlythingconsistentwasmyPlanBAfterbeingtakinganatomy duringmyjunioryearofhighschool,IrealizedthatIenjoylearningaboutthehumanbody.Astime wentonIstartedtorealizethatIenjoyhelpingpeopleandtakingcareofpeople.Eventually,I realizedthatIreallywantedtobea

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Atfirstwhenyoutoldmetostartthinkingaboutwhatmypersonallegendwasandhowitcouldnot bewhatyouwanttobewhenyougrowup,Ihadnocluewhatminewouldbe.Eversincethestartof highschool,Ihavespentmoretimeresearchingmyoptionsforthefutureandfeelinguncertain aboutmyfuturemoreandmorethatIneverstoppedtothinkaboutwhatcouldmakemelivea satisfyinglifeLuckilywereadthisbookanddothisassignmentbecauseitmademestarttothink aboutwhatmypersonallegendinlifecouldbe.AfterthinkingforquiteawhileIdecidedthatmy personallegendrightnowatleastwouldtobeashappyaspossiblethroughouttherestofmylife andcherisheverymomentpossible,especiallywithfriendsandfamily

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Mypersonallegendwouldbeforeveryonetolookuptomeandeventuallycometomeforhelp.I wanttobethatpersonyoubringupinconversationandsay"ohshe'sagoodperson,nicepeople.I rememberhearingthisandthat."MysisterandsomeofmyreallyclosefriendsalreadysayIgive decentadvice.I'mgoingtoaccomplishmylegendisbyfinishinghighschool,andlivelifegathering informationandunderstandinglifeIneedtogrowandachievewhatlifehastogivemeinorderto belookeduponandtobespokenaboutwithgreatdeedsandactions.Age,experienceandmearethe onlythingholdingmebackfromaccomplishingthispersonallegend.Withtimeandalotof patience,IcanachievethisgoalMyfamilysomewhatknowsofthis

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PersonalLegendInTheAlchemist

TheUndenyingPowersofPersonalLegendsintheWritingofTheAlchemistSantiagofromThe Alchemistisinfluencedbythepowerofpersonallegendsashetravelsthroughouthisjourneyto findthetreasurethathasbeenrecurringinhismind.WrittenbyPauloCoelho,thewritingdraws muchitsstrengthfromthefactthatitsthemesaresouniversal.EveryonehastheirownPersonal Legend,theirultimategoalinlife,buttheamountofindividualsthatneverpursuetheirpersonal legendisahigherpercentage.Coelhosimilarlysuggeststhatthepursuittofulfillapersonallegend istheprimaryandperhapsmosturgentthingthatliferequiresofus.Eventhoughdifficultobstacles oftenoccurinlife,oneshouldnevergiveuponone'spersonallegendbecauseachievingone'sgoal oftenleadstoanewbeginning.StartingfromthebeginningofTheAlchemist,Coelhosetsupthe themesofthebookrightaway.Santiagoistravelling,whiledoingsoheismeetingupwithagypsy, whoinwhichtellshimaboutfindingtreasurebecauseofthisrecurringdreamheishaving.After Santiagohashisdream,heissoonvisitedbyMelchizedek,themysteriousKingofSalem,whotells himthatsoonaftersomeonerealizestheirpersonallegend,alloftheuniverseconspiresinhelping themachieveit,butonlyforalittlewhile.Thisbeingsaid,"'It'swhatyouhavealwayswantedto accomplish.Everyone,whentheyareyoungknowswhattheirdestinyis.Atthatpointin

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MyPersonalLegendProject

Purpose:Thepersonallegendproject'sintendedpurposewastoletotherslearnmoreaboutmyself. However,Itrulythoughttheactualpurposeoftheprojectwasformyselftolearnmoreaboutme.

Process:Thebiggestrequirementfortheprojectwasthatithadtobeavideo.Idecidedonusinga recordingsoftwarecalledTechSmithSnagit.Ibeganbywritingoutanarrationforthevideoand collectingphotosforuseAfterwards,IscannedallthephotosIwoulduseanduploadedthemonto mycomputer.Fromthereonout,Ipiecedtogethereverythingandhadabasicoutlineforwhatthe videowouldlooklike.Onceeverythingwasready,Ifilmedthevideoandaddedmusicinthe backgroundProduct:Myfinishedproductwasthefilmedvideowith

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Reachingagoalissomethingthatpeoplehaveexperiencedalotwith.Agoalisanobjectiveweall have,whetheritislong–termorshort–terminschool,orout,weallhadone.APersonalLegend,on theotherhand,isastepdeeperthanthedefinitionofagoalAPersonalLegendisalifejourneyone desirestoaccomplish.WhenaccomplishingthePersonalLegend,peoplecommonlythinkaboutthe destination,andtheoverallproduct.Asamatteroffact,peoplegainmuchmorefromthejourney tookinordertobeabletoattainthegoalThroughoutone'sjourneytoseektheirPersonalLegend, theylearnandnoticemoreabouttheworldaroundthem.Thisway,thejourneyismuchmore valuablethanthedestinationitself.InthemovieTheSecretLifeofWalterMitty,Walterlearnsthat itisbetterforhimtoliveoutsideofwhatishispersonalcomfortzone.Throughouthisjourneyhe learnshowtofeel,andbecomeabetterperson,whichdidalsoadapthiswayoflivingand understandingThroughoutSantiago'sPersonalLegendfromthebook,TheAlchemist,helearns aboutthesouloftheworld,truelove,andhowthejourneyismuchmoreimportantthanhistreasure. Becauseofthis,Santiagochangeshisownwayofliving,withadeeperunderstandingofwhatis aroundhimBothofthecharactershavegainedalotofinformationthroughouttheirexpeditions, realizingthattheoutcomewasn'tasimportantasitseemed.Walter,forinstance,gainedagreatdeal ofinformation ...Getmorecontent...

Alchemist:ThePursuitOfPersonalLegends

ThePursuitofPersonalLegends

Inlife,wheneachofuswantssomethingwithenoughpassionandeverythingseemstobeperfect; thisisadesirethat'sapersonallegend.Everyonecanachievetheirownpersonallegend;ifthey haveperseveranceforthemselves,thattheybelieveinthemselves,andthattheyarewillingtomake sacrifices.Thoughsometimesforcesmayseemtoblindusinachievingourgoal,weneedtoremind ourselvesofthosepersonallegendsandbecomeawareofwhat'saroundus.

ThroughthecourseoffindinghispersonallegendSantiagorevealsthecharacteristicsof perseverancethatassistshiminfindinghispersonallegend.Healwaysfoundawaytogetthrough ansituationthattheworldthrewinfrontofhim.Whena

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SantiagoTheAlchemistPersonalLegend

TheideaofapersonallegendcontrolsthelifeofthemaincharacterSantiagobyleadinghimtothe pyramidsinEgypt.AshepherdboyfromAndalusianamedSantiagosetouttofulfillhispersonal legendbyfindingthetreasurehehasdreamedaboutinissleep.AftertalkingtoaGypsydream interpreter,hemeetsandoldkingwhoexplainsthebeliefofapersonallegendandthelanguageof theuniverseUsingtheobtaininginformation,hesetsoutonajourneyacrossAfricatoreachhis treasure.Encounteringafewsetbacks,Santiagogetsajobinacrystalshop.Hisideashelpthe businessbecomeasuccess,gainingmoreandmorecustomerseachday.Followinghispersonal legend,hehasdeclaredthathewillreturntohisjourneyHe

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TheAlchemisthasmanyinspiringandrelatablequotesthatreaderscanunderstandandlearnfrom. OneofmyfavoritesiswhenSantiagothinkstohimself,"Thecloseronegetstorealizinghis PersonalLegend,themorethatPersonalLegendbecomeshistruereasonforbeing"(72).Thisquote meansthatwhenyoucommityourselftoachievingsomegoalorcompletingsometask,themore enthusiasticyouwillbecomeThatonethingwillbewhatgivesyoujoyinlifeOnceyouputinthe effort,youwillliveahappylifeandyouwillhaverealizedwhyyouarehereonEarth.WhileI haven'tnecessarilyfullyrealizedmypersonallegendinmyownlife,Icanrelatethisideatomy personalexperiencesIhavebeenplayingandwritingmusicforapretty

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StonemanPersonalLegend

Eachpersonhastheirownpersonallegend.WillStonemanenteredadogsledracetosavehisfamily fromdebtandemergedbothvictoriousandfamous.Ontheotherhand,WalterMittywentona searchforSeanO'Connell,aswellasthemissingnegative,travelingtomanyplaces.Hehadthe feelingofaccomplishmentafterhefinishedhislegend,yethedidnotbecomefamousandevenlost hisjobLastbutnotleast,Santiagowentonhispersonallegendforgold,andwashelpedbythe KingofSalem,andlovedbyFatima,whichresultedinhisownhappiness.Everyonehastheirown personallegendtocreateyetitistheirdecisionastowhethertheyaregoingtofollowitornot, whichisshownbythemaincharactersofthethreecompletelydifferentstories:WillStonemanfrom IronWill,WalterMittyfromTheSecretLifeofWalterMitty,andSantiagofromThe Alchemist.showmorecontent

ThisledtoWilljoiningthedogsledrace.Hewasbyfartheyoungestandtheleastexperienced. However,hediditforhisfamily,whichmotivatedhimthroughouttheentirerace.Hedidnotgive upwhenpeopletriedtostophim,orbribehimtodropoutoftherace,whichhelpedhimstayonthe frontpage,makinghimfamous.Willbecamewidelyknown,becauseofthehardshipsheovercame, shiningabeaconoflightontheAmericancitizens.Ontheotherhand,WalterMittydidnotbecome famous,heevenlosthisjob,tryingtoaccomplishhispersonalgoal.Hestartedhislegendwhenhe wasonthevergeoflosinghisjob,leadingtohissearchforSeanO'Connellandthemissing negative,Negative25HissearchledhimtoGreenland,Iceland,LosAngeles,andtheHimalayas Intheend,hegotfired,eventhoughhegotthenegativebacktoLIFEMagazine,andtheonly peoplewhoknewwereCherylandhimself,makinghislegendatrulypersonal

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Apersonallegendissomethingthatcaninterprettomanythings.Themeaningofapersonallegend canbenarroweddownasone'ssolepurposeinlife.AccordingtokingMelchizedek,apersonal legendiswhatapersonhavealwayswantedtoaccomplishandwhentheyareyoungtheyalways knewwhattheirpersonallegendis.Realizingyourpersonallegendisn'tthehardpartbutdeciding whetheryouaregoingtopursueitis.Livingafulfillinglifewithoutaccomplishingyourpersonal legendisatopicthatcansparkvariousargumentsAccordingtothebook,itisn'tpossibletolivea fulfillinglifewithoutachievingyourpersonallegendbecauseyoustarttofeelasthoughapartof yourselfismissingandasenseofregret.Apersoncan

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ThroughoutSantiago'sjourneytoachievehisPersonalLegend,heisfacedwiththefearoflosing everythinghehadworkedfor.ToachievehisPersonalLegend,Santiagohadtogiveuphisflockof sheepandFatima.OneofSantiago'sbiggestfearswaslosinghismoneythatheearnedfrom workingwiththecrystalmerchant.Hehadthisfearbecausehehadsacrificedsomuchtobein TangierthathewantedtoquitandgiveuponhisPersonalLegendIronically,whenSantiagogives upwhathehadalreadyearned,heearnsagreater

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Myalarmwentoffat4:45a.m.AssoonasIheardit,IknewIhadalongdayaheadofme.My parentsstartedscreamingandtellingeveryonetogetinthecar.Mymom,dad,twobrothers(Nico andAdrian),grandfather,andIallputourluggagesinthecarandgotseatedAt5:00amwewere outthedoorandontheroadfora10hourdrivetoSeaside,Florida.Thefirsttwohourseveryone slept.IwokeupaboutanhourbeforeeveryonesothatIcouldgetsomepeaceandquietandfinish readingmysummerreadingbookAfterfinishingthebook,Ibegantowonderaboutmyown personallegendinhighschoolwasgoingtobe.IwonderedaboutthelessonsIwouldlearnandthe battlesIwouldhavetobeat.Then,wepulledover,atebreakfast,andwent

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Welearnthatwehavetohavecourage,toliveinthepresentandfollow,lessontoourheart.Allof ushaveourownpersonallegendtofollow.Weknowthatpersonallegendmeanspersonaldreams andgoals.Followapersonallegendisnevereasyweneedtotakerisksandweneedtoleave valuablethinginourlives.Forunderstandthesoulwehavetobeatpeacewiththeworldaroundus. WelearnthatwedonotbeafraidofchangebecauseeachexperiencethatSantiagohad,was differentwithhisprevious

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PersonalLegendInTheAlchemist

PauloChelho'sTheAlchemist,bestowsreaderswithaphilosophy,Thephilosophyisthateveryone hasa"personallegend"theymustfindthatwillleadthemtosatisfactionandjoy.However,wehave thechoicetofollowour"personallegend".Ironically,thecharactersinthisbookseemtocontrovert thisphilosophy.Theydonotmakechoicesforthemselves,onlydoingwhattheyaretoldtodoby others,orwhattheycanreadintoindividualomensandsignsThus,wehaveananomalyofchoice: doyoufollowyour"personallegend"andgiveupyourfreewillandbecomehappy,ordowechoose nottofollowour"personallegend"andlivefreely,butmiserable?Santiago,theprotagonist,isa shepherdAtthebeginningofthenovel,heisplanningonaskingayounglady'shandinmarriage HeishappywithhislotinlifeuntilhemeetsMelchizedek,anincomprehensiblemanof"substantial wisdom,"whorevealstoSantiagotheconceptofthe"personallegend".This"personallegend"is somethingthatpusheseveryman,showmorecontent

Youthinkyouaremakingyourownchoices,wheninrealityeverythinghasalreadybeendecided, includinghowyou"decide"Theideaofthe"personallegend"isthatyouhavesomechoicetogo afteryour"personallegend",butatthesametime,Melchizedeksaysthateveryoneis"destined"to goaftertheir"personallegend"andthatthe"worldintriguestohelpyoufindit".The"personal legend"issomethingyouareintendedtogoafter,right?Yet,youhaveachoicetogoafterit?These aretwoantipodalideas.Howcanyouhaveachoicewhenfateisinvolved?Melchizedeksaysthat youbothhaveachoiceandthatitisfateBothofthesestatementscannotbetrueatthesametime Soreally,thiswholeideaofa"personallegend"justgotabitmoreconfusingto

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PersonalLegendResearchPaper

WhereIfoundmypersonallegendcannotbefoundatthetimeofmychildhood.Infact,Ididn'tdo muchofanythinginmychildhood.Growingup,andevennow,IhadavaguesenseofwhatIwould bedoingwhenI'molder,asifIwaslookingthroughalensthat'sstuckonablurryaperture. WhatevercareerinterestsIhadwerefleetingandunfitting.Duringmychildhood,Ilivedin Hanford,anobscurefarmtownjustsouthofFresnoIspentmydaysbeingraisedbymy grandmother,sittingaloneinmyhouseandeatingdinneraloneuntilmyparentscamehomewhile thesamenewschannelplayedonTV.It'snothingdepressing;Ievenrememberenjoyingthe solitudeIhadafewfriends,althoughIsawthemashowpeopleseemostoftheirfriendsonsocial media:Idonotreallyknowwhoyouare,butIsortofdo,Iguess,evenifIhaveknownyoufor years.Regardless,Iwashappywithbeingalonemostofthetime.Thisisthesourceofmy introversionandtheintensityofmyself–awareness.Nevertheless,mystrongsenseofself–awarenessdoesn'talwaysmeanI'llknowwhattodo,anditdoesn'tmeanI'llbeokay....showmore content

Imovedintoanewhouse,wentthroughtheendofelementaryschool,andthenmovedontomiddle school.Inearlymiddleschool,IhadgotteneverythingdoneontimeanditcouldbesaidthatIhada lotofpositivetraitsaboutmyself.However,youknowthoseembarrassingphasespeoplewent throughatdifferentstagesintheiradolescence?Well,Iwentthroughthemtoo,butsomehow simultaneously––whichwasawfulIwasincrediblyawkward,butIwasalsoquitepretentious;an embarrassingcombination.WhateverembarrassingthingIsaidordidwasgreatinthemoment,but lateronitturnedintoahorriblememorythatIkeptthinkingaboutatnight,wonderingifanyone remembereditTherestofthetimeIwasbrimmingwithanxiety,alwaysavoidingtodosomething thatIwouldsubsequently ...Getmorecontent...

PersonalLegendsWhatarepersonallegends?Apersonallegendisadestinyorgoalinlifethatis

desiredtobeaccomplished.InTheAlchemist,"Invictus,"and"TheHundredFootJourney,"each protagonisthadapersonallegendandasenseofdeterminationtoachievethatpersonallegend.They allfacedobstacles,yettheywereabletoovercomethemthroughhardworkandpersistence.The protagonistswerealsoreadyandwillingtomakesacrificesalongthewayastheywerepursuing theirdestiny.Whiletheapproachtoeachindividual'sjourneyisdifferent,therewerealsomany similaritiesineachstoryaswell.Firstofall,TheAlchemisttellsthetaleofayoungboywhose personallegendwastogoonajourneytofindatreasurehidden

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PersonalLegendInTheAlchemist

Asindividualsgrowanddevelopandstarttobecomeindependentinthisworld,themeaningof followyourdreamsbecomesmoreapparentandunderstandable.Everyonehasadreambutit'sthe wayyouattempttofollowyourdreamsthatreallycountsandtheeffortyouputintomakingthem cometrue.InTheAlchemistbyPauloCoelho,themaincharacterSantiagotakesonalongjourney inordertofollowhisreoccurringdreamsoffindingtreasureinEgyptThesedreamsreveal Santiago'sPersonalLegend.Symbolism,geography,andironieshelptodeveloptheplot.Paulo CoelhoraisesandsupportstheideathatallindividualsshouldpursuetheirPersonalLegendsabove anythingelseThewayhedemonstratesthisisbyshowingthatfollowingaspirationsinlifecan revealtruepurposesanddeepermeanings.WhenSantiago'sPersonalLegendisrevealed,Coelho writestomakehimfollowhislife'spurposeandtakethatjourney."Thecloseronegetstorealizing hisPersonalLegend,themorethatPersonalLegendbecomeshistruereasonforbeing,thoughtthe boy,"(Coelho75).SantiagobelievesthathisPersonalLegendwillrevealtohimwhathistrue purposeinlifeisThisthemeofpursuingPersonalLegendsexistsandmanifestsineachofthemajor characters.Santiago'sdreamoftreasureinEgyptrevealstohimhisPersonalLegend.Santiagogoes onthislongandtiringjourneytofindoutwhathistruepurposeis.Littledoesheknow,hispersonal legendisthejourneyitself.Onhis

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