Life is a never-ending battlefield where people are born to adapt and engage in their daily work. Although most people agree that work is an essential element of their lives, they tend to have a variety of motivations for their different careers. Some people work because it is necessary for food and shelter. For example, in many poor families, uneducated members perform all kinds of strenuous jobs to support their families financially. Another group of people work because they want to make a contribution to their society. In the essay “Unforgettable Miss Bessie,” Carl T. Rowan describes his memorable high school teacher Miss Bessie, an interesting and dedicated teacher who guides many poor students to find their potential and achieve in their careers. Miss Bessie's unwavering commitment successfully encourages her students to strive for their dreams through education. In the essay “Workers,” Richard Rodriguez states that the color of his skin has no effect on his career path because his long education prepares him to fight for his personal rights. Through a menial work experience over the summer, Rodriguez meets some Mexican workers who remain silent about their unfair treatments. However, he also knows that he is different from them even though they share the same skin color. All in all, many people struggle in their careers for several reasons, such as the responsibility of supporting their families, the desire to benefit society, and the excitement of following their dreams. Sometimes, people work just to earn money to provide a job plus comfortable life for their families. Even though their current job may not be their dream job, they still work for the salary they earn. In the essay “Workers,” Rodriguez mentions a gr...... middle of paper......s. This summer I returned to China and visited my track and field teammates at my elementary school. I was surprised when some of them told me that they had decided to attend sports schools. In reality, none of them became real athletes, but they say that sport has always been their greatest interest. As a result, they want to work in all fields that have a connection with sport, even without the support of their families. All in all, work is just like a basic unit of life. A person who has done the same job their whole life may not necessarily enjoy that job. Indeed, people work for different reasons, such as family, society or even themselves. The first material thing a person receives after working is his salary, but money alone cannot define a job. Some people really enjoy working. Furthermore, work gives purpose to life.