Introduction
Does sudden wealth bring one happiness as well? Kino, the main character of The Pearl, tries to answer this question. One does not need to look at fiction to see this situation occur. In the following article we will read about the story of Callie Rogers, the youngest winner of the British lottery. The first article below is right after the win. Think about the dreams Callie has for the money and compare that to what Kino wants for his family and himself.
Lottery Winner Looks to Future
The Globe July 1, 2003
(Great Britain) Teenager Callie Rogers was “jumping and screaming” when she realized she had become the National Lottery's youngest ever millionaire. The 16-year-old, from Cumbria described the moment at a media conference on Tuesday, as she recalled when she realized she had won the £1,875,000 ($3,000,000 US Dollars) prize on Saturday. Callie told reporters at the conference organized by lottery company Camelot she was dog-sitting for a friend when the draw took place. She said she rushed home to check the numbers - 1, 10, 17, 23, 29, and 35 - which she chose on the basis of family birthdays. Callie, who lives on a council estate with her foster parents, was one of eight winners sharing the £15m prize. On Tuesday she posed for pictures with boyfriend Gary Fidler who was with her when her numbers came up.
Callie said she was looking forward to taking her first holiday abroad. She said, “Hopefully I will make us all comfortable. I want to help my family but I won’t change. “I’m still going to shop in the same shops and do the same things.” But Callie, who left school in December last year, said becoming a millionaire will mean a different future. She said she was going to go travelling for two years; then would like to get her high school diploma and become a social worker. One of the first things she hopes to buy is a new wheelchair for her foster mother, Sheila Holmes, that will enable her to get up and down curbs more easily.
She also plans to pay for her grandmother Joan to visit her sister, whom she has not seen for seven years, in Australia. “I will not go wild and spend loads. I’m going to take some advice and see an accountant. Callie, who will be 17 in December, is going to treat herself, and said she wants to buy a Peugeot 206 convertible when she learns to drive. She said, “My brother also wants a motorbike and my sister said she wants a suitcase to go on holiday with.” Callie has been working since leaving school in a number of jobs, as a shop assistant, a waitress, and at the Cookmouth Co-op, and she will be happy to take a break.
Callie said she was looking forward to taking her first holiday abroad. She said, “Hopefully I will make us all comfortable. I want to help my family but I won’t change. “I’m still going to shop in the same shops and do the same things.” But Callie, who left school in December last year, said becoming a millionaire will mean a different future. She said she was going to go travelling for two years; then would like to get her high school diploma and become a social worker. One of the first things she hopes to buy is a new wheelchair for her foster mother, Sheila Holmes, that will enable her to get up and down curbs more easily.
She also plans to pay for her grandmother Joan to visit her sister, whom she has not seen for seven years, in Australia. “I will not go wild and spend loads. I’m going to take some advice and see an accountant. Callie, who will be 17 in December, is going to treat herself, and said she wants to buy a Peugeot 206 convertible when she learns to drive. She said, “My brother also wants a motorbike and my sister said she wants a suitcase to go on holiday with.” Callie has been working since leaving school in a number of jobs, as a shop assistant, a waitress, and at the Cookmouth Co-op, and she will be happy to take a break.
Guiding Questions
1. List the dreams Callie has for the money she won.
2. Compare the dreams of Callie and the dreams of Kino from The Pearl. What are the reasons behind their dreams?
3. Predict what will happen to Callie and Kino. Will their dreams come true? What might be some negatives outcomes?
4. What if you were in Callie's situation? Create a dream list of your own. What are some things you would do?
We'll return and revisit Callie's story again later on in the activities. Keep her story in mind.
2. Compare the dreams of Callie and the dreams of Kino from The Pearl. What are the reasons behind their dreams?
3. Predict what will happen to Callie and Kino. Will their dreams come true? What might be some negatives outcomes?
4. What if you were in Callie's situation? Create a dream list of your own. What are some things you would do?
We'll return and revisit Callie's story again later on in the activities. Keep her story in mind.