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When it comes to love at first sight, I do not think I fully believe in the idea, but I can see where others may believe that this may be the case for some people. I don't think that you can be truly in love with someone just based on your initial view of the person. I feel like I can understand when someone says they fell in love at first sight that it was the physical attraction they fell in love with. And while physical attraction is a big part of a relationship, I don’t think love should be based around the physical attraction and appearance of someone, because you are not truly in love with someone just based upon looking at them. I don’t think Natasha and Daniel fell in love at first sight because Daniel was the one who initially sees Natasha, and he was interested based on that first view he had of her. Natasha takes a little more time to acknowledge how she feels, but after spending only a short amount of time with Daniel she realizes the feelings she has developed. I think it is interesting to change this idea a little and think more about love at second sight. I feel like Natasha and Daniel’s story could fall into this category of second sight because it took Natasha more time to realize how she felt, yet she still figured this out pretty quickly after spending time with him. I think overall the belief in love at first sight is always going to be up in the air, but I feel as though love at second sight is more relatable and inevitable than love at first sight.

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Veronica Gomez - Question 3: Background Characters

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Veronica Gomez - Question 3: Background Characters

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I quite liked Charles Jae Won Bae because he stood out to me for two reasons: his chapter appears after we get a few chapters from Daniel that are mostly stewing about him, and then we see this one from his point of view—but he doesn't take the spotlight like that ever again. Charlie is the bane of Daniel's existence because he's the very kid you shouldn't tell your immigrant parents about because they'll instantly start to compare you to him (except, in Daniel's case, your parents are also Charlie's.) I find it incredibly poignant that Daniel lists all the things he hates about Charlie: that before he dropped the ball at Harvard, he was good at everything: "No one is supposed to be good at everything. Math and English and biology and chemistry and history and

sports. It’s not decent to be good at everything. Three or four things at the

most. Even that is pushing the bounds of good taste" (4). Charlie is well-liked. He's attractive. And he sucks as a person. You have three or so chapters just dedicated to how much Daniel hates Charlie, and then a chapter from Charlie's perspective that confirms that he's right, but doing so by listing off what he does in the future: "But before that, before he becomes a politician and marries well, before he

changes his name to Charles Bay, before he betrays his good wife and constituents

at every turn, before too much money and success and much too much of getting

everything that he wants, he will do a good and selfless thing for his brother. It will

be the last good and selfless thing that he ever does" (11). Strictly from a writing perspective, it's very effective at getting its point across: Charlie will never do a good thing in his life, except for one time, and for it's the same brother who hates his guts. I find it endlessly fascinating.

(Also, this is from an e-book, so the page numbers get a bit weird.)

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Throughout the novel, Daniel is faced with a lot of decisions and pressure in regard to his future. With his parents wanting him to pursue a medical degree and wanting to become a doctor and with his dreams of wanting to become a poet instead, I think that it is important to chase your dreams and fulfill your happiness because what is good does a job do if it's not something you enjoy doing in the first place. Chasing dreams can be a tricky thing especially since we are trained from a young age that we can achieve our dreams in the future if we put our minds to it. Yet when those dreams don't seem to be ones that will help you be successful in life, it is looked down upon. In the novel, we see how this affects Daniel and the way he thinks concerning his future on page 98 when he says, "It doesn't matter what I want. I'm going to Yale. I'm going to be a doctor....I don't know what I want" (Yoon). The pressures that parents place on their kids to pursue what THEY think is best for their children instead of letting their children pursue their dreams and figure out who they want to be and what they do in the future with their life. This can especially be seen with the way young people nowadays are struggling with figuring out what they want to do with their life after high school. As mentioned before, these pressures come from the adults and parental figures in their lives pressuring them to chose a career path that is going to make them the most money.

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The question of is love at first sight is one that has been debated for years upon years. Therefore, I feel like the answer varies from person to person. To me, I do believe in love at first sight. I have seen it be experienced by my peers and when I look into the situations that they have been involved with, it is evident. The connection between two humans can sometimes be something that is not able to be explained. I think it is a difficult concept for most people because it involves being vulnerable and allowing something to just happen. In my opinion people like to have control over a situation like a relationship, but allowing things to flow and just happen could be for the better. Emotions and feelings to come out and to experience real genuine feelings for someone is a scary thing, which is why I would say most people do not believe in love at first sight. I would say Natasha and Daniel have the beginnings of love at first sight. They immediately have these feelings and questions which further prove their emotions for each other. Love at first sight does not happen to everyone but when it does happen it is easy to tell.

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After reading this part of the book, I wish Daniel had a “Do-Over or Take Backsie,” in that moment because he could have ruined his relationship with Natasha right at that moment. However, in life I think that every single moment happens for a reason, even the bad ones. These two found each other in a moment in their lives where they needed each other. They needed clarity in who they were in what they wanted to do in the new chapter in their life. Getting clarity is not always easy. However, I think this moment was pivotal for both characters.

Daniel said, “If it’s going to be Daniel and Natasha, then dealing with my dad’s racism is only the beginning. But she and I are just at the beginning” (Yoon 182). From this encounter he realized that he does not want to be like his dad or his brother. He is able to recognize racism and wants to be the solution rather than falling into his family's dated beliefs. While this encounter was embarrassing for Daniel, it made him realize who he wants to be as a person.

This encounter also made Natasha understand what her “dream” is. After he left her outside of the store, she said she understands but says, “I want him to choose me”(Yoon 183). I do not believe that Natasha and Daniel ended up together forever. I believe they met each other as a part of a life lesson. The purpose of the open-ended conclusion is to interpret what they gain from the relationship and what they made of their lives after they met each other.

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One's experiences, viewpoints, and ideas on love are typically the determining factors in whether or not they believe in love at first sight. While some people think that true love needs time, shared experiences, and a deeper understanding, others might think that it's possible to sense an instant, strong connection with someone when you first meet them. Natasha and Daniel's first meeting in Nicola Yoon's "The Sun is Also a Star" could be interpreted as a type of "love at first sight" because of their immediate bond. But as the story goes on, it's clear that their bond grows and changes over time, suggesting a more nuanced understanding of love. The idea of "koi no yokan," or "love at first sight," implies that love might not always be evident right away when you first meet someone and instead might develop gradually as you get to know them better. It recognizes that although there could be a brief initial spark or desire, true love needs more time than that. Depending on how they define love and how they have experienced it, people may or may not believe in love at first sight or love at second glance. While some may find the notion charming and think it's feasible, others could think of love as an evolving concept. Personally, I think the concept of love at second sight is a bit more realistic, being able to know someone on a deeper level is a crucial part of having a connection.

-Jenna Toto

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I believe that nothing in life is a coincidence or solely a random occurrence. I find it incredible that every detail throughout our existence, no matter how insignificant it may seem in the moment, eventually plays such a fundamental role in how our life unfolds. For example, in the novel, Natasha states, "There's a universe where I stayed home and packed like my mom wanted me to. My phone and headphones are fine, but I didn't meet Daniel. [...] Of course, there is an infinite number of these universes, including one where I did meet Daniel but he wasn't able to save me at the crosswalk, and more than just my phone and headphones are broken" (Yoon 92). This quote highlights the fact every event that occurs in our lives happens for a reason, and that every single person that we meet exists in order to fulfil a certain purpose. Natasha's life would have been entirely different had Daniel not been at that specific intersection in that specific moment in time, and if he hadn't deliberately chosen within that split second to run and save her from the car that ran the red light. It is unbelievable that the events unfolded in the way that they did, and it is impossible that they did not occur that way for a reason. That is why I personally firmly believe in fate and destiny. Overall, I really like the choice that the author made of including small chapters that are told through the points of view of side characters, which indicates that everyone is the main character in their own story and we never really know what is going on inside someone else's head, so we cannot judge. My favorite side character was probably the conductor who was very passionate about his faith and who was loudly proclaiming that he believes in God. I like the contrast of seeing the conductor through Daniel's point of view, where the conductor is clearly a side character, to then switching over to the conductor's point of view. The conductor's chapter allows the reader to realize that the conductor himself has complex thoughts and feelings and emotions as well as his own unique conflicts that he is facing and trying his best to overcome.

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I think that it is more important to chase one’s own dreams and passions than a career or path that promises security and financial stability. Oftentimes, I think young people are forced to choose a career path at a young age, one that they may still be unsure of. This can lead to people spending many years of their lives and lots of money, only to realize that they are unhappy in what they are doing. In the end, I think people would be happier doing what they truly enjoy as opposed to having to follow a path in which they were miserable, even if it meant they were successful. Ultimately, success looks different for everyone. If people have the chance to do what fulfills their passion, that may be their version of success in comparison to someone who is financially stable but truly not happy with where they are in life. I think there is an added pressure to make life path decisions early on, especially from parents who want their children to be successful. This puts an added stress on young people as they feel they have to prove themselves to those around them in order to demonstrate their success. Daniel describes his predetermined life plan established by his parents stating, “I may not want the future my parents have planned for me, but I don’t have any better ideas. If I stay here much longer, my train will derail from its track. It occurs to me that maybe that’s what I want” (Yoon 107). This highlights the pressure to conform to a predetermined path, likely one focused on stability chosen by his parents. The train that he is getting on not only serves as a physical demonstration of where he is going but also a metaphorical representation of where his life path is taking him. Perhaps he is scared of getting stuck on a path that doesn’t really suit him. Daniel recognizes that all his life, he has grown up hearing of the life path he is expected to follow. In turn, he comes to realize that he has always pushed aside his dreams and aspirations of what would truly make him happy such as a career in poetry.

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I believe that Daniel must fulfill a life that enables him to accomplish his goals and desires. Daniel speaks from the bottom of his heart and is an authentic individual; thus, the young man must host a career that aligns with his passion. Daniel describes, "My parents are first generation Korean immigrants... It means it doesn't matter what I want. I'm going to Yale. I'm going to be a doctor" (Yoon 98). The young man comes from a family that has to fight to enjoy the privileges of living in the United States, so naturally they dream for their child to build a life where he never has to worry about his financial security and will always be respected. While his parents rationale is completely comprehensible, it is far more important to "chase" a life that provides one with fulfillment than to live one that fulfills someone else's goals. The way I think about it is that if I work one hundred hours a week to live in a mansion, but I only get to stay in my mansion for the other 68 hours of the week, then I should enjoy the place that I spend most of my time. It is one thing to work one hundred hours a week and do something that we are completely passionate about, but it is a complete error to spend the majority of one's days doing a job that makes them miserable. I completely understand Daniel's ethical dilemma, as I always want to make my family proud because I love them and they work extremely hard for my sister and I. My grandparents immigrated to this country to build a new life and I also want to make them proud. I know, however, that if I live a life that I do not enjoy then my grandparents and parents would not be happy with that. There are abundances of anxieties centered around the selection of colleges, careers, majors, etc., but if we do not enjoy our lives, then we have lost. These stresses are multigenerational and are cultivated by strenuous American pressures that intertwine in every discipline that we experience. Daniel states, "I'd give anything to really want the life my parents want for me. Life would be easier if I were passionate about wanting to be a doctor. Being a doctor seems like one of those things you're supposed to be passionate about" (Yoon 50). Daniel, therefore, understands that in life we are "supposed to be passionate about" our careers and other activities we participate in. As much as we may wish to always please our parents, if we are not pleasing ourselves then what is the point of anything? If we have money, but are miserable, money does not buy happiness. Daniel comes to the conclusion that, "We are capable of big lives. A big history. Why settle? Why choose the practical thing, the mundane thing? We are born to dream and make the things we dream about" (Yoon 101). As Daniel asserts, life is a beautiful gift that we are given and it is up to us to live out lives that are rich in joy and passion. My lifelong dream has always been to become an elementary school teacher and many individuals throughout my life, including complete strangers, have tried to steer me away from pursuing this career because it does not make a lot of money. If I am not happy, however, and pursuing the things that I enjoy, then my daily life will lack meaning and truth, as I will be living out someone else's dream instead of my own.

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I personally do not believe in love at first sight. I think that love at first sight is something that we are told in life for ongoing hope, and now with reality television, is situationally profitable. Unfortunately, I do believe that a lot of people who believe in simple love at first sight are reacting based upon their immediate physical attraction to someone and will end up hurt, because half of a healthy relationship involves emotional attraction, as well. An emotional attraction is something that takes time to build. Because of this, I like the idea of love at second sight, like is mentioned in the novel. To me, this seems like it allows both partners to truly get to know and fall for each other both emotionally and physically. While I do not think you will always inevitably fall in love with someone if you experience love at second sight, I definitely believe that it is a more accurate representation of how you feel around someone you will fall in love with. You do not want to rush things, but you immediately feel like the person you are with will change your life. I also believe that love at second sight is something that both Natasha and Daniel are feeling, even though Natasha would never want to admit that. Natasha especially was not in the mood to give Daniel the time of day when they met, but as she spent the day with him, she found herself caring incredibly deeply for him. This is evident as the novel states, “Observable fact: I like making him happy. Observable fact: I don’t know when that happened” (Yoon 163). Despite the logical part of her brain telling her it is impossible for her to love Daniel, she knows after spending time with him that she feels deeply towards him. This is also evident through Daniel’s initial attraction towards Natasha that continues to grow as he learns more about her, beyond her big beautiful hair and legs. All in all, I think that love at first sight is not real, but love at second sight can be, depending on how well the parties involved get to know one another. 

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In the novel, Daniel is faced with the pressures to become a doctor and succeed in life through the promised financial security that comes with the profession. However, his passion lies within his love for poetry and his desire to pursue a career in the artistic field. As a reader, I believe the most valuable chase lies within the wants and the passions. A person can not go their entire life doing a job they hate, they only have one life to enjoy. If someone desires something enough, they can find ways to succeed through that passion whether it be from money or happiness. I get asked all the time by people, "Are you sure you want to be a teacher?". I'm always disappointed in that question, knowing that it is my passion and it conflicts with the social structure of success. Young people face so many pressures to achieve higher than their parents rather than to chase their ambitions and dreams. Young people have this expectation from adults that they must know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. Daniel describes the way he feels about poetry by comparing it to Natasha, "The only thing I’ve ever felt that way about is writing poetry, and that can never go anywhere" (Yoon 50). Because of the pressures from his parents to achieve due to all the sacrifices they made for him, Daniel contradicts his dream. The expectation is to succeed more, despite passion and devotion.

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I believe in love at first sight to a certain extent. I don’t think a person can fully be in love with another when meeting someone for the first time because love is much deeper than surface-level feelings. You can absolutely be in love with someone physically at first sight but not that emotional love connection that grows over time. In the novel, I don’t think Natasha and Daniel experience love at first sight because initially, it is only Daniel who has that thought since he believes in fate and soulmates. Natasha on the other hand thinks more logically and does not believe in fate or God, but she believes in choosing your own path. Yet, there is a statement that Natasha makes when first meeting Daniel that could mean otherwise, “I get a sudden sense of deja vu. I’ve been here before. I’ve noticed those bright eyes and that smile. I’ve even had this conversation” (55). This could mean there is a soul tie between the two of them and maybe how they met in a past life, but once again, Natasha does not believe in that.

Love at second sight is more interesting to think about. I believe in love at second sight, or at least looking at someone and knowing they’re going to play an important role in your life, but not knowing how or why quite yet. Daniel has his mind set on Natasha, yet she needs some more convincing, which is what the first half of the novel is mostly about. The more Natasha tries to tell herself she is not going to fall in love with him, the deeper she falls. In the beginning of the novel when Natasha first goes to the attorney’s office she is upset and hoping Daniel is there waiting for her, when she never told him she wanted him to, and assumed he went on his interview. I think when Natasha saw him there, that was when her mind changed, and started to believe in the idea of love at second sight. It makes more sense for Natasha’s experience to be at second sight rather than first because the novel begins with her explaining that she doesn’t believe in fate or love at first sight.

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I don’t believe in love at first sight. I believe you can be attracted and interested at first sight, but not love. I think you have to know a person at least somewhat well to develop such feelings, and it can’t happen from a glimpse. I do believe in the phrase love at second sight. When Daniel first sees Natasha, he is intrigued by her enthralled with her headphones. Also at one point, despite falling for Natasha, he doubts himself, asking “ You can’t just make people fall in love, right? Love is way more complicated than that. It’s not just a matter of choosing a couple of people and making them ask each other some questions, and then love blossoms. The moon and the stars are involved. I’m certain of it.” (Yoon 80). I feel that this quote explains how love can blossom between two people as they get to know each other, but it doesn’t happen as quick as many movies and books make it seem.

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I do not necessarily believe in love at first sight because the idea of falling in love as soon as you lay eyes on someone is such a movie cliche that it just does not make sense in a realistic sense. Where as finding someone someone attractive is another thing that is understandable because even when people look for personalities it does not mean someone can be somewhat attractive to them. On that note Natasha and Daniel do not seem to fall in love at first sight, but rather an attraction at first sight because many people believe in the idea of getting to know someone before falling in love with someone. The phrase "koi no yokan" or translation to love on second sight is something that I can appreciate because the idea of falling in love the more we get to know a person just makes the most sense. Now the idea of love on the second sight is more viable because now people know each other a little bit more and the attraction of said person grew from the person looking attractive to someone being attractive as a whole and its not one sided physical attraction. This feels right because of the fact that the more you know a person the more likely you can gauge the type of person they are, getting comfortable and so on which seems to happen with Natasha and Daniel because they seem to get more comfortable with each other and they got to know each other, eventually falling in love the more time they spent with each other. Which can be seen in the line, " Of course he’s completely right, but I hate that he thinks so. Am I too predictable and boring? I think back to the boy I saw when we entered the store. I bet he keeps everyone guessing." (pg. 113). This shows the fact that because they spent more time they spent with each other, the more they were able to now what the other one likes and would do and so on. Hence why I think that love on second sight is what fits them the most.

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In my opinion, it is more important to chase a potential career in a field you have passion for, instead of one that promises job security and financial stability. I know several people who have chosen high paying jobs, like a lawyer and a doctor, and they are miserable. They hate waking up for work everyday and they resent the people who pushed them into this career. On the other side, I know several people who work "low-paying" jobs and love it. I was very happy that it was revealed that Daniel did not become a doctor or attended Yale, but instead pursued poetry. Life is not about money and he is instead spending his time doing something he enjoys.

For most young people, they are heavily influenced by the culture they grew up around, when deciding to choose where to attend college and other important life decisions. These cultural influenced could be their family members, but it could also be their friends and community members. If they attend a school that is competitive and academically rigorous, they might feel more pressure to attend a top college and go into a highly paying and respected profession.

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I do not believe in love at first sight based on the fact that true love can only exist when the two individuals in love have an intimate understanding of one another’s thoughts, feelings, and character. You cannot love someone you don’t know. Love predicates upon vulnerability because it is an endeavor of exposing the best and worst parts of yourself and trusting that the other party chooses to love you back in spite of their intimate knowledge of the darkest parts of you; this cannot happen within the first few moments that people see each other.  Love at first sight is often mistaken for lust, which one can feel based solely on appearance, however the same cannot be said for love. Natasha herself acknowledges her hesitance towards allowing herself to have feelings for Daniel, to love him.It is only upon exposing the parts of herself that she is most insecure about, her illegal immigrant status, that the two can hope to foster a connection akin to love. Daniel knows he has to try to “get [her] to fall in love with [him] scientifically’ because it is something that people must make an active effort towards (Yoon 78). The phrase mentioned in the novel, “koi no yokan”, refers to knowing upon first meeting someone that you will inevitably come to love them. This concept is much easier to believe in, as people can carry a certain energy and aura about them that others are able to pick upon, and, I suppose, recognize as something they are capable of loving. Whether it be the clothes the person is wearing, the expression upon their face, or the circumstances through which the two individuals meet, it is entirely possible for a first meeting to be enough for a person to know that they will fall in love with someone. The first words out of a person’s mouth and the way they say them can be indicative of their character and perspective towards life; this is not always the case, but neither is “koi no yokan”. Daniel is the perfect, though fictional, example in the way that he did not love Natasha when he first saw or interacted with her, but felt an inexplicable pull towards her that only grew as he learned more about her. There is a moment of between the couple where Daniel recognizes that “wherever [they’re] going, [they’re] not there yet”, and while he says this in regard to physical touch rather than emotional connection, the sentiment remains the same (Yoon 123): they have to build up to love and a deeper level of intimacy.

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Personally, I lean towards the idea that love at first sight is more of an intense initial attraction or infatuation rather than genuine love, as true love often requires time, shared experiences, and deep emotional connections to develop.In the case of Natasha and Daniel from "The Sun is Also a Star," I believe their connection is better described by the Japanese phrase "koi no yokan" – the feeling that they are destined to fall in love with each other upon meeting. While they may not immediately fall in love at first sight, there is a sense of inevitability that their paths are meant to intertwine and that they will develop strong feelings for each other over time.

The concept of love at second sight, as described by the Japanese phrase, resonates with me more than love at first sight. It suggests that love is not always immediate but can develop gradually as individuals get to know each other better and form deeper connections. This idea acknowledges the importance of time, patience, and emotional compatibility in fostering genuine love and lasting relationships. Overall, while the idea of love at first sight may be alluring, I find the concept of love at second sight to be more realistic and reflective of the complexities of human relationships.

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The choice between pursuing a career for financial stability versus following one's passion is a common dilemma faced by many young people, including Daniel in "The Sun is Also A Star" by Nicola Yoon. The significance of each "chase" depends on an individual's values, goals, and circumstances. Some may argue that chasing a career with job security and financial stability is more important as it provides a sense of stability and ensures one's basic needs are met. It may also offer opportunities for advancement and the ability to support oneself and potentially one's family in the future. On the other hand, others may prioritize pursuing their passion, believing that fulfillment and happiness stem from doing what they love, even if it means facing uncertainty and financial challenges along the way. Young people face immense pressure when making decisions about colleges, majors, and career paths. These pressures often stem from various sources, including societal expectations, family influences, peer pressure, and economic factors. Society often places value on certain careers or fields of study that are perceived as prestigious or lucrative, leading to pressure to pursue paths that align with these societal norms. Family expectations and cultural beliefs can also play a significant role, with parents sometimes pushing their children toward certain professions or academic pursuits based on their own aspirations or beliefs about success. Additionally, economic factors such as rising tuition costs and concerns about job availability can add to the pressure young people feel when making decisions about their future. The fear of not being able to secure a stable job or financial independence can weigh heavily on individuals as they navigate their options for education and career paths. Ultimately, the decision between chasing financial stability and following one's passion is deeply personal and depends on individual values, goals, and circumstances. Young people need to consider their own aspirations, interests, and values when making these decisions, rather than succumbing solely to external pressures.

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I think that in life, some situations are fate while others are random. In the book, Daniel, being more artistic and open-minded, believes in fate, while Natasha is more straightforward and objective. I have an opinion more similar to Natasha's, which I feel is explained very well in the book in the terms of the quote "everything happens for a reason." Natasha says, "Usually people say it when something goes wrong, but not too wrong. A nonfatal car accident. A sprained ankle instead of a broken one. Tellingly, my mom has not said it in reference to our deportation. What reason could there be for this awful thing happening" (Yoon 34). I, like Daniel, like to occasionally look on the bright side when it comes to fate. Sometimes, bad happenings can lead to something good that would otherwise be unaccomplished. However, like Natasha, I overall agree with the idea that things that are truly bad do not always have a reason for occurring.

Despite my overall idea, I still like to think that positive and even sometimes small negative interactions can be more meaningful. For example, the interaction between Natasha and Irene in the beginning of the book. As Irene, a security guard at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, checks Natasha at the security checkpoint, Natasha makes her own judgements about Irene without truly knowing her character. She immediately assumes that, to Irene, she is "just another anonymous face, another applicant, another someone who wants something from America" (Yoon 8). This, however, is not true. Irene loves her job, and thrives off of the small interactions she has with the people who come in every day. She is lonely and needs the interaction. From her point of view, she tries to make the effort to be more personable to Natasha but is too scared to do so. Irene is my favorite character in the book because to many people, the people that we encounter on a daily basis aren't a part of our personal lives, so we make assumptions about them or don't even really think about their personal lives. It provides a new perspective on the importance of being kind to everyone you encounter because, for people like Irene, they don't have anyone else to talk to other than those they encounter at work. Her character also adds onto the commentary on fate, as she downloads the song that was on Natasha's phone and finds herself finding comfort in the lyrics. It makes the reader think about their small day-to-day interactions and how it impacts not only them but also others.

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I don’t think love at first sight is possible. There is infatuation and desire, which are two different things, but love is a whole other story. My definition for love is a feeling that extends past superficial emotions, love is deep and intense but it is also about understanding each other. You cannot understand someone you have just met or even just seen, you can desire for them and be infatuated with them, but you cannot be in love or just love them without getting to know them, because people have multiple versions to them and you need to know every version inside and out to actually love and understand another person. However, I do think love at second sight exists. I think you can meet someone and see a future with them later on, see a future of loving them, I think taht is what happened with Daniel and Natasha. I don’t even believe Natasha believed she could ever love Daniel at first, I don’t think she gave him much thought, but for Daniel, it was love at second sight. He couldn’t have loved her right away without knowing who she truly is, but I believe he felt such deep affection for her and yearning to get to know her that he knew he could love her and be with her someday. This is shown when he is thinking to himself after bumping into her at the record store and is thinking about how he wishes he would have acted with her, or how his brother would have acted with her. He says, “Would-Be Casanova Shakes Cute Girls Hand, Offers Her Home Loan with Reasonable Interest Rate” (56). This quote is very humorous, but also has a lot of meaning behind it. This quote shows that Daniel did not love Natasha when first seeing her, because he couldn’ty have without knowing her. The fact that he is thinking about her and pondering over his actions when interacting with her shows that he is starting to care for her and can see something in the future with her as he wants to impress her. However, he doesn't love her because he refers to her as a cute girl. The only thing he knows about her is the short conversation he has had with her and that she is pretty, he can only base his first impression on her mainly based on her looks.Daniel is mistaking this for love, but really he feels desire for love, a desire to have Natasha, and he cannot love her as a person until he actually gets to know her past just what she looks like, he needs to know her and feel tied to her on a deeper level of understanding before he can actually say he loves her with confidence. So, I believe he did have love at second sight, rather than first: he saw a future with her and mistook it for love, but perhaps fell deeply in love with her after that once he got to understand who she was, what her values and beliefs were, and how she identified as a person.

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I like to think that the random people we encounter are people we are fated to encounter. I do agree that these encounters are random, but I think that things happen for a reason such as Natasha and Daniel’s entire story. If it weren't for Irene and Natasha's interaction in the beginning, Natasha never would have met Daniel. My opinion is closer to Daniel's who believes in fate, but I also agree with Natasha's point that sometimes terrible things just happen without any real reason. My favorite background character was Irene because her story was really beautiful and moving. Her character adds a certain realness to the story because she is a prime example of how small interactions of kindness can change someone’s life entirely. Irene’s epilogue brought me to tears, especially the quote, “The fact that someone saw her was the beginning” (Yoon 341). Irene’s entire outlook on her life shifted and she found beauty in her life again. I think this storyline really emphasizes how things happen for a reason, because if Natasha had not called Irene to thank her, Irene would have ended her life. Irene’s character adds an important depth to the story that impacts the reader by reminding them that they have no idea what other people are going through and kindness is important.

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I think that both 'chases' are equally important. One should strive for financial security but also be able to be passionate about their future and have a job that they find somewhat fulfilling. If only one of those boxes get checked, the person will end up miserable. This can be seen with Daniel. He wished, that he would be passionate about becoming a doctor and thinks that it would make his life easier: "I'd give anything to really want the life my parents want for me. Life would be easier if I were passionate about wanting to be a doctor" (Yoon 50). However, being successful and being able to work with a passion is oftentimes not compatible. Therefore, it is important to be able to engage with one's passions after work hours.

I think the main pressure that people face is finding a job that is financially stable. Since we are living during an inflation, money struggles become more and more frequent and the housing prices are barely affordable. In addition, it is hard for a 16-year-old to decide what they want to do for the rest of their life. It seems overbearing to know, what job someone wants to work in for the next 50 years and there is little to no room for changing that decision.

Those pressures are both outside and inside pressures. Society has expectations, parents push high schoolers to go to specific colleges ("I out my foot down and refused to apply to 'Best School' (Harvard)" Yoon 28), money and finances become an increasingly bigger struggle. The inside pressures seem to be fueled by insecurities. 'Am I good enough? What if I fail? What if I am not made for college? Is this truly the right decision?'

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I think that you do not have to give up your passion, to have financial stability. Daniel in the novel, feels his parents expectations constantly, because they came to the United States to give him a better future. Personally, coming from an immigrant household I can understand not always fulfilling my parents expectations, and having to make decisions that I “normally” wouldn’t make. I feel that young people today face the pressures due to their family, economic reasons and societies expectations of what it means to be successful. Therefore, young people are expected in choosing a career that is “reputable” and pays well, because if you don’t then you are not living up to your potential. I do not think we hear often choices other than going to college, which then adds more pressure to young adults in deciding what to do, even if they do not like the major they are in. I also feel that when we say the term financial stability, that can look very different for different people depending on their circumstances. I know that having chosen a career in education I often get told, “Why would you choose education when you won’t get paid well?”. I know that I will not be the wealthiest person, but I chose a career that I know I enjoy doing and will live a comfortable life, which may not be the case for others and that it fine. Therefore, I don’t think one “chase” is better than the other, but I do think you should choose a career you are somewhat passionate or at least enjoy doing.

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I think that depending on the situation, people we encounter in our everyday lives are based on coincidences and fate/destiny. The meaning of the person can change the way we look at this and question if there is some spiritual sense behind the reasoning of that person coming into your life at that particular moment. In many cases for Natasha and Daniel, people they met just as the day went on seemed unimportant, but because they took interest in looking further into why that person was in their life at that particular moment, it changed their mindset. It also changed their mindsets about each other, because as Natasha was hesitant to believe in the idea that Daniel came into her life for a particular reason, Daniel noticed it pretty early on. After all, he also wanted to believe in that spiritual sense, by first seeing her walking around and listening to her music with her backpack that said "God from the machine." Although this might be a controversial take, my favorite background character in the book is Natasha's ex-boyfriend, Rob. He was not my favorite character because of his actions, but I think his character had an important influence on Natasha. His character symbolizes the growth of Natasha's character, as a means for her to look back on the past for a split second, and remember that she is not that same girl anymore. By seeing him making out with a different girl in the record store, Natasha almost saw herself in that girl, and she was not envious of her, if anything, she was making fun of them in that moment. But later on, Natasha reveals how "every time I see them together I feel like maybe I wasn't good enough" (Yoon 311). Rob's character also in a way brought Daniel and Natasha together for the first time. Seeing Rob with the same messy actions he has with another girl, Natasha can reflect on that relationship and become more mature, which ultimately prepares her for the complex romantic relationship she'll have with Daniel. Although Rob's character caused Natasha pain and she began to doubt herself, she needed a character like him to push her in the right direction, and although she was cynical about love, her growth from that past relationship allowed her to flourish with Daniel.