Chris strives in the pursuit of happiness to strive to give his things other kids have and not to be living on the street. In order for him to achieve better for his son, he had to prove to himself that he was able to make himself strive for better. He just wanted a better life instead of living in motels and sleeping in subway station bathrooms because they don't have any money. Chris play a role model in showing his son you can achieve anything if you put your mind into it.