well Elie Wiesel had one main purpose for writing that novel. therefore according to his introduction, Elie knew that the Holocaust and the period of time which surrounded it "would be judged one day." Given that he recognized this, Elie believed that someone would need to "bear witness." For him, the someone was him.
Well, by reading this passage, it is obvious that this character knows what they want and how to get it, but it is the execution that might be stopping them. They say that they want to be an artist because artists make money and become famous. They then speculate on the idea that drawing might make them famous one day. This might help one to assume they are being hopeful in this passage
Settle or sink is a synonym for subside
The girl had a jovially outlook on her life.