Happy and Free by Lauren
Laurenof Boston 's entry into Varsity Tutor's January 2016 scholarship contest
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Happy and Free by Lauren - January 2016 Scholarship Essay
In 2016, my New Year's Resolution is to free myself from what I have always limited myself to being and find pure joy in my life. As a student, this will allow me to enjoy my college experience more and be open to taking on new responsibilities and opportunities that will set me apart from the average student.
Graduating high school with a 4.0 and entering my freshman year of college ahead of the game with credits from AP courses, one would think I had a lot of time to relax and enjoy myself. No, it's true that nobody in college knows who you were in high school, but I do and I couldn't let go of my high school self. I spent first semester doing work almost incessantly because that's what I had known in high school and it wasn't necessary anymore, but I couldn't free myself from who I used to be. With the stress and pressure I put on myself to make the same grades I always did, I didn't fully embrace the opportunities I had as a new college student; the opportunities to get involved with clubs, research experiences, and connections with amazing professors all stood right before me yet I was trapped in my tunnel vision and missed out.
Thus, in 2016 my New Year's Resolution to improve as a student is really the opposite of what many would say: focus less on the work and more on the learning. I want to take advantage of the experiences my college offers and free myself from my stress and pre- occupation with the idea that there is always more that can be done on my homework. It may not always be perfect but I need to allow myself to be free and content in 2016 with the idea of stepping away from the work and embracing the experiences that are there for me. I'm comfortable doing work in all of my free time and knowing I will finish any assignment days in advance but I am not happy in this routine. Comfort is not the key to happiness and I wish to free myself and find my happiness: it's going to be outside of my comfort zone but I am going after it.
