The Way of the Second Mouse by Mary Mei

The Way of the Second Mouse by Mary Mei - January 2019 Scholarship Essay

“The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.”

There is something about the night that gives me shivers -- waking up every inch of my soul. I seem to find the night’s silence and solitude better than the morning’s warmth and sunshine. The evening’s vibe gives me energy, its silence bestows me concentration, and its calmness makes my mind wonder. I am a night person, and I am the second mouse.
As the sun falls, people start getting inside their cribs -- the vibe that gives me a unique energy burst. Without anyone’s attention, I get to do works how I want it to be done without the fear of getting judged and disapproving people’s choice of hows. But don’t get me wrong, I like working as a member of a team too, however, the night is the power source of my body’s electricity, and that is why I get to do more things when the sun is down. I use full strength to push the things I want, under the night’s non-judgmental stars, like the mouse, getting its way to get the cheese.
Furthermore, when everything around shuts down, and fugitive slips away, silence comes to me and whispers, “focus”. I have a better concentration during the night because of the absence of distractions -- the lack of sounds helps my brain to think straight. Silence makes me productive because of the ability to do things without having to deal with other stuff. My brain is active and focused between dusk and dawn, like the mouse, because of silence and tranquility.
Lastly, the evening’s soothing sound makes my mind wonder as it wanders. Nights are when plans are made and hidden desires are uncovered. When everything around is calming, ideas and strategies pops in my brain -- I could plan how to do things the smartest and most efficient way. It’s by the night I see the things hidden in me, its when I turn pain as lessons, people’s mistakes as a guide to the path I chose to take in life, and embarrassments as a way to become the best version of myself. While early birds get their worms, and the first mouse falls into the trap, I, the second mouse, observe, wonder, and create a strategy.
It doesn’t actually matter if you’re a morning or a night person, because everyone has their own way and time of doing things. In my case, I make my way when the stars are out to light up the sky. I work better under the moon’s supervision because of its vibe, silence, and calmness. I believe that being ahead of time doesn’t always work well, so I do things after, because I am the second mouse, and that is my way.