The Key to Happiness by Maya

The Key to Happiness by Maya - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

Walking into school on the first day, I was genuinely frightened. After moving from the town I was born and raised in, I felt out of place and unsure of myself in this new place. But gradually I started growing comfortable, settling into my classes and finding a sense of purpose with the schoolwork that was piling up. Every class was interesting and piqued my interest in some way, forcing me to think deeper or debate harder. I had one gem of a class, though, that stood apart from the rest.
My chemistry teacher, to put it simply, could be described as high energy. There was always a playful banter between her and the students, and she somehow made a class about chemistry a place where she could teach us life lessons. She said many things that were quite memorable compared to my other classes, but the one phrase I remember was when she said “ The key to happiness is doing the things you don’t want to do when you don’t want to do them.” This was a phrase she used repeatedly and even tested us on at one point.
Although it seems counterintuitive, I came to understand what she meant. In the context of class, this meant doing the worksheet instead of chatting with your neighbor. But in terms of life, this refers to finishing off the things you don’t want to do so you aren’t burdened by them later.
Those words are now ingrained in my brain, as is the idea of getting things done. Each day, when I see what I need to do, my teacher’s voice in my head tells me to finish off my work. And though I don’t always listen to that voice, I know she is right- I would be much happier if I did finish off that last job.