Find Happiness, Do Not Make It by Michelle

Find Happiness, Do Not Make It by Michelle - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

There are so many things that I have learned throughout my years in high school. I had an inflated view of highschoolers as a child, so for me to actually be at this "old" and "mature" of an age was very cool for me. I decided that I would be happy throughout highschool right then and there. After all, as a highschooler, I would have something that I had wanted for myself and admired in others for my entire life- A title. To be an "older teenager" or a "real teenager". I had watched too many movies and read too many books glorifying this angst-filled stage in life to understand that a grade level would not suddenly make it any easier for me to be happy in tough situations. I did make a valiant effort to complete this goal, I will say, and managed to enjoy even the hard or sad times with the knowledge that I was at the very least who and where I wanted to be. This was tedious, however, and required lying to oneself to keep up optimism even when I felt absolutely wretched.

And so the advice I would give to younger students would be to prepare yourself for success and take things as they come. Do whatever you can today to prepare for tomorrow. There is no way of telling what tomorrow may bring, so to clear the road early on will keep you from tripping over unexpected things later down the road. But take those roadblocks as they come. Realize that your feelings are what they are, and are generally justified and acceptable. It is okay to be sad. It is okay to not be okay 100% of the time. The teenage years are hard, and no matter how much adults tell you to "enjoy it before you're paying for your own taxes," sometimes it simply is not enjoyable. And that is okay. Those are the times in which you can grow from and learn to avoid in the future when you may not be living with parental units who are able to help you.

Learn everything you can. Academically, socially, morally. Develop your opinions on things without the influence of others. Research. But also take time to listen to other's, especially once yours is established and you are strong in it.

Trust others when you can, but first trust yourself. You need other people in your life, but there are few that will be there as long as you are with yourself. So trust yourself. Know yourself. Love yourself. Forgive yourself.
Understand that you are still growing and maturing. This should never be used as an excuse, but it is a means to move on and to forgive yourself from things. You are not who you were yesterday as long as you take opportunities given to you to prepare and continue on into the future.

Life is such a beautiful thing, so live it and enjoy it. There are so many moments, and each is potential for a new experience or happiness. Take these opportunities. Although there are many, each is short, and they run out faster than you expect. Ask any elderly person, and they will agree.

Be satisfied. Do your absolute best in all that you do, but be satisfied when you have achieved something. Relish in your accomplishments. You did it. Find joy. Do not make it.