Eli Student Voices

While there are many people searching for happiness, only a few find true happiness. It is not for a lack of honestly trying to find happiness but rather the attributes they assign to happiness. Many people believe happiness can be found through material or monetary wealth. Others believe it can be found if they physically alter their appearance. I disagree. I believe the key to happiness is through building and maintaining a positive outlook and demeanor. In Korea, I worked as a Therapist in a hospital and was often around people who were unhappy. It may be surprising but I am referring to the professionals with which I worked. They were often gloomy and lost sight of the fact they had degrees, earned good wages, and were admired by others. The constant complaining made me realize that happiness was not found in the material world but rather in the way you view and respond to the world around you. For instance, Michael Jackson; famous, rich, adored, and celebrated worldwide could not find happiness as was witnessed by his constantly changing face and skin and apparent drug-addiction. Before I understood this lesson, I too was a gloomy soul. I would ponder questions like, “Why do I fail so often?” and “What is my problem?” I remember thinking how I felt miserable and wretched. One day, I took a chance and changed my life after reading a book by a professor recounting his battle with cancer. He was told that he had less than 3 months to live and over a year later he had written the book and was still fighting. This was a turning point in my life and as I trained myself to be more positive. I found the world around me improving. My relationship with my parents and friends improved and my confidence increased. It is this lesson which enables me to tackle any problem I encounter. I am living proof that being determined to stay positive works. I want to help people understand the power they have within themselves is what matters, not what you buy at the local mall.