When I think of the most stressful time in my life, I think about my senior year in high school. I spent so much time researching colleges trying to determine what major I could possibly declare that would lead to a great job and a lot of money. Of course I was taking into consideration how much I would enjoy it, but the number one thing on my mind was money.

Fast forward two years as I am entering the second semester of my sophomore year, I realize how silly that was. I go to a great school, but it definitely isn’t an Ivy League. I have declared a Communications major, and no it isn’t on the list of top majors that will lead to an amazing job. I’m not going down a journalism track or broadcasting track, just simply communications studies. I don’t know if I’ll get a job right after college or if I’ll have to work a minimum wage paying job. But, I know that I love to write and if I can spend the majority of my time doing that, then I’ll be happy. In high school, just the mere thought of that would have caused enough stress to give 18-year-old me a heart attack.

But, recently I’ve realized something very important. It doesn’t matter what school you go to, how many internships you have, or what major you choose. Success shouldn’t be measured by the monetary gains you make. One of my best friends from high school chose to take a year off after high school and to work instead. Well with the extra time, she was able to focus on her job and become a manager at age 19. This Fall she decided to return to school. She is still a manager, but she’s also pursuing one of her passions, dance.

Even though she hasn’t taken the typical path, she has found her way and she is doing something that makes her happy, to me that is as successful as it gets. As a generation, we don’t really know what success is. We have parents, teachers, and even musical artists all telling us that the way to be successful is to have enough money buy a big house and a fancy car. But as the cliché saying goes, what is all of that without happiness? The answer is nothing.

So as we continue into this 2016 with new goals and aspirations, remember to ask yourself whether or not the completion of the goal will further your happiness. If the answer is no, then why are you doing it?