Being a special education major, I had to do observations in a classroom this past semester. I picked a kindergarten classroom with an interesting group of kids, but I would not have wanted it any other way. My job as an observing teacher was, to of course, observe and to help my host teacher in any way. I was supposed to be helping the kids, but they helped me instead. I did not know this, but even kindergartners have to take tests. Well, I was helping a little girl with her test when she looked at me and said, "I just love to learn! School makes me so happy!"

I was incredibly moved by her statement. Looking back, I have never been that excited to learn or to go to school, but she got me thinking about when I was younger. I remembered in elementary school actually liking school, but then we got older and things got harder, and now it's almost easier to just hate everything than to actually try to find happiness in it.

I try to talk to the kids as much as I can. I try to find out what they like and what makes them happy. A couple days ago, I was in the classroom during snack time. We were passing out Fruit Gushers and the kids were so happy. One little girl said, "You know, they have juice inside of them! When you bite into them they explode! It makes a party in my mouth!"

It doesn't take much to please kids. They find enjoyment in almost anything, and as I bit into my Gusher, I too found enjoyment. My childhood rushed back to me and in that moment, I had no worries. I wasn't worried about my grades or if I was going to get the job that I wanted. I was completely happy and that was a feeling I hadn't felt in a long time. Yes, I've been happy, but not like that. I was happy like I was 6 years old again.

I then started thinking to myself, "When did life get so hard?" We go to middle school and then high school, and then you blink your eyes and suddenly you're in college sitting in your dorm room alone and wondering where it all went. When I look back at my last two years of high school, I remember being more sad and hateful than anything. I was mad because I felt like I deserved happiness, and I was the only one that didn't have it, but that is such a ridiculous thing to think.

My dad always told me to stop letting people steal my happiness and he's right. I was too worried about what other people were doing to actually just sit down and realize how awesome my life is. I spent too much time comparing my life to others' when I have a good one right in front of me. I'm trying to get back to that childhood happiness, and you can too. Being happy is a choice that only you can make. Your life is yours' and you can do whatever you want with it. I'm choosing to be happy.