Over the past few weeks, I have given myself a lot of time to think about myself as a student, a sister, a daughter, a friend, and just as a person in general. After a lot of time to myself, I came to find myself asking, "Am I really happy?" Being an accounting major, a lot of my time is focused on studying and work. I work an eight to four job, four days a week, take five to six courses a semester, and sleep maybe three to four hours a night. I wake up, do what I have to do, maybe eat something, and then repeat. Is this the stress that every college student should be putting themselves through? I have seen friends cry because of classes they have been in, and I have personally had panic attacks at some point in the semester.
What is all of this work and stress for? One may say to be successful. But how can you actually measure success? At the end of the day, is a six figure paycheck really going to fill that amount of happiness that someone needs? I find myself asking these questions, to myself and to others, multiple times a day. Do not get me wrong, I love accounting, I love numbers, and this is what I want to do for a living. However, I see those who are pursuing careers in fields such as art and entertainment and I can't help but envy them.
As many business, science, and math majors can relate, our majors are more analytical than they are creative. It is hard for us to find that small amount of entertainment and colorfulness in the fields that we are in and love. This is where the envy comes in to place. There is a bittersweet feeling being one of these majors. The love for our field sometimes becomes blurred. Over the years, I have noticed the step back I have taken from the creative things I love to do. Piano, painting, and running have taken a hit as I focused more and more on my grades and "success." As this went on, I have notice my happiness to slowly become less and less over the years. This is something I feel many students might be facing as their work load gets more and more busy throughout their careers.
Now how can we change this feeling? A peer of mine told me to pursue that of which will give you true happiness in the end. A dollar does not measure success. Although these are concepts that an analytical person might have trouble grasping, it is something that everyone should keep in mind as they progress in life. From personal experience, I have noticed in other cultures that money is not the basis of all happiness. On a trip I took to Jamaica, the natives had very little, but were welcoming and happier than any American I have ever encountered. Time was not a focus. There weren't clocks in every room, and enjoying the moment was highly encouraged. This is the way we should all try to live our lives.
Even if we still want to pursue a career in accounting or chemistry, there is still time to enjoy those creative moments in life. Take time to yourself to paint, make music, or just laugh. Success is not completely based on your dollar worth. There is a lot more that mixes in which that in my eyes. Live your life, and make it one you will love. Whether that is doing financial statements and coming home to paint on your free time, or following a career producing your music. Live to make yourself happy.
I will leave you with a quote by Tecumseh,
"So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life."
