![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and its played such a major role in who Ive become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something Im [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala (21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“Im not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
The girl next to you got five hours of sleep last night. The one on your other side claims to have had three. But – wait for it – the guy right in front of you didn’t go to sleep at all! Just don’t make the fatal mistake of mentioning that you got a full eight hours. Let’s face it: misery is the new black.
This year, more than ever before, I have been conscious of the transformations of what is cool. Besides the current association of listening to mainstream music with living under a rock, you may feel the same way if you have the nerve to express happiness at school.
Working and playing in a high-pressure environment where grades and an over-booked schedule are the highest marks of success, it may feel that anything less than being overwhelmed is cheating. Not putting in enough effort. No pain, no gain. Complaining about stress could have been named the newest sport at the Winter Games, and I would not have been surprised.
However, I do believe there are some secretive members of our society who wake up with a smile and truly think things will go well for once. They may work to take care of themselves, avoiding Facebook in favor of sleeping, and simply relaxing during extra help. That personality profile seems rare, but it is all the more reason to preserve them. The games we play suppress those people and contribute to a negative atmosphere that only ensures a cycle of stress.
I think the problem lies in our definition of success. How differently would we act if we held pure, unadulterated happiness at its core, rather than a 4.5 GPA?
I challenge you to find out. Today or tomorrow, when someone asks you how your day is going at lunch, hold back the vitriol. Tests are nothing new, and complaining without action only stalls you in the past. Instead, borrow a Monty Python schtick: “always look on the bright side of life.” Talk about what went well with your weekend. Make plans to do something amazing. Smile.
Being happy-go-lucky will not be a panacea for your problems, but pessimism will not save you from them either. I truly believe that happiness is a choice, and optimism is the method by which you can attain it.
If you can laugh about your mistakes and place faith in the possibility of improvement, I think you will at least feel less pressured, if not actually find constructive solutions for your issues. Open your mind; enjoy your life. As Oscar Wilde said, “life is too important to be taken seriously.”
