Trajan M., Oakwood High School
Happiness is Just a Honk Away
Some people think happiness is money; others think happiness is love; for me, happiness is spreading joy to others. During March of 2020, I learned this first-hand when the world seemed full of fear and sadness. I realized that you cannot sit and wait for happiness, you must seek it.
On March 15, 2020, the school informed my third-grade class that the district would be shutting down for a few weeks due to a new illness called “Coronavirus”. Being ten at the time, this sounded like a dream come true: video games all day, and no homework. But as the days went on, rumors started circulating that our absence from school would be extended. After the two weeks went by, the superintendent announced that school was in fact being canceled for longer, and we would start virtual learning.
At first, virtual learning felt like vacation, but as days turned into weeks, the isolation started to take its toll. Since the world was in quarantine, my friends and I had to think of a new way to pass the time. One afternoon, on a Zoom call, we realized we had some leftover supplies from our lemonade stand and a few crumpled dollars I had found under my bed. That's when it clicked – With 5 bucks and a dream, “Honk If You're Happy” was created.
My friends and I spent hours on FaceTime crafting a variety of signs. We utilized old posterboard from our lemonade stands and old markers from class. We pooled our five dollars for a thick-point sharpie. The sharpie helped us emphasize our slogan, “Honk if You’re Happy”. After a few short days, our signs looked pristine. We arranged a time for the 6 of us to meet, 5:00 PM, rush hour. Each one of us had a designated location where we would hold up our signs to ensure that we were 6 feet apart.
Soon, cars surged through the streets. We jumped, danced, and yelled at the cars, hoping for a honk. Each honk lit up our faces – and theirs. As the honks accumulated, we became more determined to spread joy during a dark time. At the end of the day, we had over 150 honks.
Day after day, my friends and I continued to hold up our signs, urging people to honk. After three months, our “Honk if You’re Happy” ploy came to an end due to the start of 4th grade. Although it lasted a short time, countless people were influenced by our simple act. We were able to put smiles on hundreds of people’s faces during a time when isolation and depression were prevalent. In the end, I learned that happiness isn’t something you wait for – it's something you create. And in some cases, all it takes is a few signs, a smile, and the sound of a honk.
