Quinn H., Other School - Not Listed
Is Happiness Acceptance?
“Oh, the places you’ll go.” I see this quote every day that I walk into my first period, sitting just above my teacher’s smartboard. It makes me consider that I too one day could do something big. Maybe I could help with something important. Over time I had developed a mindset that everything comes and goes, and that I shouldn’t linger on what I love for too long if it planned on slipping away later on anyways. I think it took me quite a while to eventually see that living without ever even catching a glimpse of what could be isn’t a healthy way to live. It’s like nailing planks to the inside of a house, covering doors and windows and any possible exit, then expecting them to open up, but only if you’re really meant to do something.
What finally pushed me out of my comfort zone was a packet I had received from my choir teacher. It was an acapella group called “Amp’d Out.” I’d always loved theater and singing, and I wanted to try out extremely bad. Around 50-70 kids tried out the same day I did. I remember being so excited to get the results, only to come home and see that I didn’t even receive callbacks. I watched all of my friends move on, while I stayed behind. I was crushed. It was almost as if my passion for doing the things that I love -singing, and arts alike- were diminished by this one “No.”
I remember having a conversation with my dad that same night. My mom had told him how upset I was about this defeat. He told me that I can either hang my head low, or keep striving for what I love, that good things come to those who wait. So I practiced. I practiced over the summer, I kept loving what I loved, and waited for the annual auditions to open. I remembered that I had to change my mindset- that I had to consider that even if I didn’t get in, I didn’t give up. I didn’t decide that I’ll never be happy if I was rejected twice. I had to consider that maybe this was a lesson of patience, acceptance, and being content with things as they are.
When I finally received the results, sitting right in the middle of the acceptance list was my name. I had finally gotten in. I made it. I told my family, my friends, everyone was so proud of me. All of this happened because I chose not to dwell in the darkness. I chose that I would strive for what I love, even if it didnt become true. I’m now presently looking towards my future, excited for what''s to come, and wish to share my experience to those who’s flames were doused to ash, encouraging them to shine on. “Oh the places you’ll go,” But only if you know your happiness isn’t decided by one “No.”
