“What’s your priority this semester?” my friend asked after our first meal together post-summer break. My instinct was to say classes, internships, research—after all, we’re at school, preparing for life after college. The pressure to secure a job or get accepted into graduate school looms large. What could be more important than staying focused on the future? But none of those answers felt right. I paused for a moment before saying, “being happy.”
At Princeton, it’s so easy to get lost in what we could be doing instead of appreciating where we are. We become consumed by what we did in the past, the opportunities we missed, or what we need to do next. The future seems all-encompassing, with the pressure to achieve, succeed, and get ahead constantly lingering. But in this rush, we forget about something crucial—our present selves. We forget that it’s our present self who is living this life. And that self needs to be nourished, appreciated, and, yes, happy.
It’s been my goal ever since I told my friend I would prioritize being happy this semester. After a year at Princeton, I’ve learned how stressful academic life can be, especially when you’re constantly challenging yourself to improve every day. It’s easy to start living by to-do lists, marking off checkpoints on the journey as we go. We let ourselves rest when all the lists are checked. We let ourselves be happy when all the assignments are done and after we get exams over with. We chase the next goal, thinking that happiness lies there, only to find ourselves moving on to yet another goal, hoping the next one will be the one that brings us peace.
But after a year at Princeton, I’ve realized that the moments that truly fuel me are the little things that happen when I’m simply, but truly, happy. Taking random walks with friends the night of Dean’s Date. Being mesmerized by the state-of-the-art research facilities on campus. Planning a trip for fall break. Learning new facts about the brain. Having meals and learning about what people have been up to. Movie nights. Of course, big accomplishments like getting high scores and securing a research assistant position excite me. But learning to let myself enjoy the process of getting there—through those little moments—brings smiles to my face and makes the endpoint so much more memorable.
There’s always another exam, another application, another research milestone on the horizon. But if we only allow ourselves happiness at the finish line, we’ll spend most of our time in a constant state of waiting, telling ourselves, “I’ll be happy when…”
But life isn’t lived in the “when.” It’s lived in the now. We all have dreams and goals, and working hard to achieve them is important. But happiness doesn’t have to be postponed. If you allow yourself to feel joy, fulfillment, and contentment now, the journey toward those goals becomes more meaningful.
So, as I continue this semester—balancing classes, research, internships, and all the things that make up the hectic life of a college student—I remind myself of this: happiness shouldn’t be saved for moments of victory. Let your happy self shine through every step of the journey. Celebrate the small wins, take pride in the effort, and most importantly, live in the moment.
After all, what’s the point of life if you’re always waiting for the future to feel like you’re truly living?
— Angel Toasakul, Natural Sciences Correspondent
