This is a quick essay on what I believe in and how some of my experiences led me to believe in this.

Elyssa Franklin a senior in high school and attends good hope country day school.

I believe you can't make everyone happy but you can make yourself happy.

This became very true when picking a college. I had two options to choose from one close to my mom and the other that fit into the price range my dad gave me. This turned into a division in the home between my father and I. He didn’t understand why I would even give the other school an option. I stayed up countless hours arguing with my dad. But if I chose the school my dad wanted me to go to, my mom would have been heartbroken. She doesn't see me that often and with that school she would have seen me once a month. She was so excited and I just didn't want to hurt her. Choosing a college became a chore. It wasn't some exciting thing that all of my classmates had.

It became so hard for me that I reconsidered even going to college and just breaking off my parents to do my own thing. I resented them for the fact that they were not respecting my opinions. They were living their college “dream” out of me.

The more I thought about which school to choose I realized that I was choosing based on my parents' likes and dislikes. Not my own opinions and what school I wanted to go to. I stayed up all night for countless days just thinking about everything. Where I would fit in the best at. Succeed the best in. And I did it alone. Not with their help or comments. Just me

In the end I chose what made me happy. I believe that sometimes in life you have to do what makes you happy and your parents should just support your decision rather than make you choose what they would prefer. I think freedom of choice is just part of growing up. Asking your parents for direction and advice is one thing. Making decisions should come down to what you think and what makes you happy. If someone can’t be happy with you because of a decision you made, then you should not worry and try to give them space, they need to come to terms with the fact that you are living your life and they need to love you for who you are.

In life do what you want so you can be happy and not make everyone else happy because it’s your life not there’s

Alexandra Bhola wrote this essay as a high school senior in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. In her free time she volunteers at her church and tutors students. She also enjoys running for her track and cross country teams.`

Nbiko Bowry is a Senior at Good Hope Country Day School. He is a great thinker and tries to be the best person he can be.

I believe in hard work. “If your going to do something, you might as well do it right,” is my mother’s motto, and if I think about it, mines as well. If you are going to do anything that ultimately will hold your name along with it, shouldn’t you do it properly? Shouldn’t it be well done? Why do something and put half the work in when you can do something and be proud of it. Working hard on something can relate to anything.

It was a sunny, cheerful day on a Wednesday morning. I walked to my first period, Pre-Calc, with my friend, as we joked about a one-liner that her boyfriend used. Anyways, we needed to rush to class before the five minute bell rang, so we quickly went our separate ways, for we were in different groups, and sat down. I had to calm myself down because I was laughing so much. Then, suddenly the clouds grew grey and the day came to an end. I looked down to see what dreadfully laid, and there it was. Something that held all my nightmares and miseries. Something that I knew, just knew that it will torment me and put me in agony. Sudden anxiety came over me as I hesitate to flip this simple piece of paper over. I look up, my whole group distraught and then I turned to face the class, everyone in tears. I looked at my friend and she was the opposite of happy, she was out of sorts and broken-hearted. I turned back and thought, did I really have to flip this over, well maybe, maybe not. Yet, did I flip it over? The one thing in my life I regret.

I had failed my first test in my entire life. I am in 11th grade and have broken my self goals. Was it because I didn’t work hard enough? No, not at all, because for the whole week prior to the test I spent at least one hour among my peers and math teacher trying to understand the material. So what happened? The world may never know, but the importance of this is what steps did I take to resolve this that will forever haunt me.

For the next five days I received help from my teacher and peers. I went in again and again until I understood the material and had fully prepared for the retake. I kept in mind my mother’s motto, “If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right.” If I am going to do this retake I need to do it right. From then on I was determined to succeed from this horrible unit, for it was my destiny. I worked hard, day and night, until I was satisfied. At that moment, I knew I was ready. So I took the retake, and was satisfied with the final grade I received. The lesson I learned you might ask? That my mother is right because what carried me through my goals was hard work and without it I would not have succeeded and done my best.

Hard work is something everyone should strive for when doing anything. Everyone should work hard at succeeding their goals and strive for their best. I have many moments in my life where it resembles hard work, but my point is, you can work hard and not receive your results right away. It’s what you do after a setback and how you work to move forward. This then determines and proves your hard work. Do keep in mind, “If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right.”

Biography:

Hanan Hamed is a Junior at Good Hope Country Day School. She is an excellent hard worker and thrives towards personal and academic goals.