Do All Things With A Happy Heart by Sydney

Do All Things With A Happy Heart by Sydney - January 2025 Scholarship Essay

When I was little, my mom would always tell me to go through life with a happy heart. Sometimes it was easy to be positive, like when I won student of the month in 6th grade or was chosen to be the line leader in elementary school. Other times, however, it was harder to see the bright side of situations. When I received a terrible grade in algebra or was reprimanded for being unkind towards my siblings, I would often pout and reject the situation. My dad would always say that I should be a lawyer with how much I would argue. I would complain about circumstances I had no control over and, even worse, those that I did. Every time I would complain or argue, my mom would ring out the familiar phrase: do everything with a happy heart.
This wise reminder often seemed nagging to the thirteen-going-on-thirty little girl I was. Stubbornly refusing wisdom was a regularity. My pessimistic worldview would not allow me to see the good in inconveniences and I was not motivated to try, improve, or succeed. My mom would pull me aside on a weekly basis, stating that I should do everything with a happy heart. Of course, I did not listen.
As I transitioned into high school, I began to have the overwhelming desire to succeed. I wanted to have a 4.0 GPA, a 34 ACT score, and pass a multitude of AP and Dual Enrollment courses. However, I found the first quarter of freshman year that my goals were much harder to reach than I had first believed. I began to complain about the workload, argue with my parents over chores, and put assignments and responsibilities off to the last minute. As I groaned over research papers and math questions, my mom continued to remind me that I should do all things with a happy heart.
As the first semester came and went, I knew that I needed to change. My relationships were suffering, my grades were slipping, and my worldview was deteriorating. Filled with confusion and frustration, the only place I knew I could turn to was my mother. She sat me down and reminded me that, to be profoundly grateful and fulfilled, you must look at life through a grateful lens. Do everything with a happy heart and true happiness will become a reality. She told me that if I genuinely wanted to change my circumstances, I would first have to change my perspective.
Initially, this was extremely difficult to do. I was not prepared for the mental strain of changing my habits and my thoughts. One bad hair day and I would think “Welp, my day is ruined.” With one small inconvenience, I would give up on a positive attitude, preferring to complain and lament. My mom, knowing the battles I was facing, would just smile and remind me, “Do everything with a happy heart.” Many times, I wanted to fight or argue, however, I knew that I desired change more. Biting my tongue, I began to slowly train my thoughts in a positive way.
Slowly but surely, I started to notice change. Optimistic thinking began to improve my quality of life, enriching areas that had previously been barren. For example, my friendships began to flourish with my change of perspective. Instead of being a judgmental or negative friend, I became a constant encourager, building up my friends and life partners. Instead of leading my peers to look pessimistically at their circumstances, I began to motivate them do all things with a happy heart.
My academic career also transformed. Before changing my mindset, I was completely fine with doing just enough to slide by. Despite having goals that would be unattainable with that way of thinking, I thought that I was magically going to end up with a 4.0 GPA. As I switched my worldview around, I came to the realization that to succeed I had to be diligent. I began to study and work hard for my goals, as I finally unsterstood that achievements weren’t just handed to me. To accomplish great things, I had to be willing to put in the work. Success began to find me as I optimistically worked for my future.
My mom’s steady reminders have changed and allowed me to succeed in more ways than I can count. From being a stubborn, pessimistic girl to an optimistic encourager, the success I have experienced since changing my worldview has been indescribable. From achieving the hard-sought 4.0 to achieving an ACT in the 30’s, going through life with a happy heart has made all the difference in who I am today. Success truly has nothing to do with how smart or accomplished you are, but rather how optimistic you are. So, just like Momma says, go through life with a happy heart.