Flashback!

Today's blog is inspired by my high school en devours in the academic decathlon!

Yes, I admit it! I was that much of a nerd! 

But I learned so much through this experience. 

I can't recall how I came about joining, just remember that the teacher was a sweet lady and she truly impacted my life! 

Funny,  because I just attended a networking event where we spoke on how some teachers you will remember for the rest of your life.

 I thank Mrs. Hidalgo for all she did to instill the passion of learning in us. I touched on subjects that year that I would never have considered at such a young age! 

 

For those of you wondering what the heck is Academic Decathlon? Here is a definition taken from 

The California Academic Decathlon is a statewide non-profit organization that promotes an educational experience providing a format in which teams of nine high school students compete in academic events. All California public and private high schools are eligible to compete. The Academic Decathlon embodies a partnership of business, foundations and individuals in cooperation with the education community and county offices of education.

  


 I may not have placed but I got honored for my interviewing skills! 

The interview lasts seven whole minutes! Can you imagine how nerve wrecking this seems for a high school student! 

 

The top is a picture of our group. The bottom is a picture of one of my high school best friends, and we still remain friends until this day.

 

 

A close up of the certificate!

I did receive a letter for being involved with this program, which I thought was awesome!

Mrs. Hidalgo took me to my very first UCLA football game and I can say that maybe this is where my passion began for college football! 

The main point of this blog though, was to share the four minute speech I wrote for this competition!

The topic I chose : Happiness

It was inspired by  En Vougue's -Free Your Mind song....

 

Happiness....

What is it?

A dictionary definition gives us good fortune; or prosperity; a state of well being; contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience; enthusiasm to the point of obsession; characterized by a dazed irresponsible state. 

Is there really a true definition of happiness?

It's an emotion, a feeling described differently by each individual in the world. To some happiness is impressing others with clothing attire, while others regard happiness as getting a meal to eat every day. 

Some regard the American dream as their true happiness. That social ideal of human equality and materialistic riches, but in reality are these people truly happy? The dream that others see ass an enchantment they find a total nightmare and entrapment.

Do we not hear daily news on celebrities who have reached fame and wealth but are not content? Everyday parents push their children to be well educated so that they may fall into wealth, but from examples we can conclude that money does not always equal enjoyment. 

The famous ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle once said " ...happiness is the highest good, being in realization and perfect practice of virtue, which some can attain, while others have little or none of it...."

If his words are true in effect, is there not a possibility that in life we might experience true happiness, how are we to know if we can't really explain it?

Now let's take a predicament, if the world could trade all sorrows and suffering for enjoyment, or shall we say, happiness, How many would want to live lives just full of content moments?

There must be a balance, or else would not life be incredibly dull? One must experience sorrow, fear, seclusion, and as well joy.

So say we did live in a world with no worries, would we not always be in a dazed irresponsible state? Is this how we would really want to live our lives?

Mark Twain, the famous American writer once said " The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.", but take his words and meditate on them, ....if this were true for all people would not terrorist acts seize? Some see these people as madmen, which can easily be concluded by their brutal actions, but to them is this not their happiness? Remember happiness is enthusiasm to the point of obsession. So they take joy in creating life miserable for others. Of course most common people would not link such ideas with the term contentment, but that leads us once again to the same question, 

What truly is happiness?

Go on......THINK....

The term happiness....hard to explain outside our own borders...How can we ever relate to one another in this emotion but yet most are certain they can. 

Has life really given you happiness?

For me happiness comes from surpassing life's obstacles, may it be great or small, knowing that with determination I can overcome the barriers. Of course, not the president, your famous actor, or myself could tell you. It is only something explainable and experienced by you, your own individual.