Happiness isn’t something you sit back and wait for. It’s a statement that rings true, even in Selena Gomez’s 2020 song “Dance Again.” I believe it’s this fleeting, complex emotion that most of us want to experience in our everyday lives. But can we produce our own happiness? Absolutely, the only way this works is if you treat it like a daily gym workout. 

For me, boosting my own happiness has been a work in progress. Believe it or not, I’m not happy 24/7 because that’s unrealistic. But in fact, compared to last spring I’m so much happier.

After transferring out of Atlantic Cape Community College to Rowan University I felt like a fish out of water. My transition was anything but easy, I felt isolated, lost, and lonely. While I felt invisible within the walls of my dorm, the only thing bringing me happiness at the time was attending my journalism classes. It was in those classes that I began to find solace once again and felt seen. These were more than just courses to me, these were lifelines where I began to get involved and construct the foundations of a fostered sense of community. Doing so not only allows you to socialize and network but also helps build relationships that will last you a lifetime.

 I just joined The Whit, and the staff here has been nothing but kind and welcoming. Writing is one of the hobbies that bring me happiness, and being part of a club in my major only amplifies that. I only just hit the ground running, but it’s going to be so much fun. If you’re thinking about joining a club or organization, you won’t regret it. Life’s too short to later look back and live with regrets. The wonderful thing about Rowan University is that it offers a diverse range of over 100+ clubs and organizations from the Black Student Union, Parkour Club, Philosophy Club, Photography Club, Prism, and so many more. 

Something else I’ve noticed that has helped me boost my happiness the most is nurturing my relationships. According to a 2017 longitudinal study conducted by Harvard University, having close relationships like spouses, family, friends, and social circles has a strong association with an individual’s overall happiness. Fostering and nurturing close relationships offers the opportunity to shift your focus onto the people who matter most in your life and provide you with value. Thus letting go of the negative ones and minimizing the interactions with them. 

I don’t have many friends, so cultivating healthy, meaningful friendships is imperative to me because it makes me feel a thousand times happier when I know I can make a difference in someone’s day. I’m the type of friend who shows up for them, supports them, makes time and space for when my friends need to vent, and provides feedback and advice when they ask me for it. I also enjoy the quality time we spend together because it’s so precious and meaningful to me. At Rowan, I’ve met so many people already mainly through attending Rowan After Hours events, and classes and getting involved with clubs and organizations. 

As I grow older I also know that no one is responsible for my happiness but myself. It’s in my own hands and I always take action to ensure I’m doing okay, both physically and mentally. I believe happiness is a mindset, harbored from within and takes hard work. I’ve been in counseling and therapy services since the age of nine-years-old. Every week I have a call with my therapist, where I discuss with him tools I can use in my daily life to confront those challenges like anxiety. Other great resources of my own happiness come in the form of our four-legged friends. 

As a dog lover, Wagging Tail Tuesdays provided by Rowan’s Pet Therapy program has helped me alleviate stress and anxiety. Rowan University offers both counseling and Pet Therapy services that any student enrolled can utilize. 

For counseling in-person or online counseling services, students are able to make a free appointment at the Wellness Center. They can choose their therapist based on availability and preferences such as issues, gender, language, and ethnicity. 

You do not have to be happy 24/7 every day, every emotion has its appropriate time and place. However, you have the power and responsibility to take the steps you need to be happier. 

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