By Melody Cen
Financial and Print Officer
This column is dedicated to my sister, Harmony Cen, the light in my perpetual darkness, the Elinor Dashwood to my Marianne.
Ever since I developed discernment, my parents, like any Asian immigrant family, wanted me to get out of trouble and keep my head down. They always told me, “Melody, you need to develop some sense.” So, I tried my best. I developed my sense of humor, my sense of style, but I couldn’t really make any sense of myself.
Everything I did in my early days of high school lacked sensibility. I went through myriad of unnecessary struggles—experiences that are only comprehensible now with time and maturity.
I wouldn’t say that I’m presently perfect, but I will say that I am so far in a much better place than where I started. It took years to understand that to be sensible is a combination of mindsets that build a strong foundation, one that can handle any challenge, any test, any rejection. Now, without further ado, here are things I have learned and healed from:
You are enough.
Sometimes it’s better to let go of the places and people who don’t appreciate you. I learned the hard way that it isn’t fair to others, especially an authority figure, to always vie for their attention or approval. If you want someone to appreciate you, you shouldn’t have to ask them to. It’s important to accept that someone’s opinion has everything to do with them. It’s okay to feel unwanted.
Prioritize.
Signing up for every extracurricular, taking the hardest AP classes, trying to excel in a sport—these are all noble pursuits. However, doing everything could ultimately get you nothing. Focus on the things that make you happy. Instead of prioritizing
what your parents or a university might want, prioritize your passions.
Seize the moment!
I cannot stress enough how fun it can be to embrace spontaneity. Relish in where you are and temporarily ignore hyper fixating on the next obstacle to enjoy how far you’ve come. The sky’s the limit for all of us, work and success cannot be the basis for your self-actualization.
I have faith that everyone will find their sense, maintain it and depend on it in times of adversity. Whether or not I can find mine is up for debate, but I think it’s sensible to assume that I’ll figure it out.