The Stranger

"But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads." - Albert Camus, author.

People often lose their lives in the pursuit of happiness, whether through death or wastefulness. To be happy, one must have goals and aspire to achieve these goals. Yet, happiness must not be held solely in the attainment of the goal, but in the process of achievement. Whether a goal is achieved or whether one's whole life is spent working toward it, it is the utmost importance to remember that that hard work is the reward. 

I have my goal: to get a PhD in English with a concentration in Book History and Print Culture. Many times I feel as though I won't be happy, I won't really be living, until I get there. I'm not there. I haven't even been accepted to a program yet. Nonetheless, I strive to find happiness in my current state of being. I am living with a friend in Seoul, South Korea, looking for a job, and essentially just looking for a good way to bide my time until I can get into grad program of my dreams. Though this feels like a time-filler, I am often reminded that these experiences are what lead us where we need to go. 

Here I am, sitting in a new culture, expanding my linguistic and cultural repertoire, and doing my best to absorb and appreciate every single second of it. When I do set foot into whatever classroom I find myself in, my happiness will only multiply as a result of every moment preceding it.