How Happy are You?
High school poll shows CCHS student body to be happier than state average. The student population has been noted as majorly positive, however we should not neglect those who deal with depression or unhappiness.
Are you happy? This age-old question has puzzled millions for years resulting in many positive and negative outcomes. Happiness is mostly subjective, but there are many shared qualities within an individual’s source of happiness.
In a study conducted by wallethub.com to find which states are happiest, Kentucky placed 45th out of the fifty states. The article “2021's Happiest States in America”, published September 14th, 2021 on WalletHub lists the following topics as they relate to happiness in the study: economic, emotional, physical health, mental health, depression rate, and more. While placing low on overall happiness, Kentucky also placed 49th on highest share in adult depression, 48th on lowest adequate sleep rate, and 47th on lowest sports participation rate.
While this study was for adults, how accurate are the results among high school students? After the Review staff conducted multi-class quiz this October, the majority of students recorded were more happier than not. There were five questions within this survey: “Are you happy with yourself?”, “Are you happy with school?”, “Are you happy with your homelife?”, “In life, what makes you happy?”, and “In life, what makes you unhappy?”
Results from the “yes or no” questions are as follows. 63% of students surveyed are content with themselves, 50% of students surveyed are positive about school, and 84% of students surveyed have an enjoyable homelife.
While the previous questions are more black and white, the questions that had an open response had more varied answers. Question four concerning students’ source of happiness had many similarities within answers. 31% of test takers accredited their happiness to their friends, and 38% stated their hobby/extracurricular provided them joy.
The question pertaining to Calloway high schooler source of unhappiness contained more exact reasons, while there were many shared answers. The leading sources of unhappiness are peers’ ignorance and schoolwork, with 27% and 20% of test takers.
The student population has been noted as majorly positive, however we should not neglect those who deal with depression or unhappiness. Teenage mental health is a serious problem, and many kids think it doesn’t get better, but it does. Through dozens of ways listed on BusinessInsider.com’s article “24 Easy Habits That Psychologists Have Linked With Health and Happiness” students may find ways to relax or deal with subjects that may be distressing. A few listed methods are meditation, being outdoors, and writing down future goals.
There is help just in the school. Here at the high school, the guidance counselors are regularly available to talk or find students more resources.
Furthermore, happiness is never a concrete thing or ideology. The feeling comes and goes, but the moments of unhappiness allows one to further appreciate those happy moments in life. Life gets better no matter your struggle. Just keep pushing through.
