Closed Eyes by Harris

Closed Eyes by Harris - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

Every waking minute we are stimulated. We look at our phones, scroll mindlessly, and keep rewarding the dopamine system in our bodies without even realizing it. There is always something to look at, something to refresh, something new pulling our attention. Over time, this turns into addiction. Almost everyone has an addiction, and it doesn’t have to be something stereotypical like drugs or sugar. For most of us, it’s our phones. I noticed this clearly in myself. The constant urge to check my phone, the discomfort of doing nothing, the need for stimulation even when there was no real reason.

Mindfulness is the biggest lesson I’m taking away from my senior year of college. Being present in the moment is the key to actually enjoying life. When I’m constantly distracted, life feels rushed and shallow. When I step away from my devices, even for a little, everything feels slower and more real. Conversations feel deeper. Moments last longer. I start to notice things I would normally ignore.

I worked on this a lot. I studied dopamine, how the brain reacts to constant stimulation, and how my own habits were shaped by it. I paid attention to how I reacted to boredom, silence, and being alone with my thoughts. The more aware I became, the more control I gained. It didn’t happen overnight, but it changed how I move through life.

It feels like your eyes are constantly open, always taking something in, until you finally allow yourself to close them.