Happiness from Within by Hoang

Happiness from Within by Hoang - October 2025 Scholarship Essay

Does being happy require dependence on others? I have often observed and experienced this in daily life, but I never found the right answer until 11th grade, when I had the opportunity to read a book titled “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston. It portrays Janie's journey toward independence. It encouraged me to examine whether true happiness comes from within or from others.

Janie was a young woman who believed in romantic love and thought that it was the only way to be happy. However, throughout the book, she went through three marriages, each of which ended in divorce or her husband's death. Being in love was not as fulfilling as she had imagined. During these marriages, Janie realized that her emotions had been controlled by her husband; he was the one who held power over her, and every action of her husband influenced her. Furthermore, this is not the life she wanted; her first and second husbands were strict because they assigned her roles and tasks to follow. But things were different with her last husband, Tea Cake; he was different not because of his looks, but because of how he treated her. Janie was able to try out new things and do her own business without relying on Tea Cake, and she actually found happiness in this. Later, after Tea Cake was infected by a rabid dog and attacked her, Janie shot him in self-defense. In the end, Janie returned to her hometown, strong and independent, to live a peaceful life, which she found meaningful despite others' negative comments.

I discovered my situation was very similar to Janie's. I have had the experience of relying on other things to stay happy. I had a habit of seeking happiness through consumption, something everyone struggled with at least once. For me, it was purchasing new watches and sneakers; I would buy them to relieve stress. A detail that I noticed was that this kind of happiness won’t last long. Not wanting this to happen again, I decided to go on my own path and started volunteering. I believed that if I didn’t want to rely on something, I had to take the lead and give to others. Surprisingly, it brought me joy in helping others freely, similar to how Janie found happiness by exploring her own interests.