Andrew+M’s+Final+AmEx+2014+Speech

=Title of Speech= Grow Up Happy

=Text of Speech=

1 out of 10, that's 3 and a half of us in this room right now suffer from depression on average in the United States. I would be willing to bet that in this room there are more than 3 students that struggle through each day. As technology and life's luxuries advance, as living becomes easier and more comfortable, more and more people suffer from depression. Why is that? We have few challenges, always have enough to eat, have more than enough to do and yet we are the saddest generation in history. Depression rates today are higher than depression rates during the GREAT DEPRESSION! Why, Why, why?

I am a happy person. Nothing bothers me, and part of this is just my personality. I'm lucky enough to not care what others think and have enough self-confidence to love who I am, and love my life. But being able to be happy with yourself is only just a part of it. In the America I want to grow old in, I want a society not dictated by social norms and laws preventing individual happiness. I want Americans to do what makes them truly happy, provided it doesn't hurt others weather it’s socially acceptable or not.

I personally know of students in this class who at one point or another have been down in the dumps with depression like symptoms not because "so and so doesn’t like me" or "I got a D on the hardest physio test of the year" but simply because they aren’t doing what makes them happy. Why is there such structure in society that prevents free will? America prides herself on the freedoms she gives to her people, yet today when we have everything, we also have the most sadness. I believe part of the problem is the strict structured lives most of us, especially the AP students of Foothill Technology High school live. What do I mean by this? Structured lives? "I, we, umm American can grow up to do whatever they want can’t they" I assume many of you are thinking. But now let me ask you, how many of you actually wanted to be in this AP class. How many of you just took it so you can get good grades with a GPA boost, get into college in which you’re going to study hard in to get into some graduate school to get some "high power" job to make lots of money and be a "productive" member of society. How many of your parents "encouraged" (ok made you) take these AP classes or punished you for failed test grades. When did America become so forced? Sure we "have" the freedom of choice in theory, but how many of us really have it (or use it).

To be "successful" in today's society requires so much it drains the life out of us, yet we all follow the "only path to success". High school-> college --> grad school -> hard working job -> retirement and then death. In the America I want to grow up in, I want people to do what they want. To live how they want and to grow up as they choose. Who cares if your life doesn't add something to society as long as you’re happy and don't take away something from others. I want to live in America were victimless crimes are decriminalized and Americans can do what truly makes them happy and live the way they want. Why does James Florez have to do great in school and become an engineer if he can be just as happy just having enough money to live in a small house somewhere with a lot of nature? Why does society's perception of recreational drug use have to be negative? I know people that have smoked weed or done this or that, yet it doesn't affect me, and if that’s what makes them happy or enriches their life, I DON'T CARE! In the America I grow old in, I want people to be judged on whether or not they’re happy, not on what they do that makes them happy. I want people's goal in life to be to live, and live with a smile.

Some may argue with me that society will stop advancing if everyone just does "what makes them happy" or say that legalizing drug use will negatively affect society, but let me ask you: how many of you would be the first to try weed if it was legalized? I'm sure it’s not something everyone would want to do or try, but why should we make it illegal for those that find joy from a plant? And those that say legalized drugs would cause for too much addiction, addicts will be addicts weather legal or not, but instead of throwing them in jail the money saved from not having drug wars can be used for rehab and actual drug education. And as for society advancement ceasing, I believe finding individual happiness would not stop this. To many people happiness may come from wealth and therefore they're happiness will come from having a high powers job such as a surgeon or lawyer. I know I still want to be a surgeon and save people's life because I picture myself saving someone’s life and feeling great joy. However, In the America I want to grow old in, I don't want there to be pressure that makes kids feel as if they NEED to share the same goals as future surgeons and lawyers. Additionally, many inventions come from passions, and if people do what makes them smile I foresee many more inventions coming from "midnight thoughts" of the average Americans looking for ways to improve their happiness.

1 in 10 people is too many. For every 9 "happy" people, 1 person is lingering on the boarder of a smile and a cold hard dead body. In the America I want to grow up in, I want depression to be a rare disease that comes completely from genes and not one that is brought on by the stress of living up to society's expectations. I never want another AP student to feel bad for the B or the college rejection letter. I want parents to be proud of their kids for living a happy life and getting something out of there precious time here on earth. I want the government to prevent crimes with victims and not waste time prosecuting those that do something illegal that hurts no one and makes them happy. I want society to not look down on the “hippies” and “white trash” if they are happy. I want college to be for those that want the education and surgeons to be passionate about their job. In the America I grow old in, I want everyone to love every day.

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