I have had so many experiences that have taught me various different lessons. One of the most important experiences I’ve had would have to be when my dad had a heart attack in 8th grade. Sometimes I forget how heavy this topic is because so much happened that week, and that was what sent me over.

I was in 8th grade, so around 14 when my dad who was just under 50 came home from work to drop off his groceries. It started as a normal morning, but before he came home, he had called my mom saying that he thought he was having a heart attack. He was determined to drop off the groceries first though, because he was so concerned that they would go bad if he went straight to the hospital. My brother and I still went to school that morning, as I didn’t want to miss class. It was some time later during that day when I was rushing through the hallways as to not be late that something clicked.

Why was I so concerned with being late to class? Why was I more concerned with my academic success then I was about my mental health? My dad was in the hospital with 100% blockage in one of his arteries and I was scared I’d be late to class. That was the day I decided I wanted to be happy first. Sure I still try my best at school and I want to be successful, but I also want to be happy while I can, before it’s too late.

I feel like this mentality could benefit others. Of course there’s a line, I still do good in school and I stay out of trouble, but I feel like if others didn’t put so much pressure on themselves to be perfect, they would find themselves a lot happier. It’s easier said than done; it took my dad having a heart attack for me to learn, and I still struggle with trying to be perfect sometimes, but I have to remind myself that my own happiness should come first.