Bold Happiness Scholarship

Funded by
$500
1 winner$500
Awarded
Application Deadline
May 15, 2022
Winners Announced
Jun 15, 2022
Education Level
Any

Happiness is essential in living a fulfilled, positive life. Unfortunately, many people struggle with happiness or don’t take the time to consider the little things in life that bring them happiness.

Whether your source of happiness is spending time with friends, reading, drawing, spending time in nature, or anything else, it’s important to appreciate everything that brings you happiness.

This scholarship seeks to encourage students to reflect on their sources of happiness in life and appreciate everything that makes them happy.  

Any student may apply for this exclusive scholarship. To apply, just tell us about what makes you happy, whether it’s something small or big.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Need, Boldest Bold.org Profile
Published February 14, 2022
Essay Topic

What makes you happy?

150–300 words

Winning Application

Emma Gandonou
Allen High SchoolAllen, TX
I love music, and playing songs or pieces that I adore on the piano brings me an immense amount of joy. Playing piano always lifts my mood whenever I’m down or discouraged. The sense of accomplishment I get from learning is valuable to me, especially when it seems like nothing else in life is going right. The challenge of mastering the most complex section of a piece can compel me to spend hours playing in one sitting, driven by determination and delight. My visible improvement never ceases to thrill me- I love when a piece that seemed impossible to play at first becomes almost natural. My teachers have always been surprised at how quickly I memorize pieces when I’m not required to. This process is automatic- enthusiasm is my greatest weapon. When I don’t have to think about the notes, I get lost in the music and weave my heart and soul into the phrases. Connecting with people I love also brings me pure joy. I cherish the time I spend with my siblings and parents. My closest friends mean the world to me, and I’m incredibly grateful to have them in my life. Interactions with people I talk to regularly at school always make my day. My best friend and I love to have little debates and talk about life or social injustices. We both really enjoy it because although we have the same essential values, we view the world very differently. Hence, we approach topics with multiple perspectives and (respectfully) disagree all the time.
Andres Gonzalez
The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX
Aristotle once said, "Happiness is not pleasure, nor is it virtue. It is the exercise of virtue. Happiness cannot be achieved until the end of one's life." Now, people can argue on this saying in many ways. Some may say that happiness is achievable before death, others agree with Aristotle and prefer the Nichomaquan Ethics as an understanding of human emotions. However, the way I see it is that we can experience happiness but not achieve it until death. What makes me happy is the people I have in my life. And while they don't immediately help me reach happiness their presence is what helps me achieve happiness. My family makes me happy. The people I meet make me happy. My girlfriend makes me happy. One thing that all humans share in common is that they need someone to rely on and experience happiness with them. All the people I've met make me happy because of the moments I've had with them. Happiness is essential to human beings because we all desire to be with someone. Everybody wants to achieve happiness, and I see that as being forever in a state of happiness. One can be happy for a moment then sad the next. And what makes me happy right now- while writing this essay- are the people I converse with every day. They help me be a better person by exercising my virtues and helping others. Community service is a big part of my life, and helping others is a thing that I enjoy doing. As an Eagle Scout, service to others is a thing that has been taught to me for a long time. To be happy is to be in a state of happiness. And the people I love help me achieve that.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is May 15, 2022. Winners will be announced on Jun 15, 2022.