Find what makes you happy and do it. That is my new motto that I have chosen to live by.

In the past, I would care about what my friends said, and I would try and change just to fit in, but I started to feel like I was not myself anymore, and that is when I knew I had to stop.

Some of my friends think my music choice is “lame” or “childish.” My songs on my playlist range from German music to Maroon 5. The songs that some of my friends refer to as childish happen to be songs that I listened to growing up.

For example, I have Backstreet Boys, Cheetah Girls and Victorious songs on my playlist that I love to listen to. These songs always bring me back to my happy place and put me in a good mood. I will never stop listening to songs that make me happy just so I will not be considered “lame” anymore.

Another area of my life that I have been self conscious about is how I dress. I am not the most fashionable person you will ever meet. My friends can normally guess what I will wear, which 99 percent of the time is black pants and a hoodie or a casual shirt. On the rare occasion I will wear a dress. I know I do not dress as nice as some people on campus do, and I am perfectly fine with that.

I am Kate Rehwinkel, and I will dress how I want to despite what others may think. I am here for an education, not for people to criticize how I look. First impressions do matter, and dressing appropriately for those is important. I tend to clean up well when need be, but during classes I dress how I want to, and that is my comfy black pants and a hoodie.

For some people, getting tattoos is something that makes them happy, as long as they have the money.

Some of my friends currently have baby fever, and I for one do not understand how they could possibly look at baby pictures all day, but if it makes them happy then I am all for it. I want my friends to be happy, and I want everyone else to have an outlet where they can be happy.

Whether you listen to music that helps you reminisce about the good ol’ days or are not the most fashionable person in world, if you are happy that’s everything. No one can stop you from being happy unless you let them. We need more happiness in the world, and tearing people down or criticizing the choices that make them happy is not the way to do it.

Kate Rehwinkel is a junior management major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or at kerehwinkel@eiu.edu.