Opinion Piece 2 - Can Money Buy Happiness?

Can Money Buy Happiness?

Teixeira

March 21^st, 2020 11:20 AM PST

          Is it hard to believe how much control money has over one person’s happiness? Now, I don’t necessarily believe that money equals happiness, but I do consider the fact that money can make you feel secure and be a tool for prolonged happiness if used correctly. There’s a difference between fleeting happiness and true underlying joy. Happiness can come and go, but the underlying joy of a person is more constant.

          There are a number of reasons why money can’t buy you happiness. Things will only make you happy for so long. A new pair of shoes or an expensive piece of luxury may bring you momentary happiness, but it won’t bring you lasting joy. People seem to be constantly wanting the next best thing, which is an endless cycle of wanting and buying more to temporarily fill a constant void that might just be bigger than purchasing a want over a need. Many people will adapt to finding a career that will benefit in a higher salary, over a career that would give them long term joy. With this mindset, it’s easy to get money hungry which then leads to extra hours at the office. Those extra hours can cost you that precious time with the people you love and care about. It’s about finding that healthy balance of work and play and assuring you can put time aside to enjoy life outside of work with your loved ones.

          According to Sarah Gervais, the Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, spending is just a limited resource to happiness. Sarah deems to make three important points in her article about the connection between money and happiness. First, is that being rich isn’t necessarily the path to happiness, which expresses that once you’ve fulfilled all your wants, you reach a breaking point that money can’t fix. Second, is that doing makes us happier than having. Spending money on an experience that will last a lifetime through monumental stories over a physical object that eventually fades into the background. Lastly, is to consider spending money on others. It’s been reported that spending money on others makes us feel good about ourselves because seeing someone else happy makes us happy.

          To conclude, money can help reduce your stress, but happiness is up to you. I strongly believe that money cannot bring eternal joy into our life, but it is a source of short-term happiness that only gives us pleasure. Wealth is a material asset that gives us synthetic blissfulness that will eventually fade away. Finding joy in the little things is what will give us prolonged happiness, and letting money have this control over you will only make you go stir crazy.

Sources:

“Three Psychological Principles to Consider Before You Make Your Next Purchase”

by Sarah Gervais

https://psychology.unl.edu/can-money-buy-happiness

Opinion Piece 1 - Tuition

A Free Education

Teixeira

February 16^th, 2020

             Now imagine not having the opportunity to pursue a further education after high school. Many would agree that a good education is important for a bright future. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford a post-secondary education. The transition into free tuition would be good idea for British Columbia, because a higher education should not be considered a luxury where only those who can afford college may attend but should be opportunity for anyone with curiosity. A higher education is important within today’s society because it provides an open door for more careers than you would get with only a high-school diploma.  I believe that modern school fees truly limit the protentional of many young students in British Columbia.

            Currently, many students have been more likely to choose a major that have a more lucrative income. According to Ellen Andersen from College Raptor, students who go down this path often astray from their true passions and actual areas of interests. If shelling out thousands of dollars for an education was no longer a factor, students would be able to relax and gain the freedom in choosing an area of study that interests them without constantly being concerned of needing a large payback associated. With this, many students would find enjoyment within their studies, causing an increase in devotion and chances of them finishing their degrees. The opportunity for students to study without the large bill of a college education would allow for an increase of attendees, and therefore creates a more educated workforce and a higher population of those with better critical thinking skills.

             All in all, having a tuition free post-secondary education in British Columbia would allow students to not have a constant reminder of repaying student loans in the future, but rather be able to attend college pursuing in an area of study freely. This way students can focus on their studies and long-time goals that are beneficial for them. So how can we fix this? The provincial government should attempt in providing a source of open discussion as a voice for today’s younger citizens regarding tuition fees and take any necessary action forward.

Sources:

“The Pros and Cons of Tuition-Free College” by Ellen Andersen

https://www.collegeraptor.com/find-colleges/articles/affordability-college-cost/pros-cons-tuition-free-college/             

News Release Assignment

News Release

January 16^th, 2020 3:15pm

National Widget Company Laid Off Employees Are Now Rehired

               Today, the Victoria based Nation Widget Company has announced the rehire of 200 previous employees, 50 of which are local. These employees were laid off 6 weeks ago and will be called in as needed over the next few weeks, just until the plant is operating at full capacity in 6 weeks.

               Thanks to the increase of widget sales in the past few months, there has been an opening of opportunities with China. “The opening up of the Chinese residential market represents opportunity and a secure market on which to expand our capacity,” says the company’s president, Andrew Bryce. With this, widgets are needing to be installed within every new building in that country. National Widget Company was the first company in the world to approach and make a deal with the Chinese.

                “As a family owned company, it was heartbreaking to lay off so many loyal people, so we are thrilled to be offering employment to people we consider part of the family,” says Andrew Bryce with great gratitude. As the National Widget Company was established in 1888 by the great-grandfather of current president, this makes it the oldest widget manufacture in Canada, and one of the oldest family run businesses as well.

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For more information, Contact Mya Teixeira at (250)-891-1234