Jackie Clews

Not too long ago, I was waiting on a table where a South African woman was sitting. It was obvious by her thick accent she had moved to the U.S. recently.

She told me she left Africa for safety and freedom, but those would not be the only change in values she experienced in the U.S.

I asked her if she was glad she had moved here, but did not get an immediate “Yes!” like I would have expected.

Instead, she paused for a moment, slowly glanced back up with a disappointed expression and said she was glad America is safer and provided more freedoms, but she hated the people because she felt all Americans do is work just to earn more money to buy things.

Ironically, I was working while she told me this — but not to earn money to pay for school, because I would never make enough for that thanks to rising costs of college expenses. She made me wonder: What are we all working so hard for?

I usually write about what I feel are important topics like voting fraud and lack of effective sexual education in schools, but I recently discovered a bigger issue: American’s values need a makeover.

It seems everyone’s ideal self and expectations for others are unrealistic, and it is no wonder many Americans seem so unsatisfied with their lives.

Our generation has been brought up with the notion that what makes someone successful is a prestigious job, good looks and, of course, money.

Technology and media are, perhaps, largely accountable for this revolution. The majority of Americans do not live like Hollywood stars, but their prevalence in the media continuously pressures society to live up to those expectations. This difference between actual self and ideal self, however, only leaves us with a feeling of inferiority and failure.

Why should we feel inferior and guilty for not reaching unrealistic expectations? I cannot afford one day of L.C.’s life on “The Hills.” I know this because MTV was so kind as to include price tags on everything she buys.

The bar is set so high that people work harder and harder, often taking out the resulting stress on those closest to them instead of addressing the real issues. We are not supposed to know this insurmountable pressure to buy things and “market yourself” exists.

In a song by rapper Mac Lethal, he talks about the way our society has degenerated as a result of this drive. The song says, “I know a world that’s not enjoying itself. I know a world that’s destroying itself. I know it all.” Touché.

People should start enjoying life and living it for themselves, not to impress the world around them. We are making ourselves sick with feelings of stress and inferiority for no good reason.

According to the American Institute of Stress (AIS), 75 to 90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress- related problems. Some research proves stress is responsible for causing diseases, owing to increased sympathetic nervous system activity and an outpouring of adrenaline, cortisol and other stress-related hormones, according to AIS. They also say research into these areas may help explain how stress can contribute to depression and anxiety. About 17 million American adults suffer from depression each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

So, how can we become a happier and healthier society? Americans should take a good look at their priorities in order to lead a more fulfilling life.

We all want to be successful, but what does that word even mean anymore? Does it mean owning a big house and looking pretty, or does it mean enjoying your life and sharing it with the people you care about?

Many students enter college as pre-med or pre-law, and while many may genuinely want to pursue careers in those fields, I fear the lucrative possibilities may jade some students’ career choices, leaving them feeling unfulfilled after pursuing something for the wrong reasons.

So, how much of Americans’ stress is due to their jobs?

Job stress is the leading source of stress for adults, according to AIS. Forty percent of workers reported their job was very or extremely stressful, and 25 percent view their jobs as the No. 1 stressor in their lives according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Life is full of games, so why not play how you want to play and enjoy it while it lasts? This is not a video game. There are no do-overs. You only get one life, so live it up.

Jackie Clews is a journalism sophomore. Her column appears every other Friday.