Page 9 - 趙聿修紀念中學（校訊）

The Science of Happiness – My brother isn't a perfect or brilliant person,
but he has definitely influenced vastly to be a better
An Experiment in Gratitude person – not only for myself, but for others around
me.
by 5A Tse Man Hei, Nicole
“I had a brother who was my savior, and who
Looking back at those made my childhood bearable.” – Maurice Sendak
footprints I have made, there is
always a person with me. Reflection:

When I was four, I followed Obtaining happiness is not as difficult as we
my brother everywhere and think it to be - the key to achieving happiness is simply
did whatever he did. Today, I continue to follow the showing your gratitude. In this modern society, we
route he has chosen. He is literally my role model. are well-trained with the skills of hiding our feelings
I am grateful to be his sister. Despite the fact that and ill-equipped with the expression of our feelings.
we fought a lot, we still care about each other. He Through this project, I finally learnt how to express
gave me enormous help whenever I faced obstacles; my feelings towards my brother.
he brought me joy whenever I was in unpleasant
situations. Both of us aren’t good at expressing The first time I saw this project, I meditated on
ourselves, so we do something for each other rather my feelings towards my brother. We often fight and
than talk. never have a deep talk. Even I do not really know how
grateful I am for, and towards him. Conflicts often
I recall when I had my first piano competition, occur due to misunderstandings, and this task has
he was there for me. At that time, I was eight, helped to solve the problem.
and it was my first time performing in front of 200
people. I was sweating all the way to the stage. After participating in this project, I talked to my
After my brother’s performance, it was my turn. inner self and the childhood memories floated back.
Unfortunately, I kept making mistakes due to anxiety, It was surprising that I laughed a lot at that time, and
and in the middle of the song, I heard people all along there was always my brother. I realized then
laughing. As I was the only one performing then, I that he is the person who brings me enormous joy all
believed that they were laughing at the mistakes the time. Only by expressing my feelings on a piece
I had made. I completed the piece with trembling of paper did I find my true self about the gratitude I
hands and ran to the backstage fearfully. I listened have towards my brother.
to the other competitors and they all had successful This task has brought me the determination to
performances. I was depressed seeing all the big reveal my feelings truly. I always assume that others,
smiles on their faces. or even myself, understand how I feel even without

I recall how my brother had attempted to saying much, but the truth is a resounding ̒no̕. Up till
alleviate my sorrow by sharing with me how much the moment I wrote my feelings towards my brother,
worse he had fared in first performance. At the age I was moved to tears and realised then how thankful
of eight, I just found his story hilarious and I knew I am. At the age of sixteen, I am overwhelmed with
he only wanted me to feel better, so I would keep anxiety and depression. Through this task, I have
trying and not be disheartened. That experience learnt to find happiness effortlessly.
made me understand that everyone has a first try in Sometimes, happiness is around us but since
something, and whether the first try is good or not, we are overwhelmed with discouragement and
we must remember that the first try is only the start negative thoughts, we can’t feel any joy at all. This
of a potentially successful endeavour. Thanks to my project has encouraged us to face our inner feelings,
brother, I learnt to look at the silver lining even when so we can feel what happiness is without doing
the clouds are dark. Thanks to my brother, I had an anything ‘big’.
inspiring childhood.

Class suspension without 9
suspending learning