I sat staring at this computer screen for hours, frantically searching for the perfect advice for this year's incoming freshmen. My search seemed endless and hopeless, as the upcoming weeks will be filled with clichés, tips and rules from every facet of campus — what could I possibly add to the wisdom?

I took a break from my quest and instead read the paper and talked with some friends. It was then that a friend of mine told me a story that opened my eyes, ignited my temper and all of a sudden, my creative juices began to flow.

Here's the scenario: bright, young sophomore strolls enthusiastically into office (which will go unnamed, yet helps liberal arts students with financial problems) and asks for help in changing his major. Spirit of bright, young liberal arts student is consequently broken when smirking woman behind desk replies: "You better get a scholarship because you won't be making any money when you graduate."

Somehow, just then, I knew what I had to write about: happiness.

Much of any normal college student's life is spent being poor. This is a warning: you will be poor. College is a time to learn independence, financially and spiritually, from your parents and home life. It's a time spent scrounging around for extra beer money and rifling through couch cushions for laundry change. During these times, economically speaking, you will be the bottom of the totem pole.

But you'll be having fun. You'll be the lowest of the low, and you'll love it. You'll discover that there's no greater feeling than finding an extra roll of laundry quarters your mom stored away. And no chocolate is sweeter than that of care package chocolate chip cookies.

And all this time, the fear of paying tuition or school loans shouldn't enter your mind.

It took me a long time to realize that money does not, will not and should not ever equal happiness. Happiness should stem from the very simplest things in life: late-night talks, getting mail, even a few extra quarters.

Life, especially college life, should be lived recklessly, passionately and with little to no regret. I encourage regular class attendance, of course, and dedication to each and every one of your assignments. What I emphatically frown upon, though, is figuring out how much each class costs your parents whenever you miss a philosophy lecture or a paper deadline — it's not worth it. Worlds do not collide and pocketbooks do not empty when you sleep through your freshman seminar one day.

Most importantly, never let anyone make you doubt your choices, especially because of monetary reasons. Some of you may leave school and become instant millionaries. And your friends may graduate and make more money in their first two years than all your working years combined. What's most important is that your years in school are spent living and not living for money. Be picky, close your eyes and point; but make sure your choices make you happy.

I still have to remind myself sometimes why I study what I study and why I spend hours locked up in a dining hall basement writing columns like these. It's because it's what makes me happy. It's what makes me me. And if I had to give anyone — from the most scared freshman to the CEO of a major corporation — one piece of advice, that would be it. Do what makes you happy, and you'll be the richest person in the world.

The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Christine Kraly is a senior American Studies major who hopes to one day get paid to watch movies and criticize them. She finally lives off campus and no longer needs her laundry quarters.

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