That Little Green Monster Called "Jealousy"

Tell me you haven't ever been jealous. Tell me that to my face, and I will give you a strange, condemning look.

#1: The last time I was truly, genuinely jealous, was March 29th, 2011, when Concert Choir results were posted at 2:20 p.m. in the D-wing. (Are we surprised that this is about music? Not really.) Most, if not all, of my best friends had made it into our school's top choir, except me. I remember snapping at my friend during rehearsal about her making Concert, and me not. Nothing had caused this sudden outburst. Nothing, except the ferocious monster taking over my being: jealousy.

#2: Jealousy is not an arbitrary emotion. It takes thought and a considerable amount of feeling for the emotion to engulf your entire system. Usually, you feel a strange feeling in the pit of your stomach when your think of an accomplishment someone you know has made: straight A's, a lead in a musical, acceptance into a prestigous college, dating the most popular boy/girl in the school. Semblance of happiness does not work in these situations. The feeling that you might be trying to hide that is in your stomach starts spreading throughout your major body parts: your head, your heart. You feel that you should be given the same accomplishments that your friend has. You are just as good as your friend; you are better than your friend. Jealousy is not only a potent emotion, it's a disease.  

#3: Jealousy is a mental uneasiness felt when a person feels resentment against a rival (or more commonly, a friend) who has succeeded or accomplished something. It can either be felt in a miniscule way, or spread throughout a person's body until it is no longer manageable. Jealousy can be found in both sexes, in any age, and at any location. Jealousy can also lead to other mental disabilities, such as depression.


#4: I say that jealousy is a good thing in life. It creates healthy competition between family, friends, and enemies. Jealousy should not only be accepted: it should be encouraged. Without jealousy, who knows if Bill Gates and (now deceased, rest his technologically gifted soul,) Steve Jobs would have competed so viciously to create the latest and most convenient devices? Jealousy leads to success. I say that schools teach students about the causes and effects of jealousy in standard 10th grade health classes, and also inform students of how jealousy has played a fundamental part in America's history and success. Jealousy leads to competition. Competition leads to a victor. A victor is successful. A successful person has jealous enemies. The cycle not only repeats, but benefits our culture.

#5: She snaps. Just like that. She had been containing the beast inside herself for too long. It had been pounding to be released for ages, first invading her mind, wrongly telling her to yell and scream, to cry, to say, "this isn't fair! I deserve him. He was mine first!" It then swept to her heart, demanding that she have him. There is no one out there for her like he is. They are meant to be together. The girl foolishly goes along with the beast. She strides over to him and his new "friend," whose hands are entwined. They are looking into each others eyes, clearly in the first stages of puppy-love. She breaks through their grasp. And she snaps. Just like that.

#6: There is an obvious difference between being jealous of someone and being genuinely happy for someone. They can be seen as obvious opposites. But the difference between being jealous of someone and just plain hating someone have a finer line separating them. In order to be jealous, you have to actually want someone's accomplishments for yourself. If you hate someone, you just wish for all the worst to happen to your enemy. One involves wanting the best (for yourself,) and one involves wanting the worst (for your enemy.) Either one requires negative thoughts. But next time you say that you "hate" someone, make sure that it's not actually jealousy.