College of General Studies Students Turn to Ancient Philosophers to Create a Guide to Happiness
Their takeaways have been gathered together to inspire entering CGS students
In the College of General Studies course History of Ethics, Sheila Cordner, a CGS master lecturer in the humanities, challenged students to write their own ideas about how to achieve happiness and success for incoming BU students, incorporating several philosophers they studied in class. Photo by Panagiotis Maravelis/iStock
College of General Studies Students Turn to Ancient Philosophers to Create a Guide to Happiness
Their takeaways have been gathered together to inspire entering CGS students
Living with roommates is not for the faint of heart. Differences of opinion on everything from shared Netflix subscriptions to bathroom cleaning schedules can create tension and cause a rift.
Students in Boston University’s College of General Studies recently turned to a seemingly unlikely source for advice on these issues: the writings of ancient philosophers. Take the words of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle: “It is by acting in transactions that take place between people that we become either just or unjust.”
When applied to today’s world, Yinghan Li (CGS’26) takes this to mean “the house where each roommate takes care of each other will go far. Wash your dishes, mop your floors and take out your trash, and your house will last. Do not expect good, if you do not do good. The house where each roommate expects another to take care of them will get little done. As the dishes pile up, so will the resentment. As the house deteriorates, so will relations.”
Li’s reflection was for an assignment in last semester’s HU201 course History of Ethics, covering the history of ethical thought from the ancient world to the 19th century, taught by Sheila Cordner, a CGS master lecturer in the humanities. She challenged students to write their own ideas about how to achieve happiness and success for incoming BU students, incorporating several philosophers they studied in class. In its January newsletter, CGS sent out a link to the guide to the incoming CGS Class of 2029, who began classes last week.
Find the guide here.
In her teaching, Cordner aims to help students apply the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, Epictetus, Confucius, and others to their own lives and their goal-setting. “Before the course, students might have viewed these long-ago philosophers as distant and less accessible,” she says. “But during every class discussion, we grapple with contemporary problems through these philosophical ideas. By the end of the semester, students are very adept at forging meaningful connections between the classic texts and their own lives.”
This was the first time she assigned this writing exercise, and it reflected her belief in giving students opportunities to write for real, specific audiences, which she finds helps them focus their writing and see its impact.
This semester, Cordner is teaching the second part of the course, Modern and Applied Ethics, which focuses on applying philosophical ideas to various areas of modern life, including AI, politics, business, and religion. She will also collaborate with career coach Nancy Katz (CGS’81, COM’83), a member of the CGS Dean’s Advisory Board, on several workshops that challenge students to reflect on their career paths as part of a broader exploration of future happiness and success, inspired by ethical philosophy.
The following is a selection of the students’ takeaways for living a happy life:
I. Realize there will be change
Asheton Sawyer (CGS’26) reflects on the many adjustments students face when they first arrive at BU, whether it’s making new friends, taking on a more intense workload than they’re used to, or adapting to life in a city. For Sawyer, one of the biggest challenges he faced was getting used to Boston’s frigid winters, a sharp contrast to his upbringing in southern Alabama.
In the guide, Sawyer shares lessons he took from reading The Dhammapada, a foundational text of Buddhist teachings. “In Buddhism, everything is believed to be temporary and subject to change,” he writes. “Things change, always have and always will, but the awareness of the coming change can prepare and mitigate the stress change may bring.”
“You don’t have to know what exactly will change or be different, but you have to acknowledge that there will be change in your life when you begin your time as a college student,” he advises. “There is happiness to be found in the ability to thrive in new circumstances. You may not know what will change, but you will be ready and open to adapting when something does.”
II. Small, positive choices culminate and equate to something bigger
Aristotle teaches that true happiness—“eudaemonia”—comes from developing good character and habits over time, rather than from grand gestures or single achievements. Lola Haber (CGS’26) offers examples of what this looks like in everyday practice:
- On a frigid Boston morning, you drag yourself out of your warm bed to make it to your 8 am discussion class across campus.
- You raise your hand in lecture, even though you feel nervous.
- You intentionally build time into your schedule to rest, take a walk along the Esplanade, or reflect on your day.
- You finish your homework on time, so you can have time for yourself. You recognize that rest and balance are just as important as your grades.
- You visit office hours not only when you’re struggling, but also when curiosity strikes.
“During your first semester, the workload, a new social environment, and the pressure to ‘get everything right’ may feel overwhelming,” Haber says. Rather than aiming for perfection, she encourages students to focus on steady, genuine effort. “Each step strengthens the habits that support both your academic success and lasting happiness,” she explains. “Over time, these seemingly small choices accumulate, aligning your daily actions with your long-term aspirations. This alignment is, in Aristotle’s view, the true foundation of happiness.”
III. Prioritize genuine human connection and hobbies
The 18th-century German philosopher Immanuel Kant emphasized the importance of valuing experiences and actions for their own sake rather than treating them as a means to an end. Applying his views to university life, Nicole Hodrosky (CGS’26) reflects on how this philosophy reshapes the way students think about achievement and connection, whether it’s on a personal level or in hopes of an internship or job.
“There is nothing more valuable than being able to connect with a person on a deeper level, to truly get to know them for who they are, what they enjoy, what they dislike, and perhaps that can lead you to some great opportunities,” Hodrosky writes. She tries to treat every person with the same respect.
Success is not measured by joining a million clubs, maintaining a big social circle, or a lengthy LinkedIn profile. Instead, it’s about “who you are, what you value, and what purpose you aim to bring into the world,” she says. “It is about prioritizing what matters most to you and dedicating yourself fully to those pursuits.”