Not enough people value the things that make them the happiest. There are too many people who are focused on the negative aspects of life and completely dismiss the rays of positivity surrounding them. I often try to find happiness through straightforward and mundane things-- because I believe if you focus on the small joyous moments, then when something impactful happens, you will not be able to contain your excitement. When prioritizing the things that bring me the most joy through two tiers, the top tier would consist of things like music, nature, and Gus (my dog). The bottom level would host things like the feeling you get after hearing a good joke, reading a juicy book, and watching nostalgic movies. Top Tier: When digging deeper into the top tier, the songs in the music category would be 'Another Brick in the Wall' by Pink Floyd, 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go' by One Direction, and 'In Too Deep' by Sum 41. In the nature category, moments like, pressing my head against the car window on a long drive and seeing infinite rows of corn pass by or standing barefoot in the fluffy grass in my backyard are some of my favorite SIMPLE moments. Bottom Tier: When analyzing the categorizes in the bottom tier, the jokes that my grandfather often repeats are my favorite. In the book category, curling up in my bed with a YA book and a cup of hot chai tea are the most peaceful moments for me. Finally, in the movie category, watching movies like Harriet the Spy, Mean Girls and watching "The Twilight Saga" in its entirety is unbeatable!

As an INFP and avid music listener, I am enthralled by different music. I often associate songs with memories, and like thousands of other people, my music inspirations derive from my mood. The song 'Get'cha Head in the Game' from the hit Disney movie High School Musical would have been the song that inspired me most as a child, but as I grew up, my music taste changed, and so did the importance of music. The ballad 'Nocturnes, Op. 9: No, 2 in E-Flat Major' by Chopin inspires me to treat life as if it were a movie and never take the simple moments for granted. The song 'Me Voy a Quitar de en Medio' by Vicente Fernández reminds me of a time with my grandfather when we were dancing at his 80th birthday party. He was surrounded by all of the people who loved and cherished him. This song and memory inspire me to be like my grandfather... Always optimistic and never cruel. 'Silver Springs' by Fleetwood Mac is a song that inspires me to love full-heartedly, no matter how heartbreaking it may be. To pick one song is impossible for me. I am inspired by songs that tell a story.

Nature is extraordinary, and we should all continue to cherish its importance. It is something that we can all count on and brings a sense of comfortability. Things like the subtle smell of rain, the influx of fog on a winter morning, and a warm summer breeze are all things that should bring comfort to everyone. Yes, it can be unpredictable, but coincidentally, so are our family members, and we love most of them, right? Nature is like family! I appreciate nature's beauty in many ways! I appreciate it by standing in the middle of my backyard and admiring the midnight stars, going to plant nurseries, and basking in all things nature. Encouraging others to appreciate and care for the planet should be one of the most important things. The way people are mistreating our planet is concerning, and the earth is not heading in the right direction. As Greta Thunberg said in 2019, "you must take action. You must do the impossible. Because giving up is never an option."

If I could share one sentence with the world, it would be, "have a good day or make it a good day." This is a sentence that my grandfather frequently used when I was a child. A few times throughout my childhood, my family and I were forced to move in with my grandparents. During this time, my grandfather would take me to school, and every morning as I would jump out of his truck, he would say, "have a good day or make it a good day." This was a saying that I overlooked and did not think anything about. But, now, as a 22-year old, I have finally realized what an influential and impactful sentence this is. It means YOU have the power to make your day great, even when things do not work out the way you want. Because of the pandemic, my 84-year-old grandfather's dementia progressed faster than my family expected, but he still consistently uses this quote. I would share this sentence with the rest of the world because millions of people struggle with their mental health, and every day is challenging to get out of bed. As someone who struggles with mental health, I have started filling out 'The 5 Minute Journal' by Intelligent Change. One of the daily exercises reads, "What would make today great?" Then, I list three ways I can make my day great. I believe everyone should know that they have the power to improve their lives. Even if they just set one daily goal!

'What Happened to You,' by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry, MD, Ph.D. is the most recent book that I have read as well as the most impactful. As a child who grew up as the oldest daughter of a single mother in impoverished conditions, I have been exposed to many traumatic experiences. This book does an excellent job at helping readers come to terms with their trauma and heal. It also helps readers put logic to behaviors that once seemed mysterious. Since reading 'What Happened to You,' I have been able to reflect on past conversations and see why I reacted the way I did. With the knowledge I have developed since reading the book, I can better process my reactions and emotions when in conversation. In regards to my past traumas, this book has guided me into uncovering past traumas, acknowledging them, and healing. I recommend this book to those who want a better understanding of others who have experienced trauma in their pasts. I give 'What Happened to You' 5/5 stars!

I have tried to devote my time to helping others who are less fortunate. Whether volunteering or simply giving food and money to people on a street corner, I have always enjoyed giving. Of my years of volunteer work, my favorite organization that I have been involved with is the Bo Nelson Outreach. The Bo Nelson Outreach is a small organization that gives to unhoused individuals in North Texas. They strive to help the unhoused by providing necessities for them. The outreach was started in 2015, after the death of Bo Nelson, who was very close with my family. Bo was once homeless and struggling with addiction and was well-aware of the many complications and troubles homeless people faced. After Bo got sober, he decided to use his knowledge of homelessness and put them to use. Every Friday night, Bo would buy/collect toiletries, clothes, and shoes to give to the homeless people who lived on the streets of Fort Worth, Texas. On most of these Friday nights, my younger sisters and I would go to Bo and his wife Sandi’s house and help them prepare hundreds of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Then on Saturdays, we would all drive to Fort Worth and give out everything we had. In August of 2015, Bo was involved in a tragic accident that resulted in his untimely death. After Bo’s passing, Sandi wanted to keep Bo’s memory alive, so she created The Bo Nelson Outreach. Because I volunteered with the Bo Nelson Outreach before it became an official organization, I do not know the exact number of volunteer hours that I completed. We (Sandi and I) estimate that I have volunteered for over 45 hours. Of the estimated 45 hours, I have loved every second of them. The Bo Nelson Outreach has allowed me to witness the insufferable injustices that homeless people face. The hardest part about being in Fort Worth for the outreach is not giving out the items but knowing that if I was drained from being hyper-aware of my surroundings for ONE day of the week, imagine how exhausted the homeless people are. The Bo Nelson Outreach has also shown the importance of family and the community. Having someone in my life like Bo Nelson was a dream come true. He was always cheerful and full of light. Bo accumulated an army of family and friends that supported him and encouraged him to be the best he could be. After his passing, this army of loved ones gathered together to keep Bo’s loving arms wrapped around the streets of Fort Worth, Texas.

My happiest moment was when I finally saw my grandparents after quarantining for over a year! Due to the pandemic, the age of my grandparents and my underlying health conditions, we could not see each other or our other family members who were also quarantining. After becoming vaccinated, we felt comfortable enough to see each other (without worrying about the virus). Finally being with them was the happiest I had been in a long time. Hugging them tight, smelling their familiar scents and being in their house was amazing! If I could go back to that moment I would!

This is Gus, my 11 month old AKC Chocolate Labrador! Gus is a puppy with a lot of energy and personality! He enjoys playing frisbee and going on long walks through our neighborhood and solving dog puzzles, especially if peanut butter is involved! His best friend is a stuffed mallard named Duckie! My family got Gus during the pandemic in mid-March 2021. During the pandemic, my family and I struggled with our metal health and finding a sense of normalcy quarantining over a year-- so we got Gus! Since getting Gus, our mental health has improved tremindously! Gus' Instagram: thenippylab