What makes me happy about this picture is that I very recently got my driver’s license so I can finally drive on my own. For me, driving is a nice thing to calmly focus on, but it can get stressful when people do crazy things. Learning how to drive required for me to build up more confidence in my ability to drive. Driving can be scary for a lot of people, which is why I encourage my peers to drive through empty parking lots and streets if they are fearful of it. I promise, it’s not so bad!

May I digitally introduce to you Kermy The Frog, a masterpiece created by me, Jordan Myers and Editor-in-Chief Nathalia Valdez, dating back to the days before fall break of 2019. The painting lies on The Paper Cut Advisor’s classroom wall and will be a motivating scene for generations of students to come. This painting brings me happiness because I got to help create such a beautiful piece of art inspired by the meme culture that surrounds today.

In June of 2019, I was invited to come to Los Angeles with my best friend and her grandmother. While one our way to California Adventure, this junebug landed on my leg and when I tell you I jumped, I mean that I jumped so fast that the little guy flew off of my leg, then came right back, but this time I decided to be nice, and I made a friend for life. My friend and I named him Larry and sent him on his way. You can only run so far…these bugs will really be jumping on you out of absolutely nowhere.

These shoes were given to me by my parents for Christmas and the socks were gifted to me by my boyfriend. They were both unaware of each other’s gifts for me, and so when I opened them I instantly fell in love. With the Coronavirus pandemic, pride may not be an option again in the year of 2021, so I hope that one day I’ll be able to wear these shoes while crossing Phoenix’s streets and flipping off homophobic protesters once again.

The happiness I feel when I look at these roses every morning makes me feel loved, secure, and most of all makes me overwhelmed with the feeling that I’m at a genuinely good place in my life. These roses were given to me by one of the most important people in my life and when I received them I sneezed a little bit, but then I happily cried, of course. I got to enjoy my beautiful roses for a few days until I hung them upside down before I took off on vacation. All I knew was that I needed to keep these flowers for as long as they bring me happiness and show me the young love that is still alive today.

If you live in Arizona, you know that we have the most beautiful sunsets and mountains which often come together to end the day with a vibrant scene. After a tough and long day, to just sit outside and admire the glowing clouds surrounding the setting sun is my kind of therapy. I’ve found myself being outside way more than I used to and the more I am, the more beauty I find in nature which in some way soothes me. The happiness this picture brings me also brings a great sense of calmness. Watching Arizona’s sunsets can be enjoyable, but only when it’s not scorching hot outside!

Since I’ve had more time on my hands, I’ve begun propagating a number of different plants and they’ve grown exponentially since they were planted. These plants sit in my windowsill and they bring me a sense of joy because I think it’s really cool that I have the ability to take a piece of life and grow it somewhere else and continue to do it until I have more plants just like it. It’s just something to do that rewards you in the future when you have beautiful plants you didn’t have to pay for.

Every year since I was born, my family and I pack our bags and drive down to Puerto Peñasco, Mexico for a beach getaway, which is where I took this picture of the rocky terrain that gives Puerto Peñasco its nickname ‘Rockypoint.’ After the tide goes out, thousands of organisms become isolated in tidepools and the reef water collecting in those pools start to form into streams and small waterfalls across the reef making its way back to the ocean. This picture brings me happiness because I was always so fascinated in all of the creatures I could find among the reefs and would spend a lot of time looking in tidepools to see what I could find. This beach will always hold a special place in my heart and I hope to make it a family tradition for my own family one day. <3

It’s been the longest spring break of my life, and I know everyone else feels the same. Quarantine had us all stuck between four walls and I simply could not stay inside anymore, so I began taking my malti-poo, Lucy Lu out for a daily walk. These walks with my dog and this picture brings me peace and happiness because sometimes it’s more than necessary to step outside and remember what lies beyond our own four walls, especially a pandemic. Lucy is the biggest cuddlebug alive and even though she annoyingly yaps at the first sight of another dog, I’ll keep taking her out as long as we have to stay home in hopes to keep everyone healthy and safe.

I am a major Chipotle fan and I stand by that statement. Their produce may have gotten them in trouble a few times but believe me when I say that E Coli has never tasted better and I’ve never gotten sick from their food. I could get Chipotle with a friend and I will be dead silent as I devour my favorite order, let that be known. Chipotle gives out free serotonin in their burritos, well at least for me.