Everywhere you go, strangers pass by you. People whose lives don’t intersect yours. People you know nothing about. They have their own memories, hobbies, likes, and dislikes. They have their own lives.
Recently, I was in New York City. The city with a population of 8.5 million. People I have never seen before passed by me. Faces I would forget in seconds, people with their own agenda. In a city so large, I was 100% certain there were people I knew nothing about. Bring the scale down to a school level, I can say the exact same thing about Woodland.
I am 100% certain there are people I know nothing about.
I think that with one question, you can learn a lot about a person. So that’s exactly what I did.
In one day, I met and learned about 50 strangers all with one question. In commemoration of International Day of Happiness (March 20) my prompt to them is: what is happiness?
“Happiness is just the feeling of feeling happy. It’s the greatest feeling in the world.” – Marko Gutierro
“Happiness is waking up for school and not feeling tired.” – Shannon Pruzinsky
“It’s kinda individual what each person wants but I think happiness is when you make other people happy, it should make you happy.” – Kelly Arnold
“Comfortable in your own skin” – Maia Rosario
“A loving family” – Mr. Donaghy
“Happiness is seeing the person you love for the first time in a while. The feeling you get when you see that person or when you look in their eyes.” – Abel Rodriguez
“Happiness is what makes you feel good inside.” – Natalie Miranda
“I feel like happiness is doing the things you genuinely enjoy and being surrounded by people that make you feel like you are wanted.” – Jenna Velez
“Doing something for others.” – Srta. Nunes
“Happiness is when you see somebody that makes you smile and you get that warm feeling in your heart.” – Maddie Hoxie
“I would say contentment. When you are content with your life.” – Mrs. Kalentek
“Happiness is feeling love and support for yourself and those around you.” – Dia Gawronski
“A simple question. So I would say right now for me happiness is #raisingreaders. I think what brings me joy is reading for pleasure and inspiring my students to read and see them enjoying it.” – Mrs. Geary
“Happiness is whatever makes you smile without even realizing it.” – Natalie Katrenya
“When you’re around your family and friends and enjoying yourself.” – Gianna Colon
“Happiness is when you and your best friend are laughing so hard that you cry” -Jordan Theroux
“Happiness is doing what you love.” – Clara Fauteux
“Being with friends and family, people that you love. Laughing. Things that push you out of your comfort zone and make you work hard and be creative.” – Cassi Quayson
“Happiness is achieving your goals and feeling content with the accomplishments you’ve made.” – Morgan Stockheimer
“Happiness is having people that care about you and that you care about.” – Shea Rodorigo
“Happiness is being chill.” – Jaden Young
“For me happiness is helping others and making sure people are alright.” – Will Tompkins
“Happiness to me is just hanging out with my friends and I do unified sports here, so I get to help out with the kids and that makes me happy. I get to bring out the best in them and make them happy.” – Sean Skehan
“I always say that happiness is a choice, I think you have to find the good in situations that you’re presented with.” – Sra. Warren
“Spending time with your family and friends. You’re smiling and laughing all the time.” – Emily Beyer
“Laughing so hard that it hurts. When you can’t breathe anymore.” Eliza Smith
“Happiness is getting to your class when you’re supposed to take a test and then you don’t have it anymore.” – Kylie Leonard
“Spending time with my boyfriend.” – Gabby Costanzo
“Smiling.” – Jason Hicks
“Being with my friends and family.” – Lexi Yoxall
“Happiness is just living a good life.” – Jake Stow
“Smiling like you can’t stop smiling.” – Jordan Williams
“I think happiness is a feeling that you can get when you’re around people or things you love and enjoy.” – Mia Carranza
“I like when other people are cheerful. It brightens my day which makes me happier. It’s like a chain.” – Ben Nuss
“Happiness is when you get this feeling that’s overwhelming and it makes you smile and you can’t help but not smile. Like when you see a little dog, because they’re great. And you just want to keep doing what you’re doing because it makes you feel good and you’re doing something right.” – Emma Krushinski
“Being content with yourself and life.” – Nicole Grant
“Being with people and feeling a sense of belonging.” – Isabella Sierra
“Happiness is being healthy, having real good trustworthy friends and being part of a close family. Just having a great job or great people as the people I work with and the students I meet here at Woodland.” – Lenny
“Sunny days, friends, family. You know like basic stuff.” – Lauren Burke
“Enjoying life.” – Ashley Macharelli
“Happiness is finding a great book to get lost in.” – Mrs. Smith
“Enjoying what you do and the people you’re with.” – Julia Clement
“What I think happiness is is when you’re doing something you love and you get that warm feeling inside of you and everything feels so much better.” – Nicole Tuohy
“Happiness is being around the people you love and doing something you love.” – Victoria Iannone
“Happiness to me is enjoying family and friends.” – Fred
“Happiness is the feeling of- it’s a positive feeling. When things are going good in your life. You’re in a great mood all the time and you’re making other people feel great too.” – Nick Delucia
“Happiness is anything that makes me smile or laugh. So like being with the people you love gives me the most happiness.” – Matt Pumarejo
“Hanging out with friends.” – Magda Lewicki
“Happiness is a nice nap after a long day of school and track practice.” – Madison Lisowski
“Happiness is having no homework for the weekend.” – Kristen Persico