In life, I seek joy. Even through trials and hard moments, there are things to be thankful for, things to be happy about. When I take the time to reflect on the things that make me happy, it clears my mind, eases my stress, and gives me a sense of relief. To summarize all the things that make me happy in just a few paragraphs is no easy task, so today I just wanted to focus on a few. The first being the root of my happiness, my relationship with Jesus Christ. It might sound cheesy but becoming a Christian really did bring me a new sense of happiness. I found a new purpose in life. It allowed me to see life in a new way. I see the world as such a beautiful thing now. Fresh flowers, colorful sunsets, the ocean breeze, and snow-capped mountains are all an example of God's goodness and the beauty of creation. When I started focusing on the beautiful parts of life instead of the wrong and evil, it has brought me much more happiness. Of course I am still realistic, I understand that bad things do happen and are not meant to be ignored. At the same time, I do believe in hope and change and that there is good even in the midst of evil. Overall, there are so many little things that people do that make me happy. People laughing and showcasing their talents. Someone helping an older lady cross the street. A wedding between two people who truly love each other. Life is good if you view it as good. Finding happiness is a true gift and truly impacts my life positively.

A nation of immigrants, a nation of opportunity. This is how many people all around the world view the United States, including my own parents. It was sixteen years ago that my family was able to move away from the small country of Belarus. I was only four years old and wasn't aware of the changes that were about to take place. I didn't know what was happening, All I knew was that I was upset. Upset about starting over. Upset about leaving my grandma, my friends. Afraid to go on a plane. My parents, however, saw everything in a different light. They were excited. This is something they fought for years. They were tired of the underpaid jobs and lack of opportunity. They were excited to start a new life in a new country and to provide a better life for their three kids. The United States was a place everyone dreamed of going to, so when the opportunity came my parents were ecstatic. In the beginning it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, it was a rough start. No one in my family knew English. Both my parents started working which led us to stay home with my grandma for most days. My grandma was amazing, but my brothers and I would often miss the parental bond. My parents put in a lot of work to provide for us but we still used food stamps and would go to the food bank. We lived in a small apartment for a family of five. However, we were always content and happy about life. My parents from a young age taught us to be very mindful with our finances and to not just throw it around. We were taught to always work hard so that we could grow in the future. Growing up as an immigrant led me to experience different cultures. Starting school without knowing English was very difficult on my end, especially considering how shy I was. Thankfully I was able to take English Learning classes which played a huge role in my life. There I met with other immigrants and was able to dive into other people's cultures. I learned about traditions their families kept, or how they dressed, or even what they ate. It was beautiful to see so many different types of people gathered together in one class, all offering a part of themselves and their culture. Because my parents always worked, they never went to University and had that college experience. My dad took a quick course for truck drivers and my mom went to community college to get an Associates Degree in accounting. They had some schooling but never got to pursue a higher education. But it was always their goal for us kids to be able to go to a university. So, here I am! I am now fulfilling my parents dreams as I am working on my Bachelor's, the first person in my family to attend a four-year university. From my parents I learned to work hard and to never give up. I am currently paying for school on my own so I am working as much as possible, not only to pay for school but to bless others. I don't want school to stop me from serving my community, from contributing to funds when people struggle. No matter how tough life can get, I never want it to simply rely around me. I hope I will always put the time into giving back to my friends, to people at school. Whether it be helping someone move or just being there to listen. I love helping others and hope to continue doing so as I finish college.