October can be a really rough time for students, what with the PSAT, SAT, PLAN, and college applications. To remind everyone that there is still a light at the end of the ever-lengthening tunnel, SDA mustang reporters asked students what their definition of happiness was. Some answers dealt with the simple things in life, such as a favorite food or game. Others talked about people and activities they care about. Overall, all of the students had at least one thing in their life that makes them smile.

“If happiness had a physical form, it would look like glass because you can look right at it and never realize it’s there, but if you change the angle you look with, it has the most beautiful reflections and colors.” – Senior Lauren Nelson

“My definition of happiness is my wife, that’s all I can say.” – AP Economics teacher Kevin Witt

“My definition of happiness is spending time with the people you love and care about without anyone or anything holding you back from that. What is happiness for me is being with my friends, hanging out and just relaxing.” – Sophomore Grant Sippel

“Chocolate and caffeine.” – Senior Kathryn Chapman

“Being ok without feeling like I need to change anything.” – Senior Spencer Fox

“My personal definition of happiness is when you can accept the imperfections of life and learn to appreciate everything that the world has given to you.” – Freshman Brittany Krechter

“Happiness is living life doing what you love to do with people you love to be with.” – Junior Elisa Barrett

“When you look at yourself in the mirror at night and go to sleep knowing you did your best.” – Biology Teacher Megan Clements

“Happiness is every Wednesday late start.” – Senior Sam Fierro

“When I’m with my cousin to have fun and do weird random things with.” – Freshman Kyara Agvon

“Happiness is an illusion; whoa, that was deep.” – Senior Taylor Johnson

“When your two year old says ‘I love you, dada.’” – Substitute teacher Buck Grayhall

“My personal definition of happiness is hanging out with all of my new friends I am making here at SDA and of course Jimmy Neutron.” – Freshman Courtney Houle

“[My definition of happiness is] creating art because creating de-stresses me and gives me a feeling of euphoria.” – Senior Alana Primes

“Happiness is a warm hug from a friend.” – Senior Abby Espinosa

“Happiness is your perspective… how you see things. It is what you choose to see is what makes you happy.” – Senior Rhys Robertson

“Happiness is when everything is hilarious and you can’t stop yourself from giggling at all the things that comes your way, whether they be good or bad or small or big- nothing’s gonna be able to wipe the smile off of your face.” – Sophomore Maggie Lombard

“Having good friends, fun stuff and good books to talk about.” – Freshman Ulyana Kucheruk

“A warm blanket, a snuggle partner, and some hot chocolate define the very best happiness for me!” – Senior Jill Pickrell

“The feeling of never having to tie your shoes again.” – Senior Amin Fozi

“Happiness is clothes.” – Senior Sierra Gallant

“Happiness is the feeling that you get when you have butterflies in your stomach.” – Senior Brittany Adams

“Happiness is that thing you feel if you combined all the wonderfulness of petting an absurdly cute puppy, playing the new pokemon, being surrounded by your favorite people, eating pie, and getting your Hogwarts letter.” – Senior Elizabeth Tarangelo

“Happiness is building strong and emotional connections with people.” – Junior Avi Gupta

“Having food prepared at the same time TV is happening.” – Senior Hannah Pence

“Staying positive and spreading your energy to other people.” – Senior Karen Vela

“Bacon and Sprite.” – Junior Eric Hsieh

“Being with people you love and enjoying life with no worries and no stress.” – Sophomore Reyden Rowe

“[My definition of happiness is] everyone being nice… and food.” – Freshman Gabi Gjata

“Happiness is when a person can safely say that their life is going well, even if there are some problems along the way.” – Senior Brandon Chan

“[Happiness is] a state of joy, safety and loving, that makes me want to smile.” – Senior Shaina Picitto

“I’m in a glass cockpit, with wide open fall sky, pilot chatter in my ears, and the whole world to explore.” – Senior Marissa Schuling

“[Happiness is] surrounding yourself with people you care about.” – Senior Irena Weaver

“Happiness is unlimited coffee and pancakes.” – Senior Elisa Willes

“Happiness is being stress free and there is no school and no one to control your life. You doing you.” – Senior Trevor McCarver

“Being filled with joy.” – Senior Janine Fischer

“Happiness in my life has always been horses, dance, and love.” – Senior Nicole Loya

“Happiness is a state of mind where everything negative and bad is completely over ridden by everything good and it makes you whole.” – Senior Chelsea Cardenas

“Happiness is being able to laugh at yourself.” – Senior Deckard Mehdy

“Utopia.” – Freshman Mary Jane Coleman

“Happiness is when everyone else is happy around me and in a good mood.” – Senior Alex Mentado

“Happiness is when you’re hanging out with your friends and having a good time.” – Junior Dani Ennis

“Happiness is enjoying life.” – Junior Chris Still

“Happiness is seeing the important people in your life happy (i.e. Mom, dad, best friend, sibling).” – Senior Ty Gibson

“Happiness is not being sad.” – Senior Jaeger Roberts

“Happiness is when the newest episode of your show hits the Internet.” – Senior Kendra Brust

“The state of being happy.” – Senior Sachi Matsumoto

“Wendy Disch.” – Senior Zach Stevens

“Happiness is a state of mind when you are really content and not worrying about anyone else.” – Junior Jaycelin Bert

“Skiing.” – Senior Aaron Steger

“Skiing with Aaron.” – Senior Maddy Silverstein

“Having candy poured on to you.” – Sophomore Warren Teschmacher

“Being able to enjoy yourself and others without fear of rejection.” – Junior Mia Montes

“Mindset of being pleased with your current state.” – Freshman Evan Weissman

“Knowing that I am loved and have people who care about me.” – Senior Kate Breding

“Literal definition: the state of being happy.” – Sophomore Will Doody

“Happiness is when a person gets to do what they love the most whenever they want to with people that they love.” – Senior Cassie Chung

“Happiness is the gift of giving and sharing.” – Senior Stacia Chernus

“My goals in life are to climb mountains, so if I did that I think I’d be really happy. But to literally climb mountains.” – Senior Marin Callaway

“Money.” – Senior Collin Johnson

“Being in a state of contentment or pleasure, usually with how one’s life is currently playing out or progressing – At least that’s the best kind of happiness to me.” – Senior Zach Lighton

“It is impossible to define happiness on a broad scale, but what I can say is that happiness is a choice.” – Senior Ian MacGregor

“I think happiness is doing what you love and being true to yourself” – Senior Laura Ensberg

“My idea of what happiness is when you feel really awesome.” – Sophomore Chandler Price

“[My definition of happiness is] candy, because it tastes good.” – Freshman Natalie Shields

“I haven’t really developed a definition of happiness. I would say that it is a state of being in which a person or sentient entity is fulfilled or in a state of contentment.” – Sophomore Max Van Valkenberg

“God that’s hard… Being content, not matter what happens, and not letting outside forces affect that.” – Junior Alia Newman-Boule

“A state of euphoria.” – Senior Jacob Herz

“Happiness is little face up pennies on the ground.” – Senior Adira Fogel