To me, these two friends embody the idea of “joy”. When I saw them, they were sitting together outside of their sixth-period organic chemistry class – even though nobody else was around, they were happy enough in their companionship. Sometimes one person is all you need.
— Karen Wei
My picture is of a miniature Christmas tree with a book in the background. Joy is usually people laughing and talking, but for me joy is a very different emotion. The festive season, with its twinkling lights and joyful gatherings, combined with books, fills my heart with happiness, second only to the love I feel for my family. Each page of a book, filled with words from an author I’ve never met, brings me joy in a way many people I know cannot.
— Shubhi Bhagat
I chose this photo because I felt like a more simple photo of just an average day of lunch is a good description of joy. Lunch is a joy for a lot of people, it’s a brief rest and a time to enjoy socializing and friendship. What joy means to me is good time and relaxation after sadness or hardship because without sadness there would be no joy to contrast it.
— Michael Smalling
This image radiates joy as four girls gather in their yearbook class, talking and laughing together. It’s the kind of moment where the world outside fades away, and all that matters is the stories they’re sharing and the friendships they’ve built. Their laughter fills the room, creating an atmosphere of warmth and connection that turns an ordinary school day into something unforgettable.
— Arhana Karsaliya
This picture to me shows the joy that comes with lunch and talking to your friends. During the school day, nothing brings us more joy than talking to our friends, and the laughter shared in those breaks is often the students’ main source of joy. Joy is a very simple thing to see in our daily lives, things we relate to spending time with friends, family, or getting gifts. Often, it’s the simplest things in life that bring us joy, like a silly joke at lunch.
— Aanya Chand
I chose this photo for joy because it shows a friendship that sparked between two girls. They are obviously very joyful and the hands coming up from the bottom are from a third person. The image represents what it’s like to let loose and be joyful.
— Daphne Huang
- I took this photo in the commons while my friends were eating lunch.
- I took this photo because they looked happy in each other’s company.
- To me joy is when you’re laughing with friends.
— Kai Gabo
I chose this photo because I think it embodies the feeling of joy. Joy is the happiness one can feel at a certain point in time and I think that she radiates it.
— Grace Setera
Joy is built from moments shared with friends, laughter, and the simple connections that bring happiness. It can be found in everyday moments. I chose this photo because it captures the warmth and genuine joy that comes from being present with others.
— Fedra Robles
This photo exemplifies joy because it shows the purity of two friends enjoying their time together, just by simply eating lunch together. This is also universal to all students around the world who enjoy the downtime of class to get to be with one another and share a laugh.
— Adrianna DiGuglielmo
To me, the playful expression of the elf emulates joy. The Christmas theme of the photo also represents joy to me because the holiday is about spending time with loved ones and enjoying festivities.
— Hana Su
