Dear editor:

In response to the May 24, 2011, online article by Madison Dooley, “Keep Joy and Peace Alive,” I found myself being very inspired, motivated, and encouraged at my outlook on high school.

After I read this article, I had a new aspect on how our behaviors and attitudes towards how we handle situations we are faced with should be like. Dooley wrote an inspiring quote,”Life is too short to be anything but happy. And just think: Will this all matter to me when I am 80 years old? If you think of it that way, all the drama does not matter anymore and you enter into a better frame of mind.” This quote really encourages me to have a new perspective of how I should think the next time I go through a tough time.

Dooley also talks about how being a teenager only comes around once so we should take advantage of every opportunity and have fun. She also encourages us underclassmens to live every moment to the fullest and to stay focused and have faith in God. Along with this she gives encouraging verses from the Bible like Philippians 4:11 and Psalms 34:14.

This article really motivated me to strive harder and have a more positive mind set towards my school and personal life. It also really encouraged me knowing that God would always be by my side and everything happens for a purpose.