1 2 RU L E S O F L I F E

Talia Lees
ECHOS OF
G E N E RO S I T Y
Give not for acknowledgement, but to
create a act of kindness. Like a stone
dropped in a pond creates ripples, let
your acts of generosity resonate
through the lives of others. My mom
always taught me to give to others that
need things more than I do and to pass
kindness along to people. Kindness goes
along way.
 L I G H T YO U R
CANDLE

In a world of darkness, be your own light. A

small light can make a big difference in the lives
of those around you. In hard times throughout
life, I embrace the idea of being my
family’s/friend's light. I try my very best in all
aspects of my life such as school, home life etc.
L E AV E A
MARK

Leave a mark, even a small one. Just as

footprints in the sand tell a story,
consider the impact you have on others.
Leave something positive to remember.
Every time my family goes on a vacation,
we bring a painted rock by the beach.
This represents our footprint, and it tells
my owns family story.
W R I T E YO U R
S TO RY
Your life is a book; write a
good story. Just as a good
book has highs and lows,
compose your narrative with
purpose and meaning. Every
chapter contributes to the
uniqueness of your tale. This
represents life having ups
and downs, just like a book
does.
DA N C E I N T H E
RAIN
When your life brings storms, dance in the rain.
Instead of waiting for the sun, find joy in the
midst of challenges. Whenever someone in my
family has a hard time, we dance it out once we
feel better. My grandma has done this with me
since I was born.
DA N C E W I T H T H E
S H A D OWS

In the dance of life, shadows add depth. A sunny day

revealed dance patterns of shadows. It reminded me that
even in life’s brightness, acknowledging and learning from
the shadows makes our experiences more memorable.
RIDE THE
RO L L E RC OA S T E R
Life is an unknown ride, filled with lots of
highs and lows. Just like a rollercoaster, it’s
the twists and turns that make the journey
interesting. Everyone’s life is filled with ups
and downs, and we all have to deal with the
downs to matter what.
S M I L E T H RO U G H
THE STORM

A smile is a powerful umbrella in life’s storms. We have to

keep a smile on our faces in some situations even if we
don’t think we can. Our smile sometimes works as an
umbrella as we are hiding our real emotions.
THE CONTINUOUS Life’s clock ticks consistently, no matter
what. Unlike semesters, there are no
CLOCK breaks or resets. Showing up daily for the
8-hour shift is the norm. This explains that
there are not always breaks in life and we
have to keep trying even if we think we
can’t.
B E T H E F I R E F LY

Be a firefly in the darkness. Like a tiny insect shining the

night, spreading small acts of kindness and positivity can
light up even the darkest corners, leaving a lasting impact
on those around you.
C E LE B RATE S M A LL
WINS

Big victories start with small successes. You need to start

somewhere in life to ever get anywhere in life. Everything
starts with small steps.
S PA R K P O S I T I V I T Y

Positivity is contagious. Like a smile lighting up a room,

spreading positivity brightens not just your day, but the days
of people that are around you.