Teaching Happiness — YES! Magazine

Get Happy From the Inside Out

7 Doors to Happiness Project guides your students to explore what makes them–and others–happy.

Fall 2012: "Your Dream House" High School Winner Ritika Mazumder by Ritika Mazumder Dec 19, 2012: Ritika Mazumder is a student at Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee. She read and responded to the YES! Magazine article, "Living Large in a Tiny House," by Carol Estes. Read Ritika's essay about her desire to have a smaller home as long as she can spend time with the people she lives with.
Fall 2012: "Your Dream House" Powerful Voice Winner Paw Soe by Paw Soe Dec 19, 2012: Paw Soe is a student at New Tech Academy at Wayne High School. She read and responded to the YES! Magazine article, "Living Large in a Tiny House," by Carol Estes. Read Paw's essay about how her Burmese roots taught her that no matter the size of your home, an abundant garden is essential.
Fall 2012: "Your Dream House" Literary Gems by Jing Fong Dec 19, 2012: Though not every participant can win the Fall 2012 writing contest, we'd like to share some excerpts that caught our eye.
Fall 2012: Dee Williams Response to "Your Dream House" Essay Winners by Dee Williams Dec 19, 2012: Dee Williams, who downsized from a three-bedroom to an 84-square-foot house, responds to essay winners of the Fall 2012 writing competition.
Putting Teen Health First by Judy Pruim Oct 11, 2012: Social worker Judy Pruim takes you behind the scenes at Muskegon High's Teen Health Center at —a place where students feel safe, and their success and well being are supported. This is Judy's story.
Winter 2012: "The Ethics of Hunting" High School Winner Johnny Bobo by Johnny Bobo May 02, 2012: Johnny Bobo is a student at Federal Hocking High School in Guysville, OH. He read and responded to the YES! Magazine article, "What's the Harm in Hunting" by Alyssa Johnson. Read Johnny's essay about responsible hunting.
YES! Recommends: StoryCorps by Jing Fong May 02, 2012: StoryCorps records and archives interviews of everyday Americans to preserve history and personal stories. Its National Teachers Initiative was created to celebrate great teachers and to highlight their invaluable contributions and influence on students and all of us.
Fall 2011: "Bridging Differences" Middle School Winner Haley Coe by Haley Coe Jan 30, 2012: Haley Coe is a homeschool student with Oak Meadow School. She read and responded to the YES! Magazine article, "Why My Dad's Going Green" by Kate Sheppard. Read Haley's essay about friendship despite disagreement.
Fall 2011: "Bridging Differences" College Winner Cherese Smith by Cherese Smith Jan 30, 2012: Cherese Smith is a student at Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, Washington, just north of Seattle. She read and responded to the YES! Magazine article, "Why My Dad's Going Green," by Kate Sheppard. Read Cherese's essay about trying to understand her grandmother's prejudice against Hispanic people.
Fall 2011: "Bridging Differences" Powerful Voice Winner Lourdes Escobar by Lourdes Escobar Jan 30, 2012: Lourdes Escobar is a sixth grade student at John Muir Middle School, a Los Angeles Unified school operated in conjunction with the nonprofit LA's Promise. She read and responded to the YES! Magazine article, "Why My Dad's Going Green," by Kate Sheppard. Read Lourdes' essay about her struggle with the choices her father has made.
Fall 2011: "Bridging Differences" Powerful Voice Winner Wesely Mikiska by Wesely Mikiska Jan 30, 2012: Wesely Mikiska is a student at Appalachian State University. He read and responded to the YES! Magazine article, "Why My Dad's Going Green," by Kate Sheppard. Read Wesely's essay about the value of compromise.
Fall 2011: Kate Sheppard Response to "Bridging Differences" Essay Winners by Kate Sheppard Jan 30, 2012: Kate Sheppard, author of, "Why My Dad's Going Green," responds to the winning essays of the Fall 2011 writing competition.
The Legacy Project by Jing Fong Jan 30, 2012: Cornell Professor Karl Pillemer, founder of The Legacy Project: Lessons for Living from the Wisest Americans, collected over 1,500 interviews of elders on a variety of subjects. In text and video, the oldest living generations of Americans share their experiences.
Words That Inspire: Because by Jing Fong Dec 21, 2011: Instead of a letter, Terry Tempest Williams wrote a poem to nominate Lily Yeh as a YES! Breakthrough 15 Hero. The poem shared the many reasons why Lily Yeh is worthy of consideration. Who are the people students might be inspired to honor with a poem?
YES! Recommends: The Legacy Project by Jing Fong Oct 25, 2011: At a time of economic uncertainty—when your students are wondering about their future—the Legacy Project might serve as a compass to help them create their lives, connect to others, and change their world.