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By Jasmine Contreras, Staff Reporter
Jamie Alonzo, Pronouns: She/Her Major: Child Development and Family Services: “I’m grateful first of all for my family and everyone being healthy at home. I’m grateful for my opportunities here at CSUDH. 2021 has taught me to be patient with where I’m going in school and with my overall journey. Good things take time and I don’t have to rush into anything.” 
Jaqueline Rosales, Pronouns: She/Her, Major: Advertising and Public Relations: “I’m grateful for being healthy. I haven’t got COVID this entire time and I consider myself really lucky and really blessed. This year has taught me to live more in the moment and to stop waiting for things to happen and just go do it.” 
Mercy Calvo-Cruz, Pronouns: She/Her, Major: Journalism: “I’m grateful for my family. 2021 taught me to appreciate my family and the time I have with them. I know COVID took a lot of people’s families so I’m grateful for mine.” 
Edgar Mejia-Alezano, Pronoun: He/Him/His, Major: Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting: “I’m grateful for being back on campus. I’m a second-year student so my first whole year was on Zoom. Something 2021 has taught me is to enjoy the things we have now that are present instead of focusing too much on what’s to come. I had a close family member who had passed away due to COVID, it taught me to enjoy the moments and not focus too much on what’s ahead.” 
Ivan Lopez, Pronouns: He/Him, Major: Business Administration: “I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve [had] this last year and being healthy. One thing this year has taught me is definitely pushing and moving forward. With COVID-19, a lot of people stopped doing whatever it is that they were doing and I feel that was the perfect time for anyone to keep moving forward. It was like a test for everyone.” 
Javier Rojas, Pronouns: He/Him, Major: Computer Technology and Homeland Security: “I’m grateful that my close family members are OK. Something that 2021 has taught me is even though life is hard and life kicks you down you have to keep getting up. Eventually, we will all make it out of this and be on to greater things.”