Written by Joanna Estala

Ytzel Blaz, a high school senior, is influenced by a positive mindset and has an outstanding personality, but something about her positive mindset makes her different.

“I feel like what really impacts everyone is trying to compare themselves to everyone else. So I feel like you really just need to love yourself. Everyone’s different, and everyone is made to be different, not everyone is going to be similar.” Blaz said.

She mentions how much of an impact it makes to compare yourself to others, and she follows it up by stating that everyone is made to be different.

She feels as if being unkind to people should be spoken about.

“Some people would just be mean to other kids, and I feel like you don’t know what is going on with them, and you don’t know what they may have in their lives. So maybe not all things are positive, but just keep your comments to yourself,” she said.

Blaz shows the kindness of a person that she is when talking about situations like this. Blaz mentioned how fitting in isn’t always the best, even as a freshman. 

“Focus on what you want to do, because in the back of my mind I knew that I was wrong, but I was just like ‘Oh, let me fit in.’” We don’t always have to fit in. Just be you.” 

As Blaz’s last question, “What makes you feel grateful throughout these days?”

“Just being alive, really, because you never know what happens, So just being here, spending time with everyone, going day by day, that’s what makes me grateful,“ Blaz said.

Following up with these questions, Blaz mentions so much, but most importantly, she mentions how just being here is something to be grateful for, and that just shows a truly positive mind.