According to National Library of Science, Will Happiness-Trainings Make Us Happier? A Research Synthesis Using an Online Findings-Archive – PMC, “happiness creates life satisfaction that increases work productivity and improves health.” Events, like Halloween Event 2024, provides the opportunity to gather with friends and coworkers to celebrate, while relaxing from studies for an hour or two. Right from the start at the entrance of the doors to the Halloween party were smiles and anticipation on Thursday, October 31 at Arapahoe Community College (Littleton, Colorado Main Campus) in the Summit Room. Over 100 participants joined in the fun to search for Ghost Hunt Clues. The room was filled with lots of happiness, creativity, and a variety of costumes.
The Ghost Hunt Clues Game was interactive and creatively done with the idea that you could work as a team or individual for cute little prizes and free pizza when you found all 16 ghosts. An example of one of the clues was on page 1 of 2, where the clue specifically states “Halloween’s not complete without a treat! Find me over by all the sweets.”
“This was one of the easier clues and the others [clues] were more challenging which created suspense and lots of fun.”, stated some of the participants at the event.
Page Meadors, a student at ACC, states “this was her first time attending the event and loved the clues game, although it was challenging.”
David Allen, the author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity – David Allen – Google Books, mentions in the book about “how happiness helps us keep on our game, with our mind in attention, and creates better transformative habits for a more positive outlook.”
Speaking of positive outlook, when the clues game was complete, there was more excitement with a costume contest for students and then another contest for the ACC staff. At the event, many showed happiness by supporting their favorite cosplay characters, some fairies, a zoo-ologist (from our very own library staff) along with many other fun characters. There were also teams of zombies and the “Dutton Family”(from Yellowstone Movie Series).
When speaking to a majority of participants at the Halloween 2024 event, the overall experience was wonderful. Many students commented on how they have attended the Halloween events in the past and this is the best so far. When asked specifically did the event make them happier, all stated “yes”. A direct quote from the book, Positive Emotion: Integrating the Light Sides and Dark Sides – Google Books (Layous, K. T. I. N., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2014) states “That most people want to be happy and seek happiness in a variety of ways.” Attending ACC events can be one way to share happiness.
At the Halloween 2024 event, there was lots of cheering and energy in the room. The candy in the Halloween decorated bowls, on each of the tables, were gobbled up. As many were leaving to go to their classes, many more students were walking in, all dolled up in their costume, ready to share in happiness. Some started the ghost clue challenge and ate pizza, while others were happy to relax from studying for a little while by visiting with friends.
Happiness, according to Britannica, Happiness | Definition, Nature, Psychology, & Facts | Britannica is a “state of well-being and experiencing good things in a specific moment” and Halloween ACC 2024 event, was a specific moment of happiness that many participants agreed upon.
