Grimm Week #4

A Glow Up

    From about the age of seven or eight to fifteen I was almost one hundred pounds overweight. My diet consisted of chips, soda, candy and whatever my mom prepared for meals excluding any vegetables, especially green ones. I want to make it clear that I have great parents, none of my extremely unhealthy diet was their fault. Food became a touchy subject once hormones started to kick in. I got excessively annoyed and angry with my mom, specifically, for attempting to feed me anything then what my taste buds desired. It hurts just thinking I was ever that entitled person.

    With immense dedication and hard-work I managed to loose the weight and become the best version of myself physically. Yes, societal pressure was one of my major motivators which is very unhealthy, but it worked...for me. Please, if anyone reading this is trying to loose a lot of weight, do not use society to force yourself into a diet or workout routine. I got unreasonably lucky to have reached my body goals utilizing such a dangerous mindset.

    I do however take a lot of pride in my accomplishment and had other motivators like the health benefits and all the opportunities that would open for me. Those opportunities being specific parts in shows and musicals, the physique I need to become any type of athlete, that is if I liked sports, and the list goes on and on. 

    Finally to get to my point I've recently found myself in a sticky situation. The weight is lost, but now I need to stop loosing. I stopped eating at a caloric deficit about two months ago now and my body is still loosing weight. My family have watched me transform over the last year. My grandmother and mother are frightened by the loss to a degree, I'm sure because of the surplus of eating disorders at my age, but also my apparent health. They see my new body as extremely "too thin" and "too bony." My new life style and body has initiated many arguments and unproductive conversations. I always try my best to communicate thoughtfully, but my first instinct is always to defend instead of listen. It was a lot of not listening I think on all our ends. I felt very confident in myself when it came to those discussions because of the hours of videos I watched on the topic, I felt more qualified than my older, "wiser" family members, they disagreed.

    Thankfully now after my second doctor's appointment about my weight, the doctor made it clear that I am in great health. They're going to check my nutrient level if I end up reaching the average weight for my size and age, which is actually less than I weigh now, to confirm I'm eating right.

    Although this journey has been difficult physically and mentally, for my family as well, I am so glad to be on the other end of it. Looking back I'm so proud of myself and thankful for the friends and family that supported me and even those that didn't completely support me. My best friend from elementary school has been in rehab for the past year for a type of Anorexia. Her journey is also another reason I made it through, so I thank her as well. I feel like I'm giving a speech, here's to another great year for our health!

My Elementary School Friend and I at Franklin Institute

    

"A Glow Up"

Goodricke Week #4

 The Hunger Games: Ranked

    Yes, I know this is my second blog post ranking something, but this one is kinda different. I'm gonna talk about my favorite in the Hunger Games movies. I think that these movies are all so incredibly good and I've enjoyed watching them since I was a very little kid. I used to go to the movie theatre every year when a new movie would come out. I owned 2 Mockingjay pins and I would always put my hair in the signature Katniss Everdeen braid. By the way, I was team Gale (not that that really matters). This also might be a spoiler alert, but also the movies have been out for over 5 years, come on guys. 

First things first, I'm going to explain a little bit about the Hunger Games as a whole. These movies are set in a place called Panem. Panem is separated into 12 districts, each with its own purpose and responsibility to the Capitol (Where the President resides). In Panem, The Hunger Games is in place to both entertain and keep the districts in line. Why would they need to be kept in line? Well, 74 years before the first movie's Hunger Games, the citizens of Panem started a revolution to overthrow the Capitol. The Games are a reminder that even the strongest cannot amount to that of the power of the Capitol. One male and one female are selected from each district, totaling 24 tributes. They are sent off to train alongside each other until the actual games begin. 

My favorite movie in the Hunger Games quadrilogy is Catching Fire. This is one is my favorite for so many reasons. This one is just a complete 180 from the first movie in terms of the technology used in the games specifically. For those who need a refresher, Katniss had just come off of winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games with Peeta, and is looking forward to some quality time with her family and also her love interest, Gale. Every 25 years, the Capitol holds a special Hunger Games called the Quarter Quell. These games contain a brand-new specialized arena and lots of different twists to make the games a little trickier. In the previous quarter quell, the twist was that instead of two victors being selected into the Hunger Games, four people were selected. In this quarter quell, two victors are to be selected from the existing pool of victors from each district. In district 12, where Katniss is, she was the only female victor there. This meant that she would be going right back into the Hunger Games with Peeta yet again. In an attempt to save Peeta from dying in the Hunger Games, Katniss makes a deal with her mentor, Haymitch, stating that he would do anything he could to save Peeta and not her. Another twist with this quarter quell is that each portion of the arena is laid out like a clock. Each hour segment provides a danger to the tributes. For example, there is poisonous fog, blood rain, killer monkeys, a huge tsunami wave, etc. At the end of the movie, it's revealed that the plan was always to save Katniss. The citizens are planning another revolt against the Capitol, and they need Katniss to be the face of the movement. Over half of the tributes were in on it to save her. Peeta ended up being captured by the Capitol and used as a mutt to stop the new revolt. 

What makes this movie so interesting is all of these twists and turns. In the first movie, it was very bland. The idea of the Games was very realistic. It's hard to describe, but Catching Fire is just so much more interesting because of all of the conspiracies and everything that gets revealed to further the plot. I highly highly highly recommend this movie/series. 

The Hunger Games Catching Fire

Dawe: Week 4

Nick and I with our driver's licenses

 

 My Twin 

    One of the things I'm most grateful for is that I'm a twin, although I would probably never tell him that. As many of you probably know I have a twin brother named Nick. I wouldn't say he's my best friend, most days, and I wouldn't say that we do everything together. However, I would say we do all the important things together. 

    He was there with me on our first day of kindergarten, our first day at the big scary intermediate school,  and with me at the doctors as a child when we got shots. On birthdays we share the embarrassment of others singing happy birthday to us around the cake. 

    I was very grateful for having a twin, specifically this past Friday when we both took our driver's tests.  We had practiced parallel parking together and learned how to drive at the same time. Yes, it was a bit nerve-racking knowing that one of us could pass and the other could fail, but we were sharing that nervousness.  We were both scared of failing but knowing that someone else is going through the exact same thing makes it much easier to get through. We ended up both passing and celebrated by driving to Mc Donalds together for the first time without an adult. 

    Yes, I'm not always the biggest fan of Nick. He can be annoying and rude and hurtful, but I wouldn't give it up for the world. It saddens me that soon we will most likely be going to separate colleges and experiencing our first day of college apart. I will soon have to experience important things in my life without him. However, at least I'll know that he's going through the same things just maybe a hundred miles away. 

Ahearn Week 4

    Are the Conspiracies True?

    John F. Kennedy (JFK) was the 35th United States president and was the youngest man elected into office. In 1956, Kennedy almost gained the Democratic nomination for Vice President. Four years later he was a first-ballot nominee for President. Millions of Americans watched his television debates with the Republican candidate, Richard M. Nixon. He won the election by a narrow margin in the popular vote and became the first Roman Catholic President. Many Americans remember him for his Inaugural Address, specifically for saying, “Ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.” During his presidency, he set out to get America moving again and his economic programs launched the country on its longest sustained expansion since World War II.

    John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, making him the youngest president to die. He was shot and killed in his motor vehicle while in Dallas, Texas for a campaign visit. His assassin was Lee Harvey Oswald. Although the story seems straightforward, there are many conspiracy theories about the event even 50 years after it occurred. 

    One of these conspiracy theories is that Lee Harvey Oswald didn’t act alone. Many believe that Kennedy’s death involved multiple people. 61% of people believe that Oswald didn’t work alone. Unfortunately, “Most of the information due to be disclosed at the end was classified as ‘not believed relevant’ to the assassination when the Review Board initially met in the 1990s,” according to Time. Therefore, we may never know the truth. 

    Another conspiracy is that there was a second shooter on the "grassy knoll" overlooking the site where Kennedy was assassinated in his motor vehicle. After being reviewed by The National Academy of Sciences Committee on Ballistic Acoustics, they found that "reliable acoustic data did not support a conclusion that there was a second gunman." Still, many believe in the theory so it lives on. 

    There are countless amounts of conspiracies regarding the assassination of John F. Kennedy in history textbooks and online. Do you find any of them intriguing or possibly true or are they all fiction to you? 

This is a photo taken of John F. Kennedy during his inauguration. 

Hunter Week Four

Gratitude 

For the past five years, the presence of marching band has been a constant in my chaotic life. Because the pandemic altered every aspect of normalcy, this was not the case this year. I forgot what life was like without its weight. Instead of three weeks of band camp every day from 2 pm to 9 pm, we had one week of two-hour rehearsals. Competition days beginning at 8 am and finishing at 2 am the following day were replaced with thirty-minutes of recording our show and then submitting it to a virtual competition. 

I never realized how much I needed to spend every day making music with the funniest and most genuine people in this claustrophobic town. I do not love the workouts, basics blocks, and lack of water breaks, but the connection between us is indescribably strong; and this makes 20 hours of practicing a week worthwhile. I became so accustomed to being surrounded by my band friends, and I took it all for granted. I miss 7 am Dunkin trips before a five-hour practice in the bitter cold. I miss bus rides sitting next to my best friend, Cat. I miss winning national championships, and the hugs, oh the hugs.

While it is not healthy to dwell on the past, these memories bring more joy than sadness. I am so grateful to have grown up with a group as tight-knit and warm as this. I do not know who I would be without this marching band full of extraordinary people. 

Living through COVID-19 has taught me so much about who I am and who I want to be. I have learned to be grateful for every aspect of life, no matter how insignificant it may seem. I am so thankful to be here, now. 

Although most, if not all of you know nothing about marching band, I know there is something you can substitute for that. I miss the sense of togetherness in both band, and things as small as walking into school to see people laughing while sitting on the floor with their friends. I urge you to think about the things in your life that you weren’t necessarily grateful for earlier but now would do anything to have again. 

Cat and I after awards :-)

The band before competing in nationals (we won)!

Cuevas Week 4

Marvel's WandaVision: So. Many. Questions.

         If any of you follow the Marvel franchise, you're probably aware of its new release, WandaVision. In this post, I’m going to be diving into some theories and discussions of the genius this series has produced thus far, so if you haven't watched or are fearing spoilers, this probably is not the post for you. Also, if you're not familiar with the franchise, a lot of this might not make much sense. I'll do my best in explaining what I can!

After Marvel’s release of Avengers: Endgame, Marvel fans eagerly waited for a new release to sink our teeth into. It was to our dismay that Marvel had decided to release their next production in the form of a TV show streamed only on Disney+, but after watching the series so far, I immediately resigned that initial distaste. This show is absolutely brilliant and leaves me begging for more every Friday.

It is centered around Wanda Maximoff and The Vision, two Avengers who formed a love interest throughout the previous Avengers movies. The initial strangeness is not that it's filmed as a 1950’s sitcom, but rather that in Avengers: Endgame, Wanda was forced to kill Vision, but in WandaVision he seems perfectly alive. Each episode is filmed like an old sitcom starring Wanda, Vision, and their quirky neighbors- however, every episode advances to a new time period, and time seems to move extremely fast. Wanda gets pregnant and gives birth to twins in a matter of days, and their environment and home changes from the 1950s to the 1980s with each episode. Wanda and all the townspeople don't seem to mind, while Vision is deeply concerned. Through an investigation by S.W.O.R.D (Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Department), and access to the actual broadcast of their ‘sitcom,’ we discover that Wanda has used her powers, gifted to her by the mind stone, to actually create this reality- the only reality where the Vision is alive, the only reality where Vision can exist. All of the townspeople are being mind-controlled by Wanda, and although Vision knows Wanda is controlling them, he can't understand how she is controlling him. In fact, he does not even know that he died, or that she did this to bring him back. All we know is that the town of Westview is a creation of Wanda's grievous psyche- and in our current state at episode 5, there's seemingly no way to stop her. 

I mean, can we blame her, really? When we meet her and her brother in Avengers: Age of Ultron we learn that her parents died in a bomb explosion, and later in that movie, her brother Pietro, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson is shot to death. That is why it was so shocking for viewers, and seemingly for Wanda, to see Pietro standing at Wanda’s doorstep in the last episode- this time played by Evan Peters. Just when we thought we were starting to figure things out! Of course, surprises like these always welcome theories.

Evan Peters played Pietro Maximoff in the movie X-Men, whose rights were owned by Fox until recently when Disney purchased them. Some say this is an introduction to the idea of the multiverse, and claim that Wanda wanted Pietro back so badly, she needed to steal him from another reality. This theory makes sense, besides Wanda’s visible surprise at seeing him in the show. Then there's the theory that Wanda’s neighbor, Agnes, is a Marvel comics character named Agatha Harkness, a powerful witch who was often an ally and aggressor in the comic stories of the Scarlet Witch (Wanda.) There are a multitude of rumors that clearly and sensibly synthesize the comics and the WandaVision show, and I am more than eager to see what comes next. For now, I will be eagerly awaiting the next episode this Friday!

Buezo Week 4

Waitressing 

    The day I turned sixteen my parents reminded me that I had to pay for car expenses, since they wanted to teach me responsibility. That meant I had to get a job. So I decided to work for my parents as a waitress. The first time I ever waited on a table was nerve racking, and to add on I did an awful job. I remember it so vividly. I figured since my mom owned the diner I would know the menu well. I was certainly wrong. I didn't know what to ask, what to get, or where to get it. I neglected to ask my customers if they wanted sides for their entree. I also didn't ask how they wanted their steaks cooked because I was so nervous. I brought out their entree, without any sides or even bread for the table and my customer completely screamed at me. I got so red, I didn't know what to do besides run back to my mom and ask for help. Thankfully I had her there to guide me. Luckily she took over for me, told the kitchen what to prepare and made me apologize to the customers since it was my first time waitressing. They were very understanding, but their initial reaction made sense since they were long time customers and were very confused why half their meal was missing. They ended up leaving me a $20 dollars as my first tip, they were kind at the end and knew I still had a lot to learn. I also still thank to this day for giving me a learning experience and forcing me to learn the menu. 

    It has now been over a year since I have been waitressing and I have grown tremendously. It has taught me many life skills that include being able to communicate, multitask, and be responsible. I had to learn how to do side work which is folding silverware, filling dressings, and always keeping my work space clean.  Waitressing is a tricky job and you must be able to deal with all kinds of people and meet their request. Weekdays the shifts are more relaxed but if you are ever in a restaurant on a weekend, it is chaotic to say the least. It is challenging but on a good day I make anywhere between $150-$200 a night. This is during COVID too, before the pandemic I remember all my parents waiters bragging about the loads of money they would make from a shift on the weekends. Waitress only make good money if their customers tip them well. Our paycheck are very low because we always rely on tips. We don't always make great money, and on slow nights, especially snowy nights we have been seeing we make only $40- $60 a night. When you go out to eat please always try to leave at least 18% on tips. Its not an easy job and very labor intense. Balancing 2 to 4 plates at a time is very difficult especially since they are so hot. I often feel burns on the tops of hands from holding plates that absorb the heat from the food that just got out the oven. Fun fact too if you order a "baked meal" those plates go directly into the oven and we have to grab them once they come out. So when your waiters says "be careful its hot" they really mean it. Waitressing has its pros and cons but it did make a more responsible and patient person.

Regan Week #4

To Be Young Again

    Where has the time gone? We are now in the second semester of our junior year, and before we know it we will be seniors. It feels like just yesterday I was sitting on the carpet in my kindergarten classroom learning the alphabet and numbers. When I was younger, I couldn't wait to be a teenager. TV shows and movies made it out to be this glorious time in life where you have a great amount of freedom. Teens were free to do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. Their lives seemed perfect. However, as I have gotten older, I have realized my perception of being a teenager was unrealistic. Now that I am in the midst of my teenage years, I wish I wouldn't have wished to grow up so fast. I should have enjoyed and appreciated the simplicity of life at that time. 

    My biggest problems were having to share toys with my sisters/classmates or having to be in bed by 8:30.  The homework that was assigned would take me no more than thirty minutes in total, and the rest of my day was devoted to playing with toys and watching the TV. I now spend all afternoon and a good portion of my night studying and completing assignments hoping to stay on track. I am also currently navigating my way through the early stages of the college admissions process. There is a lot of pressure that rides on this single decision. For me, it can become very overwhelming at times.

    Don't get me wrong, I am very excited for what the future has for me. I am looking forward to my college years, and also pursuing a career I am passionate about. However, being young is something I would love to relive. Not only was life so simple, but I didn't fear failure or the criticism of others. I was excited to experience the world and try new things. Now, I like to stick to what I know and I don't like going outside my comfort zone. I miss the fearless personality I had as a child!

    I will never be able to go back to the easiest time in my life, so the best thing to do is to enjoy the present. I am sure there will be a time in ten to twenty years when I am wishing I could go back to my teen years. If I keep wishing to live in the past, I will miss out on the present!

Here is a picture of me while on vacation. When I was younger, I absolutely loved going on the carousel!

Falzone. H Week #4 Dance

    

                                                                 What Could Have Been...

Have you ever considered what you may do differently if you had another chance in life? If you could start all over, or wake up in another body and give this life another shot, what would you change? Would you play a different sport, take school more seriously, or appreciate the beauty of our planet more often? This type of question is something I like to ponder frequently. I believe that by asking myself this question every day I can make slow modifications and live a fuller life. 

For me, if I was given another chance in life I would take dance more seriously. Dance was something I participated in for 10 years and loved more than anything. However, I lacked the motivation or commitment to the art and although I succeeded in many ways, I believe I had the potential to really do well and I let that moment slip away. 

The way your body moves in order to tell a story and convey emotion is the most beautiful art form, in my opinion. In very well-developed and choreographed routines, there is an underlying message or story, and if the audience can feel and experience the story like they are living it, as a dancer your job is done. 

At 3 years old when I started dancing, I participated solely to have fun. I did well right away and was always put front and center for my group dances. I loved being in the spotlight and getting my hair, makeup and costume on before the recital. As I grew older many girls started putting long hours in at the studio and although I opted out of that, I continued to tap dance and exceed, winning awards at competitions frequently. At some point, the joy was no longer there so I chose to quit and try to play sports. Although this switch satisfied my competitiveness, the loss of this art form and space to express myself artistically was very impactful. As someone who enjoys art, I was eventually able to find another form of art like painting and drawing that I enjoyed but I have yet discovered an art form as riveting and emotional as dance.

To answer my initial question, if I had another life, or I was given a redo, I would take dance more seriously. I would push myself and put those extra hours in at the studio. Looking back on almost 4 years since I quit dance I can’t help but think about what could have been if I had committed to the art form and really tapped (get it, like tap dancing) into my true potential. I challenge you to consider what you might do differently, and maybe this can help you take advantage of the opportunities in front of you now

Marina (left) and I at a dance competition

Falzone M. Week 4 Change

                                                                                 Change

I am the first to admit that I never liked “change”, not even a little bit. I was the child who cried when rooms got repainted or floors got redone. I hated anything and everything that did not seem “the way it was before” or different from the “normal way”. I had a routine which I lived by, accomplished things by the book, and never tried switching up my day to day life. I did attempt to try new things as I grew older, but this apprehension for change still was a barrier that held me back both physically and mentally from broadening my horizons. 

Unfortunately for me, Covid-19 was the epitome of my fears. The massive change of life that we all experienced this past year sent me into a tailspin. Not only this, but the uncertainty of this alteration of living was overwhelming. Throughout the first couple of months I did some major soul searching. I had to admit how uncomfortable I was with the situation before I could learn to grow with it. 

What I found interesting was the more that I adapted to this “change” the more clearly I could think about different aspects of my life. It was during this time that I realized that I wanted to transfer schools. Now that you know about my reaction to change, you can surely guess that this decision was not immediate nor was it decided in a matter of weeks. It took over 3 months of thinking and going back and forth until I made the ultimate decision to transfer schools. I knew no-one, had no idea what the inside of the school even looked like, and did not even know if we would get to be in-person at all.  

I completely rerouted my life in the middle of Covid-19, but this time as terrified as I was, I could admit that change was what I needed. 

Ultimately, I do not think that without Covid-19 (my source of change) I would be at Nazareth or where I am today. I am thankful for this massive shift in my life, as much as it scared me. I feel as if I have finally come to terms with the fact that modifying good things in return for great things is how I should view this topic of “change.” There will always be a sacrifice associated with the new but I can confidently say that I no longer fear “change.”

Taking advantage of new opportunities brought about through "change"

Leszcynski: Week 4

 Tough Days :(

        Some days are definitely a lot harder than others. Today is supposed to be my Grandfather’s 77th birthday. However, today, instead of eating birthday cake with him for his birthday, we are all silently wishing him a happy birthday and hoping that he is doing well up there. I thought today was a great day to reflect on how amazing of a man he was. 

In 2010, my Grandfather was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis which is a disease that causes the protective covering of your nerves to deteriorate which unfortunately slowly removes the person’s ability to walk. He first started out with a cane, which led to a walker, to a scooter, to a wheelchair, and then he became bedridden. His case of this disease got extremely bad pretty quickly. He was in and out of the hospital many times. In 2016, he passed away, as his body could not handle the way that the disease was attacking it any longer. 

My Grandfather, however, is one of my biggest role models. Throughout his entire life, he has done so many things that proved how much of a strong and caring person that he was. My Grandfather served in the front lines in the Vietnam War, he survived 2 heart attacks, but most of all he was a loving father, husband, and grandfather to our family. He always showed us how much he truly loved us. When he was very sick and was bedridden in his home, whenever my family went to visit him, I would sit along his bedside and we would just talk or watch his favorite show, Wicked Tuna. Nothing beat that and nothing will beat that. 

My Grandfather always loved being our number one fan. When my Grandfather started to lose his ability to walk, he would always ride around on his scooter, taking pictures at our games, events, or matches. He was always there. However, in 2014, he became bedridden and had a lot of trouble coming to our sporting events. But he was determined to make it to another game. In 2015, I was at my basketball game and all of a sudden, I turned around and saw my grandfather there with my grandmother. I was shocked. Little did I know that they had bought a van so he could travel and bought a wheelchair that he could sit in. I will never forget that game. As unfortunately, it would be the last game that he could attend. 

Although days like today are sad, it makes you remember all of the good memories that you have created with your loved ones. It makes you smile as you think of the little things. Even though he isn’t physically with us on his birthday, I know that he is looking down on us and has a huge smile on his face.

My Grandfather, Grandmother, and I at his last game

Rodrigues Week IV

 Samuel M. Rodrigues                         AP Language & Composition                                8 February 2021

Grass & Snow

    There is something calming about landscaping. Whether it be mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, or pulling weeds, it always seems to clear my mind. Maybe it's the increased blood flow to my noggin or the repetitive nature of the tasks. Somehow I always feel relaxed after a long day of yard work. In fact, I love this type of work so much I even opened a small landscaping business of my own. In this blog post, I will search to understand why I enjoy this type of work, tell a few interesting stories, and speculate how this type of work may also help you to find peace.

    Developing an understanding of why I am drawn to yard work shouldn't be terribly difficult. I believe that I enjoy this type of work because of my cultural and familial background. The Portuguese, generally, admire individuals who are effective at physical labor, so I probably enjoy shoveling snow and mowing lawns because it is widely accepted in my culture. Family might also influence my love for landscaping. Both of my grandfathers were very significant role models during my childhood, and they too regularly engage in yard work. So, I might enjoy landscaping because I am unconsciously searching for approval from my grandfathers. Interesting stuff, right?

    My love for landscaping began when I was young. By age ten I was shoveling my parents' driveway and by age twelve I was mowing my neighbors' lawns. When I look back, I think the first time I ever got compensation for yard work was when I was fourteen. After a long snowstorm, my elderly neighbor needed someone to shovel his driveway, so I gladly volunteered. Three hours and three feet of snow later, I completely cleared his driveway. Just as I was walking home, I heard my neighbor call to me. He wished to thank me and offered to pay me. Of course, my first instinct was to kindly decline. After he insisted for several minutes, I submitted and headed home. From that point on, I realized that I could make revenue by doing things that I loved to do. That moment was priceless for me. In my later teenage years, I opened a landscaping company that has done pretty well so far, and, currently, I remain the owner of the business.

    Now the big question: how might this type of work help you? Well, first of all, I guarantee that it isn't for everyone. But, if you enjoy low stress and consistent tasks, it might be the right hobby. You don't need to make it a business out of it to enjoy all the good feelings you get from landscaping. All you need is you, and some yard tools. Being close to nature and getting your blood flowing for extended periods of time is a recipe for a relaxed mood. If you have any questions, comments, or just have some thoughts, feel free to let me know!

    

    

A yard well-kept.

    

Ricci week #4

                                                                               

                                                                                     Old travels

    Today I decided to look through some of the old books I have. Then I discovered one that I had forgotten about, Secrets Of The National Parks. It’s not exactly a book you would just pick up and read, it’s more of a guide. It gives you information on different national parks and lesser known places to visit within them. I have been to a couple of the places that the book covers, and I would have to say that it gives a pretty good overview of each location. 

    A few summers ago my family and I traveled to the southwest. While we were there we visited many of the national parks from the book. Some of those included Zion, Mesa Verde, Capitol Reef, and Arches. All of these places were beautiful and well worth the visit, however I think that my favorite national park was Zion. It is a nice combination of desert and forest. The area surrounding it is just empty, but once you enter, there is a lot to see. There are many trails that you can take depending on how many people you want to see. Obviously if you choose one of the main paths there is going to be a crowd. However, once you walk about a mile it tends to die off. When I went, we ended going about 2 miles into the narrows. The narrows is a hike that includes walking, wading and swimming. 

I definitely think that if you plan on traveling to any of these places, you get this book. It’s pretty informative and provides you with many alternatives to the typical destinations.

            

    

Sheka: Week 4

 The Man Without Fear

Like most of you, I’m sure, I am a big fan of superhero movies and TV shows. What’s not to like? Most superhero movies are full of snarky humor, good fight scenes, and an incredible set design, all of which make them so fun to watch. Superhero fiction is largely defined by larger than life characters and oodles of fantastical elements, but by far, my favourite superhero stories are the ones that are more grounded in reality, with flawed and human main characters, such as the Netflix series Daredevil. 

For those of you that are not familiar with the series, Daredevil follows Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer practicing out of Hell’s Kitchen, New York. By day, he’s a defense attorney who looks out for the little guy. By night, he’s a vigilante who takes on the mob and defends his city. One of his defining characteristics is that he’s more ‘grounded’ than other superheroes. He can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound, or lift a car over his head; all he has are four enhanced senses and echolocation. In addition to taking on the mob and hordes of ninjas, he worries about keeping his law practice afloat and maintaining his personal relationships. He also struggles to reconcile his behaviour with his religious beliefs and his faith in the law, which is a really interesting take we don't see too often in superhero fiction, or even in action movies where the protagonist has to break the law. 

All the other characters surrounding him are no less developed and interesting, which in it of itself is uncommon in a lot of superhero stories. Usually, their friends and family are only there to add to the hero’s emotional journey, but the supporting characters in Daredevil don’t. The villains have it even worse; they tend to be one-note, with weak motivations and rarely make it past one season or one movie. Meanwhile, Daredevil has some of the best, most complex antagonists I’ve ever seen in a superhero story. I can’t really give specific examples, because this is definitely a show that can be spoiled, but trust me: this show is worth it. 

Unfortunately, the show was canceled in 2018, but all three seasons are still on Netflix. If you like action but think that superhero stories are too derivative or not complex enough, Daredevil is the perfect show for you to watch. 

Kryemadhi: Week 4

 Taking Stage

    This year marks my sixth year dancing. I know to most people that seems like quite a while, but in the dance world, that isn’t all that much. I’ve been dancing at Art of Dance Studios since I was ten and have loved every minute of it. 

    Since I was little, I was always listening to music and dancing around the house. Heck, I still drift off to sleep playing my Spotify playlist at night as if it were a lullaby. Until I moved to Nazareth, I had never really considered joining a dance studio, mainly because my parents were constantly at work. Once we moved here, one of my new closest friends (and neighbor) was a dancer, and it immediately caught my attention. We would strut around her living room coming up with dances to different songs. Then, she invited me to her annual dance recital, and I was in awe. My little ten year old mind was blown, and from that moment on, I knew I wanted to dance. 

    I’ve grown so much since my first few years of dance. I currently take ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, lyrical, contemporary, and conditioning classes. I’m at the studio about 5-6 days a week. I even joined the competitive team last year. Unfortunately, we only got to go to one competition before COVID. This year, our competition season seems a lot more promising (don’t jinx it). Our first competition is in about a month, and I couldn’t be more excited to be back on stage. It’s so special to me. 

    Though it may seem as though dance is all about flips and tricks, I’ve learned about so much more than just technique. I’ve learned how to push myself to my limits and never give up even when I struggle. In addition, the studio is so much more than just a bunch of kids dancing, it truly does feel like a family. As students we grow such close bonds with each other and with teachers after spending countless hours together. Last but not least, over the years dance has become a safe spot for me to relieve my stress. All my problems just seemed to disappear while I’m at the studio. Don’t get me wrong, dance isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, but even still, I wouldn’t trade these experiences for the world.

Here is a picture of my team and I at our last competition.

Brougham Week 4

 Growing up with my best friend

    When I moved in my current house at the age of five, I was very apprehensive. I loved my old house, so the idea of living somewhere new terrified me. Once I moved in, I was immediately met with this girl who I supposedly knew. It was a girl named Julie who I had seen occasionally throughout my early life. Little did I know the future that we had. 

    This all dates back to my mothers childhood. Her childhood best friend was a girl named Katie, who is my friends mom. That decision pushed the idea of moving here from Easton due to the fact that there would be a familiar face. Because of this former relationship, Julie has been in my life since the beginning. Julie, being born a couple months before me, even visited me in the hospital with her mom a day after I was born. I actually grew up with her and have been friends with her through every stage of my life. This bond of growing up with someone is not something that everyone has. I am very fortunate and lucky to be able to experience this

    Over the years, we have grown to become very close, attached at the hips as our parents like to stay. I have no concept of being bored. I grew up always having someone to hang out with, having someone to talk to, and having someone to count on. We are almost always together. My weaknesses are her strengths, and vice versa. We balance each other out, which makes us the perfect team. This is especially true when it comes to helping each other out with our problems. For example, there have been numerous times where we help each other out in our personal lives just because we know each other so well. She knows me better than I know myself, which is why I always go to her when something important happens or if there are any issues.

    Despite the numerous relationships I have with other people, nothing compares to the bond I have with Julie. She is not my friend, she is my sister. Basically twin sister (we are only 2 months apart). I often relate us to Meredith and Cristina. If you have ever watched Grey's Anatomy, you know what I am talking about. The kind of friendships where you don't have to even speak and you understand what the other one is saying. Although I would never say this to her, she truly is one of a kind and I love her. I can never repay her for the friendship she has given to me, and she will always hold a special place in my heart.

Me and Julie on the first day of 1st grade