Buezo Week 6

 Political Science 

    Being apart of the debate team has opened my eyes to many new things. Being in debate we talk about many prominent issues in the world, and we only focus one big topic each year. I wanted to learn more about current problems in the world.   I often would hear the seniors talk about majoring in political science. Before making a huge decision deciding that would be my major I decided to do a dual enrollment class at Northampton Community College about political science. I was scared to be the only Junior in my class, but the students are really nice. To top it off I love my professor. He is very funny and he is a lawyer so he talks about law often, and I want to be a lawyer so I enjoy every aspect of the class. If you are interested in law and politics, I definitely recommend taking a class a political science class at Northampton Community College. You also get a full credit as an elective. I recommend taking dual enrollment classes for students who want to further explore different classes and give them a better idea of college life.

What we learn in Political Science is a lot about American History that we already know about, but it focuses in on political parties specifically. What you will realize in political science is the conservative of early American is considered to be our radical liberal in todays day. The political parties almost completely did a 180 throughout time. I find that very fascinating. After you learn the history of political parties in the United States you will later learn more about current events. We always have class discussions about current events going on that are prominent. I love this because it makes me more aware of what is going throughout our country, and what others have to say about it. Last week we talked about the stock market, this week we talked about how social media effects the elections more and more each year. I suggest when taking political science to download at News Source that is less bias as possible to bring up new issues and discuss them. What I especially love about this class is sparking a debate, but in a respectful manner and being able to consider both sides. It makes you look at things from both point of views and be more insightful of what others have to believe.

Regan Week #6

                                                            The Challenge of My College Search

    The challenges of a global pandemic are already hard enough. Now we are having to figure out where we want to attend college with limited access to seeing campuses. I know even without a pandemic, the struggle of the college search is extremely rigorous. I have watched two of my sisters go through their own journey. My older sister also had to do it during COVID-19. Seeing her struggle to visit schools this year was only a tiny glimpse of what I will go through because I have never been able to take an official college tour. 

    How am I supposed to decide where I am going to spend the next four years of my life if I cant even view a college campus in person? All I have are impersonal, virtual college tours that (some) are outdated and not entertaining to watch. I completely understand why all college tours are being restricted, but it's very hard to try and make a life-changing decision based on a five-minute video that doesn't capture the culture of the schools I'm interested in. I will most likely have to apply to most of my potential colleges without ever stepping foot on their campuses. I have been doing a lot of research online, but nothing will compare to being able to experience in-person visits. 

    Luckily, I was able to see one of my current top school choices, Ohio State University, about four years ago. My sister Claire was touring there, and I fell in love with the campus immediately. Being able to have a first-hand experience with the culture on campus allowed me to imagine myself there one day. I wish I was able to also have that connection with several other schools I am interested in. I am hoping that by the time I apply and receive my decisions, I will be able to take a tour of my top schools so I can make the best decision for my future!

This is an image I captured at the Thompson Library at
Ohio State University. From the other side of the library,
there is a view that overlooks The Oval!  

Grimm Week #6

 "Walking the Tightrope"

    For the majority of this school year I've felt under accomplished and still do. The only difference now is I'm spread so thin. I've attempted to expand my college resume, I may have over corrected my laziness a tad when I signed up for the musical, but I still feel lazy. My google calendar must be annoyed with me by now having to throw out countless daily reminders, I have yet to prepare for, but still inevitably attempt. I think I need a schedule makeover. I can't continue with this horrible balancing act, I need a vacation.

    I've always been interested in music, ever since age four when my mom put on Mamma Mia. My attraction to this art form comes from the strength and confidence it imbues in its conductors. Being an introvert, who ironically finds human interaction indispensable, and an overall awkward person directed me into this outlet. Expressing my individuality is something I've only shared on occasion while performing. Singing and playing piano, having control over the sound frequencies and tones that others hear and how that alters their moods, is what gives me that overwhelming feeling of power and control I so rarely experience.    

    My career goal to become a music producer weighs me down at times, I've always done choirs and piano lessons, but recently I've seen that as too minuscule to get me into a top music production school. I see how my peers are overwhelming themselves with extra-curricular activities and I'm trying to follow suit, but the stress is too much by mid-week and I struggle to function. My love for music is real and true and I wish it was enough to motivate me to achieve the maximum amount of involvement.  It feels like I'm being squeezed like a sponge, that every club is sapping my creativity so that there isn't much left to practice my music production which is paramount.

    I would not, not accept a gofundme donation created to buy me tickets to a Vegas or Hawaiian Resort. It's not mandatory but necessary, I really need a vacation to rejuvenate my creative juices. Constantly walking this tightrope of academics, extra-curriculars, oh and work, I find myself with calloused feet that would prefer a sandy beach.

 

 

Hunter Week Six

My PMEA Experience Thus Far

    All across the United States, there are programs titled “*State Name* Music Educators Association'' (ex. PA- PMEA, TX- TMEA), which enables high school musicians to compete and attend prestigious musical conferences. Each state is divided into geographical regions and then further split into districts. In our case, Nazareth Music is involved in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, or PMEA, District 10 and Region 5. As a singer, about 1,000 students audition for the district chorus and only 200 receive a position. Festivals include intense weekends rehearsing difficult music at a hosting high school and spending the nights at a fully rented hotel. Once singers achieve entrance, they must re-audition into regions, which accepts even fewer students. Inevitably, regional musicians audition for the PMEA All-State Chorus, which takes place in a city convention center within Pennsylvania. Only 16 singers from each region are chosen, rendering it quite challenging to get in.

    I tell you all of this as I prepare to audition for the All-State Chorus after auditioning into the groups prior. Due to the ongoing pandemic, this year has not looked anything like others. There are no festivals, in-person auditions, and most importantly, motivation to perfect the grueling audition songs.

    My sister, Megan, was able to get into the All-State Chorus when she was a senior. Not many students in Nazareth have done so, making this a huge deal! Before she became an avid PMEA singer, I had little-to-no interest in putting myself through the painful and dreadful audition process. Once I went to her States concert and heard the song “Let My Love Be Heard,” everything changed. The perfection within each note sung by every single member of the chorus brought me to tears. I am still in awe that my sister was able to create something so serene and beautiful. I love to sing, and being in a group filled with people who will work just as hard as you will is unmatched. I would do anything to be in a chorus that can make music as wonderful and serene as they did.

    To this day, I listen to the voice memo of “Let My Love Be Heard” when I need a reminder of why I began. Though there is no concert, festival, or sense of reward for the hours put into my auditions, I am able to understand the amount of work I will have to repeat next year.

    Although the chances of getting into States are slim, I am so glad to have gone through the process. Managing to rank third in districts and getting through to regions brings me so much joy and satisfaction! Finding motivation when there are no incentives certainly was a challenge, but I can now do so! I hope to experience the magic within conferences and have the opportunity to sing with some of the most dedicated people in the state next year!

Megan and I after finding out she got into States (yes, I am crying) <3

Falzone H. Week 6

 

                                                               Pet’s Reaction to College

            When I depart for college, I will be leaving my whole childhood behind. My mom, dad, sisters, and brother will be left behind and I will probably never think about them again (just kidding). But in reality it will be an adjustment for my whole family when they lose not just one child or sibling but two. I am sure they will find ways to handle it, and the accessibility of social media will allow for lots of communication between myself and my siblings and parents. However, through all this thinking I had failed to think about the effect my leaving will have on my animals. Will they notice? Will they show signs of depression from my being away? In particular I wonder how it will affect my cat, Chasey. As a loyal cat that has been by my side since I was 2 years old, all he knows in life is me. Although he is only in a part of my life, for him I have been his entire life. My bed has been where he likes to sleep and snuggle, and my lap has provided him with a secure position at all times when anything chaotic is taking place in my house. I decided to research this idea and find out the truth behind our pets and their reactions to the separation brought on by college. 

            What I was able to find out is not only interesting but really important to any pet owners who may wonder how to prepare their pet for this separation. Sadly animals react to the departure of an important person in their life, like most humans react to death. They experience grief and may appear uninterested in their usual activities. Since they have no idea where their human has gone and have no clue when they will return, these animals might show signs of social withdrawal and changes in sleeping and eating patterns. Other pets begin chewing on furniture or having more accidents within the house. All of these reactions are quite normal and something that needs to be handled with patience instead of getting upset. For those still at home, they need to understand what their animal is experiencing and treat them like they would a mourning human. 

Although this sounds depressing and upsetting to those who have to leave their unknowing pets behind, there are steps you can take to make this transition easier. Many families can start giving another member of the family the job of feeding the pet and assuming the normal chores that allow you to interact with the pet. By allowing other members of your household to spend time with your animal, the pet has time to form closer bonds with other members of your family and will respond less dramatically to the departure of their owner.

All of this info is extremely important snd helpful for my transition out of my cat’s life. I want to ensure he is able to cope with my leaving. I think one of the best things I will do is allow him to spend time with my siblings in order to form a stronger bond with them. The last thing I want is for him to feel abandoned and saddened by my departure. I hope he will be able to find happiness during those first few months and I am sure being surrounded by my crazy siblings will help him feel less lonely during these times

https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/06/17/pets-need-emotionally-prepare-for-kids-going-to-college/

Chasey

Week VI Falzone M.

   Your Need to Know Kardashian-Jenner Info

 I have always been intrigued with the Kardashian-Jenner Empire that rules our social media platforms, socialite knowledge, and celebrity circles. It seems everything Kardashian is published in some news outlets as these women continue to market their products, film their show, and battle drama filled situations. It is crazy how they have skyrocketed to the most notorious family in Calabasas but also in the United States. For those of you who have no idea who the Kardashians are or maybe get them all confused I will be giving a breakdown of each and every one of these famous sisters.

1. Kourtney Kardashian is the eldest sister, daughter of Kris Jenner and the late Robert Kardashian. At the age of 41 she shares 3 children with her ex Scott Disick who are named (in decreasing age) Mason, Penelope, and Reign. She runs her own company called Poosh while simultaneously co-producing her family’s hit reality TV series. Recently she has been linked with a new beau Travis Barker which they both confirmed on their instagram pages. Her net worth is around $35 million.

2. Kim Kardashian-West (soon to be just Kardashian) is the 2nd oldest daughter of Kris and Robert. She is aged 39 years old and shares children, North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm with her soon to be ex-husband Kanye West. Within the past month she has filed for divorce from the famous rapper, but is said to be in good spirits. That’s good to know because with her shapewear line “Skims” and Beauty line “KKW Beauty” she has no time to mourn. Along with her two businesses she also co-produces KUWTK reality series which will be ending on E! But taking some shape on a new streaming service. Her net worth is around $780 million. 

3. Khloe Kardashian is the last daughter of Kris and Robert and is aged 36. She has a daughter True Thompson with pro-basketball player Tristan Thompson. After a tumultuous pregnancy, she unfortunately found herself being cheated on by Tristan while 8 months pregnant. All well that ends well though because they have been rumored to be not only dating once again but engaged. We will see how this all plays out but it would seem she is in a good place with both her baby-daddy and her family. Her business Good American is still thriving while she is also notorious for her KUWTK spin-offs and television series. She has a net worth of $50 million.

4. Kendall Jenner, daughter of Kris Jenner and (Bruce) Caitlyn Jenner is the fourth daughter of Kris Jenner aged only 25 years old. She is whole sisters with Kylie Jenner but also has other siblings from her father’s previous marriages. She does not have any children but is currently rumored to be dating pro-basketball player Devin Booker. She is a supermodel who has walked for brands such as Marc Jacobs, Balmain, and Calvin Klein and is known for being a Victoria Secret Angel and for her numerous endorsements and ads for other luxury brands. Kendall’s current net worth is $45 million.

5. Finally, Kylie Jenner aged 23, daughter of Kris Jenner and Caitlyn Jenner is the last sister of this notorious family. Although she is much younger than her fellow sisters she has found the most success in her current business endeavors. Her brand Kylie Cosmetics is valued at over 1.2 billion dollars. Aside from being a businesswoman, she currently shares her daughter Stormi Webster with her rumored on-again off-again beau Travis Scott. She was named Forbes Youngest Self-Made Billionaire and still holds this title. She is estimated to be worth more than $1 billion.

Now you have the information you need to conduct an educated Kard-Jenner conversation. These reality women are not for everyone but their highly entertaining lives have made them into a power family. The sky is definitely not the limit with these women and it will be interesting to see where they go next. 

The Sisters
From left to right: Kylie, Khloe, Kim, Kourtney, and Kendall

Cuevas Week 6

Zodiac Signs: Cool or Foolish?

 

There is quite a lot of controversy surrounding the validity of astrology. Some believe zodiac signs represent a definitive description of a person's personality, while others, including myself, tend to disagree with the notion that the day and time you were born determines who you are as a person.

I will be the first to admit that the idea of zodiac signs is cool. At first glance, they seem legit. I know that I am a June Gemini, which supposedly means I am talkative, creative, energetic, and inquisitive. I would say I identify with all of these traits, and for a long time, I genuinely believed that my birthday was the reason why I possessed them. But if we take a closer look, we realize that the descriptors of these zodiac signs are incredibly generalized, and most people can likely identify with multiple signs. For example, I would say many of us just in this class are talkative, creative, energetic, and inquisitive. We could also easily say that other Gemini's do not possess these traits or any other Gemini trait. Take my friend Michael for example, a June Gemini as well. He and I were born only a week apart, and he possesses some of the ‘Gemini’ qualities I do not and vice versa.

I’ll admit that simple discrepancies in traits, only compared between two people, are frivolous, especially in comparison to how admittedly cool the idea of zodiac signs are. The issue doesn’t lie in those positive traits, but rather the negative ones. Zodiac stereotype perpetuators often use their sign to excuse bad behavior. I don’t find it acceptable to entertain inexcusable behavior and blame it on a zodiac sign. “I’m a Virgo, of course I’m manipulative!” “Sorry I’m mean, I’m an Aries!” These are not real excuses, and it’s unfair for people to hide behind the mask of astrology instead of owning up to their toxicity.

I wouldn’t agree that the position of the sun when you were born decides whether or not you’re a good person, and accepting this belief allows for no personal growth. Once again, astrology is interesting and fun, but it should not be a life-defining belief as it is riddled with errors and unacceptable excuses for toxic behavior.

P.s No disrespect to those who do believe, especially those who believe for fun as I often do!

Goodricke Week #6

     Due to all of the snow days keeping me from school, work, and extracurricular activities, I've had a lot of time to reflect on the people who matter to me the most. I'm so incredibly grateful to have the great friends and supportive family that I do. I'm sure I'll talk about family in a separate blog post, but today I want to talk about my friends. Each one of them has remained consistent in my life for about 7 years, and that's something that I'll forever be grateful for. 

   My friends and I make it a point to see each other at least once a week. That mainly means Michael, Grace, and Izzy finds their way over MY house mainly on Thursdays or Sundays. Not sure why my house is the one that everyone prefers, but since that means I can sleep on my own bed instead of tough air mattresses or tiny couches, I'm all good with it. I think it could be because my house is the closest to the school or food places, but it is kind of out of the way for Izzy and Grace. Michael just kinda comes over whenever he feels like it and for however long he wants. I, of course, have no issue with this. I would literally move in with them if I could, but I would constantly clean up spills and dishes for them just like I do right now. 

    When we all hang out, it mainly consists of listening to Ariana Grande albums, talking to each other in specific accents, playing Roblox, talking about deep life stuff, go on drives, and watching various movies. That's mainly all I can specifically think of right now, but we definitely do a lot more. Of course, it doesn't matter what exactly we do, I am grateful for every moment I spend with them. 

    With every relationship or friendship, one may have, of course, you're expected to have ups and downs. Not everyone has remained consistent in all of our lives. As we all are maturing and changing, it's normal for not everyone who was once in their life to be there consistently forever. People grow apart, it happens. What's important to know is that just because you and someone else grew apart, it doesn't mean you'll continue to be apart forever. Eventually, people can find their way back to each other once again. 

I'm forever grateful for that fact. I'm grateful to have the support and love in my life that I have around me. I'm grateful for all of the 4:00 am nights, disagreements, spills, expensive Grubhub orders, and more. 

I love my friends. 

Michael and I 

Michael, Izzy, Grace, and I 

Izzy and I :)

Dawe: Week 6

 The Misunderstanding of Pitbulls and Parolees

    My favorite show when I was about 10 or 11 years old was Pitbulls and Parolees. This is weird considering I did not know what a parolee was and it wasn't a very kid-appropriate show at some points. The show takes place at a pit bull rescue in Louisiana. The workers at this rescue are all parolees or people that have recently been in prison, and it is all about giving the dogs and the people second chances. 

    Pitbulls are a misunderstood breed of dog. They are very strong and are sadly commonly used for dogfighting. Therefore many believe that they are vicious and overall mean dogs that will attack you on a whim. Some say that it is part of their genetic makeup to have these vicious behaviors towards humans. However, I believe that they have just as high of a chance to be sweet and cuddly as many other dogs. Due to these stereotypes many end up at shelters because no one wants them, or they are rescued from terrible dogfighting or hoarding situations. 

    Parolees are also feared and have a hard time finding jobs after leaving prison and being put on parole. This rescue is one of the only places where they can find jobs and work with animals that are also misunderstood. 

    My favorite episode was when they were able to return a pit bull, named Roxy, to her owner after being at the shelter for over 5 years. At the shelter, Roxy would constantly bark and try to bite all of the workers. She just always seemed on edge and never relaxed or let anyone pet her. The original owner of Roxy actually contacted the rescue and told them that she thought they had her dog. The owner of the rescue decided to take a chance and let Roxy's supposed owner come and see her. 

    When Roxi saw her owner her tail immediately started waging and she ran up to her. She let the owner, pet her and gave her lots of kisses. Roxy was like a whole different dog and was just waiting for her owner this entire time. 

    This not only goes to show that dogs have incredible loyalty and the ability to remember things, but also that they are highly misunderstood. How many dogs are sitting at the shelter right now that are aggressive and mean, but are just missing their owners? Or how many are being euthanized every day because they simply miss their owner and are lashing out? 

    There are so many stereotypes that invade our minds daily about different people and animals. This is just one of those examples that prove most generalized stereotypes are untrue. However, people still believe them after being disproved time and time again and it's aggravating, to say the least. 

Here's a link to the episode I mentioned

Sheka Week 6

 Welcome to the World of Tomorrow!

One of my biggest pet peeves is complaints about the pace of technological advance. When I hear people complain about not having a flying car yet or not being able to visit Mars, I become filled with rage. When my dad was born, barely 50 years ago, the Internet didn’t exist! People assumed that computers would just be a new fad, and home computers were a rarity. Now, we wouldn’t be able to do most anything without computers. The future isn’t coming, we’re already here. But no, complain about how you assumed that we would all be living in space now. 

Over the past 50 years, we’ve had just as many advancements in the biological fields than had in the tech fields. Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal, was born in 1996! That’s less that ten years before I was born! Now, we have CRISPR, a gene-editing tool that allows us to modify the genomes of organisms. It’s effects aren’t merely theoretical either; in July of 2019, the first sickle-cell disease victim was cured using CRISPR! In the near future, they plan on using it to clone extinct or near-extinct animals. That’s insane! While I’m not saying that we can expect a Jurassic Park-style future, it is amazing that we’ve gone from cloning sheep using live samples to being able to cure genetic diseases and potentially resurrect the dinosaurs. But apparently this is still too slow, at least according to my uncle, who’s upset that he can’t have his own pet sabre-toothed tiger. 

What is my point, you may be asking? It’s simple: stop complaining about the pace of innovation! If you aren’t willing or able to make a difference, then you have no right to complain. If you’re upset about not being able to send people to Mars, then get a degree in astrophysics or something, or simply just donate to NASA! You want to make Jurassic Park a reality? Support genetic engineering research! Not only is it very easy to support innovation, this is also one of the best times to do so. Technology has been developing at a breakneck pace for the past 20 years. Most of the people in this class were born when smartphones were in their early stages of development. So stop your griping, and prepare to experience even more innovations in the years to come!

Rodrigues Week VI

  Samuel M. Rodrigues                                 AP Language & Composition                                         23 February 2021

São Miguel Island

    Each summer with the exception for the summer of 2020, my family and I have traveled to the island of São Miguel. Like most, we travel to get away from normal life and spend some time with close family. I know it seems unfathomable, but I actually have grandparents and aunts who live on that small atlantic island and have lived there for their entire lives. Each year, I spend about four months on the island. If you were to add it up, the time would probably equate to about three and a half years -that's a lot of time! When I travel there, I am forced to speak Portuguese which is the main reason why I can speak to this day. In this blog post, I will share a little bit about the culture and explain some of the stories I have from the island of São Miguel.

 The culture on the island of São Miguel is extreemly rich. Family, friends, and tradition are among the most important aspects to the island culture. Many festivals are held to celebrate traditions of the island throughout the year but mainly in the summer time. These festivals include music, food, and traditional clothing. The traditional music that is played is known as fado. The main foods eaten are fish, beef, and an assortment of fruits and vegistables. Although the choice fish on an island might seem obvious to most outsiders, beef is also very common because of the abundance of cows raised on the island. Some of the traditional clothing that can be found at these festivals include dresses that entail complex patterns and button down shirts that contain a variety of colors, patterns, and textures. The only main festival that I truly get to experience during my time on the island is the festival of Capellas. Through this Festival, the islanders are able to connect traditions with the emerging technologies of today's world.

    Now, a little bit about some of my experiences. One of my most memorable experiences include going swimming in the pashina (pool) da lagoa (of the lagoon). This is not a typical lagoon however, but rather a portion of the ocean that is open and has a small bay area free from large waves. Although they've made it safer over the years oh, I remember a time where there were no safeguards and you could dive off of the rocks from anywhere. It might seem unsafe, but it sure was fun. I also enjoy staying at my mom's parents'  house not only because of the fantastic food, but also because of the pool in backyard. I can't tell you how much time I've spent in that pool. Well, thats the skinny of it anyway. I hope that this little recollection of events you can get a little insight into what life is like on the island of São Miguel.

A lagoa de Sete Cidades.

Leszcynski: Week #6

 The Feeling of Relief

We all have major assignments, assessments, or a paper that needs to be written that are very stressful. You might feel the stress for a few days or even a week or maybe two. You wake up and it is the first thing on your mind, you are eating lunch and it is on your mind, you are going to sleep and it is all you can think about. All you think about is this huge assignment or test. It crosses your mind a hundred times a day. You worry that you aren’t studying enough or that you won’t receive a high enough grade for your liking. The constant feeling of pressure is always on you and that is such a terrible feeling to have.

We can all admit that we have felt this way before. However, the best feeling in the world is finishing that assignment. Pressing submit is a magical thing. After I submit an assignment, the pressure immediately fades away. The stress levels go back to normal. The calm person comes back to life. After I submit an assignment, the thought of my grade doesn’t really bother me anymore. I am just ecstatic that I have finally finished the assignment that has been taking a huge toll on my body. 

Today, I had a very stressful assessment for AP Calculus. In Mr. Novak’s class, because of the hybrid schedule, he removed all of the quizzes, so our only grades for the year are homework and unit tests which results in tons of stress. Homework is only 10% of the grade, so our only grades are pretty much our tests. Also to mention, so far we have only had three tests for the whole year. However, I was extremely stressed as it was for our major assessment and to add to that, Mr. Novak told us “this will be the hardest test of your high school career,” which totally did not help the stress levels. Fortunately, I have already taken the test and I am now done! I now have reduced stress levels and can function properly now. 

In case you wanted to know the definition of a derivative haha!

Brougham week 6

The effects of being in school during a pandemic

    As everyone knows, this past year has not been easy for anyone. We have been dealt with extreme once in a lifetime circumstances that will seem to haunt us for quite some time. As a teenager during this time, it has been hard to process all of the changes, most specifically in school. At first when we went virtual, it felt like an extended spring break. I remember March-June feeling like a carefree time where I could pretty much do whatever I wanted. Going to bed at early morning hours, waking up at noon and then finishing all of my asynchronous work, binging new TV shows, and enjoying the new spring weather were the only things on my agenda. Since then, things have changed tremendously. Since then, my attitude has totally changed.

    When junior year started, I was ready to go back to school five days a week. This caused a surprise when the hybrid learning schedule was announced. This past year in hybrid has been one of the, if not the worst, school year of my life. It is crazy that at a time where my personal life is so great, that school is the worst it has ever been. As a student, I have always been a fan of school. I was always good at school and I love to excel, so this was a place where I can come and be the best that I can be. This year, I dread going to school every single day. I believe this is due to the massive changes put in place. I am so for wearing masks and staying six feet apart, but at the end of the day, it adds a weird, unsettling feeling that I can not explain. It makes this place that used to be one of my favorite places seem like something I don't even recognize.

    The worst part of school this year is the asynchronous days. The hours upon hours of workload to do for one day make me feel defeated, and by the time I am done, I have no energy for the rest of the day. I also feel being home every other day is affecting my learning, especially when it comes to AP classes. I knew taking three AP classes was going to be a difficult task, however taking each of those classes one day a week has proven to be a very difficult task. Although my grades are fine, I feel as a student, I am not doing the best that I can.

    My main fear is the fact that I am about a year away from graduating and moving on to bigger and better opportunities, however I feel as if this is coming at a horrible time. I feel unmotivated, incompetent, and a shell of the former academic student I used to be. Although I continue to get my work done on time and get good grades, I can't help but think what could have been if I was given a normal schedule like students in the past.

    To wrap this up, I do want to mention how thankful I am for being safe and healthy in a time where others are not. I am also thankful that the NASD school district and their staff are working as hard as they can in order to create an environment that is as safe and fun as can be, however the bottom line is nothing is the same anymore. Again, I don't want it to seem like I am ungrateful for things in my life. I am just going through a difficult time period and I am sure everyone else is having similar issues in this situation.

Ahearn Week 6

Study Time 

It’s the week before finals and you have to study extra hard for the hardest history exam you have ever taken. You spend every night studying chapter after chapter from your textbook and reading all of your notes. How do you know if your studying is effective or if you are going to even remember the information you are studying? 

Some effective ways to study are to color-code your notes, teaching the information to a friend, and creating written flashcards. Color-coded notes can improve your visual memory and allow easier access to information in your brain during exam time. This easy access to information keeps you from spending too much time on one question. Reading notes and textbook chapters is one thing, but being able to explain what you learned to others shows a true understanding of the material. Explaining and teaching the material to parents or friends is a very beneficial way to study because it shows what you have a good understanding of from the chapter. Finally, hand-written flashcards are extremely helpful because of the amount of repetition. Physically writing out the information creates muscle memory. When you are writing the information down, you are subconsciously saying the information in your head. Then when you go through the flashcards, you are physically saying the words out loud making them more likely to stick. 

In addition to these good study tips, some people work in better environments. Some students like study groups while others prefer studying alone. Some need a silent room while others work better with background noise/music. Personally, I study best with an oral sensory input which could be eating crunchy snacks or chewing gum. This personally helps me stay focused. 

Overall, it is very important to figure out what environments you study and learn best in, so you can make your studying as effective as possible. Once you learn what works best for you, you should try some of these effective study techniques to see which helps you the most. 

An example of how to color-code notes for effective studying.

Ricci week 6

                                                                         Not enough time

    With stress from school, sports, work, and everything else going on, it seems as though there is never a break. However, even when I do have time to myself, I feel as though I am not being as productive as I should be. I often find myself scrolling through social media wasting time, instead of doing something meaningful. I have started limiting the hours I spend on my phone, and replacing them with new hobbies.    

    Something new that I have gotten into recently is crocheting. I have always wanted to learn but never really took the time too. Now that I have started, it has become an activity that I really enjoy. I have also started playing the guitar more often. I have been playing since I was about ten, however I hadn’t picked up a guitar in about three years. I had forgotten just how much I liked it. It makes you feel better knowing that you are doing something useful with your life, rather than wasting time. 

Although I enjoy being busy, I have also realized that constantly trying to be productive, and doing something, can make you feel worse. I feel like I am always too worried about what I should be doing, rather than just taking time to be present. I have learned that it is okay to take time and just do nothing. It is important to find things that you enjoy doing, but you don’t always have to be doing something.

Kryemadhi: Week 6

 My Life In Ten Years

    We are all juniors, which means the end of high school is near. I can't seem to figure out where all that time has gone. It feels like just yesterday was the first day of freshman year, but now "adulting" is just around the corner. Family members constantly ask me, “Do you know what you want to be,” “Do you know where you wanna go,” “Are you ready to leave home?’ The simple answer to all those questions is no. If I can barely decide what to eat for breakfast in the morning, how in the world am I supposed to make choices that are going to affect the rest of my life? Even though I don’t know everything, I have a slight idea about what I want my future to hold. 

    First off, I hope to be happy and healthy. No matter what my future entails, I hope it is filled with many many smiles. Most importantly, I know if my best friend is by my side, it will most definitely be filled with laughter and happiness. Regardless of what life throws at us, together we can handle anything. As I move away from home, I hope to stay close to my family as well. Additionally, maybe years from now I will even start a family of my own. Lastly, I hope that all my loved ones are in good health and that COVID is long gone by then. 

    To add on, I hope that 10 years from now I am working in the medical field. Hopefully I will have graduated from a good university and completed my residency program. For years now, I have loved to help people. From doing volunteer work in my community to assisting classmates (in school or dance), I love to lend a helping hand. Working in the medical field can help me fulfill the love I have for helping others. I would like to either be a physician's assistant, pediatrician, or even a dermatologist.

    Last but not least, I hope that travel has become an even bigger part of my life. My parents have already started my love for travel, but I hope to continue it in my later life. One of my goals is to visit each continent. I can currently check off Europe (and North America of course), but I hope to have the opportunity to visit the other five. I would even like to go backpacking through Europe at some point.

    Believe me, I know that  thinking about your future can be can be beyond stressful. But, even still,  if you keep your goals in sight, anything and everything is possible. 

A Hawaiian Island (just one of the many places I would like to visit).