Why I Hate Social Media by Grace Sander

Warning: You might experience several direct quotes from your Grandfather/anyone born before the creation the cell phone.

I hate Twitter. I hate Snapchat. I hate Instagram. I say that but at the same time, I am currently switching between those apps. So I guess I don't hate them, but I don't exactly like them either. Recently I have taken several “social media cleanses”. It is actually weird to say that. I've discovered just how toxic social media really is. That every picture, every status update, and every tweet just ruins us.

When I have told friends of mine about how I deleted the apps to get away from cyberspace they say “Good for you!” as if it is an accomplishment or something the average human can't do. But I guess it is harder than it seems. I'm a lucky one. I don't need social media. Yes, I am nosy so I love seeing who did what this weekend, yes I have accepted people I barely know just to gain a few more followers. But I can stop, I have. In the past two-three months I have deleted the two social media apps that I find the most harmful yet my most used(don't count Pinterest) Instagram and Snapchat, at least once a week. Then the next funny questions I received the next ridiculous statement,”How are people going to talk to you”

I hate how social media defines us. That every like or favorite triggers an endorphin in our brain similar to seeing a loved one or after exercising. The fact that we feel invalidated if we don't get a certain amount of likes on a pixelated image of us and our dog. Perfect example, ladies and even the gentlemen we post a picture on Instagram and we really like the way we look in it so we hope that that special someone will acknowledge us and agree with what we already feel with a mindless double tap. And for a few seconds we feel loved and validated. Then even quicker we zoom into the picture to see if it is noticeable that we airbrushed out a pimple or the way a picture looks worse the more we stare at it. Oh and then there is the flip side where if that special person doesn't like the photo, our heart shatters. We are ugly and should just delete it. I remember when I was in sixth grade and I hit 100 followers on Instagram my reaction was crazy. I think that when I actually sat down at my dinner table and my father asked me how my day was I said amazing because I hit triple numbers on Instagram. “Ugh I’ve only gotten 120 likes in my first hour of posting, that's only two likes a minute”

I hate how social media is a competition. That it isn't even about sharing our lives anymore, it is one big competition. Every Snapchat story is the same. Who is with more people? Who is having more fun? Who has the best life? Everyone is trying to out do one another. That half of the reason of going out isn't about seeing friends and just relaxing, it is for the pure satisfaction of saying that you went out. Streaks? Please someone answer me this, what is the point of having a 146 day snap streak with someone you barely talk to but it is part of your daily routine to Snapchat them, for what? So you can tell people you have a 146 day streak whoever? And if you don't have streaks, than you must not have friends or must be boring. That nobody wants to talk  to you. ”If you didn't post a story did you really go anywhere?”

I hate how nobody can speak to each other anymore. I personally don't like texting, yes it is great if you want to tell your mom you are out of shampoo or let someone know you are on your way to pick them up. But me, If I am trying to make plans or tell a story I can’t deal with waiting for someone to text back. The world of texting as made it so that nobody has to answer anything if they don’t want to. If that random kid wants your math answers and shoots you a text, you can pretend that you never got the text. There are things that shouldn’t be left to a text. An argument, a heartfelt message. People need to hear the words come out of your mouth, see the tears stream down your face, and give you a hug the minute you have amazing news. Why do we feel the need to compress all of our excitement with a text or Snapchat.

I hate the way social media hurts us. My favorite thing ever is a cryptic caption. Example, a couple breaks up, so to remind Girl posts selfie, maybe a little more skin is shown or more makeup worn just to remind boy of what he is missing. Boom, cryptic caption that is indirectly but obviously geared towards one person. Then let's talk about finstas or fake Instagram accounts. They have become a place where bad mouthing other people is completely normal and expected.

So this is why I dare everyone to take a break from social media. Find ways to share life's moments without emojis. Enjoy the parties and date nights not because it makes for great Snapchat material. And whatever you do, do not relate your self worth to your highest liked photo.

Cheers, Grace

Saving Lives One Quarter at a Time by Carly Piniaha

      Mrs. Doubtfire saved my life. I'm sure you've seen when Robin Williams performs the hymlick in one scene to his ex-wive's boyfriend. Though I don't really remember this scene well, I give thanks every day that it exists. At four years old, you do some pretty dumb things. There is an extensive list of cringe-worthy, horribly, stupid moments throughout my childhood, but one particular memory tops the list.  Long ago, I was trying to balance a quarter on my nose, while laying down. And on top of this being dumb enough to leave my mouth open. At the time the only one home was my sixteen year old sister who was in the shower (great babysitting skills Nicole, love you). This quarter ended up lodged in my throat and and I stumbled down the hallway to find my sister as my face turned blue. Thankfully she was out of the shower and was able to save my life by giving me the hymlick. Now my sister is no doctor, in fact I think she would weep at the sight of blood. But because of her ablilty to retain information from a movie, that scene from Mrs. Doubtfire was my saving grace. Just as I started to lose consciousness, she squeezed me hard enough to unlodge the quarter and send it flying. So here I am, to say to all children everywhere, do not balance a quarter on your nose.  Unless your sister has seen Mrs. Doubtfire, then feel free to trifle with death.

What a Change in the Weather Can Bring: by Jillian Parks

As we all know, as spring comes around, there is a change of mood in the student body surrounding us. No more glum and sappy faces wal
k the halls, but rather, smiles can be seen everywhere. At some point in our life, we all might say "sorry, it's this weather that's making me sad," and we are not wrong, as here are 4 ways the weather scientifically influences your mood.

1. A Lack of Sunlight Can Make You Sad
A lack of sunlight can cause Seasonal Affective Disorder. Appropriately known as SAD, this mood disorder usually affects people from October through April when daylight becomes more scarce. When exposed to less sunlight, your body produces more melatonin, the hormone which makes you feel sleepy. And just as your body begins craving mid-day naps, your brain begins producing lower levels of serotonin — the neurotransmitter that affects mood, appetite, sleep, and sexual desire.

2. Cold Temperatures Can Lead to Physical Lathargy
Cold temperatures reduce sensory feedback, dexterity, muscle strength, blood flow, and balance, which can impact your performance of complex physical tasks.

3. Sunlight Makes You Spend More Money
Researchers found that exposure to sunlight is associated with higher levels of spending. Since sunshine makes us feel more positive, consequently, it also causes us to shop more.

4.Being Outside Can Improve Your Memory, And Boost Creativity
Researchers from a 2004 University of Michigan study found that people who spent at least 30 minutes outside during periods of pleasant weather reported improved mood, memory, and openness to new information and creative thoughts.

I hope this raises your spirits a little, so be sure to get some fresh air and enjoy the smell of spring while it lasts :)

Why Should You Study Abroad?

by: Sara Nigro

Over spring break, I recently went on a college road trip with a few of my friends to Virginia to look at UVA, James Madison University, William and Mary, as well as the University of Richmond. This being my first time looking at colleges, I learned many new details about the experience of college, what to expect, and the varying features that each school had to offer their students. Although there were a lot of interesting facts and statistics about education, sports, and other extracurriculars, what automatically captivated me was the programs available to study abroad. Similarly to many others, I plan to and would absolutely love to travel to as many places as possible, learn about other cultures, have new and different experiences, and develop my skills in several languages.

In all of the colleges I visited, studying abroad was a very popular attraction to up and coming freshman, most likely since we are much more advanced in our ways of travel and education than we used to be. One of the best reasons to consider studying abroad is that unlike a vacation, you get to stay for more than just a few weeks as well as getting to accomplish whatever you would be learning at your school in the US, but with a different surrounding, new people, and all the fun of a vacation. 

Although traveling while learning is not all fun and games, it can also be extremely beneficial to the learning and real world experience of the student. For example, it develops communication skills through advancing in new languages, it increases global awareness of what is actually happening in the world since we only have a sneak peek through the news that we receive, and also can help you grow as a person as well as learn about yourself through learning about other cultures and people.

Studying abroad is often overlooked because to some it sounds impractical and even inconvenient to since you would be living in a different country away from your home for extended periods of time, yet it is such a valuable opportunity that should be taken advantage of. Now with schools so easily allowing you to transfer your credits t o enable you to travel across the world, you should take the schools up on their offer. This experience is giving everyone the chance to grow and develop into the best version of themselves and if possible I recommend giving it a try to enhance your style of life.

Boudica, The Pre-Modern Feminist

Throughout history, there have been leaders for various political movements that encompass a large amount of people. Perhaps the largest of which is the struggle for the equality of genders, or as it is commonly referred to, feminism. Many people say feminism started with the suffragette movement for voting equality, but many Britons would tell you that it started with Boudica. Boudica, or as commonly Latinised, Boadicea, was a famous leader of the rebellion of the Celtic people's against the ruling Romans during the middle first century. Boudica was Queen of several Celtic tribes, but when her husband died he left the lands equally to their daughters and the Roman Emperor. It wasn't until the Roman's then annexed the lands and declared them conquered without regard to the King's will, that Boudica stepped in and took control of the lands herself.

A statue of Boudica in Colchester

While the Roman general that was charged with holding the new lands was off conquering Wales, Boudica led the Iceni and several other tribes in revolt and destroyed Camulodunum. This is known as modern day Colchester, which is where I used to live in England. She then moved on to Londinium, modern day London, all the while being perhaps the first female ruler in all of Europe. She faced persecution, japes, demoralization and downright disgust when she rode as a warrior among her male peers.

Despite all of this, she was the only one of the Celtic people who stood up and made her voice heard among the deafening roar of the Roman Empire. The fierce redhead stood strong against the tyranny of the vast Roman Empire, up until her death. When she was captured, the Roman general wanted to perform obscene acts on her as a warning to all other women in the empire that they had no place in a man controlled world. Upon hearing this, she poisoned herself as a message that until her last breath she would defy the path set out for her by her male overlords. A feminist icon in England, many places have statues or entire buildings named after her. Because of this wide recognition, many Britons regard Boudica as one of the most profound and greatest monarchs of Celtic history.

Spring Brings a Good Change

Erin Lyden

   Spring break brought me a week full of relaxation and fun with my friends and family. The warm weather is approaching and the end of the school year is new. Over the past week, I have noticed the change Spring brings along. Not only in the weather, but in the overall mood of the people around me (and myself). This poem is my representation of how Spring brings a form of happiness!

Spring time is here,
meaning the end of school is near!
Flowers are blooming,
and Summer is looming.

A warm breeze rolls in,
as I break out my "warm clothes" bin.
Goodbye to the bitter frost,
Winter you can now get lost.

The beating sun now glows on my skin,
and the buttercups shine yellow on my chin.
A few days of rain will not make me feel pain,
for the approaching warm weather makes me feel light as a feather.

The Snow Dethroned by Madison Levinson

Today is the last day before Spring Break and the weather has begun to get warmer and nicer. The last time I had a blog post it was a snow day and I wrote a poem about snow. Now that it's Spring, and my favorite season, I think I should write a poem again.

The sun peeks from behind the cloud.
People gather outside and form crowd after crowd.

"Colors spring in tufts from the ground" 

Flowers beginning to bloom.
Thoughts of warm weather in my mind consume.
The rabbits hop and the bears come out.
On no persons face was there a pout.
Colors spring in tufts from the ground.
The white beast of snow has been uncrowned.
Sports begin and referee whistles blow.
Kids dance and laugh in fields to and fro.
No snowflakes dancing and twirling.
Flower petals in the air and swirling.
No early morning snow day calls.
No more wind or icy slips and falls.
Spring has started to bloom all around.
My will to explore and have fun has now been found.

Genie Wiley and PTSD as Related to Lord of the Flies by Simon Levien

Independent film about the life of Genie Wiley

Genie Wiley is the pseudonym for probably the most famous feral child, and without real human contact for a long time growing up, she displayed irreversible damage. She couldn't walk correctly, understand basic concepts, or even speak. The critical development period for language learning closed before she was rescued by authorities and put in a hospital. They tried teaching her basic sounds and nouns, but she could not speak beyond that. Her abusive parents locked her up in a room for years, where no one talked to her, and all she got was food through a slit in the door every now and then. They tied her to the toilet for most of her life.

Genie is now 59 years old and living as a recluse in a community in California under special care. Clearly, her early conditions have scarred her life beyond repair. Though drastic, the story of Wiley, as well PTSD, are good examples of what the rescued boys in William Golding's Lord of the Flies may have experienced.

On the island, the boys encounter constant violence and savagery; they are dehumanized and now accustomed to gore. Of course, this is not normal and will likely have negative effects on their health after rescue. You would expect that upon rescue, which the boys initially thought of as their ultimate goal, they would celebrate their survival. But by the end of all of their savagery and "fun and games" as the officer put it, all they could do was sob. All the boys had no other response, evidently traumatized by the events on the island.

Ralph wept specifically for the "end of innocence and the darkness of a man's heart" implying that their lives would never be the same, and their childhood, though they are still in it as little kids, would be a childhood no more. I'm sure most of the littluns wouldn't be as affected by the chaos on the island (hopefully not remembering much). But as for Ralph and Jack and many of the biguns, they would have needed counseling and probably a psychologist. I could easily see Ralph falling into depression after these events took place. Even on the island as Jack took power, he began to lose hope, the only things that kept him through it were Simon and Piggy, who are both dead and gone. Many of them would likely have PTSD-like symptoms like flashbacks, which especially so young, can cause serious developmental problems, as if participating in hysteria on the island isn't scarring enough. All of their psychological issues that may come about from Golding's social experiment will only be worsened by the fact that they're just growing kids. Though not as horrific or traumatic, the boys in their later years would definitely have problems similar to soldiers and Genie herself.

Genie at the hospital displayed a "bunny walk" without learning gait on her own.

My Favorite Color By: Ashley Lasko

I am an indecisive person, specifically the kind that will list every pro and con and compare everything before deciding what to do. This has helped me in some scenarios, but it usually ends with me spending 15 minutes to decide to do what I had originally planned. When I was younger, I’d stare straight up, debating my choices for half an hour; this inevitably drove my parents insane. I’ve gotten better as I’ve matured, picking out random half-decent outfits for the next day (with an exceptional lack of fashion sense) and just selecting a book or project to prevent the otherwise inevitable 30 minute period where I stare blankly at both options until something clicks.

However, as you’d assume from the phrase “I’ve gotten better”, I’ve still got a long way to go. There’s the all-too-real student struggle of whether ‘A’ or ‘C’ is the “more” correct answer or having your entire ice cream size, flavor, and toppings picked out to discover you’ve missed a whole separate board of the daily specials. Which, unless you're the person who orders the same flavor at every ice cream stand, will cause you rethink your entire order.

My point among this two-paragraph intro is that decisions are hard. It’s difficult to forever say “yes” or “no”. However, do we really need to have an answer for every decision? Obviously you can't go through life with deciding your end goal or what you need to do to get there, but there are little decisions along the way that I feel fit into the category “Do I really need to answer this?”.

One such question, which is the only reason I came up with this blog idea in the first place, is “what is your favorite color?”. You probably haven’t heard this since you spoke it yourself when in grade school, unless you have a constant connection with a younger generation. I don’t know how most people respond to the pestering of an 8 year old, but I immediately go to pink or blue. Pink because that was my color when I was 8 and blue because it’s blue. I don’t know why everyone likes the color blue, it apparently “looks cool”, but that’s them and not me.

So, as children don’t tend to do but they sometimes do which doesn’t make sense but it’s hard to tell if children actually do this or the media is portraying something different than it actually is which they probably are, I started to look at the question with a deeper meaning. What would my favorite color be, other than because it “looks cool”? After taking a few art classes to escape life, I've learned that different colors represent wealth, maturity, intelligence, and nearly any other trait you can think of. This made picking a favorite color easy; I just pick a color that matches my personality and then the larger than life problem was solved. There was no point to the introduction of this blog. Anyone can pick one thing or another with enough dedication.

Except, as indicated by the paragraphs below, my quest for a perfect color was far from over. No one is just smart or just happy or just angry. You can’t define someone by one trait. So, I still had no idea what my favorite color was. I decided that I would think on this a bit longer before deciding on a color. Despite how long it would take, despite the many bus rides staring out the window and the constant wondering, I would figure this out. Then, I came to the realization that answers the title of my blog.

Why do I need a favorite color? I can do what I’ve done for four or five years and simply tell those 8-year-olds that I think pink is an awesome color. They won’t think much of it, they’ll simply go into a tangent of why they love purple the best, since it was the newest pop figure’s hair color (or something along those lines). So, why did I choose to narrate my quest for the best color anyway? Especially if it ended basically where it began?

It highlights the idea that we don’t need to decide every little thing, and nothing has to be a favorite. You don’t need to have you favorite dish at that one restaurant or pick a Harry Potter character over the others, because (to me) one J. K. Rowling's biggest strengths of her novel was her characterization. Maybe you do have a favorite color, or maybe Neville Longbottom is undoubtedly your favorite character. We can have our favorites. However, I think we should be able to say we can’t decide on a favorite with as much appreciation and as little pressure as someone who knows what they like best.

Easter Traditions Poem By: Caroline Kepler

A holiday on a different Sunday every year

Easter is celebrated every spring

It always fills my family with cheer

And we have traditions for everything

Every year my family gathers together,

Easter baskets are opened in the morn

We all get to enjoy the warm weather

At Easter time there is nothing to mourn

Colorful eggs are laid across the lawn

My cousins and I race to collect them

It could be pouring rain, yet we would run-on,

Collecting eggs that are filled with gems

When the egg hunt is done we all sit down to a feast

The meal just gets better every year to say the least

  

Relationships Today by Bailey Kellenberger

Chivalry used to be alive and well among men. They would run through puddles to open and hold the door for a lady. Men would spontaneously buy a women flowers with a simple card reminding her that she is loved and beautiful. Today, however, it seems chivalry has died. Men care more about how large a women's breasts and butt are. They do not open doors, rather  they open DM's with a vulgar message such as "ur a hottie.. send nudes?". Dates have become nothing more than him wanting to make out with a girl in a car. We live in a generation where physical attraction and beauty seem to be the only important thing. Men do not hesitate to take advantage and act on these attractions. Here is my poem from the perspective of a young female living in this society.

What He Wants 

His lips began to clench together

His game has changed 

I don't want to play 

His skin like glue 

I try to free myself 

Only to get stuck more 

His fingers a python 

Wrapping itself around its prey 

I am suffocating 

His voice remains hauntingly calm 

One thought in mind 

None in mine 

Less Is More - A Personal Reflection (By Chris Hwang)

            Just two years ago, my family and I decided to make one of the biggest decisions of our lives. In February of 2015, my dad called a family meeting immediately following dinner. When my brother and I heard this, we knew right away that something was wrong. We could sense it in his voice. My brother and I being the curious kids we were, incessantly questioned the reason for the emergency meeting. My father simply responded, “you’ll know after dinner.” After a while of asking “why,” my brother and I started to guess. Every guess made me more and more nervous about what I was about to hear. Eventually, I came up with a question. One that made me tremble every time I repeated it in my head. “Are we moving?” As soon as my dad heard me say this, he stopped eating, glanced at me, and then at my mother. My face started to turn bright red. My stomach started to bother me. I had completely lost my appetite. Although he replied once again with, “We’ll talk later,” it was evident that we were moving. It was soon to be a reality that I didn’t want to face. I mean after all, I had been living in that beautiful and spacious house all my life. Not to mention, in the city of Danbury all my life. If we were to move, I’d be leaving all my friends behind, who were like family to me.

            What felt like a perpetual dinner came to an end. With my stomach in knots, it was finally time to have our family meeting. It took all my might to listen to what I was about to hear, and to hold back my tears. It was apparent that my father was prolonging his speech but I couldn’t blame him. After all, it’s really tough to tell your family that you need to move after you’ve been living there so long. When he finally gave us the news, my brother started to cry. I felt awful, but there was nothing I could do to show empathy. I was in shock and disbelief. In an attempt to console him, my father opened up his laptop, and brought up the Zillow website. He then instructed my younger brother to help them pick out a new house. The only catch was that it had to be in northern New Jersey. After seeing all the “cool” houses on Zillow, my brother started to feel a little better. In fact, he even became a little excited about moving into a new house. My dad’s trickery didn’t work on me! I was too consumed by sadness, anxiety, and fear to be swayed into a state of excitement and jubilation.

            The next day I went to school feeling terrible. I couldn’t concentrate in class. All I could think about was that in a few months, I would no longer be living in the place that I so-called “home.”  People noticed my peculiar behavior, and asked me what was wrong. I couldn’t tell anyone because tears were always so imminent. Over the course of the next few weeks, I started to embrace it more and more. For the rest of the school year, I didn’t think too much about the move. Instead, I tried to make my last few months of living in Danbury unforgettable. It was around May when we finally decided to put our house on the market. To our surprise, it sold in one day. However, it made me angry to think that someone else would take over my bedroom and my backyard and all the hiding places that my brother and I used for cover when playing man hunt. It turns out, a nice, older couple bought our house and I knew they would care for it. 

            Days and days went by but we hadn’t found a house “suitable” for us in northern New Jersey; Sparta to be precise. There were a plethora of homes to choose from but my parents were too selective. We viewed countless dozens of homes. The homes were always nice, but most did not have a flat backyard, or the kitchen was too small, or there was no bonus room or finished basement for my brother and I. We were starting to lose all of our optimism. Finally, my dad gave in and suggested that we find a place to rent until we find that "perfect" house to purchase.

            It was early June when we finally found a place to rent. It was a petite place, but it would do for the time being. My parents biggest fear was that we would have trouble adjusting, considering that we would be downsizing. All our lives we had been used to living in a spacious house, and now, we would be challenged with living in a cramped quarters where we would feel as if we were on top of each other all day and night. 

            At first, it felt this way, but as time progressed, we adapted to our new scenario and even began to notice something that we had never truly felt in our larger house: unity. While living in our prodigious house in Danbury, our family rarely ever spent good, quality time together. My mother would constantly be in the kitchen cooking, my brother upstairs in his room playing with his Legos, my father in his office, and me in the family room playing video games. We were always so spread apart despite living under the same roof. It was as if there was a large, invisible wall that separated each of us brought about by artificial boundaries of space and distance. But from what I have noticed thus far, our old ways are no longer present in our new home. Nowadays, I find us all sitting together in the cozy (tiny) living room watching TV, reading books, playing cards, or engaging in cheerful dialogue; things that we rarely did as a family before. I even sometimes find us all downstairs in our basement having a family game of ping pong. What was once a nightmare turned out to be a bright future for my family. It has brought us closer together, or in other words, unified us. 

          Today is now April 5th, and we are in contract for a larger home. We will be moving in less than three weeks. As much as I am looking forward to living in a nice big house again, I fear that my family will go back to our old ways, all doing our own thing and creating zones of solitary reclusion in our new, larger house. I fear that we will forget how to enjoy the quality time that came along with our small town house. I regret being fearful of living in such close quarters with my family, which I first assumed would aggravate me; because it did nothing but make me appreciate my family all the more.

Shakespearean Sonnet By Matt Dumbroff

Seeing as we have just begun learning about Shakespeare, and his many works I thought it appropriate to write a sonnet in iambic pentameter just like that of Shakespeare's, using some of his most famous lines in an attempt to emulate his work.

Against the stormy gusts of winter’s day

I tell the day, to please him, thou art bright

And in mine own love’s strength seem to decay

Yet doth it steal sweet hours from love’s delight

Toward thee I’ll run, and give him leave to go

In so profound abysm I throw all care

That you yourself, being extant, well might show

If Time have any wrinkle graven there

If my dear love were but the child of state

Incapable of more, replete with you

Thus policy in love, t’anticipate

And I by this will be a gainer too

Her audit, though delay’d, answer’d must be

Without accusing you of  injury

.

"Dear Evan Hansen" Review by Kamryn Foster

Good day, everyone! Now, this isn't a Kamryn Foster post if it's not late, so here I am - 2 days behind schedule! But hey, here's my excuse. I was too excited to go to New York City and watch a Broadway show! I mean, who wouldn't be? Nevertheless, I went and saw "Dear Evan Hansen", the new Broadway musical, and so here are my thoughts!

The best way to put it was that it was absolutely stunning. I had chills throughout the entire production, and I even teared up at some parts. It really was an emotional roller coaster. The whole soundtrack was just so heartfelt, and you could tell that they wrote it in such a way as to try to connect with the audience. The dialogue was so funny and kept the viewers on the edge of their seats - those simple one-liners will get'cha! But I don't encourage you to bring small children, since there's also a lot of cussing in the show. They did an incredible job with the casting, too. Remember Benji from "Pitch Perfect" and "Pitch Perfect 2"? Well, he's the star of the show, and Ben Platt's vocals are phenomenal! I really do 10/10 recommend this to anyone who wants to see a more modern  Broadway performance, since there's no dance numbers or anything - it's just pure storyline and singing! They also showcase how social media plays such an important role in society nowadays and how it impacts our lives.

I think I should be a professional critic, honestly. Alright, well that's about it, frankly. I hope I got your gears turning to try to get you to think about seeing "Dear Evan Hansen", and you'll thank me for it later. Have a grand day, everyone!

The Importance of Theater by Juleanna Green

As many of you may know from my past blog posts, I am involved with our school drama club and a participant in our fall drama. Since I am so passionate about drama and since we are about to start reading Shakespeare, I thought this would be a good time to comment on how important theater is.

Shakespeare is one of the most well-known authors of our time (I would say arguably, but I don't think there's really any argument about it). This just goes to show how influential Shakespeare is in society. That is a huge reason of why we teach his work (mostly his plays)- why would we teach it if it was unimportant?

One group of people who have had a huge impact on me is a theater group. For those of you who do not know Team Starkid, I highly recommend going on YouTube right now and searching for one of their musicals (links to a few of my favorites below). If you are a Harry Potter, Star Wars, Batman, or Disney fan, guess what: they have a comedic musical parody for that (three for Harry Potter). They are, respectively, A Very Potter Musical (the sequels being A Very Potter Sequel and A Very Potter Senior Year), Ani: A Parody, Holy Musical B@man, and Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier. They also have some musicals that are not parodies, including one about the Oregon Trail (The Trail to Oregon), one about the dawn of time (Firebringer), and one about alien bugs on another planet (Starship).

They inspire me so much because they started this group when they were in college, back in 2009, and have since become internet famous. They also all work really hard for charity, and if I do half as much for people in my lifetime as they have done, I will be happy.

Starkid has lead to some of the greatest experiences of my life. Two years ago, I had my first live experience with them when they brought The Trail to Oregon to New York City (they are based out of Chicago). I not only met some of my idols, but I got to share an amazing experience with my fellow Starkid fanatic, Caitlin (and, you know, my sister and mom were there too). Since then, I have also attended their reunion in Michigan and and a showing of Firebringer live in Chicago. There, I met my favorite Starkid (Lauren Lopez), but also met Darren Criss (guess what-- he was also a Starkid, for those of you who know him from elsewhere).

Imagine-- without theater, none of these experiences would have been possible. Besides this, I have made amazing friendships and learned a lot about myself through our school’s drama club-- something else that would never have happened without theater. Drama club has brought out the best side of me, and has made me both a stronger speaker and a stronger person in general. So, next time you question why we read plays in school, just remember that theater can lead to unexpected experiences and amazing adventures that you would never have dreamed of!! (Also, Starkid is awesome I highly recommend them).

A Very Potter Musical:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmwM_AKeMCk&list=PLC76BE906C9D83A3A

Starship:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAi0XQPgXmQ&list=PLC6A915952D67F112

The Real Purpose of Simon's Character -Alysa Stouch

As we all know, Simon from Golding's The Lord of the Flies has been given a spiritual purpose in many conspiracies. Some people feel as though his innocence, sacrifices, and natural instincts to help others represents a Christ figure, or even Jesus. However I feel very differently and this is why:
Throughout the novel different theme topics regarding human behavior are developed and demonstrated by the boys personal conflicts and conflicts with each other. The growth of each character is used to portray the different ways the 'beast' within us will soon take over and evil will always overpower the good.
Jack
It is clear the most viscous beast of the story lies within Jack. His character is used to show how evil will win through the power of fear. He gains dominance with aggression and force and turns to savagery.
Roger
Along with Jack, the growth of Roger shows how even the sweetest child can go wild under the power of darkness. He proves the idea that the beast truly lies within each of us, even the east expected.
Ralph
Ralph's interference with evil is less obvious than the other boys, he starts off as the elected leader and attempts to stay humane. He sets up rules and boundaries to keep peace but as stated before, the force of darkness will overpower  the good. Jack and his tribe resort to violence and Ralph suffers the consequences of not joining. He is chased through fire until he is rescued.
SamnEric
The twins, like Ralph, represent the consequences of resisting evil. In their attempts to stay humane, they are captured by Jack's tribe, tied to a tree, and brutally beaten. This shows how goodness cannot always lead to a happy ending.  
Simon & Piggy
Finally, we have Simon and Piggy. I grouped these two characters together because they demonstrate the same concept. Under the ruling of savagery, innocence becomes naïve and peaceful becomes weak. Both Simon and Piggy are kind and both become victims of evil. Golding wanted to prove that even though a small percentage of the boys on the island would remain sane, they would not survive under the monarchy and panic that develops. Perhaps, this pessimistic idea does not only refer to survival and can be witnessed on a much larger scale...

The Rain (By Eve Curras)

     We sat in the car, my clothes soaked to the skin, beads of water dripping down my forehead.  My mother and I had just raced against the rain, and as always, the rain had won.  It was just the two of us now, the only sound was that of the struggling heater and the pitter patter of droplets on the windshield.  I remarked how the rain was depressing.  My mother turned to me, saying "You shouldn't ever say that.  It will melt the snow."  And I found myself thinking hard about what she said, so I decided to write a poem about it.

The Rain

The promise of the first snowfall

Cold, white water brings the enchantment of Christmas time

But soon cold water is simply cold

And snow becomes vexatious

Pounds of white to be shoveled, not cherished

And winter is bitter, like a foul taste on your tongue

But April brings the rain

Winter wonderland becomes a distasteful memory

And only gloom remains

But with the rain comes the promise of green

And eventually the snow is gone, like all things

A breath of warmth is blown

Flowers take their shape among the growing grass

The sun dances across the pavements

Jackets are forgotten, boots left behind

The promise of rebirth hums in the air

So I thank the rain

For the fresh starts, a time of new beginnings

And for melting the snow

Painted Faces by Chloe Caldi

Painted Face

A face is a representation of the soul
The eyes are it's windows
The mouth is it's door
What happens when that face is covered?
When it is painted?

A face is part of a person
It is impressionable
Red, blue or yellow
Green, purple and pink
Colors that could mask a face

Warpaint that inspires the savage inside us
Butterflies on a cheek that brings out our childhood
Makeup for anyone who chooses to wear it
Paint in all colors and textures
That allows us to choose how we want to look

A painted face changes your appearance
And each and every person can use a brush
To paint on their chosen colors
And shape your own future
So what do you want to paint?
Who do you want to be?

Why Standardized testing is far from pleasant- DC

Why the Useless PARCC Test is Odious and Vile (with Scientific Backing and Logical Reasoning)

By Derek Campbell

In this day and age, whether you are a parent, teacher, or student, the unholy phrase "Standardized test" sends shivers down your spine. It causes unnecessary stress and hinders class-time for learning an actual lesson, which is ironic considering the fact that main point of school is to teach. However, the real-backstabber is the fact that unlike the SAT and ACT (which plays a major role in the transition between high and college), the PARCC test means next to nothing for the student's academic future, and here's why...

Logical Fallacies:

While researching, I decided to go straight to the source, the home-base parcc.gov. Within it I found this broad and boisterous claim: "Recent independent studies have found PARCC aligns to the standards and assessment criteria that matter most"(parcc.gov). However, I was not able to find a definition for the phrase "criteria that matter most" anywhere on the website. So I ask you, what academic criteria matters the most? If I were to respond to that question, I would say that the information that will propel you furthest in life would be most important (which means information regarding basic human interactions, finances, and general information regarding the occupation you choose). Yet, almost every question I received was reading analysis of fictitious or vague historical stories (which does not help me very much in my aspirations of the science field of work). But I digress...
Curious to know what independent studies were taken, I continued searching around the official website. "A string of studies in late 2015 and early 2016 have shown that PARCC is an effective test"(parcc.gov). The PARCC test was introduced in NJ two years ago, to which I took it in 8th grade as sort of "trial period". What I'm pondering is this: What accurate studies can be taken in a year? To put it in perspective, when the idea smoking was introduced, no one had truly questioned it until the mid-20th century. Although dramatic, the point I'm trying to make is this, you can't make accurate studies in less than a year, especially for when it deals with college success (considering in NJ, no one in college has even taken the PARCC except this year's freshmen, which is too early in college to make a discernible decision regarding the test).
My final rant is another independent study found on the website, which reads: "In November 2015, Mathematica Policy Research reported that PARCC is a strong predictor of success in college, and a Massachusetts Department of Education report found that PARCC assesses the skills that matter most"(parcc.gov). This single quote contains all arguments previously mentioned: the idea that accurate studies about the long-term future can't be made in a year, (at least in NJ) no one currently in has even taken in aside from the freshmen, and the question of "what is academically important" is ambiguous.
The above does not even cover the fact that only 18% of the country takes this exam (only 9 U.S. states, NJ included), or that the PARCC corporation is independent from any state or federal board of education (which pulls into question their knowledge of proper educational practices, the accuracy of their statistics, and their contractual obligation to creating and maintaining a a standardized test for the future benefit of our children).

Scientific Reasoning

One thing that I would like to point out the most; If you're not the greatest at English or Math, you are by no means automatically imbecilic in anyway. However, based upon the Common Core System based PARCC test, we are forced to test in areas we may not excel in, showing inaccurate results of intelligence. I'm no Bill Shakespeare, so half of this PARCC test doesn't even show what I'm good at.
There are also neurological studies that link emotions to mental capacity and cognizance. To quote from pbs.org:

"When we’re in a positive mood, for example, we tend to think more expansively and creatively. When we feel anxious—for instance, when we’re about to take a dreaded math test—that anxiety uses up some of the working memory capacity we need to solve problems, leaving us, literally, with less intelligence to apply to the exam." (pbs.org)

In order to show the complete mental capacity we have, we would have to be having the best day in the world without any stress (and "Standardized Test" is practically synonymous with stress). This leads into my next point, Stress. There are several neurological studies showing that increased amounts of stress is not healthy for the brain, and that "Chronic Stress Can Damage Brain Structure and Connectivity"(psychologytoday.com). The purpose of a test is record our knowledge on a topic, not to deteriorate our mental state, so why create more tests to worry about (i.e. PARCC)

Practical Issues

Aside from the mental affects, there are also several problems on how the test is conducted and maintained (coming from someone who has just experienced these issues). Firstly, there is loss of class time. The purpose of every class is to teach the students important lessons and skills/abilities that they will use in college and for the rest of our life. What doesn't make sense is taking a test that will "predict" how good we do in college instead of learning to better prepare us for college. There is also the aspect of stress and the amount of tests a high-schooler takes. We already have course finals, as well as the PSAT, ACT, SAT. The difference between these tests and the PARCC is the fact that previous tests actually matter for something (and will have severe consequences for not doing well). I've already mentioned the affect of stress on the mind, and how tests for highs-schooler is the epitome of stress. There is also the risk of computer malfunction/issues (whether it be console itself or the program). I'll be the first to admit, while I was taking PARCC, I had accidentally kicked the surge protector, turning off at least 3 adjacent computers (to which we all had to turn on the computer and reboot the program, wasting about 10 mins of testing time). The point is that accidents like these can happen very easily and is a nuisance to deal with while taking the test. There is also the idea that no program is truly safe from hacks, malware, or simple glitches (and considering this is a newly imposed test, bugs are definitely waiting to be found).

I have discussed the PARCC test with several students (who unanimously agree that it sucks), parents (who are definitely not a fan), and even teachers (who shall remain nameless for privacy reasons). So I ask, why do we even have the PARCC test, anyway? Nobody likes it, it has several flaws and has negative effects on the test-takers. And yet, the corporation received a $186 million grant from the government (and more than 80% of states don't even take the test). PARCC, why?

Useful urls (+sources):
http://www.pta.org/programs/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1724
http://www.nj.gov/education/sca/parcc/
http://www.parcconline.org/about/the-parcc-tests
http://www.parcconline.org/assessments/test-design/independent-studies
http://www.parcconline.org/about/states
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PARCC#Historical_background
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/blogs/secretlife/blogposts/the-science-of-smart-eight-ways-of-looking-at-intelligence/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201402/chronic-stress-can-damage-brain-structure-and-connectivity