This Year by Sarah West

The end of the school year has come so much faster than I have realized, and upon realizing how close we are, spring fever has really begun to kick in. Yet no matter how excited I am to run out of the dim dark hallways into the open heat and beauty of summer vacation after (hopefully) confidently turning in my math final on that dreaded last Monday, I can't help but reflect on what a positive year I've had, and how maybe I shouldn't be wishing to end it so quickly. I have throughly enjoyed and benefitted from every single one of the classes I took in my sophomore year, except maybe gym. I have yet to find the benefit in running around aimlessly, playing sports not everyone enjoys, and being stuck on teams with overly competitive classmates who dominate the game, especially when I have learned more about health and fitness in one week of my anatomy class than in all 10 years I have been forced to take gym class. But besides that one period that never fails to dampen my day, I have had the best teachers and classes I could possibly imagine.

I have never been more genuinely interested in the material I have learned in class than I was in AP Biology and Human Body Systems this year. We did so many cool labs and experiments, including dropping a mixture of ATP and sodium ions onto a rabbit muscle fiber and watching it contract and using the knee-jerk reflex to roughly calculate the speed our nerves send, process and receive signals. I now know how the very smallest molecules in my body work and are constructed, and I just can't help but be amazed at the complexity of it all. I even got to brush up on my art skills by sculpting different body systems and organs on a skeleton mannequin throughout the year.

History was enjoyable this year for the first time since elementary school. Though this was mostly due to the teacher, I laughed, looked forward to the class everyday (except maybe test days) and as a result I was definitely more motivated to study and improve in the class. English, though it has never been an easy class for me by any means, has also been a subject area in which I feel I have improved immensely. I am not sure if it was the monthly blog posts, or just the many essays we have written throughout the year, but it just feels so much easier to write, especially compared to how uncomfortable I felt writing last year. That class also provided me with my first experience with a student teacher, which is something that will definitely be in my memory for a long time in the future.

I've had such a great year, thats the prospect of junior year, with its fair share of AP classes, mixed reviews of teachers and the pressure of the upcoming search for colleges seems just plain terrifying. We all know summer vacation is over in the blink of an eye, and is usually dampened by a decent amount of summer work, and soon enough we will all be back to do it all again. There is no telling what that next year will bring in terms of my workload, teachers, tests and experiences, but life is going to keep moving forward and whether we like it or not, we are all going to be moving forward as well, to hopefully an amazing, memorable, and engaging junior year of high school.    

A True Photo Gallery in the Life of Alyssa Stouch

As you all already know, in class we have been working on our 'journey journal' assignments. For my journey I chose to take a picture everyday of something I appreciate that I usually look right passed. I tried to make my photos capture the weather and tone of the day I took it while also demonstrating the emotions I experienced that day. However, not all my pictures came out so beautifully...and so I decided for my final blog post I would present a photo gallery of all the lost images from my journey that will never be posted on social media or displayed in any public place. I would love to explain why but I feel these photographs speak a thousand words on their own...

I attempted to take a nice photo of this ancient sculpture but...

 I tried to take a cute picture of my dog but he was a little too tired..

Spot my sister...

It only gets worse from here...












"If you're happy and you know it clap your hands"

This one features our classmate Eve in her finest attire ;)

...Okay let that sink in for a bit. Wow I cannot believe I am actually posting these. 

The one thing I love about pictures is that they never lie. You can paint any scene you imagine and write with specific details, but a picture is always true because it 100% happened. So yeah my life is not a perfect picture but it's okay because this is way more fun :)

Endings By Grace Sander

Well...

It is over, well almost. I feel as if this school year has flown by. It has been stressful, exciting, and rewarding. I almost think it is funny, my first entry on this blog was late, and my last one is too. So we could say I have really come full circle, gooooooo Grace! But in all seriousness I have grown as a person this school year. I have discovered what is really important to me. As students we think that all that matters at this point is our grades. Yes they are important, and we should always strive to do our absolute best. However, it doesn't always work out the way we want. That sometimes it doesn't matter how many flashcards you make, lunches you spend getting extra help, or sleepless nights spent studying, sometimes it still isn't enough. So the stress and panic continues until we have hit rock bottom and either sob hysterically or just throw the book at the wall, sometimes both *cough* me *cough*. What was I trying to say? Oh yeah, what is really important to me. I have learned that grades and awards and all of that will not matter once we leave high school. That at the end of the day, nobody will remember a failed math test. Yes they will remember if you failed the quarter but it doesn't mean that your life is over or that it defines you for the next chapter of life. As teenagers we think that our identity and achievements have to exist or be appreciated inside the concrete walls of our high school to matter, through announcements made in the morning or chatter of our classmates  but it doesn't have to. Every day we accomplish something, getting out of bed yes! Way to go! Getting a B on a paper that you worked for hours and hours on, you rock! You became a nuclear physicist, that is amazing!!!! what is that? But the biggest accomplishment of all, is not tangible, it is something that no matter who you are and where you come from you can achieve. Finding a purpose. Chances are it is not in front of you, that it is up to you to go out there and be brave enough to look for it. It will come when you least expect it, when you need it most. It is going to be so amazing that you will just break down in a chair, in the car, at a concert, on the toilet maybe no judgement, and cry with happiness because you found your purpose. It will hit you that who you were in middle school, high school, maybe even college does not matter, is not nearly as significant or meaningful as who you are in that moment. That is what is important. So let us get through finals, get through the next few weeks, the next few years and celebrate. Celebrate all the awful, terrible grades because we all have them. Celebrate about the fantastic essays and halfway decent math tests. Celebrate that you made it another year regardless of how it went, and that you are not finished at school or in life. Please, join me in a toast, raise your water, the pen in your hand, or really anything that is next to you, go ahead I will wait....to celebrate each and every one of you waking up every morning for the rest of your life to go out there and find who or what sets your soul on fire, to find your purpose
                                                      Cheers, Grace

Live Life to the Fullest by: Jillian Parks

"Philippines declares martial law as army clashes with ISIS-backed terror group"




"Terror Alert in Britain Is Raised to Maximum as ISIS Claims Manchester Attack"




"The US and North Korea: From mutual praise to threats of nuclear war, in 10 years"

We are living in a world with constant war, fighting, tragedies. So many precious lives are lost every single day, and yes, we have to live with it every single day. These recent attacks and threats dig holes into our very souls, yes, because we cannot face the thought of losing a sister, a brother, a friend, a daughter, a husband, a wife or whomever may be dear to us. The terrors drill and drill until we feel as though this may not be a world we want to face, as we are too afraid of what might happen if we step out into it. 

But I believe that we cannot let these attacks and threats shape the course of our lives, because I believe that we need to make sure to live life to the fullest, because if we were to live life in fear of getting a disease, getting shot, getting bombed or even getting broken-hearted, then the life we would live would not be the one we want. Sure, you may feel safe, but would you ever feel excited? Sure, you may have saved yourself from heartbreak, but what if you were to have found a person that made you feel ten times happier than you were before? I think we need to make sure of challenging ourselves throughout life, because even in the small chance of possible death, we know that we would be dying doing something worth while. If we keep our hearts locked up, we may never know what could have been in store for us had we just let someone in. 

The most recent attack, as most everyone certainly knows, is that of Manchester. Our hearts may never heal fully from the attack, and even though I am truly and deeply heartbroken and feel awful for the lives lost only a few short nights ago, I am even more afraid of what may happen after. I am afraid that fans will no longer attend a concert they have been dreaming and saving up for since they were ten. I am afraid artists may not give everything they've got into a performance because of a very small, insignificant feeling that their concert could be the next attack. Or even worse: a performer not showing up for their concert at all. I am hoping that this incident has not shaken the rest of pop culture, because where on earth would we be without Friday and Saturday night concerts to let us let go into music and sound that we have a passionate love about? Again, who was lost a couple nights ago, as well as in the Philippines, will never and should never be forgotten because the world should not be this cruel. But sadly, we have to remember that it is, and there will always be antagonistic and dreadful people who walk the earth. So the only thing we can do is not let it define who we are. 

We need to stand tall and proud. We need to keep selling out at concerts and sing our hearts out with no fear. We have to walk the streets of London with our heads high, showing no signs of weakness because there are so many good people. So many more good than bad, and we cannot let that small portion stand between us and the life we want to live.   

Tragedy in Manchester

by: Sara Nigro

I've been deabting on what I should write my blog post about for the past week and I've written a couple of pieces that I was prepared to settle on, until a couple of minutes ago. About an hour ago, maybe less, I received news about an explosion in Manchester right after an Ariana Grande concert. Despite this tragedy occuring on the other side of the Atlantic, I feel somewhat connected to this and very heartbroken over the actions of others. In February I went to an Ariana Grande concert on the same Dangerous Woman tour all of these people were at and I had a great time, unfortunately for those who went to see the show tonight, this night will be tarnished with this tragic memory. In addition, I sincerely sympathize with those who were present at the concert and planned to have one of the best nights of their lives by listening to their favorite music, dancing to the songs and seeing and possibly meeting their idol.

When horrible events like this happen, the question usually left for us to ask is why would someone commit this act of murder? Who was the person who decided that killing and injuring dozens of innocent people was a conscious decision to make? For all we know, it could've not been a terrorist attack but maybe a speaker explosion. Despite the immense amount of rumours and ideas of what may have happened or caused the explosion, this is an event that makes us all take a step back and think about the world we live in. Some people might say that they hate the world, we live with horrible people and we must learn how to control these attacks from reoccuring, yet they do nothing about it. Others are now scared for their life and feel unsafe walking to the bus stop and hanging out at the movies. But what can they possibly do about it? Nothing. They can either choose to live the rest of their lives in pointless fear, or decide to walk fearlessly into the unknown which is the future. I feel both ways towards this, but despite my fear and loss of faith in humanity, I am choosing to have a positive outlook on this and see how disasters pull people apart to push others back together and help those in need.

Although their is so much pain and hurt in this world, there is also so much kindness and love that makes you forget about the devastating times. And do you want to know what's really amazing? The strength that humans have when they come together for a common cause to help others. Through social media there are thousands of people trying to help anyone in Manchester who is currently in need. For example, there are people who live near the area who are offering free rides to those who can't get a ride back home safely. Also due to this tragedy, there are so many missing children that the Holiday Inn decided to let in and allow to stay with them until they can be reached by their family members. And something that I believe is truly incredible, is how by posting pictures of missing people on the internet and the support of others ALL OVER THE WORLD sharing their posts, they were able to find many young people. At the moment there aren't any stone cold facts, just millions of people from across the world sending their sympathy and hearts to those whose hearts are more broken than their own.

+If you'd like to become more educated on this incident, here are some links below+

http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/22/europe/manchester-arena-incident/

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/22/world/europe/ariana-grande-manchester-police.html?_r=0

 

Journey Journal Assignment- Erin Lyden

Journey Journal Assignment

Recently, we have started a new assignment called “Journey Journal”. This assignment requires students to choose a new task (such as working out, sitting at a new lunch table, trying new recipes, etc.) and perform it everyday, for twenty days. At first, I was not overly excited with this project because it is the end of the school year and I am losing motivation to do any work these days. In the end, I decided to take my dog for a walk everyday throughout this twenty day assignment. It has only been a week, but I am already loving the assignment and the relaxation it has brought me. It is a nice break from the load of paperwork and studying I am normally assigned. My mom has joined me a few times, which normally would not be a good thing, but in this case it has been nice to have the time to ourselves. I have thoroughly enjoyed taking the thirty minutes out of my day to not think at all, just walk. It is  also fun to be with my dog because she is the cutest ever. Unfortunately, today it is raining so I will not be able to go for my walk, but I look forward to going on an extra long one tomorrow.

I am really enjoying this new assignment, and would definitely recommend the idea of trying something new for a period of time. It can be surprising how much you enjoy it, and find yourself more motivated or relaxed.

The Day I Decided To Not Ding Dong Ditch Anymore by Thomas Mortillaro

It was early after school, around 3:25. I was a still an adolescent at the age of 14 in eighth grade. I decided to go and ride my bike with my friend Matt down the street. It was an average day and we decided to add a bit of excitement to the ride. We stopped at this old house and we came to a decision to ding dong ditch it. I know it sounds childish but I haven't been really disciplined or tought a lesson by an adult stranger before no matter how sketchy it sounds. So i we went to the door, and it was dead silent except for the leaves crinkling beneath our feet. Our hands were shaking the entire time and once I tapped the ancient doorbell we ran as if we were being chased by Jack Nicholson in the shining. We hid behind this rock with dirt and unknown leaved were protruding from. It was silent for about a minute and we checked for someone very discretely, and right when we peaked, an old man was slowly searching for us. This was so unexpected our giggles turned into gasps and our stomachs having butterflies. a moment later, he peaked over us and we were stuck in our tracks and tried to run but he told us to stop politely. After sending our apologies the old man told us about how he used to this as a kid and that we should know to not do this in such a neighborhood with many old people. He said that they don't usually go outside to see things happening, and to get up to a dumb thing like this really grinded his gears. After leaving, we talked (Matt and I) and made a pact to never ding dong ditch again.

Cringe. By Owen Welsh

Even my captions were awful

If you've ever written something before, (which I'm sure at least a few of you have) you know that after a period of time, say six months or so, if you look back at it you'll think "Wow what was I thinking, god this is awful.". This happens without fail to most things we do, as soon as a hobby becomes uninteresting we quickly grow detached and repulsed by the idea of ever being a part of that community. Yet even if we recognize this vicious cycle of love to hatred, we still repeat it day after day and year after year until suddenly you're in your mid-fifties with your kids moving out and you realize that you pushed away every friend you did have just to satisfy the wants of other people.

But I can't just let you sit through the ramblings of 15 year-old High Schooler without some sort of anecdotal evidence to back up my claim. If you took a cursory glance at this blog back around October of 2016, you would have noticed a post entitled, "Desks are important too!" It even included an exclamation mark in the title to show my faux enthusiasm for the topic of desks. Reading through it now, I can tell you that the content is mediocre at best, the post just states lists and the reasons why I selected a particular part of each list, not quite the next Tolstoy. Though at the time I felt as though Shakespeare had risen out of his grave and possessed my pale and dainty hands as I wrote the ballad of desks in an English classroom. Looking back at my sonnet now, however, tells me how I'd be insulting any famous writer by even thinking about comparing my work to theirs.

Yet I still fall into the same trap as before, I still look at my work now as if it is the best thing I'll ever write in my time on this pale blue dot, even as I know that by the time the school starts up again I'll forget about my current feelings and look upon this very blog post with disgust and disdain. The frustration this realization causes is unimaginable, the fact that your best work will never actually be your best work kills all motivation to continue, and is the basis of the philosophy of Nihilism. Nihilism states that if you aren't furthering anything with your actions, you shouldn't do it, yet by pursuing these futile attempts at writing, I'm furthering myself to become a better writer and thus eclipse my previous ideas. So I resign myself to this infinite cycle of progression and disdain towards my erroneous ways, as the only thing a person can do is to endeavor to try.

Cinquains by Julia Flake

As we have been on the topic of poetry recently in class, I decided to try to write some poetry of my own. The following are cinquains, which are only five lines with a specific structure.

IPhone
Small, Bright
Addicting, Entertaining, Exciting
Destroyer of activity 
Technology

The first line is a noun that will be the subject of the poem. The second line is two adjectives that describe the subject. The third line is three -ing verbs that have something to do with the subject. The fourth line is a phrase that is 8 syllables. Lastly, the fifth line is a noun that is similar to the subject. Here is one more example:

Summer
Warm, Wet
Swimming, Eating, Boating
No more school work to stress about
Freedom

These are just five simple lines that do not take that long to write. Poetry can be easy if you let it! Try out some poetry of your own!

Self-Criticism by Madison Levinson

I, as a student, believe that one of the best skills that an academic can learn is self-criticism. I will often say that I am my own worst critic. At the end of the day you have to be able to look back at what you did and what you could have done differently. In honor of criticism I will look back at all of my blog posts from this year and critique all of them.

#ThrowbackThursday to all my old blog posts 

Blog Post 1: My first blog post was a review of my Summer Reading book: 11/22/63 by Stephen King. I think the idea for a book review is now a bit boring. However, I guess at the time I wrote it I was just getting used to this whole blogging thing. This first blog post comes off just a bit bland and vanilla, not much flavor or voice. It's hard to tell that it was written by me.

Blog Post 2: My second blog post was a tips and tricks guide on how to understand and enjoy Greek literature. I think that this blog post is also a little bland but the tips and tricks are actually useful. Admittedly, Sarah West did a similar blog post to this and I attempted to spiral off of hers.

Blog Post 3: My third blog post was essentially a giant rant. When I wrote this post we were approaching the Christmas season, a difficult and frustrating time for any Jew. When I wrote this I was stressed and annoyed. I essentially just ranted on the keyboard of my computer to write and complete a blog. I think this article is where I start to find my voice and become more comfortable with the idea of a multitude of people reading my writing.

Blog Post 4: My fourth blog post was a modern rewrite of the story of Frankenstein. This was one of my favorite blog posts to write. I felt that through this post I was not only allowed to comment on the ridiculousness of the Novel Frankenstein but the ridiculousness of modern day society as well. I was very proud of myself for writing this blog post, considering that I do not consider myself a creative person. It was definitely hard creating something of my own and posting it for literally anybody to see.

Blog Post 5: My fifth blog post was an appreciation letter to all of the people in my life that have influenced me positively. I don't know who reads this and out of the people who read this I don't know how many of you actually know me but I am not an affectionate person. Writing about the people I cared about came surprisingly easy and really just made me smile, even if I was writing it alone in my room on Valentine's Day.

Blog Post 6: My sixth blog post was a poem written about snow on a snow day. I feel like my sarcastic sense of humor was really visible in this post and (hopefully) made it enjoyable to read for people. I am also really happy that I was able to write a creative poem (again, not a very creative person).

Blog Post 7: My seventh blog post was a sad attempt to mimic my previous blog post. However, instead of a poem about snow I wrote a poem about Spring. This blog post was a sad attempt to relive my poem glory and it should be permanently removed from the internet.

Throughout the year I saw myself grow as a write. I saw myself become creative and not afraid to speak and post what I was feeling. I am proud of myself and the dedication and writing risks I took during this assignment. Writing these blog posts and reflecting on them made me realize how much I have grown and changed throughout just a single school year. Blogging was a positive experience that introduced me to more and new ways to write.
However, I am not upset that I never have to set another alarm on my phone that says "WRITE YOUR DAMN BLOG".

You're Weird by Ashley Lasko

I’ve always loved irony, especially situational irony. Whenever something ironic happens I'm always at least smiling, if not struggling to stand in the midst of a fit of laughter. One thing that I always thought was so ironic, and puzzling, was the concept of something being weird.

Something is unusual or different is often considered weird. Wearing polka-dots with stripes or socks with sandals in considered weird. Having ketchup on something other than fries or acting a certain way can also give you the title. However, if something unusual is weird wouldn’t being completely normally be as weird as you can get? If someone had nothing to define them, they were as plain and normal as someone could be, they would be weird. They would have no personality or something to make them different. By this logic, being weird in some way makes you normal. So what makes everyone different, makes them weird, in the same way makes them normal. Ironically enough, the idea that to be normal you have to be weird and to be weird you have to be normal is weird itself.

Another thing that makes this even weirder is that for something to be weird, something has to be normal. Socks and sandal are only a weird combination since no socks and sandals are considered normal. Certain genres of music are considered weird since Pop is considered normal. What this basically means is that something weird is an opinion. The majority agrees what is normal and what isn’t, causing things to be normal or weird. However, if whether something is weird or not is an opinion and not a fact, than nothing can actual be weird, since what is weird depends on each individual. Saying something is weird is as accurate as me listing the best desserts. It’s biased.

This makes things even more convoluted, since that means that the totally normal person that seems weird may actually be weird to someone else, which would make them normal to that person. However, this does not make them weird since weirdness is a matter of opinion and no matter how many people view them as weird s/he cannot be weird on a factual level. This then brings into to question of possessing characteristics altogether. Can someone actually be funny, cute, smart, or weird if they only are because the opinions of others say so? Is this the wrong way to look at characteristics, should we be looking at it from the perspective of time, which a human creation that does not exist? Is this at least slightly over exaggerated and something we probably should not invest much time into?

I don’t have the answers to the first two questions (and arguably the third is asking for an opinion, and opinions can arguably never be fact so I can technically never have to correct answer for the third question) but in regards to the third question, going any further into this would spend some time you could definitely put elsewhere.

As my final blog, I wanted to do something a little different. Admittedly, this is still along the basis of trying to introduce a perspective on a topic and expand on it; however I obviously changed things around. Instead of focusing on issues or something impactful, I decided to look at something simple and twist into something far more complex. Unnecessary? Yes. Confusing? I did have to read my blog a few time to actually understand what I was saying. Was it different and eye-opening? I hope so.

Thank you all for reading my last blog and, to students, good luck on finals this year and years to come. I may seem like we have some breathing room until June, however as students we all know that what really spans a few weeks of the calendar passes in a matter of seconds.

My Softball Team is Like a Second Family By: Caroline Kepler

My softball season is on its last week and I can’t believe how fast the season has gone. It seems like just yesterday my team and I were nervously standing in the caf waiting for our coaches to start the tryout in the annex. This season felt so short, since we had our first 4 games rained or snowed out and I’m not ready for it to end. We’ve only had ten games so far and we are only going to have two more, but from those ten games our team has grown closer. I know that it’s going to feel so strange not having to go to practice after school everyday, not seeing my teammates in the locker room, not having to put on uniform once, maybe twice a week. I have so many great memories from practices alone, at the beginning of the season we played a heated game of handball and just today we had a great time playing kickball. At the beginning of the season we even got to go on a crazy scavenger hunt around the school, since our fields were covered with snow. When the fields dried and we finally got to play our games they were full of jokes about how Cynthia would cheer for people along with any other incident that would get us all laughing. Most importantly, we supported each other during every play, whether we were hitting or in the field there was always someone cheering. Our pasta parties, even if we only had 2, were a blast and our off tune singing probably gave the neighbors a headache.  It may sound cheesy, but this team really is like my second family and it’s not going to feel right when I have to take the bus home instead of playing softball with them.

The Pressures of Society by Bailey Kellenberger

The Pressures of Society 

Sit up straight
Contour your face
You eat too much
Just a salad?
That's not enough
Force a smile and don't act tough
Wear a tight dress that shows off your figure
But make sure it's not too low cut otherwise you're a slut
Date a cute boy
Tall
Strong
Blue eyed
Little do they know he abuses you and makes you cry
Have a voice but don't speak up
Be smart but not a show-off
Chase your dreams
But remain inside a box of reality 

Living Mindfully Each Day (By Chris Hwang)

      Six days ago, young Tommy Bock of Wallkill Valley was living a typical teenage life similar to the rest of us. He would hang out with friends, go to the movies, play sports, and partake in activities common to all teenagers. What Tommy didn’t know was that Sunday morning would be his last day. The news of his untimely and tragic death sent shockwaves through our entire community. In the hours and days immediately following Tommy’s death, we paid homage to him on Instagram and many of us even donated money to help his parents defray funeral costs. The outpouring of love and sympathy was infinite and innumerable. In fact, Tommy’s Instagram followers increased exponentially. Tommy had a message to send to us but unfortunately, he did so posthumously.

            As young energetic teenagers, we have only completed one decade of life. Most of us don’t fully comprehend the concept of death or truly understand the fragility of life. Because of our youth, we perceive ourselves as invincible. We heal quickly, our scars disappear in days rather than weeks, we get by on four hours of sleep, and we neglect exhaustion. Simply put, many of us are wired at our age to celebrate a fast-paced life where consequences are always an afterthought rather than a guard. Tommy was a wrestler just like myself. In fact, he was my age and wrestled the same weight. I met Tommy and I engaged in friendly dialogue with him at our District championship tournament just a few short weeks ago. Thus, the news of his untimely death really hit home. Unfortunately, it took a tragic death like his to remind me of how precious and valuable life is. In addition, his death also triggered an inner conflict within myself.

            We are often told by our elders and our loved ones to “live life to its fullest” and to “enjoy each day like it’s your last.” Well Tommy did just that and it cost him his life. The old adage tells us to maximize our potential and enjoy life. In fact, the old adage as interpreted by many teenagers inadvertently downplays the risks associated with living a fast-paced life full of enjoyment and gratification. And that is the heart of my dilemma. Although Tommy’s death was tragic, it didn’t have to happen. Tommy died of extensive trauma to his head as a result of a skateboarding accident. So the old adage holds true:  he enjoyed life. However, that enjoyment hastened his time with us. So in recent days, I’ve been struggling to understand how I ought to strike that proper balance between enjoying life and taking risks to enjoy this life. There is no right or wrong answer and perhaps my entry into adulthood will provide me with an opportunity to hone and refine that balance and understand the proper boundaries for “living” a fruitful, responsible, yet satisfying life.

            Despite my confusion and internal conflict, Tommy’s death did remind me to appreciate all that I have and everything that surrounds me. Life is fleeting, full of mystery, and yes, life can be short. In the days ahead, I will be certain to smile vs. frown, to forgive vs. to hold a grudge, and to hug vs. hate.  Although it is true that Tommy died while partaking in an activity that he loved, the risk unfortunately placed him in harms way. It hurts to know that his parents will never have another chance to hold him tight and tell him that everything’s going to be fine and to see him succeed as an adult but it also helps to know that heaven gained an angel. Rest in peace Tommy.

              

           

Coming Full Circle by Juleanna Green

As some of you may remember, I am a huge participant in my school’s drama department, and theater is a huge part of my free time (check out my article on what theater means to me, here). In the fall, I wrote about our fall drama, a production of The Outsiders (check out that article, here, if you’re interested). Although that was not my first blog post, this is my last, so I felt that the perfect way to “come full circle” would be to write about our spring student production.

The student production is just that-- a student-directed show (or set of shows, in this case) in which four of Drama Club’s members direct and assemble all those who auditioned into a group who can really show off their talents. This year, we have four shows; Lysistrata, directed by Jamie Corter; The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Julia Miller; The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Elizabeth Bottoni; and Pygmallion, directed by Isabelle Baptista. Each piece is a comedy, presented as a cut rendition of the stories that many people know, but is set in a different 1900s decade, which adds a twist for those who are already familiar with the text.

Like I did for my Outsiders piece, I interviewed some of the cast members about their experiences with the students production. The focus of discussion quickly shifted from just this year’s student production to theater in general, and what kind of impact it has had on those who have participated in it. Most of the people quoted here met with me and discussed these topics, but some were unable to attend and instead sent me written responses to questions that I asked them.

The best place to start would be the beginning; and the beginning of all plays and performances is the characters and the actor who portray them. Without actors, characters are barely more than just names on paper; the talented people who take on their personas are the ones who make it seem real. “...acting is a way for me to take a break from being myself and explore what it is like to be someone else for a short period of time,” writes Jamie Corter, a senior who has been an active participant in performing for many years, and is also the president of our school’s drama club. Many people believe it to be hard to become a different person for every character that you perform, but, as sophomore Claire Riley said, “everyone has every piece, every character they need inside of themselves… every person has that part of a character.” The others in the room at the time seemed to agreed, although they had more to add. Zander Papandrikos related, saying, “Even if you can’t relate to that character all too much… I put a little bit of myself into that character to try and make it more unique, and that helped me to relate more to the character.”

Every time you end a show, to me it feels like you are shedding a skin; something that was you for so long is now being left behind, but it is only because you have grown and are ready for newer and bigger things. The characters that you were have become a part of you, and you left a little bit of yourself behind with them. Later, when you become a new character, you learn something new about yourself, which makes you ready for the next character and the next. But, it is not always just about relating to the character, as Owen Welsh brought up. Sometimes, “it’s more about the relationships between the people,” said Welsh, going on to bring up an example of one of his characters in this year’ student production. “It’s not yourself that you can find in a character, but expressing emotions that you have felt before.”

One of the things that I find the most interesting about theater performances is that people keep coming back. Time and time again, year after year, people continually get deeply immersed into something that they become incredibly passionate about. Curious, I asked my peers why they come back (I know why I come back, but what about others?). At first, of course, I got the sarcastic answers; “What else am I going to do?” contemplated Papandrikos, “I’d rather not sit in a room and stare at a blank wall.” Welsh jokes, I don’t have any other talents!” Allison Bottoni commented, “I love being the center of attention, as one would say.” But, eventually I got the real answers. Both Riley and Corter made similar remarks; Riley referred to her acting career saying, “Acting… is like a drug to me,” while Corter stated, “Acting is therapeutic for me but is also gives me like a runner’s high.” When people think about performing, they often don’t associate it with a rush of adrenaline and that feeling that you are on top of the world-- but it’s there, and it seems to be part of why people do this over and over again. Riley even goes on later to say, “I love the adrenaline rush you get, it’s so good. It’s better than any sport you could play.”

Speaking of sports, a few comments were made comparing the sports program to the performing arts programs. But one of them, in my opinion, offers what we get out of drama at the same time as what we don’t get out of it. Riley stated, “We’re not gonna have our own drama practice room, we don’t get that. You know, we’re not as sacred as sports, but we do get some time, and I think working together it turns out to be pretty great.” This brings up another overarching theme of the meeting; it’s about working together. As Isabelle Baptista wrote, “There’s a role for everyone, and it’s a very inclusive, welcoming environment.” Nina Strowe wrote something that kind of synthesises with this, that “it gives [her] an opportunity to share [her] voice and be a part of something greater.” Everyone in the room during my interview agreed, in their own way, that you meet so many talented people, and that is also a huge part of what makes theater such a worthwhile thing. Everybody learns from everybody, and the resulting environment is one of respect but also caring and kindness.

As Strowe wrote, “I feel that everyone can gain something from these shows no matter who they are.” This pertains to both the audiences and the actors. The actors learn about themselves and others, and the audience gets to see “someone show their true potential,” especially in someone you might not have expected, according to Baptista. So much effort is put into these shows, that the end result is phenomenal, and nowhere near a waste of your time. “There’s a surprising amount of modern jokes,” said Elizabeth Bottoni (after saying something much more inappropriate), in an attempt to get you to come see the show. Plus, in the words of Owen Welsh, “Let me be real here, what else are you gonna to do? What else are you doing? You don’t have anything planned. What you’re doing, is you’re sitting at home and you’re going, ‘Do I want to have an extra, like, two pieces of cake, or do I want to be productive and go see something I’m gonna enjoy?’ It’s a sort of outing, like ‘I don’t want to be in my house,’ so you have a reason to leave.”

The student production will be performed on 19 May at 6:00pm, and 20 May at 2:00pm at Sparta High School. Please come and see the performances that are the product of innumerable hours of intense work, put on “from the students, by the students, for the students” (Riley).

Thank you to all of the people who missed lunch so I could interview them, sorry it took so long and we didn’t get to eat. Special thanks to Nina Strowe, Jamie Corter, and Isabelle Baptista, who took time out of their nights to write about this topic for me to use.

The cast of all four productions are as follows:

Nina Strowe, Brittany Galvin, Claire Riley, Kaela Panicucci, Brent Bloomgren, Lorenzo Rendina, Steven Sullivan, Will Maloney, Taylor Brady, Lomaani Ranasinghe, Zander Papandrikos, Emma Rust, Sylvia Kloian, Henry Silberstein, Allison Bottoni, Roy DiPiano, Ryden Mederos, Juleanna Green, and Tomas Torres.

The directors are:
Jamie Corter, Julia Miller, Elizabeth Bottoni, and Isabelle Baptista

Failure of the Education System by Kamryn Foster

Something has been on my mind a lot recently, and since this is an outlet for my rage, I'm going to force y'all to read it. Let's talk about the U.S.'s education system, and how it's all a game.
I think that schools have turned the beauty of learning into a forceful environment of memorization. Nobody cares about the idea around topics, but the facts. Having tests that aren't open-notes are basically making you memorize the facts, not learn them. To me, there's a major difference between the two. Ever heard of studying? You're memorizing, not learning. Let's also talk about grades. Grades are the worst thing that schools have ever done, in my opinion. A student that has straight A's does not have to be smart. They may be smart, but by just having those grades doesn't make that for you. All it proves is that you're good at memorizing; you're good at playing the game. It infuriates me when people think they're smart and they're not. As for me? I don't have straight A's, but I know I'm smart. Being intelligent is about thinking your way through a situation and being clever, whereas grades only determine how good your memory is.
Alright, my rant is over. Thank you for your time, and I'm so sorry you had to read this.

I Have No Idea What I'm Doing (By Eve Curras)

     I have been waiting to have an epiphany for 15 damn years.  I have been patient, exceedingly patient, and yet I sit here writing this blog post with no more of an inclination as to what I'm going to do than I've ever had.  The question that weighs so heavily on my mind does not have a simple solution, and if it does, who in the heck knows why I haven't come to the conclusion yet.  I, like many of my fellow peers, have no idea what I'm going to do with my life.

     My mother is a pastor and she has described to me numerous times the moment she knew that the church was for her.  She felt that God was calling her into ministry-- that there was some mysterious force that told her precisely what she was to do in life.  My father is an accountant, and he assures me there was no other career that better-suited him.  He's never had any doubts.  My brother is going off to college this year and will be majoring in Computer Science and Information Technology.  He's always been good with computers and it wasn't hard to pinpoint where his interests lied.  So that leaves all the heads turned towards me, and I feel like I'm lying to my family and myself if I pretend to have a clue as to what path I want to go down.

     It feels as though the metaphorical "Life" has taken a physical form and is beating me in a chess game.  Like this big person with a ticking clock instead of a head is always staring at me and chanting the words "your turn."  Okay, that's an exaggeration, but needless to say-- the pressure is on.  

     I've always loved writing.  I've written in total 4 books, 2 of which I wrote with my cousin.  They're all crappy and embarrassing, and if anyone ever read them I might actually die, but I look on them fondly.  I have a slightly odd admiration for the characters I've created, even though I will only ever know them.  My mother has always been a stanch believer that I should do what I love or I'll regret it.  I've always been grateful that she pushed me to do what I love and write, but I've always thought it was unrealistic.  The last thing I want is to become a "starving artist."

     But as time goes on, I'm realizing how important it is to do what you love.  Whenever I bring up becoming a doctor, my mother will scoff.  "Surely you'll be rich," she'll say, "but will you be happy?" As I look up from the computer that I'm writing this on and I see the ticking clock sitting across from me, I feel more lost than ever, and in some ways, more sure than ever.  I don't expect to feel God's guiding hand anymore.  I've been waiting for that for 15 years.  It's odd, but for the first time ever, I don't care about winning the chess game.  I care about doing what I love, and if that means writing poetry in an NYC apartment that smells like cat liter and only has 2 rooms, then so be it.  

Music and Literature 2- DC

Music and Literature 2: The List Continues

By Derek Campbell

The relationship between music and literature is one with extremely faded borders, constantly overlapping with each other. Here are 5 more examples of music/book cross-overs (as a continuation from the previous list)

Among the Living:

Being released by thrash metal band Anthrax in 1987, this song was reportedly based upon Stephen King's critically acclaimed novel The Stand. With the novel being published in 1978, the story describes a post apocalyptic future struggling under a new super influenza virus (also known as "Captain Trips"), and focuses on a small group of survivors in an area called the "Free Zone".  The song constantly refers to the novel and alludes to it often. Even the first line of the song is: "Disease! Disease! Spreading the disease. With some help from Captain Trips".   

Misery loves Company:

Another song by Anthrax (released in 1988), which also happens to be based on a King classic. If the title didn't give it away, this song was based upon the 1987 psychological horror story Misery. The story revolves around fictional author Paul Sheldon, who gets caught in a snow-storm and kidnapped by his supposed number 1 fan, Annie Wilkes. What proceeds is a shocking and gut-wrenching tale of a deranged psychopath and her captive writer, with copious amounts of torture filling every nook and cranny of the book (like breaking legs with a sledgehammer). Although the song does not directly refer to Paul or Annie, with lines like "I'm your number one fan, Misery loves company, Die with me", and "You know me, and I can be, A very, very vicious critic", it's obvious where the source material for the song came from.

Behind the Wall of Sleep :

A staple in metal history and classic, Behind the Wall of Sleep is an amazing Black Sabbath song released 47 years ago (relaxed in 1970). However, the inspiration for this song came 51 years before that, in the form of H.P. Lovecraft's short story Beyond the Wall of Sleep. The story describes the experiences of a mental hospital intern with criminally insane patient Joe Slater. Slater had many visions of light beings and fantastic stories, which was shown to the intern through a telepathic communicator. Slater eventually dies and becomes a "star" (you have to read it to truly comprehend it). The song constantly uses phrases such as "Visions cupped within a flower", "Feel your spirit rise with the breeze, Feel your body falling to it's knees", and "Sun shines in you have awoken", which relate to the story itself.

Lord of the Flies:

Released by Iron Maiden in 1995, it is obvious to see that this was based on William Golding. I won't go into plot, as there are already countless blogs about Lord of the Flies. The entire song itself is a basic retelling of the story, but one of the most important part of the song comes in when this line is sung: "Saints and sinners, Something within us, We are lord of the flies". Not only does the song maintain the story, but it's evident that it retains themes and messages, exploring the idea that the Lord of the Flies is not a physical being, but one that is within all of us.

Phantom of the Opera:

Another song with obvious origins, this 1980 Iron Maiden classic was based upon Gaston Leroux's 1909 classic novel and play of the same name. Again, considering the wide range Phantom of the Opera has, there is really no need to explain the story (its basically the story of desire and deformities). One important thing I would like to note is that the song is written in first person from the perspective of Christine Daaé, rather than the third person style of the novel.

And there are plenty more songs out there that directly tell the story of or relate to novels. This further solidifies the relation of books and music, and shows how humans can experience the same story in extremely different ways.