Find It Quick!

Stories and folk tales have been around for a long time, and I mean a long  time. The tradition of telling fire-side stories has been embedded into our DNA for generations! Soon, we started to find new ways of expressing ourselves: cinema, writing, songs, etc. These things seem common and normal now. But how did we go from being barely able to communicate to... this?   Hi! It’s Saturday noon; which means a new blog post! Since school started, I’ve been invested in not failing my classes (yes, it’s taking some effort). I’m taking multiple writing classes a day, so all I do is read a bunch of articles and write about them (it’s as tedious as it sounds). But what I read this week was... intriguing. Have you ever gotten the feeling that you know a fact to be true, but you’ve never actually thought about it, and when you do, it seems like it’s too good to be true? Well, if you haven’t, I’m about to introduce you to that feeling right now.  Recently, I’ve been reading a book called “How Art Made the World” by Nigel Spivey. I’m not really into nonfiction (mostly because it makes my head hurt), but this one is different. One of the topics that came up was about the evolution of storytelling. As I mentioned before, storytelling is in our blood. You may not be a writer or a reader, but you can tell a story and at some point, you have. But how did we even manage to write not a sentence, but entire articles?  It took a while for us to develop a written language, and when we did, it was mostly just pictures or symbols. Before, stories and fables used to spread from one mind to another by memory. People used to memorize poems and verses in prose verbatim! Yes, it’s hard for many of us to do that today. Just imagine what it would be like if we memorized every book, article even TikTok, just to share it with others (gosh, that would be a nightmare).   But that’s what it took for us to get here. If we didn’t overcome that stage, I wouldn’t be writing, and you wouldn’t be reading. Being such a small, common thing, it sure does have an impact on our lives. The system that was once used to record the epic tales of rulers, tyrants, and supernatural beings, is now being used to share the stories of ordinary people.   It’s chilling to think about, right? Our whole existence is based on simple symbols that hold every secret, confession, and emotion ever experienced. It’s something so simple, but so immense.   I guess what really hits home is how lightly we take this concept. The words we use and say to others tell a lot about our own stories and lives. If I make a post on social media about cleaning the ocean, it gives people a representation of my identity and personality. Now, people use this privilege to do more harm than good, and instead of stopping the quarrel, others join in by picking sides.  Do you feel it, yet? Do you feel your mind racing, trying to fill in the gaps? And.... this is where the million-dollar question comes in: what is the meaning of life? No, we aren’t going to tackle that today. Maybe one day though!   The point is that what you say matters more than you think. No, I’m not adding this just to make a valid ending (that might be a part of the reason, though). But truly, you are setting up a path for yourself, and right now a lot of people are walking on a fine line between prosperity and hardship. Do your best to show your real identity and personality through your words, and who knows? Maybe you’ll be the first person to find the meaning of life!   ...  If you do, email me...    What Do You Think?   If your brain isn’t racing yet, answer these riddles. I guarantee not just a brainstorm, but a full-blown brain-nami!   If life is so short, why do we do things that we don’t like but like things that we don’t do?    If you had fun while you were wasting your time, can you still say that you wasted your time?    Where does a thought go when it’s forgotten?    Why is Goofy considered a human and Pluto considered a pet when they are both dogs?

Summer break: a time of peace, excitement, and school-free joy. The moment summer break hits, all the worries, tension, and stress just dissipate into thin air. Pretty soon, you just get used to the the number of ice creams you ate being the worst of your worries! But everything crashes when you see the first “back to school” advertisement of the summer. The end is near...  Welcome back! Summer’s ending, which can mean only one thing: school. The tension and worry that comes over when you find out when the first day of school is devastating. It makes you question everything you did over the past few months (sleep, sleep, and more sleep). Last Thursday was my first day of school. I thought giving a little insight into my brain would be fun starting at the beginning of the week: Monday.  Oh boy.  STRAP IN.  ...  MONDAY  Today is the 29th of July. THE 29th! Where has the time gone? It still feels like it’s still June, and here I am, stuffing my backpack with random “necessities” already. School starts on August 1st, which is in two days. To be honest, I’m a little at war with myself. At first, I felt excited and thrilled to get back into the swing of things. But now, I’m rethinking everything! I don’t know if I’m ready to start the “work-sleep-repeat" process again...  These feelings all started ever since the summer gatherings began. Each one felt like a wake-up call for the coming freshmen and the returning upper-class students. Even if it was a little... quiet at first, it was amazing to meet the new 9th graders as well as reunite with my friends. It’s incredible how much things have changed. Everyone grew at least an inch taller (except me), and we were all more comfortable with each other. The freshmen reminded me of myself, which was weirdly nostalgic. But, thinking back to how light and elated I felt talking to these people, I can almost forget the worries and anxieties of going back to school. Wait. Nope, they’re still there. Oh well, I guess I still have two more days of worry-free happiness...    TUESDAY  I have one more day left in summer! Oh, why does it have to-    You know what? No. I’m over this. School is needed, and everything that happens there is for your good. Plus, it’s not like I won’t have free time ever again. Fall break is only weeks away! If you think about it like, there is no need to freak out.   I guess I’m trying to reason with myself because I finally let everything sink in for the first time today. School starts on Thursday. This Thursday; August first. Today, I had a chance to meet my teachers. It was sort of like a meet-and-greet, except there were no parents there. I had that feeling of elated happiness again when I saw my friends. I don’t know why, but I just seem to forget everything about everything  when I see them! I guess that’s a good thing; otherwise, I would’ve most likely lost my mind to the anxiety.   My teachers seemed nice, but not like the creepy “I’m looking forward to teaching you for a whole semester” kind. They were calm and just... relaxed. It was almost like they sympathized with me by assuring me that everything would be great and fun if I did what I was supposed to. That was the goal, I guess. But if that’s all it takes to have a worry-free year, I’m all in.    WEDNESDAY  Okay. This is It. We are doing this. Tomorrow is the first day of school, and I am totally prepared. Notebooks; check. Folders; check. Exaggerated optimism instead of overwhelming anxiety; check. This year is going to be great! I have great classes, friends, pastimes, and a great attitude (that might need some work). But most of all, I am... excited.  This whole week, I’ve been freaking out about never having free time anymore, getting overwhelmed with schoolwork, and basically everything. But, if you think about it, this is just another trick that my brain’s playing on me. Feelings like anxiety and worry are straightforward emotions to get lost in, and, plus, it takes no effort to succumb to them. That’s why whenever we have a big day or event coming up, we feel overwhelming anxiety and worry to distract us from what we really have to do: wake up!   We need to wake up from the nightmares and fix whatever’s causing the anxiety. If we don’t dare to do that mentally, what chance do we have to fix the other problems in the world?  Thinking through things practically instead of emotionally helps get my thoughts together, especially when I feel like I’m losing my mind. Emotion should be the fuel, and reality should be the control, not the other way around. Now, all I need to do is remember that. Not too bad, right?  Wait, what if-    THURSDAY  I DID IT. I MADE IT THROUGH THE DAY. Honestly, I’m surprised I even slept the last night (I’m not a hundred percent sure I got more than an hour in, though). The whole day was surprisingly chill! I wasn’t running around the hallways trying to find my classes, I didn’t need to get my schedule changed, and I didn’t forget anything major (assuming pencils and hair ties don’t count). Throughout the day, I kind of forgot the panic and anxiety that I felt at first. I don’t know if it was just the feeling of having my friends around or if I was genuinely lighthearted. The entire week felt... unnecessary; I was overthinking everything (reading back, I totally was).   Huh. Who would’ve thought? I spent the entire week complaining about summer ending, and now, I don’t think it really did end. I mean, enjoyment and fun can come anytime, right? Then why do I have to freak out about school starting?  Hmmm....  Maybe this year is going to be good after all.  ...  School is hard. It’s nerve-wracking and just... difficult to keep up with sometimes. But that isn’t an excuse to get out of it. If I had an imaginary scale, and I kept all the hard, difficult days on one side and the light, joyous days on the other, I think the scale would be neutral; it wouldn’t move. That’s because everything’s balanced.   We remember all the terrible days because those are what hit the strongest. What about the easy ones, though? Balance is important, and it should apply to everything; exercise, enjoyment, work, and school. The good can’t be good  without the bad.     What Do You Think?   This was one dynamic week. But I think this is a happy ending. Now, it’s your turn to spill your guts out (in other words, answer these questions)!  What was your most memorable first-day-of-school memory? Did you have a freak-out moment too?    What’s one thing about school that you wish you could change? What’s something you could add?    In your opinion, would you go to school every day of the week (including the weekends) and have a longer summer break, or would you rather have school three days a week and have no holidays at all?

I’ve been around kids my whole life. I become a kid magnet whenever I’m at a party or event! I don’t know what it is! Maybe I have a “come and play with me” vibe? I don’t know. But one thing’s for sure: I love kids . They’re just so much fun to goof around with (plus you can sit out of party drama and just watch the show). Yes, they can be annoying, frustrating, and downright... ugh.  But just when they get too much to handle, they surprise you. Somehow, kids have a quality that many adults don’t have, which is creativity! Whenever they get creative and present ridiculous ideas, we dismiss them as just “being childish”. So, what if we follow their lead and “be childish” too? I mean, it couldn’t hurt, could it?  Another Saturday, another blog entry! This is my eleventh post! Kudos to me! Okay, back to the actual topic: kids and creativity. Why did I choose to write about this out of the blue? I volunteered at a daycare for a week, and let’s just say that there were a few things that I still can’t get my head around.  It was nothing fancy; my job was to take care of the children while the teacher was away, send them home during carpool, and clean up at the end of the day. I immediately became used to the routine. Supervise, play, and clean; nothing I wasn’t unfamiliar with. But the kids were... difficult at first. Every time I would ask how their day was going or what they were playing, they would just shy away or ignore me. I thought I was a kid magnet! What went wrong?  Eventually, I decided it was best to just supervise most of the time instead of playing alongside them. You can imagine that it was a bit boring to just sit on my phone for four hours a day, but it gave me time to listen in on the small conversations among the kids.   “The racetrack is built, Benjamin!”  “Okay! Let me get cars.”  Eric and Benjamin were playing with the racetrack and cars. This seemed like my moment to insert myself so I could play along! But, of course, I couldn’t go too easy on them.  “Hey guys! Do you mind if I play along?”  They both were a bit skeptical at first, but it wasn’t anything that baby eyes and a little persuasion couldn’t fix.  “Benjamin, bring fuel tank too. Cars need gas!”  Before Benjamin could reach the tubby with all the toy car accessories, I stepped in and blocked it away from him.  “Oh no! We don’t have any fuel left in the whole world! What can we do? We still need to get the cars to the racetrack!”  Looking back, it might not have been the nicest thing to do as part of my first impression, but I was just trying to spice up the game! I thought Benjamin and I would try to fight me to get to the tubby and the ice between us would break. But I did not expect what came next.  “Oh... Eric, we have no fuel!”  “Then let’s make new fuel!”  “What will we use? Rocks?”  “No, rock is hard. Water?”  “Yes! We can get yellow water. Mix water with yellow sand.”  “Miss, do you have water and yellow sand?”  I was in shock. Since when do kids fix problems by talking instead of pulling and shoving? Also, the way that they found a solution was... mind-blowing. Honestly, I don’t think I can sit and think through a problem like that now! What blew me away was how calmly the two toddlers handled the situation. I know toddlers are tiny human beings who need help washing their hands and everything, but I didn’t know exactly how creative they are.   A whole sixty seconds passed before I told the two that I wouldn’t give them water and sand to play with. This time, Eric and Benjamin did fight me... At least I broke the ice.    The next day, I decided to try the “act like a child and create obstacles on purpose” approach again. This time, though, I was going to a tea party.   “Oh, Melinda! Lady Glittersparkles needs more tea!”  “I coming, Lady Glittersparkles! Cake is still cooking in fridge.”    Yes, she said “cooking in fridge”. Lady Glittersparkles was a plushy doll with a removable jacket, so, before Melinda could see me, I took the jacket off and hid it in my bag.  “Melinda, Lady Glittersparkles and I are very cold! See, look! We are shivering. Burrrrr!”   “Oh no! Where is jacket?”  “I don’t know!”  She immediately ran around the playroom. She asked her friends and looked... concerned. Like she wanted to do something quick to save me (or maybe it was for Lady Glittersparkles). It was still touching. I felt a little guilty, but I let it play out for a little bit longer to see if she could think of something to do.   “Here. Take my jacket.”   She handed me her jacket.  “Thank you, Melinda. But it’s too small for me and too big for Lady Glittersparkles! What will you do?" I wanted to see if Melinda could think of something creative. It was crushing me inside to see her struggle a little, but I was determined. Then, she did something... unexpected, let’s say.  “Sit on big beanbag. DON’T MOVE.”  I didn’t question her. Just as she said it, she disappeared. I didn’t know what she was doing, and playtime was almost over. I debated getting up and telling her that it was just pretend, but then she came back dragging the big stuffed animal bucket. Before I could object or even move, she dumped the whole bucket on my head (she is one strong five-year-old)!  “Stuffies will keep Lady Glittersparkles warm. Oh, you too.”  I’m glad the stuffies covered my face. I was tomato red (I knew everything was for Lady Glittersparkles)! But the idea of piling stuffies on top of me to keep me warm was... ridiculously great. I didn’t think of that myself! At the end of the day, I thanked Melinda and told her to never lose that empathetic and creative side of her.    This makes me wonder where all this creativity went. These kids didn’t eat special food or drink a special baby formula. They were just... kids! Kids with unburdened intelligence, empathy, and spirit. If we were once like these kids, then why don’t we use that kind of childish creativity anymore? What’s stopping us?  Whatever the reason may be, let’s move past it! I mean, just think of what we could do if we let an ounce of that creativity, spirit, and determination into the work we do. Hover cars? Mind-reading AI? All the crazy things that we once dreamt of might just be reality!  So, what have we learned at the end of the day? Kids aren’t just tiny humans; they are tiny humans with big brains!    What Do You Think?   That was a week to remember, for sure. Again, we were all kids once. How much do you remember about your childhood? Answer these questions to find out!  Do you remember your first day of school (elementary, middle, or high)?    What did you want to be when you grew up? What was your dream profession?    What was the craziest, most insane thing that you did when you were a kid?

If there’s one thing we’re all good at, it’s procrastinating. Some people are better at it than others, but we’ve all done it at least once. There’s just something... comforting about leaving things unfinished until the last minute. Maybe it’s the feeling of relief that you don’t have to worry about it just yet, or maybe it’s the confidence that you’ll figure it out one way or another. Either way, it’s just natural. But why’s it such a big deal? What happens if we get too used to this nature?  Welcome back! It's time we tackle the plague of our time: procrastination. Let's be honest with ourselves for a second; we lov e to wait. Procrastination is what every teacher warns their students not to make a habit of, and what do we do? We deliberately disobey what they say. I’m not entirely against the idea, considering I’m also a kid who wants a life. However, since our brains automatically decide not to work on something the moment we get it, it ensures that we won’t develop any time management skills in the future. It doesn’t seem like a big deal at first, but when we get a huge project (like a science fair entry... hint hint ) to work on, we end up freaking out and trying to scrap something together to turn it in at the very last minute and trust me, it doesn’t end very well.  Projects and assignments aren’t meant to be completed the day they’re due. The lengthier the assignment, the more time the teacher gives us. Because they give us so much time, we convince ourselves that we have what it takes to complete everything in a day, so we can use the rest of the time to relax. What do we gain out of it, though? NOTHING. Just spare time to binge-watch a show or respond to a few extra Snaps. When the time comes when we need time management skills the most, we won’t have any. So, what can we do to change that?  Firstly, no habit can be developed if you go all out on the first day. For example, if you want to lose weight, it isn’t realistic that you'll show up at the gym and do a thirty-minute workout instantly, without fail. I’m sure the motivation to keep going would leave pretty quickly (you know it's true)! So, the best way to build any habit is by showing up. Consistency is key. Even if it means you’ll drive to the gym, walk inside, and leave without doing anything. It doesn’t matter. You’re building the habit of showing up.   The same thing can be applied to procrastination. Once you get an assignment, sit down with it every day and do something to contribute to it. Even if you just write a sentence or sign your name, you’re still training your brain to create expectations for yourself to work towards finishing. Soon enough, you’ll go from writing just a sentence to paragraphs; then paragraphs to essays, and so on.  It’s not an easy process at all. It can be frustrating and infuriating. It might feel like a burden at one point, but pushing through is worth it. Once the habit is built, it’s hard to get rid of (not to mention it makes life so much easier). Never having to pull an all-nighter to get something done does have a nice ring. To be honest, I think I’ll be better off without binge-watching a TV show in a day if it means that I can have a full eight hours of sleep!     Want to learn more about building habits? Check out the writer, James Clear!    Now It’s Your Turn!   All this talk about anti-procrastination and habit-building needs one more thing for it to become a reality: YOU! It isn’t enough to just read about something. You need to test it out! So, here’s my challenge to you:   Set a goal for yourself and do something every day for a week to reach it. Set notifications on your phone, write them down on your calendar, get someone to remind you, or do all of the above! Do whatever you can to work towards your goal for five consecutive days. Let’s see if you can make it until my next post!  What are you waiting for? OFF YOU GO!

Everyone has done something in the past that they wish they could change (believe me I have a long list of my own). However, I’m one of those people who believes that everything happens for a reason, and if I changed anything, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now. In other words, I believe in the butterfly effect. It just makes so much sense (not to mention it brings scary consequences). But I can’t help but think about what would happen if the things on my list didn’t happen, about what I would do if I got the chance to go back and fix everything. Would things change for the worse or the better?  Hi again! This week is all about possibilities, but also about second chances. In the fifteen years of my time on this planet, I’ve done some... interesting things. Some are positive, while others are a little questionable. But after making all those decisions, I ended up here; going to a great school with even better friends and teachers and doing what I love... writing! However, It’s hard not to think of how different things could have been. So, I'm thinking of putting those thoughts to rest.   We all have that one time when things take a turn, whether in a good or bad way. My turning point was when I moved. I didn’t even move that far away! But when you’re a sensitive eleven-year-old with no liking for change, it’s the worst. What would’ve happened if I didn’t move, though? How would things be right now?  For one thing, when I moved, everyone was under lockdown due to COVID-19, and my family was big on the “you’re safer inside our four walls” policy. So, I spent most of my middle school time on the other side of a screen. That didn’t stop my friends and I from spending time together!  We would call and text through email and other places after school and sometimes during breaks! We would “collaborate” on projects and assignments (without our teachers knowing, of course). Overall, it was almost like regular school... until I moved.  When my family moved away from my old apartment, I had to leave my friends and school too. Usually, I’m the type of person who hides behind a corridor, listening in on conversations rather than going up and introducing myself. So, you can imagine how my first day at a new middle school went.  Not great . But if I didn’t move away, I would still be with the people I've known since kindergarten! I wouldn’t have had any need to start over or introduce myself repeatedly for days until people could say my name correctly. Things just would’ve been... easier!  But of course, I’m forgetting what wouldn’t have happened though. Before I moved, I loathed the violin and music in general. I just didn’t find the appeal in it! Every time I would walk into my violin class, it would always be with a huge frown on my face. But after I moved, I met people who completely changed my perspective on music! My music teacher and my friends showed me how beautiful music is and how lucky I’ve been to be learning the violin for so long.  It’s not just music, though. I fell in love with writing after I moved too! It’s mostly because of one teacher: my seventh-grade ELA teacher. She pushed me out of my comfort zone, supported me through my highs and lows, and showed me the joy of writing down feelings and emotions in ways that others can relate to. In a way, if it weren't for her, I don't think I would've even considered starting a blog!  If I didn't move at all, I doubt I would've gotten the same perspectives. Even now, everyone I was once close to before don't see music as an expressive artform. Instead, they just think it's just creative and catchy tunes to listen to when they're bored. Whenever I try to explain them, they either change the subject or call me a nerd (which isn’t a bad thing because it’s true). It’s the same thing with writing too. My old friends can’t relate to it. Whenever they try to write a narrative or something, they always end up calling me to check over their grammar (that’s why you have Grammarly by the way).  Maybe I would’ve developed different interests if I stayed back; maybe I still would’ve loved to write. But the people I’m close to now would’ve never come into my life. The experiences that I’ve had wouldn’t have happened, and that’s the case for anything!   Mistakes happen, and the results can be burdening. There are days when you wish you could just go back. If you ask me now, I'll say one thing: every mistake, incident, and riveting adventure happened for a reason. So, note to self: if I do end up time traveling one day... DO NOT STEP ON ANY BUTTERFLIES!    What Do You Think?   Now that’s a life lesson. Stepping on butterflies should be a crime! Anyway, it’s just as important to think about the significance of yesterday as it is to worry about tomorrow. So, here are a few questions to get you thinking!  What’s one thing that you would do if you had a chance to go back in time? NO STEPPING ON BUTTERFLIES!    If there’s one place in all of time and space that you could go to, where would it be?    What’s your favorite “what if” question?

The world’s... crazy . Everyone has someplace to go, someone to meet, or something to do! People value quantity over quality, the destination over the journey. So now, instead of focusing on the present, we’re fixated on controlling the future, without knowing how. Besides, the future sure isn’t something that can be controlled. We can’t snap a finger and eliminate half the population, we don’t have a time machine or a TARDIS, but we have the next best thing: patience.  Welcome back! This week’s post is about trusting the process. In today’s world, everyone is all about the goal instead of the steps it takes to get to it. For example, if someone wants to become valedictorian, they must have perfect test scores, scholarships, leadership positions, thousands of volunteering hours, etc. Gosh, thinking about it makes my head throb! But to become valedictorian, you must take steps toward it. Steps that are consistent and bold, not just rushing to check all the boxes. It’s just like Olaf in Frozen II says, “We call this controlling what you can when things feel out of control.”   Here’s the thing – aiming for something and being obsessed are two very  different things. When you aim for something, you work towards it every day to make it happen. When you’re obsessed, the only thing you see is the goal, not the steps it takes to get to it.   There’s a folk story that my family once told me. It was about two brickmakers in a large, bustling kingdom. Let’s call them Sho and Sha. Every day, Sha gets up bright and early to start molding and firing clay to make bricks. He would work hard, without any breaks. His only goal was to make bricks and money. Sha didn’t really care about the strength or the shape of the bricks, all he wanted was the money that he gets paid. Sha makes about a thousand bricks every day, so many of the kingdom’s citizens buy his bricks.  Sho on the other hand, doesn’t  make a thousand bricks every day. He still gets up early, but he spends his mornings firing the clay to perfection and making sure the molds are even and straight. Sho only makes about ten bricks every day, but the houses that are built using his bricks are beautiful, straight, rigid, and bold. Every single brick is identical to one another, so they fit into each other perfectly.  The whole kingdom, including Sha, mocks Sho. He barely makes any money, yet he still gets up every morning ready to work.  “I don’t care about the amount of money I collect at the end of the day. The only thing that matters is the bricks that I make,” says Sho. He always has the same response whenever someone asks why he still tries to work.   One day, the King comes to the two brickmakers for bricks. He says that he wants to build a new, one-of-a-kind palace. Sha offers to send a thousand bricks to the palace right away, but the king objects and asks Sho to send just his ten bricks every day.   Soon, the king’s new palace gets built with Sho’s sturdy, identical bricks. The palace is tall, elegant, and impeccable in every way! The king thanks Sho with a huge sum of money, enough so that Sho doesn’t have to make a single brick anymore.  As Sho retires, Sha continues to make bricks every day. He’s left with nothing but a penny when all the houses built with his bricks fell. He and the whole kingdom realized that, even if it does take a while, it’s best to aim for quality over quantity.  ...  Just like in the story, rushing through something just to get it over with doesn’t give you the same results as if you went slowly and thoroughly. Yes, the destination is tempting, but if you want to get to it (with no side problems, that is) then you need to make sure that every step you take is consistent and balanced.  Tomorrow is daunting because we never know what to expect. But today is something we all can tackle. Think of every day as your own brick. Every time you get up in the morning, make a good decision or a mistake, that can impact the molding of your brick. If every brick of yours is straight and sturdy, then soon you can build a palace of your own!    What Do You Think?   What I would give to have my very own palace! Well, I guess if I shape my bricks right, I can eventually buy my own palace one day. Meanwhile, though, here are a few questions to jolt your mind a little!  What’s one long term goal that you can set or have already set that you can work towards right now?    If there’s one thing that you would like to see in the future, what would it be?    Do you know any folk stories that send out an important moral that people should know about? If you do know one, share in the comments!

Have you ever heard the saying “old is gold”? It means that sometimes past events can be the most valuable. You can take that in various directions. The old ways laid a foundation for modern ones, making them crucial for us to remember. Or they represent the history of what we have and who we are today, which makes them prized. To someone whose entire background surrounds music, the saying has always reminded me that classical music is just as important and artful as modern pop is. Maybe even more in some ways!  Welcome back to another blog entry! This week, I’m bringing the beautiful world of classical music back into the light. But, since it is the 21st century, pop music reigns supreme around most of the world, and for good reason! They’re catchy and trendy and can bring people together in amazing ways! What’s not to like? But as we advance in the modern pop era, we’re beginning to forget exactly where the music came from!  Classical music has grown to be a little... unpopular in recent years (that’s me trying to put it lightly). Maybe it’s because of the many misconceptions it has. It is time I talk about these top three “theories” that people have about classical music, and (hopefully) put them to rest. It's time to strap in, I guess!   “Classical music is so  boring! Why do you waste your time listening to it?”  This is the most common comment I’ve gotten in the fifteen years I’ve been on this planet. I’m sure everyone (and I mean everyone ) has thought this before. So let me explain a few things. The word “boring” means to be dull or tedious. For one thing, classical music is anything but that. There are many varieties of music, like symphonies, concertos, quartets, quintets, and many more. The orchestrations are complex, having many melodies and harmonies that interweave into each other. If you’re a visual learner, like me, look at the pop and classical sheet music below... Contemporary music is known for its storytelling ability. But classical music not only tells the stories, but it brings them to life! Even without words, each note creates a new, hidden emotion. Think of it as a game – every time you hear a new phrase, guess why the composer might’ve wanted to add that (it sounds hard and tiring but it’s fun to play with your friends, especially when you can prove them wrong)! I can tell you that I’m not very good at it, but I still like to try, even if I might get destroyed.  “Classical music is for rich, old people. If you listen to it, you give the impression that you’re better than everyone else.”  This might be why people think that classical music is “boring”. To start, classical music is for everyone who appreciates the art. There is no limit or age range to listen to classical music. But why is this even called an assumption? Orchestral music and orchestral versions  of music have grown very popular. If you listen to orchestral pieces, do you  “give the impression that you’re better than everyone else?”   If that doesn’t make you question this, look at it this way: imagine a piece of gorgeous jewelry. You wanted to wear it immediately; would you care if it was from 1828? What about the 1900s? 2000s?  Like I said in one of my previous entries ( Social Pressure ), people should be able to choose their interests and likings. At this point, narrow-minded “theories” about things, like classical music, are becoming so redundant that they are almost direct facts instead of shallow stereotypes.  Well, let’s make one thing straight. Enjoyment is subjective. You may or may not like a song that your friends like. That individuality defines who you are - not by the music you listen to, but by how you defend your interests.   Let’s back up. Classical music is for everyone, not just musicians and “rich, old people”. If everyone tries to give it a chance, I’m sure these theories can be blown out of the water. Besides, the only way to try something is to try it first. So, even if you’re adamant about sticking to a certain genre of music, that’s fine - don’t make the other genres seem degrading.   “ Classical music is only good for sleeping, working, or meditating. It's useless otherwise.”  This isn’t entirely true. While it is a fact that some classical music can have a lulling effect, there are different types of orchestral music, and they are not  something you can sleep to or work calmly to (trust me). Let’s take Taylor Swift, for example. Her music is divided into eleven different eras, and each one is different. You might listen to Lover  during one period and Reputation  during another. They both set completely different moods. It’s the same with classical music. There’s a Baroque, Classical, and Romantic period. Each period sets a unique perspective and mood.  Of course, there’s more to each period other than they “[set] a unique... mood”. Baroque music is intricate and regal, and it was known (relatively) locally. This era included Vivaldi and Bach as one of the composers. Classical music is known to be more modern and long when compared to the Baroque era. It popularized classical music, making it known across the world. I t was the period of the infamous Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! The Romantic era was the most emotional and expressive of the three eras. It’s the most recent of the three eras. Two composers from that time were Eugene Ysaye and Felix Mendelssohn.   When everything is said and done, music is music. It’s a beautiful way to express feelings, stories, and warnings, even! It connects everyone, and even if we don’t realize it, it’s one of the only spaces where we feel safe and content. Whether it be R&B, pop, country, rap, or classical, it is all music. Nothing is better than another, and, to all the haters out there, classical music is cherished  much more than you would think!    Let’s Put it To the Test!   Here's the part where you see exactly how different each classical era is! I’m going to challenge you to give a few pieces a listen! There are six pieces (two for each period) attached to this page. See if you can spot the differences in the style and orchestration in each. It’s not an easy challenge, but I dare you to give them all a chance by my next post! Are you up for it?  Baroque Period Classical Period Romantic Period

The older we get, the more we do. Recess used to be a vital part of everyday life, but now, it’s like it doesn’t exist. However, the one thing I can’t afford to change is my summer break. It’s the two-month period where I can recollect myself, go on vacation after vacation, and stay up for as long as I want.  I thought that this would always stay the same... Until now. Back to the weekly routine! It’s the end of an old week and the start of a new blog. Today, I want to talk about how things change as we get older. A few years ago, I would’ve spent my evenings running around the neighborhood with the other kids, screaming and playing, without a care. But now, I lock myself inside, trying to catch up on work or practicing my violin for an upcoming concert. Things are starting to get so much more complicated and stressful! Nothing’s made me notice that more than the summer. Usually, when I’m on break I wake up later, binge-watch every TV show on Netflix, read a book, and watch TV again until eleven at night. No more assignments, projects, and deadlines. Just relax. But during this summer, everything took a turn. What I thought would be a worry-free break, turned into a rush-to-finish-everything-as-fast-as-possible break. I have multiple prerequisites to finish and turn in by the first week of school! I think it would be okay since I still have a whole month to finish everything. But after looking at the assignments in detail, I have no idea where to start. The social studies assignment requires me to buy, read, and analyze a book about art, ancient art. I’m not good at regular, contemporary art to begin with. To add to that, I need to write a “small” essay about the art for the ELA portion. Math is a whole different nightmare since I don’t remember how to do anything, and I threw all my notes away. If you ask me, horror movies are nothing compared to this! Once I muster up whatever optimism I have left, I get to work. I admit that I have been collaborating with a few of my friends to get it done, but I like to say that I know what I’m doing. Plus, I need to get used to all this because this is all “sophomore year in a nutshell” after all.  Besides, I have another problem to tackle, which is summer volunteering. During the school year, I would volunteer as much as I could to earn points for the clubs I was in. I never worried too much, since opportunities would always be given to us. All we had to do was sign up! But this is the first time I’ve ever worried so much about summer enrichment programs and volunteering. Many people have told me that volunteering as much as I can at local summer programs could earn me points on my applications, so obviously, I had to try. What I didn’t realize was how difficult it was for a fifteen-year-old to find opportunities that were worthwhile (no offense...). Either the programs need an application and the deadline’s over, or I’m not old enough to participate. It’s almost as if people think that fifteen-year-olds are too young and can’t handle the pressure of sitting at a desk and doing paperwork. It’s not laborious if we agree to do the work! We may be a little immature, but we can still get the job done. After a few weeks into the summer, I realized that there was no point in looking for things that weren’t there (to my knowledge). So, if opportunity doesn’t come knocking at my door, then I’ll make a new door! It’s time to defy every paranoid brain cell that’s telling me otherwise and go out to start talking to people. I talked to librarians, doctors, vets, teachers, and many others about volunteering opportunities. Honestly, the only thing that gave me the confidence to go up and speak was the thought of never seeing them again after. I think I’ve got a problem. But it was a success! I now have three weeks' worth of volunteering at the doctor’s office and even helping with a few summer camps. Yes, it is going to be as busy as it sounds. Well, I guess two weeks’ worth, now that I just finished a week. But it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. It might’ve been adrenaline, but I must’ve done a good job during my first week because I’ve been called back for another week! The question is... Do I accept? The answer is yes. As Stephen King once wrote: “... you can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.” Can’t exactly fault that, can I? Putting all the stress aside though, this is my first summer as a high schooler. Things are getting more complicated, and the responsibilities are getting bigger (not to mention that I must face my fears every day for three more weeks). But that doesn’t mean that I’m not a kid anymore! I still go to the pool every week. My friends and I goof around often. It may not be exactly like how I’m used to, but it’s still summer break. I still need to relax and enjoy every minute of this time. I guess “relaxing” just looks different now. All I can do is move along with the change around me! What do You Think? A lot of tension, but I think it’s a good lesson. After all, there’s only so much we can do! Anyway, now that I’ve dumped my emotions and thoughts already, time for you to think about a few things yourself! What’s something that gives you the creeps every time? Do you think you can do something to face it? How’s your summer been? Any crazy changes between the past year and now? Good or bad? If there’s one thing you wish would never change, what would it be? If it were to change, how could you cope with it?

Dedicated to my father, who pushes me to be the best student, friend, sister, and writer every day... It’s Father’s Day, so having a special bonus is a must! Usually, my family might spend extra time with my dad by going out for lunch or something. It’s just a day where we say thank you, nothing more and nothing less. But this year, I wanted to do something different. My dad would tell me and my brother a story every night before bed, stories that other people told him when he was younger. It feels right to share one story today. ... Not too long ago, there was a small village. At first sight, there was nothing special about this petite town. Most of the villagers worked at self-owned plantations or had a job at the local rice mill. But unlike most, a young, ten-year-old boy named Bram refused to go along with the norm. Instead, he started to write poetry. At first, people were skeptical and judgmental, especially his father. No one from the town had ever tried to become anything other than a farmer. However, once Bram began to read his poems and songs to the people, everyone started to think differently. Soon, they began to love and appreciate Bram's poetry; Everyone except his father. No matter how unique or expressive Bram’s writing was it never impressed his father. In every piece of Bram's poetry, his father always pointed out a flaw that no one else caught. Although he got frustrated every time, Bram didn’t give up. He let those emotions drive him and made it his mission to write a poem that his father would love. Soon, Bram's poetry began to take over the town. Everyone would huddle around him to ask for updates on new poems. He became a young celebrity in the town! But Bram never cared much about what the rest of the town felt. The only judgment that mattered to him was his father’s. One day, Bram wrote a poem about his father. He based the poem on every moment and memory he and his father shared. Bram put everything he had in this poem. But, when his father read it, everything went downhill. “You’re missing your spark, Bram,” his father said. “What do you mean by spark? I did everything you told me to!” Bram couldn’t believe it. He spent months trying to ensure that this poem was perfect and praiseworthy. Now his “spark” was missing? “Your spark is what makes you unique. In every poem that you wrote, you never lost sight of it. But now you did.” Bram’s father’s face was emotionless, as if what he said was normal and not devastating at all. Bram was furious. He tried so hard to impress his father with his work and talents. But he was never even remotely happy to see Bram's works. “You never liked that I did this in the first place. Your farm and your job. That’s all you care about. That’s all you love. You’ve never even thought to say something positive about my poetry once. Once! How can I call you my father when you don’t act like it?” Bram stormed out of the room and locked himself behind his bedroom door. Bram’s father remained right where he was for the rest of the day, without letting a single emotion show on his face. Meanwhile, Bram collected all his rough drafts and newspaper clippings and piled them on his bedroom floor. He ripped a matchbox from his drawer, but before he could demolish everything he worked on, he heard his mother’s voice outside the door. “How could you do this to him? He spent months trying to write this for you. Not to mention the many other poems he’s written. You never give him a good review. Why can’t you just make him happy for once?" Bram's mother's voice rang around their tiny house, rattling the wooden walls. What surprised Bram, though, was how soft and small his father's voice was in return. “Do you think I want to do this? It breaks my heart to see that he’s hurting. But, if I give him good reviews, who’s going to make him grow? The whole town loves his writing. If I acted like them, would he have written the beautiful poems he published?” Bram’s father was barely audible. This caught Bram off guard. All this time, he saw his father as a cruel, unforgiving man who made it his mission to bring Bram down. But now, he saw a new person. A man who was ridiculously selfless and brave enough to put his son's well-being in front of his respect. Bram made a huge mistake. Instead of understanding or moving on, he insulted the one man who motivated him to grow into the poet he was that day. In a way, all of the respect and praise that the town showed Bram was his father's too. Bram put out the match, straightened his room, and went to find his father. When he did, he ran into his arms, sobbing. "I'm sorry, Father. I didn't mean anything I said. You are the best father I could ever ask for." At first, Bram's father was stiff and shocked, but as every word sank into him, he relaxed and pulled Bram close. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm your father, and I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you're happy. Always." ... Happy Father's Day to all the selfless and loving fathers who make endless sacrifices that often go unrecognized...

Nothing good lasts forever. This is quite literally the truth. One day we feel like we can climb to the top of Mount Everest without a problem, and the next we feel like if being run over by a truck. There is no way to prevent or predict it, and nothing hits stronger than a good, old Monday morning. Welcome again to another... intense blog entry. Last time, I wrote about the struggles I went through to find a good idea for a project. But just thinking of an idea wasn’t going to get me too far. So, right when I started to relax a bit, my brain conjured another tsunami in my head. How can I build a voltage detector that is easy to put together and understand which works underwater and on dry land? For the next few weeks, my face was permanently bathed in the ghoulish blue haze from a phone or laptop screen. I tried to read up as much as I could on voltage detectors, breadboard circuits, indirect and direct electrical contact, and even proper insulation. This went on for so long that I ended up rereading articles twice, convinced that I might’ve missed something that was etched between the lines. Even now, I still think I can recite a few quotes from some of the articles. Two months passed, and still not a single breakthrough. Every one of my designs either collapsed during testing, was too complicated for me to even draw, or the design sparked briefly and my mom went out of her way to put it out. During the many different trials I’ve held, there was one lesson I learned altogether: never solder parts together while inside the house, and especially do not work on the kitchen counter (unless you want to lose your freedom the next morning and be put on house arrest. I dodged a bullet with that trick). After reaching this very low point (I know it’s very low since I thought of using ChatGPT several times), I found the website that answered my prayers. It was an educationally sponsored website that had instructions on how to create a simple LED sensor that lights up when a high voltage is detected. There were links to videos and even diagrams for beginners on how to build it! This was it. If this works, I can finally create the best possible prototype for my project (at least to my ability). All I needed to do was check if I, a paranoid and burnt-out teenager, could pull it off. It wasn’t surprising that it took me a few tries, but I managed to figure it out! To bring my own twist into the game, I added an extra extension circuit to the original with a fancy buzzer piece and more LED lights to add a few extra details (to indicate when the device has been turned on, etc.) just to give it extra points. After months of work, sweat, and loss of self-esteem, I finally managed to scrap together a fully functioning prototype of the Electrical Danger Detector (that's the name I gave to my project) that alerts when a high voltage is detected and shines a bright light to give further warning. Finally, I could take the first real, heartfelt breather in the history of breathers. A week later, the day of the Science Fair arrived. I was feeling good about my presentation until I saw everyone else’s project. My heart sank to my stomach again. Everyone’s project was so elaborate and put together that I almost didn’t want to stand next to my trifold anymore. A friend of mine created a recyclable menstruation pad that cost half the price of normal ones that are used today. A junior theorized a way to end cancer! The guy in front of me invented a holder for phones to be locked away in cars, so the car can’t be started without locking the phones in to prevent crashes. There was no way the judges would have a good opinion of my Electrical Danger Detector with all these amazing projects around me. There was no way I would make out of this alive. But the show must go on. Fake it ‘till you make it. Fake it ‘till you make it. At that point, this was my mantra, and I was running on three cups of coffee. After painstaking silence and nerve-wracking recitations of the same presentation repeatedly, it was time for judging and awards. The judges didn't show any disappointment or dislike, but I knew for a fact that I wouldn’t get an award. Honestly, I just wanted a passing grade and another cup of coffee. So, I patiently waited at the very back of the cafeteria for the ceremony to end. About halfway through the presentation, the awards for civil engineering began. That was my category. Out of curiosity, I couldn’t help but mildly turn my attention to the screen. My heart was beating so loud that I had to rely on my sense of sight to read the names off the smart board since my hearing was compromised. “And finally, from the Office of Naval Research and Science,” the presenter dragged out. I was so intrigued by each syllable that I slowly inched up the room to hear the names as if possessed.  After what seemed like an hour, two names were called. One of which was my name! I looked around to make sure that it wasn’t a mistake or a terrible prank before I went forward to collect my medal. My teachers huddled around me, whispering congratulations into my ears as roaring applause rang through the room. The looks on my dad’s, my brother’s, and my mom’s faces were glowing with pride, excitement, and joy. My mom pushed through the crowd to get a decent picture of me in the commotion. And in that one moment, I closed my eyes and stood with my teachers, my family, and my friends, just staying in the moment. Looking back at the pictures of myself onstage, my lips curved into a wide smile with my eyes still huge with shock. I remember shaking so hard as I made my way across the room, I almost didn’t trust myself to walk in a straight line without tripping. This memory of the science fair proved to me once more that if you try your hardest and prove to yourself that you are giving it your all, then that’s all that matters. The awards, the grade, and even the competition itself are all bonuses. There isn’t a greater reward than self-satisfaction and contentment. Truly, isn’t that what we desire beneath all the expectations and wants? It is important to let go of the results when you’ve put in your best effort. Honestly, it’s too much of a burden to carry all those desires and expectations with you when you can only do so much to influence them. When you put it that way, things don’t seem as difficult anymore. Anyway... I can't wait for next year! What do You Think? Well, that was a lot of words and emotions. I’m getting mini doses of stress just thinking about everything that happened. Now that my mind is reminiscing over everything, it’s your turn to think about something similar! Can you think of a time when you were surprised by an outcome? If you have an important event coming up, whether it be school related or something else, what can you do now that can impact the result? Have you ever had any sleepless nights when you know that you have something to do but just can't do it?

The future. If I was eight, I would’ve associated that word with aliens, spaceships, flying cars, and maybe even Saturn. But when you are newly-oriented high schooler and on the struggle bus when someone asks you, “What’s next?”, the only things you can muster are careers, pathways, salaries, and don’t even get me started on taxes. Most people my age already know how to answer that question relatively well. But am I seriously expected to put a name to myself right now? Hi! Welcome to the very first blog of an impulsive yet sensible, and emotional yet realistic teenager! I want to start with a topic that anyone can relate to. How can you choose who you want to be tomorrow if you don’t know who you are now? Some can argue that it is a little early to think about careers when you have three more years of high school to go through. Just go with the flow, they’ll say. But I’ll ask you this: when the time comes, do you truly trust yourself to make the right decision if you don’t start thinking right now? If you do, then maybe you already have a path laid out for you to follow. But if you are like me, with a million different ideas and wants, things get a little bit more frustrating. Look, I’ve been through a lot of phases in my life, and I mean a lot. I can go one month fixated on becoming a marine biologist, and when that doesn’t pan out, I learn everything that I can think of about outer space in hopes of becoming an Astro engineer. When I finally find something interesting and worth spending the rest of my life on, I lose it in the end. Not that there is anything about marine biology or Astro engineering, it just isn’t who I truly am. Ever since seventh grade, though, I believe that I have found the one thing that I truly connect with: music. I have been playing violin for a while, but the love settled in deep in seventh grade. It brings a sense of joy, happiness, and sometimes even satisfaction when I play, something that no other art or subject gives me. People even say that music can heal the soul. What’s better than that? Just as I started to think that this might be it, reality started to kick in. The music industry is very competitive. So much so that if you do not achieve certain checkpoints or reach credibility at a certain age, there is no guarantee of a successful career. Meaning that you may have to live in your parents’ basement when you are in your early thirties. These factors can somewhat bring a person down. What do I do now? Was this just another phase? Wow, I just went into a very depressing rabbit hole. But what’s true is true. The thing to keep in mind is to always believe that there is a bright side and that things will turn out. I know it’s a little old-school and cheesy, but it works! Last year, I won an award for my very first science fair project, and I had zero expectations (more on that later)!  That’s when I realized that the one thing that makes me feel like myself is making other people happy and helping them. That’s the connector between my phases. I just wanted to be there for others when they needed it. So, this is my official proclamation. I will strive to become or do something that will benefit the people around me. Even if it means taking small steps like tutoring friends and others to begin. I know that I want to help. If that isn’t a sneak peek into my future, I don’t know what is! ... What do You Think? That was a lot of heart-to-hearts right there. This quick “What do You Think?” section is to pose a few thought-provoking questions to get your mind racing (if it isn’t already). So, get thinking! Do you struggle with making long lasting decisions? If there is one thing that you can ensure about your future, what would it be? Looking back, can you think of any “phases” that you have been through? What is one thing that you can do today that can brighten someone else’s day?

We have all had times in our lives when things just get too heavy and too much. Where we feel done with everything. We try to blame it on work, school, responsibilities and other likely things that could’ve caused it. But deep down, it's the expectations and social pressure that do the most harm. High school is all about social pressure, and no matter how much we try to convince ourselves otherwise, it is never-ending. Hey! Welcome to my second blog entry! In today's world, social pressure is a huge problem in today’s youth, and it’s time someone addressed it again. Much of the pressure starts in high school. Many movies try to depict this through bullying, teasing, or even academic stress. But those are different monsters altogether. Truly, social pressure is just another word for expectations and appearance. Many people make it their sole purpose to reach the ideal picture that other people have about something. In the process of doing so, somehow “I want to” becomes “I have to”. In terms of school life, pressure is not reserved only for homework and academic stress. The lack of being able to freely express your feelings can shadow your true personality. Now, you can argue that you feel no pressure whatsoever to speak up about something between your peers. But what will you do when people start taking decisions that you personally don’t want to or can’t take? Can you still speak up about your true opinion when everyone else takes a different path? What if you get ridiculed in the process? Small, ever-changing things like clothing style and personality may not seem like a huge deal between schoolwork and home life. But they can take a great toll on someone’s confidence if they aren’t careful. You can walk into high school with pigtails, black-rimmed glasses, a jovial and sensitive personality, and a bucket full of confidence. But within just a few months, it's hard not to turn into a monotone shapeshifter that can morph into any type of person just to get public approval. Personality change is not a problem at all. But losing your original identity and values is a great loss. But through this immense journey of finding out your true self and identity, there will be times when you try things out. Lifeguard duty? Give it a go! Going for a marathon? Sounds good! But never forget your core beliefs and values. “Unicorns are the most powerful beings ever.” “Kindness and love are things that the world can never run out of.” “Gandalf the Grey is the best character ever created.” Whatever makes you you. Your core beliefs and values should be one of the few things that no one can ever take away from you. You might end up going from a blonde to a chocolate brown or a philosopher to a scientist. In any way, your core still guides you down your path. For the people who are starting to venture into a similar world like me, just know that things will get better. If you stay true to yourself and bring a huge pair of invisible headphones along with you to block out the judgments and comments, you are officially ready for the never-ending battlefield that is the world. What do You Think? That was a fluffy ending. Cheesy? Yes. But the point is there. After my confessions and commentary, here are a few questions to ponder. What do you think? What are some core values and beliefs that you have? If you’ve ever felt social pressure, how did you get out of that wormhole? What advice can you give people struggling with social pressure or finding their identity?