"How it’s Made: Computer Edition" by Chase A

 

Computers are something we all use, but to many people, they may be magic in how they work and how they are put together. Well I'm here to inform you on how these magic machines may be made.

 

Tools:

The list of “tools” you need doesn’t include many tools, but the parts of the computer. The only true tool you’ll need is a screwdriver, preferably magnetic if possible. The other “tools” you will need for a computer are a CPU, video card, motherboard,  cpu cooler, ram modules, hard drives and/or ssd, and a case.

 

Step 1: This step is mostly for safety, as computers are very fragile in their parts. You’ll want to build this computer on a desk that will not give any electric shocks, as these will destroy components of the computer.

 

Step 2: The CPU

Steps of building a computer are variable, but these are the steps I recommend in this order. You will start with taking your motherboard out of the box. Put the motherboard on its box, or the table. Be careful with handling any part of your pc. The first real step in building your computer is putting the CPU into the motherboard. The CPU is the Central Processing Unit, and it does most of the processing for your computer’s tasks. Take the cpu out of the box, being VERY CAREFUL to touch only the sides of the CPU, do not touch the top or bottom. There will be a bar near the top middle of the motherboard, and a socket with a bunch of little pinholes. Pull this bar up, and look at your CPU. There will be a triangle in one corner of the CPU, as well as a triangle in the corner of the CPU socket. Slowly drop the CPU into the socket, matching triangle corner to triangle corner. Make sure the CPU is snug in the socket, then take the lever and push it back down into position. This will take a bit of force, do not worry.

 

Step 3: The CPU Cooler

 

The CPU Cooler keeps your CPU at working temperatures, and its installation will vary greatly depending on your type of cooler, and you can find the instructions for your cooler on your manual. For a basic installation that may or may not apply however, you will first apply thermal paste, the heat conductor between the CPU and the cooler. Apply a drop of thermal paste the size of a grain of rice in the middle of the CPU, then apply your CPU cooler by putting it directly on your CPU, and follow the manual.

 

Step 4: The RAM

 

The RAM is the “short term memory” of your PC. It is one of the easiest things to install, but there is one important step that may be easy to miss. Motherboards typically have 4 RAM slots, so where would you put the RAM if you have only 2 sticks? Well, you must consult the motherboard manual for this, reading about what slots to populate first. Typically, it’ll be the 2nd and 4th slot, but it is very important to look before installing. Once you know what slot to install the ram, it is as easy as one, two, and three. Step one is to push the side clamps on the RAM module slots down. Step 2 is the insert the RAM, matching the divet in the ram stick with the outcrop in the slot. Step 3 is to push the RAM in with equal force on each side until the clamps go back to their original position, holding the RAM in place. Repeat this step with each stick of RAM.

 

Step 5 (part 1): Case Preparation

 

The case is where all the parts go, keeping them safe and in place. The first step in prepping the case is to open it up, by removing the front panel on the case. Look in the drive cage, or power supply cage for a box that will come with your case that has all of your accessories. You want the motherboard IO Shield, and you will put it in your case. The shiny metal side will go inside your case, and the little circles will go near the bottom of the case. There will be a cutout in the case, and push the IO Shield into that cutout from the inside of the case until it pops into place.

 

Step 5 (part 2): Installing the Motherboard

 

The next part of prepping your case is the motherboard standoffs. These keep your motherboard from resting directly on the case, where the back may become damaged. These parts will come in the goody bag from your case, and will be put on the case depending on the size of your motherboard, such as mini ATX or standard ATX. There will be markers on the case that tell you what size will require those stand offs, so screw in your standoffs into these locations. Then, slowly put your motherboard in your case, making sure the middle standoff falls into place in the middle of your motherboard, lining up your IO shield with the port on your motherboard. Use the designated screws from your goody bag to screw the motherboard onto the standoffs, which will keep your motherboard in place.

 

Step 6: The Power Supply

 

The power supply is the, you guessed it, supplier of power. Depending on your type of power supply, it may be modular, semi modular, and not modular. Modular meaning there are cables that you choose to put in, and not modular is cables are already there and you can’t change any of them. Take whatever cables you will need, including the 24 pin ATX cable for your motherboard, the 8 pin EPS for the CPU, and 2 6+2 PciE for your video card. You will also need a SATA cable for any storage you have. Take your power supply and find where your power supply will slot in. Slide it in with the fan facing down and the cables facing into the pc. Use the 4 power supply screws given in order to lock your power supply in place.

 

Step 7: The Front Panel Connectors

 

The front panel connectors are what gives power and function to the buttons on the front of your pc, such as your on and off button, your headphone jack, and your usb slots. Find these cables from behind the case, and slot them through to the front, preferably closest to the connector on the motherboard itself. Start with the USB 3.0, and find the USB 3 connector on the motherboard. It will be keyed, meaning the cable will have to go a certain way in order to plug into the motherboard. Each motherboard will be different with where the pins go, and some have the labels next to the pins. Find these labels and match the cables, being careful to not break the pins.

 

Step 8: Hard Drives/SSD

 

Hard Drives are the storage of your device, and SSD’s are the same but are much faster in speed, but are more expensive. You want to find your drive bay, and slide your disks in. You than want to screw in the disks, and connect your SATA cable from your motherboard. Get a DATA cable, and connect it from your Hard Drive to the motherboard slot.

 

Step 9: Video Card

 

The video card is the processor of any video/3D related things. First, remove the metal brackets to the side of the main video card slot. Depending on your card, you may be required to remove more than 1. Push the tab on the side down, and slot your video card in. Push it down until the clamp goes back onto the video card, and then screw in the video card on the side where the metal brackets were. Get the 2 6+2 pin connectors and plug it into the video card.

 

Step 10: Turn It On

 

With all of these parts in, put the back panel onto your pc, and plug in the pc to the wall. Turn on the PC with the case’s power button. If all fans spin and any RGB lights you may have turned on, you can connect a monitor. If it outputs a display, your PC building is a success.’

 

 

As someone who has built 2 PC’s, and has helped 3 people build PC’s, I would consider myself pretty knowledgeable on computers. I’ve watched hours of building, and have immersed myself in computers for months. If you have any questions, feel free to

Our last group of writers!

 All Students:  Be sure to read the entries for this group -- April writers).  Everyone is required to comment on at least THREE different pieces of writing.  You must submit comments on Canvas (for each one, include the name of the author and the title of their piece, and then your positive, specific comment ) by Friday, May 13 on Canvas .

Remember, comments must be positive, supportive, constructive, and SPECIFIC.  No "Good Job!" comments, unless you follow that with specific things you thought were done well in the piece.  Show them you actually took the time to read and enjoy their work!

"Running with the Wind" by Sean M

 

 

In 2008, my parents entered my siblings and me in a race which was a mile long or shorter and it wasn’t split into age categories. It was my brother who was two at the time in his stroller and my sisters who were three years older than me. It was crowded and I really didn’t understand the concept of races at the time so it was kind of weird seeing people bundled up, but the starting gun went off and I just took off. The course was a semicircle and towards the middle or the course I realized that I couldn’t see my siblings and ran back. There I learned that I wasn't supposed to run back in a race and just head straight to the finish line. I got 2nd place which didn’t mean much to me since I was new to running, but after seeing the 1st place kid I realized that there is always someone better. After that race I ended up becoming addicted to fast things like Dash from The Incredibles, Lighting Mcqueen from Cars, pretty much anything fast, I even had a nascar themed bed. Despite being introduced to running at a young age, I didn’t know it was an actual sport, I just always wanted to be the fastest in whatever running activity I did. Middle school made me more competitive since people were given t-shirts, if you ran a mile in 6 minutes you were given a white shirt and if you ran a 5 minute mile you were given a gold shirt. I received the white shirt in 6th grade and got the gold shirt in 8th grade. Despite increasing my speed by a whole minute I still didn’t understand the amount of training that running demanded, that was until I joined the cross country team in High School.

Being on the team taught me just how much time I need to put in running if I was serious about it. Running isn’t for everyone, most sports use it as a punishment and honestly it’s only fun when you choose to run. I root for anyone who runs, cause it doesn’t really matter how much you run or how fast you go, at the end of the day you’re a step closer to your goal. Everyone has their own reasons for doing things and for running, wanting to be the fastest was mine.I would do anything to make myself faster, I changed my diet, I ran with weights on, ran everyday not caring about the weather, but turns out that pushing yourself can actually break you. At the end of freshman year I was upset that I didn’t make finals for track and went out for a run by myself in 100 degree weather. The most essential tool in running is your form and if not properly executed you can injure yourself and that's what I did. In 100 degree weather I was exhausted from the heat and my form got sloppy and while running on the trail I took a right turn and as soon as my foot made the impact with the ground it felt like something in my foot collapsed, this injury ended up leading to more injuries and in present day it hurts sometimes to walk. I was kinda lost when I had to stop running. I was even planning to run abroad. My legs are still in a semi-injury state, but I have been procrastinating about seeing a specialist since the last one told me that I may have to choose another sport. Those words broke my heart, I ran my whole life and I couldn’t see myself not running. After that I reflected on my running career and decided there and then to stop running for the meantime and if my running career was to end there and then I was going accept it and leave without any regrets. I still cherish the memories I have from it and the people I’ve met. I still remember the feeling of my adrenaline rushing as the race officials gets ready to shoot the starting gun, the cramps I would randomly get in my legs, waiting for my event, cheering on my teammates and being cheered, seeing people get lapped, and the best one was feeling the wind as I ran. If after trying everything and if my legs have truly met their match I’ll accept it, but I can only wish that I get to experience all those things and more in the future.

"When We Got Old" by Dylan H

 

This would be our life when we got old. We would get a simple house, one story, something away from the city. You'd likely be tired of being in such a populated place as I would too. Small community with the same neighbors we greeted every morning. Something comfortable with a nice cozy lawn and a decent backyard where we may sit out, now and then to take in the fruits of early labor.

 

When we got old, we would likely have two cats. One boy and one girl, we would love them to death because they would be the only thing we took care of besides each other years after our children have gone into the world. We would likely sit and reminisce, talking and recounting the stories of how we first met from our points of view, just to see if there are any discrepancies since the millions of times we’d heard it.

 

When we got old, on special days where we might've felt conceited with ourselves we would sit and watch one of the many movies you so passionately acted in. I would be simultaneously reading a novel I so carefully wrote imagining things I could've done differently despite you telling me the book was perfect as is.

 

When we got old, during the time before our slumber, you would lie in the bed while I sat up and read. Much like our personalities, my side of the room would be illuminated and yours would be dimmed with the only light pressing through being that of the moon. I read aloud with just enough volume to be considered soothing. Then when I realized you were already asleep, I would silently read ahead just out of curiosity and because I would have likely recognized my stutters in some sentences.

 

When we got old, I would read to you beautiful love stories. Ones that would give you vivid and sweet dreams, ones you wish you could experience yet again. Now and then, I might read you a horror story because they're your favorite. Despite my consistent protest that they’re the cause of nightmares. I’d secretly love when you would wake me up in the middle of the night and tell me all about your crazy dream.

When we got old, we would be there for another. Helping one another see yet another sunrise and another sunset. We would be proud of the lives we lived and wish we could experience it all over again. We would be grateful every day because we got to share the most beautiful and tragic moments together, knowing that every step of the way it was with each other.

 

If we got old, our house wouldn’t be so empty. I wouldn't have to read alone. I wouldn't have to worry so much about the what ifs. Maybe I'd have better dreams and fewer frights. If we got old, maybe I wouldn't have to wish that I'd never have to say I got old, and you did not.

 

—----------

 

" A Woman of My Own" by Angelissa A

All I ever wanted was for my parents to be proud of me. And by parents, I mean my dad. My dad is a rockstar. Immigrating from Michoacán, Mexico as a kid he had nothing, no roots in America, and little guidance from his parents on how to make it in this new country, as it was even newer to them. He started working on fields and tending to livestock with his father at the age of 12. He was the first to graduate from highschool in his family. He was also the first in his family to gain his citizenship in 2008. A couple years before that, he started working as a car salesman. One of my favorite stories of his is when he walked into his first interview at a dealership in his cowboy boots, and since the interviewer just-so-happened to be Mexican as well, he wanted to give him a chance and hired him. He worked a decade of early mornings and long nights to make it to where he is now. He escaped his family’s generational curses of poverty, addiction, alcoholism, and organized crime. Like I said, rockstar. I used to always tell him I wanted to be like him, and he’d tell me he wanted me to be better than him. That’d leave me dumbstruck, because to me, being just like him was already a challenge, how could I ever be better?

Throughout elementary and middle school, I’d rush to show my dad every one of my report cards, academic awards, and test grades. Nothing could beat that warm feeling of approval that would rush through my heart when he’d smile and tell me he was proud of me. In the 5th grade, I declared to him and my mom that I wanted to be a neurosurgeon. I knew nothing about neurosurgery or the medical field, I just watched a lot of Grey’s Anatomy. After a couple of google searches, I knew that the medical field, much less the high stress that comes with being a neurosurgeon, was not for me. I didn’t tell him, though, because I loved how his face lit up with joy at the thought of his daughter going to medical school and becoming a surgeon. And just like so many parents do, he told the entire family that I wanted to be a neurosurgeon, and they made a huge deal about it as if I was already in medical school. Eventually, everyone forgot about it, except for one of my uncles who still asks me if I want to be a neurosurgeon everytime he sees me.

I didn’t realize how backwards my mentality was until I lost my dad’s stamp-of-approval. The school year of 2019-2020, my sophomore year, everything collapsed. I didn’t know why then, and I still don’t fully know why now, but my straight A’s went to nothing but D’s and F’s. I stopped turning in assignments, stopped studying, and almost stopped caring completely. Emphasis on the “almost”. I dreaded coming home from school each day, and looking my dad in the eye knowing he wasn’t proud of me anymore, that he no longer had any achievements of mine to tell our family about, and that he was disappointed in who I’d become. This was a devastating time for us both, as I believe we both realized how much our relationship as father and daughter relied on my academic achievements. Even if it was not true, I felt his love for me  went up and down along with the percentages on my report cards. I wouldn’t be in school forever, so what would happen when I was an adult? Where would my dad and I stand if we didn’t have my grades to tell us where we should stand? I knew this couldn’t go on.

I picked myself up. I went to summer school to remediate my D’s and F’s, and earned passing grades in my junior year. Eventually, I got myself back on track, as if sophomore year never happened. But it did. And in a weird way, I’m grateful for it. I decided to fix my past grades and work hard toward my current ones for my own satisfaction and future, not my father’s approval. After some long conversations, my dad and I agreed that I need to follow the path that makes me happy and proud of myself. We’ve gotten closer, and have branched out our conversations and interactions beyond the subject of my latest math test. Of course I still want my dad to be proud of me, but now it’s become a bonus that will come with me being true to who I am and proud of whatever I decide to achieve.

 

"El Alfajor Peruano" by Andrea R

 

Peruvian delicacies:

 

Alfajor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever since I was little, my grandma would always make alfajores for our family. Peruvian cuisine has always been a hit in the culinary world. Ranked as number 4 on the World’s 50 Best List, peruvian food hasn’t failed to satisfy people that try their delicacy. Today, I want to share with you one of their best and most traditional desserts, El Alfajor.

 

El Alfajor consists of two basic recipes,”El Manjar” and “La Galleta. “El Manjar” is the filling and “La Galleta” is the cookie.

 

The overall ingredients you will need are:

 

-       Store bought dulce de leche (1 can)

 

-       Ground cinnamon (¼ teaspoon)

 

-       Pinch of salt

 

-       1 ¾ cups of all purpose flour

 

-       ½ cup corn starch

 

-       ½ cup powdered sugar

 

-       ¼ teaspoon salt

 

-       1 cup of unsalted butter (room temperature)

 

-       2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

 

-       1 large egg yolk

 

-       Cookie cutter

 

*make sure all the dry ingredients except for the salt are sifted for easier mix*

 

Instructions:

 

-       In a medium sized bowl, mix the first three ingredients together until smooth, this is the filling.

-       Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a cookie sheet.

-       In a medium sized bowl, the flour, corn starch, sugar, and salt will be mixed together and set aside for a little.

-       Slowly mix together all of the dry ingredients until combined

 

-       Once it is all combined, form dough into a ball and wrap with plastic wrap.

 

-       Place the wrapped ball into a fridge to chill for about an hour.

 

-       After an hour passes, remove plastic wrap and prepare the dough to roll it out gently.

 

-       Roll into a thin layer but not too thin, about ½ inch thick

 

-       Once dough is rolled, get a cookie cutter and stamp out as many bases as u can.

 

-       Place all cut out cookies into the cookie sheet.

 

-       Place in the oven for about 11-13 minutes until the cookies are golden but still pale.

 

-       Allow the cookies to cool for 10-15 minutes before filling them.

 

-       When filling the cookies, make sure you are being super gentle with the cookie since they are very delicate.

-       Finally, sift powdered sugar on top of cookies for the final detail of the alfajor.

 

-       Once the cookies are all laid out and filled, you may add coconut shavings to the sides, trust me, it's a game changer.

 

And that’s it! You’ve now made one of Peru’s most famous and delicious pastry cookies! Hope you enjoyed it and make sure to share this recipe with your friends and family so that they can also have a peruvian culinary experience.

"Change?" by Kai S

 When I turned twelve my world was shaken up, turned upside down, and shattered into amillion pieces! Years after my dad and my mom divorced, mom had found love and remarried.Suddenly I had a stepfather and two new brothers.
I was perfectly happy with it just being my mom, my brother, and I. I felt that my life was being invaded by outsiders. Quickly I realized that my mom loved Tony and that he and my stepbrothers were here to stay. Because my mother started nursing school and Tony worked night shifts, I was put in charge of watching my little brothers after school and on the weekends.We were all scared and unsure of this new situation. At first, I and my brother and I constantly fought with our stepbrothers. We did not get along at all and we were divided. Whether I liked it or not, I knew that they all looked up to me for leadership and guidance in this new chapter of our lives. I realized that it was my responsibility to be the best role model I could be for all my
brothers and if I started making an effort to bring us together we could all get along. I learned how to lead by example, by doing do my best to show how much fun we could have just hanging out together after school and on weekends. We all began to get along and soon we accepted each other as family. I began to teach my brothers about other things I knew. I tried harder than ever to point them in the right direction and in doing so I also bettered myself. I taught them the importance of being honest and being on time, how and why it is important to do your best in school, and many other things. Leading my brothers taught me how important role models were
in everybody's life. I learned how important the people who led me in my life were. I had a new appreciation for people like my mother, stepfather, and grandparents. I learned just how muchour leaders and role models shape the world we live in by sharing what they know.

March Writers Have Arrived!

 All Students:  Be sure to read the entries for this group -- March writers).  Everyone is required to comment on at least THREE different pieces of writing.  You must submit comments on Canvas (for each one, include the name of the author and the title of their piece, and then your positive, specific comment ) by Friday, April 8 on Canvas .

Remember, comments must be positive, supportive, constructive, and SPECIFIC.  No "Good Job!" comments, unless you follow that with specific things you thought were done well in the piece.  Show them you actually took the time to read and enjoy their work!

"My Marine World " by Lea A

 

My world seemed to stop the day my boyfriend of 2 years made the decision to go to the marines on March 13 of 2022. My marine will be gone for 3 months, or 13 weeks, or 91 days. I discovered that taking the days in small increments helps a ton. I've spent 5 days without him and I can’t seem to find the light at the end of the tunnel. For the first 2-3 weeks I will have no contact with my marine under any circumstances. After 2-3 weeks I will receive one letter from my marine which will include an address where I can mail him back after reading what he wrote to me. I’ll continue to do that from this point on until his graduation day. The difficult part is not hearing him, visiting him, touching him, or being near him. There is a saying “no news is good news” yet I find it impossible to cope with. It seems as though this saying had a two edged knife because if I hear from him it could be bad and if not that could still be bad. The marines are a world full of wonder and a life expectancy of disappointment.

I am stuck at a cross road when it comes to timelines. My senior year will go by fast, but the amount of time my marine will be gone feels like an eternity. Everything about my senior year ending brings me back to the events he will miss as he's gone. Prom is April 9th and my best friend won't be there with me, the celebration of graduating will have to be expressed through one simple hand written letter. The lack of emotions and connection is driving me crazy. Before my boyfriend left he hugged me and whispered clearly, “your strong Lea and I have no doubt that we will be stronger when I get home”. I couldn’t look at him and tell him how scared I was, nor could I let him see that I was incredibly sad and angry. Now that he’s gone I feel lonely, afraid, bored, scared, and most of all, weak. Trying to live up to how he wants me to be is crushing my heart into disappointment. How can I be angry at him for making a great sacrifice? How can I be upset at him for doing something honorable? Although, why can’t I be upset about him leaving me? Why can’t I be angry at him for missing my senior activities? I wish I could answer these questions for myself but even I know that there are no answers. The goal is to stay distracted and trust his decision.

The support of my friends and family is incredible, I have everyone by my side during this roller coaster of emotions. I love each and every person who is there for me in any way possible. The problem that I am having is that no matter who can help me, they won’t be him. I have had a number of people in the past few days tell me “I get it” or “I understand”. The problem that I have is that  no one understands me or what i'm going through unless they have been through this exact process. I am flustered and irritated with the constant questions I face everyday when someone asks “when is he done?”, “how long has he been gone?”, and most of all, “are you okay?” I am not okay as much as I want to be. I am not as strong as everyone thinks. I thought my boyfriend going to the marines was only going to be his battle and yet im faced with so many challenges.

Beyond my emotions, the benefits for him will be good, he has a title that he earned, he will be filled with pride, he will be happy. The moment I see him on graduation day I know all my worry will float away with the excitement and happiness I'll be faced with. The struggle with being in a relationship while the other is in bootcamp is challenging for a reason. The process is meant to be difficult for both partners to test the strength and willpower we each have. Despite the roller coaster of emotions I've learned that I can't be selfish. I’ve learned that I need to trust my marine. The strength that I have can be used if I try hard enough. I learned that my world isn’t going to be perfect or happen according to my plans. The lack of control gives me peace in knowing that I can change and adapt for the betterment of myself and others. I am learning how to be alone so that my marine and I can grow together while being ourselves no matter how different our worlds are. Not being selfish has taught me that no matter the questions people ask me I can be grateful that they are helping in the only way they know how. My friends and family don’t understand what I’m going through and that isn’t their fault. One of the most important things I learned is that I need to love him more than I am angry because what he is facing in bootcamp is much harder than I could ever imagine.The entire process has taught me how to love myself enough to gather my own strength for both my marine and I.

"How to make Tabbouleh Salad!" by Angela S.

 

Arabic culture and food have always been a part of my everyday life. Many of you have heard of places that sell kabab or falafel in Middle Eastern restaurants, and this salad is something that you can always pair with any of these types of foods. One of my favorite Arabic dishes is tabbouleh salad because it is something that I can make so easily and tastes very delicious as well. Tabbouleh salad is a fresh bulgur salad, bulgur is a food that is made from parboiled groats of many different types of wheat (this is the main ingredient paired along with the parsley hence why it is a very green color). It is very heartwarming because my mom and I always make it together during family occasions and on regular days as well. My mom has passed down this recipe to me and I hope you guys will enjoy it as much as my family and I do!

 

Ingredients Needed:

➢   3 tablespoons of Bulgur (this can be found in Ralphs or Walmart)

➢   9 bunches of fresh parsley *this is one of the main ingredients so it is highly necessary

➢   ⅓ cup of Onions

➢   4 tomatoes and 2 cucumbers

➢   3 tablespoons of Olive oil

➢   ¼ cup of Lemon juice

➢   1 teaspoon of salt and ground red pepper

➢   Optional: fresh mint that can be added into the parsley & lettuce if preferred to eat with the tabbouleh

 

Tools needed:

➢   Cutting board

➢   Measuring cups

➢   Vegetable chopper

➢   A few different sized bowls

Steps to making Tabbouleh:

 

1. First, grab a small bowl and add some cold water until half of the bowl is filled. Add the 3 tablespoons of Bulgur into the bowl and let sit for about 1-2 minutes.
2. Wash the parsley and cut the stems off of them. We will need to cut the parsley until it is very thin without the stem. This is an important step because we want the parsley to be as thin as possible.
3. Wash the tomatoes and cucumbers and then slice them into medium sized slices before putting them into the vegetable chopper. Also, in this step we can cut the onions into slices. Then using the vegetable chopper, cut the tomato slices into thin square cubes. After all of the tomato slices are cut, put them into a separate bowl. With the cucumber slices, cut them using the vegetable chopper and add the onions as well until they are small square cubes. After this is completed, add them into the bowl with the tomatoes.

➢   It is important to be very careful while doing this step!

4. Next, grab a large bowl and add all of the vegetables into this bowl with the chopped parsley. Drain the water bowl with the bulgur, and then add the bulgur into the large bowl with the rest of the ingredients. After this, add a teaspoon of salt and a pinch of ground red pepper. Along this, add the ¼ cup of lemon juice with the 3 tablespoons of olive oil into the same bowl.
5. Finally, mix all of the ingredients together and taste the delicious salad to see if it needs any salt or more lemon juice.
6. Optional: Wash a batch of lettuce and cut into slices just like it is shown in the picture. As it is served on the side of the tabbouleh, put some tabbouleh in the middle of the lettuce and enjoy!
7. Optional: You can also add in fresh mint, that can add a little bit more flavor into the tabbouleh.
8. Once everything is to your liking, serve the tabbouleh and enjoy this flavorful salad with any other meals that you would like!

 

As this might seem like a very complicated recipe to make a salad, it becomes very easy to make after more practice. Tabbouleh is also served with fries, kabab, or hummus. Our personal favorite is eating tabbouleh with BBQ (such as kabab and chicken) with a side of hummus in the summer. We usually make this salad in the summer because it can be refrigerated and refreshing on a hot and long summer day. It is a very delicious salad as it can add a little taste of sourness from the lemon juice. There are many more Arabic foods that are very popular and delicious but this salad is in my opinion the best because it can be paired with so many other Arabic foods. Enjoy!

 

 

Picture from: https://www.simplyleb.com/recipe/tabbouleh/

"Purple" by Stephen J.

 

In our day to day lives, it’s not uncommon for emotions to be tied to colors. When I was little, my parents painted my room blue because water always had a soothing effect on me. My mom only wore white and black when my grandparents died, thus my only association with both colors is mourning and loss. One time when I was playing at the park next to my house, I gave a mortified glance to my mom as I had just stepped in dog poop, continuing to only associate brown with disgust. Once, my 2nd grade teacher asked, “What is your favorite color?”. Nonchalantly, I respond, “Purple.” Given that a few of my other classmates had also said their favorite color was purple too, it didn’t come as a surprise when I had the same choice. Though my thoughts and opinions have evolved with time, my choice of purple has remained the same. A combination of red and blue, the secondary nature of purple blends the contrasting feelings of red and blue. Red tends to have an association with danger, anger, passion, and blood. Blue portrays the opposite: tranquility, freedom, the sky, and sadness.

Playing off the idea of Sigmund Freud’s iceberg analogy of psychoanalysis, blue can be analogous with id and red with superego. The blue of my life is what I describe as my “inner child”, the primitive impulses, non-conformity to the norm, idealistic views of life, and the same child that did just about anything they wanted without a care in the world. It is who I am when nobody's looking; it’s who I am when the mask comes off. Similar to how the water soothed me as a baby, blue is the person I feel most comfortable being. At least that’s what it would have been if social constructs didn’t exist. My red can be described as the social limitations, insecurities, and fear that protect me from harm. Like the angel on my shoulder, my “red” is in a constant battle with “blue”, fighting the impulses for the sake of social acceptance. Most of that “red” is a by-product of my parents and the views they fed me growing up, but also encompasses the morals I’ve obtained through my peers and teachers. It’s the environment that created who you see, the conscious habits that shape the actions I do.

When the concoction of my past is finished brewing, the result is purple. The id and superego forming my ego; red and blue becoming purple. I am my favorite color. I am purple. Rather than a light purple that incorporates more blue, my purple resembles more of a plum. Having lost most of my impulse with maturity, red has taken over my purple from 2nd grade. Purple to me is a key to my mind, unlocking the experiences that I repress that make up who I am. Like yin and yang, purple represents red and blue: the danger in freedom and the freedom in danger. We all have a purple, it just needs to be found.

“A Single Word” by Kyler A.

Love. A single word with a variety of meanings behind it. This concept, feeling, or whatever you want to identify it as is difficult to measure and understand as humans. All we know is that we feel it, right?

 

This intangible thing that a lot of us, including myself, desire to feel is extremely ambitious to grasp our minds around. According to the Oxford Languages dictionary, love is an intense feeling of affection, interest, and pleasure. Read that sentence again, and it's clear for many to establish that it sounds relatively simplistic. An emotion that makes us feel safe, wanted, or even agitated and overwhelmed. That surface-level understanding is what we as humans can mostly perceive and share towards others when we are asked “what is love”, but I attempt to dive deep into this strong emotion.

 

We all know that people such as our family show and give us their love, including our parents, siblings, cousins, and many more. Some of us have even experienced love in a romantic setting, where we care for one’s well-being in order to better the intimate and friendly bond created between one another. However, as cliche as it sounds, love is complicated. Whether we address love in a platonic or romantic way, it will always be perceived differently by every individual as we all have different experiences that establish our individual definition of what love ultimately is. Additionally, love between anyone within our lives is simply just shown in a multitude of different ways. I like to relate this speculation particularly with the way in which we understand subjects differently in school. Whether the cause is the teacher or the student due to the situations that they are in or have experienced before, our understanding of the concepts being taught is influenced by a vast amount of incidents and responses. In essence, we learn things differently compared to other students, the same way in which we interpret the meaning or feelings regarding love.

 

Likewise, I believe that there is and never will be a genuine step-by-step guide on how to show someone or something our intense passion and energy towards them. Sure, advice can be given to situations like gift-giving or other languages that technically show love, but nothing regarding love is ultimately explicit. Personally, a romantic relationship that began over three years ago has solidified my insight towards the efforts one must adhere to in order to portray their emotional and physical attachment. Sacrifices, concern, and compliance are one of many actions that a person must admit to in order to present love, but this struggle results in a successful and valuable perspective that cannot be described until one reaches that point.

 

As I said, love will never be explicit. It’s something that simultaneously keeps our minds going, as well as breaking our dreams apart. Life will always contain the fight for love, so next time you hear the words “I love you” from anyone significant within your life, always recall the deeper intentions and significance behind that single word.