Our Last Group of Writers!

All Students:  Be sure to read the entries for this group  (May writers).  Everyone is required to comment on at least THREE different pieces of writing.  You must post the comment here on the blog (below the post is the "comments" link to click) AND cut and paste your published comments, complete with dates and time stamps, on to a Word document and turn it in to me by May 14th, on Google Classroom.  You must do both to get credit for comments this month.

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!

"What is Rap? " by Sesha H R

      We all enjoy different forms of music whether it's classical, r&b, or indie. We all  search for something to move us. Rap isn’t any different. If we look at how rappers like Tupac or J Cole are perceived, they were seen as wrong when they first released music. Most older people and some young people put Tupac in a box and lump him in with all the other rappers. They have a misconception that all rap is “vulgar” and “inappropriate” because white america has commercialized rap as a way to make money off of young black men or women. Although in some ways rap can be vulgar, especially commercialized rap, in many instances vulgarity and profanity is needed to spread messages across when a calm demeanor doesn’t get you far. Society can try to deny the genius of Tupac but they will never succeed, he superseded expectations and sought to bring awareness and action into the minds and hearts of american society about police brutality, the war on drugs, and the disproportionate amount of mass incarceration of black men.
      Why Did Tupac try to create a narrative about all the injustices of capitalist America when in many ways he benefited from it? The answer is simple: he cared about the poor and the other, rather than spend all his money and forget his troubled upbringing he chose to give back and fight back. In many of his writings like “ Government Assistance or my Soul” he spoke blatantly that he wasn’t going to allow the government to attempt to silence him or buy him, this sentiment clearly depicted the feelings of the many of the black community. With the advent of the Civil RIghts and Black Panther Era Tupac found strength in the voices of his predecessors who chose to fight against oppression and continue their mission to fight for the black community. He understood that with the War on Drugs it was another attempt of american society to criminalize the black community and back track their success. Songs like “ So many tears” bring reality to the fact that in black neighborhoods children were forced to endure harsh realities such as police weren’t there to protect but to kill, crack would take your loved ones away, and you can either be killed or kill in that you can either speak and expose this society or succumb to what white america has laid out for you.
      “​All eyez on me ... bet you got it twisted, you don't know who to trust So many player-hatin' n***s tryna sound like us Say they ready for the funk, but I don't think they knowin' Straight to the depths of Hell is where those cowards goin. ​ ’” Tupac was right all eyez were on him to be the savior, to be the fuck up, or to be the massive thug everyone wanted him to be. In his later years being signed to Death Row records he became in many ways the man he loathed and rapped about. Perhaps it was the image of Death Row that changed him since they were known for using violence and using their gang affiliation to get their way. Because, as he stayed with them his lyrics were increasingly more violent and that vulnerability that many loved him for became harder to find.

"How to make Monster cookies" By Alyssa O.

Monster Cookies are really fun to make, and very important to me, almost everytime I go to my grandparents house, I make these with my grandma. It is my way of spending time with her, and I hope that this recipe will encourage you to spend time with a loved one, or if you want make them by yourself during this quarantine boredom :) !

Ingredients for the cookies ;

● 3 eggs
● 1 ¼ cup lightly packed brown sugar 
● 1 cup granulated sugar ● ½ teaspoon salt
● ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
 ● 1 12oz jar creamy peanut butter 
● 1 stick of softened butter
● ½ cup multi- colored chocolate candies (m&m’s)
● ½ cup chocolate chips
● ¼ raisins (optional)
● 2 teaspoons baking soda 
● 4 ½ cups quick cooking oatmeal (not instant oatmeal)


Directions ;

● Preheat 350 degrees
● Line cookie sheets with parchment paper 
● In a large mixing bowl , combine eggs & sugars , mix until egg is beaten and the sugar is combined 
● Add salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter until combined 
● Stir in M&M’s, Chocolate chips, raisins (if you’d like) oats, and baking soda, it should look something like this when you add everything in

● Form into one inch balls and line them on your cookie sheet

● Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes ● Remove from oven and place onto a cooling rack ● When cooled, enjoy :)
 

"How to make Pyrohy" by Zoe C

     Growing up, I was the only American in my family because the rest of my family was  either born in Canada or in Ukraine. So because of this, the majority of the things I ate were  Ukrainian/Canadian foods. I was introduced to Pyrohy at a young age and I have been eating  them and participating in making them ever since then. But, if you don’t know what a Pyrohy is,  it's a Ukrainian version of a pierogi (which is a Polish Dumpling filled with mashed potatoes and  cheese/onion). In other parts of Ukraine Pyrohy is called Varenyky. But the dish is also very  popular in Canada( this is mostly because of the mass waves of Eastern European immigration to  Canada after WWII).    First off, I’m going to let you guys know that this process is very messy and long. So you will  definitely need to wash your hands multiple times throughout the process. 

 You will need (for filling): 

● 3 cups of mashed Potatoes  
● 1 teaspoon olive oil  
● 1/2 chopped small onion 
● 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese 
● 1 tablespoon of melted butter 
● 1 cup of sour cream

  You will need (for the dough):  

 ● 5 cups of flour
 ● 1 teaspoon of salt
● 1 cup of water 
● 2 tablespoons of butter 
● 3 large eggs 
● ½ cup of butter (softened) 
● ½ teaspoon pepper

Directions:    Now that you have all of your ingredients ready, you have to make the dough of the pyrohy first.. 

 1) Mix together the flour and salt. Then add the egg to the flour and combine. The dough  will be a little clumpy at first but it's ok!

2) Now you have to add in the sour cream and butter until the dough becomes nice and soft  and sticky.

 3) Wash your hands and begin to knead and fold the dough. If it's too sticky you can  sprinkle a little
more flour onto the dough. 

4) After the dough has been thoroughly mixed and kneaded, you can then wrap it up in  saran wrap and leave it in the fridge for 5 hours.

 5) Now to make the filling:​ Combine the shredded cheese with the mashed potatoes. Stir  the mashed potatoes until the cheese is melted. You can add salt and pepper at this step  depending on if you want to or not. 

6) Now to actually fill the pyrohy:​ Roll half of the dough to 1/8" thick. Use a cup to cut  out circles of the dough. 

7) Then place 1 1/2 teaspoons of filling on each circle dough. Gently fold the dough over,  forming a pocket around the filling. Pinch the edges of the pyrohy to seal it and then seal  it again with the sharp edges of a fork. 

8) The LAST STEP!! ​Gently drop the pyrohy into a pot of boiling salted water. Only drop  in 10 pyrohy at a time in the pot because it starts to get a little crazy in the pot if it's any  more than 10. Then they will start to float up to the top of the pot and that's when you  know they are ready!

You can also fry up these babies in a buttered pan with bacon and green onions and top it off  with sour cream and they will taste amazing...If you have any leftovers you can put them in a  ziploc bag and put them in the freezer and they’ll last for months.

“Orange Cake Recipe” By Karla S

This orange cake recipe is really easy to follow and the outcome is delicious. It will take roughly one hour to have done but in the end, it is worth it.

Ingredients you are going to need: 3 cups of flour 2 cups of sugar 1 teaspoon of baking powder 1 teaspoon of salt 1 cup of melted butter or 2 sticks of melted butter 1 tablespoon of vanilla ⅓ cup of freshly squeezed orange juice ¾ cup of buttermilk  2 tablespoons of orange zest 5 eggs

A majority of people have all of these ingredients except for probably buttermilk. Do not fret, buttermilk is extremely easy to make. 

Ingredients for Buttermilk: 1 cup of milk 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions for orange cake;

Before we start anything if you do not already have buttermilk on hand you are going to want to make that first. Mix the two ingredients and let it sit for about 15 minutes.

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and butter or oil a pan that will be used for the cake.

Step 2: In a big mixing bowl you are going to want to mix all of the dry ingredients first but make sure to sift them so that you do not get clumps in your cake batter.

Step 3: In a separate bowl you are going to mix the vanilla, orange zest, orange juice, buttermilk, and the melted butter. 

Step 4: Slowly mix the wet ingredients into the mixing bowl as well as the eggs.

Step 5: Pour batter into the buttered pan and place into the oven for 50-59 minutes, or until golden brown.

"Untitled" by Madia W

                                                                                                                             4444,1111, 1234, 7777

     It's not very possible to tell the future but it isn't impossible either. The Cosmos (in some respects) does these things, using the stars and planets positioning combined with ancient stories containing references to the cosmos help tell the story of humanity’s past, present, and future. If this concept is beginning to sound familiar then you have probably heard or are interested in learning about Astrological Identity. Now, before you run away, Astrology is just another interpretation of things around us. Plus! There are many other amazing entries you could be reading BUT you chose this one and there is a reason for that, and even if you don't believe in it, it could be really fun to look at!
What is the history of Astrology? There is far too much information and far too little energy in me to completely break down its origin. However, all it takes is a  simple google search but here I can provide the basic analysis of its purpose. ​“​Astrology, on the other hand, is the belief that the positioning of the stars and planets affect the way events occur on earth. ​Linked with the planets and constellations, these very human divinities make astrology dramatic and exciting.  Evolved originally to help in affairs of state, the art finds its lasting role in casting the fortunes of ordinary men and women.” (American Astronomical Society)

     O.K now, I am sure many of you have seen those media posts about how Scorpios are extremely secretive people, or what about being a Cancer makes you so honest, but why do people think that? All too often people criticize Astrology particularly in Zodiac identity because the characteristics of these different signs are so general and “cookie-cutter”.  However, this whole idea that you see on social media is only a fraction of what your Astrological identity truly is. What you truly want to study, if you are interested, is your BIRTH CHART all you need is your; date, time, and location (or the closest major city) of your birth. It is near impossible to have the same Birth Chart as others.

     Your birth chart tells you where all of the planets were aligned when you were born, that's why each sign is spread across all 10 different planets in our solar system. Astrological Zodiac signs are sectioned in 4 elements; Earth, Fire, Air, and Water. Within each of those elements reside three ruling signs totaling 12 signs ; ​(Earth) Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn​ (Air) ​Gemini, Libra, Aquarius​ ​(Fire)​ Aries, Leo, and Sagitarius ​(Water)​ Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Each of these familiar signs are associated with animals, ancient myths, seasons of the year, and colors adding more depth into the signs' story of its birth into the universe. Zodiac can uncover different habits and tendencies you may have, the more masculine aspects of your personality, and qualities that link you to other Zodiac signs. 

     Learning these things may be confusing or might not make any sense at all, so take them with a grain of salt. It is also important to keep in mind that this may not apply to you perfectly, because not everything is perfect. However, finding some of the meaning behind why you have seven different personas, or why you may never find love, (jk) is all spelled out for you in hopes that knowing more about yourself (on a more cosmic level) may bring some understanding into your life. 

     Thank you for listening! If you have time and would like to read deeper into the study of Astrology check out these links for some help!

     P.s. If the numbers in the top, right- hand corner look familiar and you see them often the universe is trying to send you a message.

Don't know your sign yet? What are you waiting for!? Find out now!

https://astro.cafeastrology.com/
An extra source just in case… ;) http://astro.angeleowyn.eu/
Got any secret talents?? Find out more!  http://moonhoroscope.com/
Lil Uzi Vert is such a Leo smh..Here, you can see some of your fav celebrities Z-Signs; https://astro-charts.com/
Just something to think about! <3 https://www.astro.com/cgi/atxgen.cgi?btyp=cf

"What Is Self Love? " by Tracy H

     Oftentimes, unknowingly, we neglect ourselves because we tend to get too caught up in
our eventful daily lives. Our daily lives are composed of time with family, friends, and most
importantly, time with ourselves. Over the recent eventful weeks that have transcended before
my eyes, I have learned some of the most fascinating lessons that you simply can’t obtain from
reading a book or memorizing an equation. These past few weeks have not only taught me to
cherish every moment life grants me but, to love myself because my last breath could be any
second. Self-love can be expressed in a variety of ways, a few being a dedication to one’s goals,
practicing virtue, or even monetary goals if truly desired. Although society might view you as
narcissistic or even selfish, the decisions that make you content should be the decisions you
ultimately aspire to fulfill. 
     According to ancient Greek Philosopher, Aristotle, he states that “selfishness gives way
to self-love.” In other words, our actions that we carry out may be seen as “selfish”, however,
this selfishness is rather more noble than harmful. We can only give so much to the point
wherein return, we must dedicate a certain portion to ourselves to keep our sanity. If we
constantly are aiming to fulfill our personal goals, we will have a greater sense of passion to help
others in return. By sacrificing for yourself, it not only teaches you that sacrificing for your goals
is necessary but sacrificing to obtain your own goals in return can help others achieve theirs.
Sacrificing on both ends of the spectrum will not only bring you self love, but it will also bring
self-love to people who surround you. 
     Self-love can be quite confusing at times, but once you find out how to balance it and
maintain it, there is no stopping you. In stressful times like these, I dedicate one to two hours
each day to pray in my room for the health of my family and friends. As this might seem like a
selfless act, it brings me great joy because my actions will hopefully result in the prosperity of
others. Additionally, I also practice self-love by logging off to my social media, such as
Instagram and Twitter whenever I feel dispirited by the cruel expectations of our norms. This I
thought was the best way to practice self-love because it prevents me from self-destruction since
there are times that I couldn’t help but compare my life with others on social media. For me,
self-love is about accepting who we are as individuals even with our weaknesses or our
strengths. Hence, self-love is crucial for a happier and more fulfilled life.
     In closing, if we do not give ourselves self-love, it will be almost impossible to give it to
someone else when it truly matters. You must be fully content with yourself and have peace at
mind, to even scratch the surface of another’s. The journey towards self-love can be compared to
the myth of Sisyphus; it may seem like you will never accomplish your goal, but if put yourself
before others, you can have a greater impact than you could have ever imagined. 



Work Cited “From Selfishness to Self-Love According to Aristotle.” ​Exploring Your Mind ​ , 28 Apr. 2017, exploringyourmind.com/selfishness-self-love-according-aristotle/.

"Abnormality- The War of 500 Years " by Annabelle E

      There once was a far off kingdom in a far off land. This kingdom lived in peace and
harmony, every element was balanced and the cycle of the universe was set. The queen of this
kingdom, Endelle Blackpearl, ruled with her twin brother, Malikai. They lead the End with grace
and strategy, for years they worked together, and for years they were calm. 

     However, when a new dimension was born, dubbed Reality, the job of controlling this
was bestowed upon Endelle, and Malikai grew jealous. He had always felt cast aside, forgotten
and neglected. Compared to his sister he was weak. She, with her powerful Soul-Space magic,
her beautiful body and lovely personality, was vastly more admired than he; Malikai was a short
tempered, aggressive, and introverted man who never fully understood or controlled his
Soul-Void magic. 

     And so, the day before the coronation, Malikai snapped. He searched for his sister, who
was often out in the town mingling with their subjects, and dragged her into the streets. She
fought against him, but was eventually overpowered by his chaotic magic. After a long, drawn
out battle, Malikai won and Endelle was killed. With no remorse he laughed and threw her body
into the lake of the nearby forest. However, he knew as well as she did that she wouldn’t be gone
for long, for these particular siblings will never truly die. Their souls were too powerful, and
their roles in the universal order were too important. 

     Malikai built up an army of ghostlike creatures, appropriately named Voidwalkers. These
creatures were at his beck and call, night and day, and did know know any different as their souls
were enslaved to eternal damnation. As Malikai built his army, Endelle dragged herself out of
the lake, and called upon her father, Diaboli Ex Animus, to aid her in taking back the throne.
Diaboli did not need much convincing, as he had always known these events would occur, and
that his son was an ignorant man. As a gift, he created four knights for his daughter. Each knight
a different ability, and each knight a different section of the universe to represent and control. 

     The first knight created was Famine. He had the ability to starve millions, not only of
sustenance, but emotional stability, rendering them defenseless and incompetent. The second
Knight was War, as the name implies he was aggressive. Capable of taking down entire armies
with the single swing of his sword. The third knight was Plague, a meek and sickly fellow.
Although, his demeanor did not do his mind justice. His abilities allowed him to cast entire
populations into psychological despair, and physical sickness as well. Lastly, the most powerful
knight of all was formed, and his name was Death. He could do anything his heart desired. And
from the moment of his creation, his heart’s desire was to protect his Queen. These knights acted
as Endelle’s personal bodyguards, her Reapers, collecting souls for her to sort through and assign
final resting places to. 


     The knights bowed their heads and pledged their eternal servitude to Endelle, who
accepted graciously. She told them all about Malikai’s tyranny and how she was to overthrow
him. They agreed to help and together, they waged a war against the Void Army, for 500 long
years. Gathering support from magic beings of all races and abilities. And eventually, the power
was returned. 

     As Malikai fell to his knees in front of his twin sister, he begged her for death. He
pleaded and pleaded, but she declined the action of killing him. For her love for her brother
exceeded any ill will she may have had towards him. Instead he was banished to a desolate
dimension, the Void. The space between all physical dimensions, the nothingness between
worlds. Malikai, in despair, learned to live in said space, and built his own kingdom, with his
precious void walkers. 

     And thus, the universe was restored. For at least that small bit of time.

Author’s Note: Hello! This piece of writing is something I am planning to turn into a video
game, so any ideas or criticism is welcome! For anyone wondering, yes The End is based on the
dimension in minecraft, i was 10 when i created these characters and have developed and used
them to this day!However I obviously do not own Minecraft.  I hope you enjoyed! 

"G.R.A.D.E.S. " by Zech A

     I want to spark a conversation about something that it seems few people question: the traditional school grading system. We have been receiving G.R.A.D.E.S. in school ever since kindergarten. Every assignment we have received in school since then has been assessed by a grading system, even this (unconventional) essay that I am writing right now will be graded. It will help determine my grade in AP Literature, which will help determine my grade point average, which is a compilation of all of my high school G.R.A.D.E.S. averaged out. The G.R.A.D.E.S. we receive in school aren’t even the only G.R.A.D.E.S. we receive throughout our lives. People are virtually graded by their looks whenever they post a picture on social media, even by themselves much of the time. My generation specifically is filled with people who obsess over how many likes their pictures get or having more followers than everybody else on Instagram or Twitter. The entirety of Earth’s population has grown up in a world where the dominant culture tells them that receiving a “good grade” is essentially equal to happiness and satisfaction. “Good G.R.A.D.E.S.” are a reflection of your success, whereas “bad G.R.A.D.E.S. are a reflection of failure, shame, and misery. 

     It is a widely accepted notion that receiving the “good grade” inspires all people, but especially children to learn, work hard, and become better individuals as a whole. But is this actually true? Do G.R.A.D.E.S. actually help people obtain these honorable traits, or are they actually ineffective, or even counterproductive? Do “good G.R.A.D.E.S.” really bring people a happier life, or do they merely bring temporary satisfaction that causes long term stress? Let’s take a deeper look into what G.R.A.D.E.S. are and how they’re truly affecting our mental state, and ultimately our lives:

G- Gifted students overlooked.  When examining a student’s grade point average or grade in a specific class, many of us believe that we can gather valuable information with this, including but not limited to who is more intelligent or who works harder. However, this attitude that we as a society hold when it comes to G.RA.D.E.S. is completely false; and frankly, it’s prejudiced. When teachers and professors judge students based on their grades rather than their talent and knowledge of the subject they are teaching, they rob the student of opportunities they otherwise could have earned with their pure knowledge and acquired skills.

R- Ruining potential interests.  When educators offer children positive rewards for performing a task, children will begin to enjoy the given task less. Here is an analogy that author Alfie Kohn used to describe this during his appearance on the podcast The Happiness Lab: “If you want to destroy a child’s interest in reading, you should give the kid a prize for reading a book.” Kohn elaborated on this
by explaining that not only is this manipulative, but also programs the child into thinking: “Reading must suck if my teacher has to give me a reward in order to do it.”

A- Avoiding challenges.  When grades are the measure of success, children will often avoid challenges due to the fear of getting a lower grade in the more challenging task or course. This is simply common sense. If the objective of school is to achieve the highest possible GPA, why would a student pick harder subjects to learn or harder tasks to complete? I can speak about this tragic flaw within the education system from personal experience. I can give several examples of myself choosing college prep courses over AP or Honors courses throughout high school because I worried that my grades would suffer from the additional homework and additional challenge, even if the subject was something I genuinely find interesting such as politics or chemistry. But you don't have to take my word for it. A study by child psychologist Susan Harter has confirmed that kids tend to avoid challenges when being graded. Harter gave 6th graders words that were scrambled and asked them to unscramble them. The children were given simple 3 letter words and more difficult 6 letter words. The first group of children would be given these puzzles without any mention of a grade. This group would usually do the more challenging puzzles and appeared to be happy while doing them. Harter then provided the same puzzles to a second group of 6th graders who were told that they would be graded. The second group of children hardly smiled, tended to do only the easier puzzles, and were much more anxious. Unfortunately, the second group of 6th graders reflects the way the system is now, which stunts the growth of children and does not maximize their potential.

D- Destroying learning and independent thinking.  Here is another example that Alfie Kohn used in his appearance on The Happiness Lab: Students are much less likely to ask questions that allow them to gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter they are learning about such as “Why is this true?” or “Doesn’t this contradict what I learned before?” But they are much more likely to ask “Is this going to be on the test?” I think nearly all of you including myself have either witnessed this in real life or have done this yourself or both. This is not an indictment on you or anyone else. It is a perfectly rational reaction to an irrational system that diverts the attention away from the subject of the work to the grading system.

E- External Reward.  G.R.A.D.E.S. are simply an external reward, which is the type of reward that severely punishes all of us in the long run. I want you to think about school pre-pandemic and think about all of the homework you have completed throughout high school. Were you focused on going above and beyond on your homework to maximize your learning on the subject of the homework? Or, did you have the mindset of completing it with the minimal effort needed to get
credit, like I have? Chances are, your mindset was the latter the vast majority of the time. This is what Chana Stein, Arie Kruglanski, and Aviah Riter call “the minimax strategy.” When the sole focus of completing a task is on the external reward, it makes perfect sense to put in the minimal effort or even resort to cheating in order to obtain the only apparent benefit of completing the task.

S-Stupid. The current grading system that is used in nearly every school in the world is stupid. I am calling for a radical change in the way that people are taught in school. Get rid of the traditional grading system. There needs to be an emphasis on learning rather than completion of tasks. Each student needs to take classes that suit their individual passions and how they plan to contribute to society.  The role of teachers needs to be to work with students to help them learn as much as the student can about the subject. They will also help guide each student on what they will need to know and be able to do in order to achieve their career and/or life goals. Ultimately, motivation can only come from within, not from a stupid system of false motivation and manipulation.

Credit to:  -The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos -Alfie Kohn -“Ungrading” by Susan D. Blum on Inside Higher Ed

"Happiness" by Karen M

     What is happiness? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, happiness is defined as “a state of well being and a pleasurable or satisfying experience”. In 2007 a positive psychology researcher named Sonja Lyubomirsky described happiness in her book as the experience of joy and positive emotions along with a meaningful and worthwhile life. These two definitions correlate with positive influences because people seek positivity in their life in order to feel a sense of happiness and joy.      
     The word happiness means completely different things for most people. For some it may involve having money, getting an A+ on that test that they studied hard for or simply having a good day. For others it's more about popularity, a high that they get from drugs or even getting an adrenaline rush from doing something that they shouldn't have done. People will always have a positive and a negative idea of what happiness is which is what makes happiness different for everyone. Although happiness is an overall joyful emotion, it isn’t always what it seems. For example it has its bittersweet moments like when you look back at pictures and reminisce about the memories that you know you won’t be able to relive. People often tend to rely on other people for their own happiness. For instance, when someone is in a relationship whether it be a romantic one or just a group of friends, if one person depends more on the other for this serotonin filled emotion it doesn’t always work. It won’t have the best outcome because you shouldn’t place your happiness in someone else’s hands and leave it to them to care for. Today’s society makes it hard for some people to be happy. Pleasing other people is such a priority for some that in the process of trying to make those people happy they end up losing sight of their own happiness and who they are. As an example, if a student wants to please their parents and make them happy by getting good grades it could cause that student stress and they might lose some of their happiness along the way or if a kid is trying to impress another friend they might do something that they usually wouldn’t and wouldn’t be proud of.  
     For me personally, happiness comes in different forms. To me happiness involves the small things like coming home and seeing that my mom made my favorite dinner, passing a test that I had forgotten about or even getting a small compliment. It’s little things like those that make me happy and grateful. Other memorable experiences are nights out at the mall, going to a restaurant with my family and playing with my baby niece. One unforgettable experience that makes me happy is when I would go to Mexico for Christmas as a child and collect candy that I would later share with my cousins. Spending time with my family and friends will always be my main source of happiness even if it’s just sitting on the couch talking. The reason these things play a huge role in my happiness is because when I’m down and think about those memories it fills me up with joy and happiness and reminds me that there’s always something to look forward to. 





Websites that I used

- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happiness

April Writers are Here!

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 post the comment here on the blog (below the post is the "comments" link to click) AND cut and paste your published comments, complete with dates and time stamps, on to a Word document and turn it in to me by April 23, on Google Classroom.  You must do both to get credit for comments this month.

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!

"Unexpected Experiences " by Salvador B

     It was a weekday. I was in seventh grade when I made one of my biggest baseball
accomplishments. During seventh grade, I was a very small statured individual and was not
necessarily the strongest on my team. Despite my size, I remember being a mediocre hitter on
my team. I wouldn’t always get a hit, but it was pretty hard for other people to strike me out.
Regular season had already ended and we were in the playoffs. In this tournament, there were
three teams from three different leagues so in totality, there were nine teams. I don’t remember
the exact day we played on, but I do know that it was during a week day since I remember being
excited and at the same time nervous for the game that was scheduled for five thirty. School
ended at two thirty and I had to wait roughly fifteen minutes since my brother was in elementary
school at the time and my mom needed to go pick him up first since his school was just closer to
the house. I get in the car at two forty five and get home at around two fifty. In middle school, I
did not procrastinate nearly as much as I do now, so I did all of my homework, got ready, and
left the house at four o’clock. I arrived at the park at four fifteen. One by one, my teammates get
to the field and we start warming up at four thirty. The sun began setting and the lights for the
field turned on not long after. It almost felt instantaneous when five thirty arrived and when the
first pitch was thrown. We were the home team and I started at third base that game. The first
batters struck out, It was now our time to hit. I was batting sixth in the line up so I was not
expecting to hit that inning. Our lead off gets a single, followed by a double by the second
batter. Our third batter struck out. Then, the fourth batter came up to hit. DINK! It was a no
doubter. The ball was hit at least two hundred and seventy feet. It wasn’t even a surprise since
the clean up batter was the strongest and one of the best hitters on the team. The fifth batter
goes to the plate. I am in the on deck circle putting the bat weight on my bat when I hear a
sudden CRACK! I look up and see my friend trotting the bases. My anxiety for some reason
went through the roof. I walked into the batter's box, sweat running down my forehead from the
insane amount of anxiety that I had and not because of the physical activity I was participating
in. The pitcher throws the first pitch and I let it go since I thought it was going to be a ball.
“STRIKE!” yelled the umpire. The next three pitches were balls. The count was three balls and
one strike. The next pitch, I completely miss a pitch down the middle. Full count and my
nervousness is through the roof. I step out of the batter's box. I catch my breath. I step back in
the box and get ready for the next pitch. The pitcher lifted his leg and I simultaneously lifted
mine. I see a fastball. I put my leg down and I hit the ball. I look for the ball and see it in the air
going towards the right-center gap in the outfield. I started rounding first base then I saw the ball
go over the fence. All of my anxiety was quickly shifted into excitement. I was basically skipping
around the bases with my arms up.  I never expected to hit a homerun considering how small I
was, but I did. It was surprising and unexpected and most importantly, awesome! 
     As I grew older, I made more and more memories playing this sport like pitching a
perfect game and few no hitters. I made the highschool baseball team my freshman year and
was able to stay on it throughout the entirety of highschool. This year was my first year on
varsity and I was extremely ecstatic to make some more memories like the one of me hitting my
first and only homerun. Unfortunately, my season was cut short. I never expected something so
microscopic to have such macroscopic effects. I never expected my time playing this sport to be
cut short an entire season. I never expected my only highschool season with my little brother to
be taken away from me because of a global pandemic, but that's life. It’s just unexpected for the
better or the worse, but it’s okay though. Life goes on.

" I WANT TO EAT YOUR PANCREAS BOOK REVIEW" by Aaron P

(YEP Note: this title is a manga, or a Japanese comic-book-like graphic novel. You are able to find this piece in
your local bookstore or in Japan.) Despite its peculiar title, ​I Want To Eat Your Pancreas ​ , written by Yoru Sumino is a coming of age title about bittersweet romance, love if you would rather.  Love found, love lost, a common
motif throughout the book, in which gains meaning and emotional weight as the momentum of
the story drives the audience into the story, with foreshadowing and suspense to pull the readers’
attention in the story and set up an edge-of-your-seat buildup of anticipation of an unbearable
heartbreak foretold in the introduction of the book. 
Sumino’s piece is a story about a young kid, [Who Shall not Be Named-Kun] (his name is kept
secret and replaced with other phrases in brackets), who finds out that his popular classmate,
Sakura, has a terminal illness of her pancreas. The kid learns this as he finds her diary left in a
waiting room in the doctor’s office. At this point, the kid involves himself into Sakura’s life as
they adventure together, through the city of Tokyo along with their own emotions. Despite her
current condition, Sakura isn’t sad about it, rather she’s full of life and optimistic and shines as
bright as the sun. It’s rather refreshing to see that a terminal illness isn’t keeping a character
captive, but setting her free and allowing her to experience things knowing that her time is
coming soon. Sakura makes it an effort to try to see the world and experience things she
normally wouldn’t see or do without a time constraint. [Main Character-Kun] is quite the
opposite of Sakura, in that he is a very sullen and robotic person. As the work is written through
the point of view of first-person narration, it becomes apparent to the audience that Sumino
sticks true to his character. The dialogue and emotional involvement are what Sumino focuses on
to make his stories well thought out and good. Not only does this give readers something to
relate to, but they can also feel empathy towards the characters and hardships each of them go
through. In my opinion, when the author goes beyond a story and allows a connection between
his piece and his audiences, it creates a more heartfelt and relatable story. The two characters,
[Main Character-Kun] and Sakura share real chemistry between one another and their interaction
makes their two character foils more wholesome, as well as instilling complex insights of life
and faults in the human race in the main characters, which broke readers’ hearts in the end when
the chemistry between the main characters inevitably falls apart. Overall, this story is solely
driven by their relationship, which is why Sumino focuses on creating an amazing relationship
between these two characters. The ending is something that you wouldn’t expect and packs quite
a punch. The author illustrates a delectable, but cruel depiction of human life, that being
unpredictability and unreliability.
I have nothing but good words to say about this book. It was definitely a book worth picking up.
Not only did the author reel me in with its impending heartbreak at the very beginning of the
story in order to build up the anticipation of the ending, but Sumino also created the connection
between the book and the readers and that’s what every book strives for, as it allows readers to
put themselves in the middle of the story and relate towards the characters, their emotions, and
their relationship(s). This trait by far is what makes the book a worthy piece to pick up in your
free time because it takes you along with [Main Character-Kun] and Sakura and their adventure
through Tokyo. Personally, I became attached to Sakura’s character and her optimistic
personality and her ability to find light in every sad or unfortunate event. However, I also related
heavily towards [Main Character-Kun], as he was much of a pessimistic person who didn’t enjoy
talking to other people or interacting with people outside of the house. As the kid interacted with
Sakura it was a heartfelt interaction due to the influence that Sakura had on [Main
Character-Kun], essentially making him see the bright side more often than not. There is a lot of
morals that I learned during my time reading this book, including look at the positive side despite
the horrible situation that you are in and make the best of your life because life is unpredictable
and unreliable, thus no one should have certain expectations of life itself. I highly recommend
this book if you are looking for a bittersweet romance. You’ll find that the work is a very
pleasant read with a satisfactory ending, as well as an emotional connection to the characters. :)

" My Abstract Idea of Social Distancing" by Reginald M

     On March 30, 2020 there were currently over 5,700 confirmed cases of the coronavirus connected to the state of Florida opposed to the 160 cases recorded about 14 days before, according to an interactive dashboard from the Florida Department of Health. If the symptoms are estimated to become apparent roughly two weeks after an individual was initially exposed, what happened two weeks prior to March 30th? Spring break happened. NBC News stated that the population of beaches in Florida began to surge around March 17th. All of this occurred despite the local authorities already suggesting its communities to reduce their amounts of social activity and the duration individuals spent outside. This means we as a society must temporarily practice a way of life referred to as “social distancing”. By the standards of Merrium-Webster, social distancing translates to, “the practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance from other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of a contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection.” This implies keeping physical socializing to a minimum and, ultimately, staying home. Many seem to get this confused with “solitary confinement”. Florida assumed social distancing meant they couldn’t enjoy themselves and their spring break, resulting in the nonessential trips to the beach regardless of a pandemic.

      The nation may appear to be as though we are all under house arrest, completely devoured by boredom, but that couldn't be more on the contrary. Social distancing can be more than just a lockdown. While this is obviously a precaution to keep all United States residents healthy and safe, as well as prevent any excuse for society to break out into anarchy, to distance oneself means much more than simply safety. Social distancing is an opportunity to be productive. Having little freedom to do as you please in an event like this only allows for people to catch up on everything they didn’t have time to do before because they were too busy doing other things that involved going outside. Now there is no excuse for “not having enough time” to start working out at home or even to finish that book that’s been collecting dust on your desk. You can finally rearrange your room, watch that Netflix series all your friends keep talking about that may or may not be about tiger scandals, or even play all the video games you’ve had to sacrifice during a normal week of school. You can go through all of your old photos, learn new recipes, maybe even write poetry if that’s your thing, whatever it is you had no time to do before. If you’re missing the sun, now’s a better time than ever to put your backyards to use. No more waking up extra early to get ready and look good because now you have the pleasure of doing your notes and homework in bed. Sure, you won’t get to see a lot of friends or your favorite teachers anymore but at least now you can educate yourself in the comfort of your own home and put your focus into other things. Take this time to reflect on yourself, the goals you want to achieve during and after this quarantine, as well as appreciate the friends, family, and activities you are missing out on while we are confined to our homes.

      While social distancing may be an extreme inconvenience for those who are accustomed to their obligations outside of home, I see it as an opportunity to spend time with yourself and take advantage of the excess time and energy that the absence of many outside world
responsibilities has given us. The whole nation being grounded by the government doesn’t have to result in us being miserable. The whole idea of this isolation is to keep ourselves and each other safe, and to get through this drama as quickly and easily as possible so we can go back to how things were before. It is important that we are educated on this idea and understand that it is not nearly as terrible as it seems so we can combat the effects of the virus and the damage it causes to our society, all just by staying home. However you decide to spend your quarantine, try to make the most out of it, and if you cannot, know that social distancing most importantly means that things will return to normal much sooner than if we weren’t all staying home. 

"Albondigas Soup Recipe " by Luis G

1.) Preparation of ingredients: We will be starting off by just getting our ingredients together and prepared to make this process easier especially for people who don't often cook.

Start by taking 1 large yellow onion and finely chopping it into little squares, to make this easier if a chopper is available use that instead of cutting by hand with a knife. Then proceed to take 1 large garlic clove minced and wash, peel and clean it. You also need either 2 quarts of ​chicken stock​ or beef stock which is up to you on which brand and flavor you want. 1 quart of water is also needed obviously to pour in eventually which should be available to everyone at home. There are various brand names of tomato sauces but we use the “hunt” tomato sauce, 1/2 cups will be needed. Next prepare 3 large potatoes, by peeling and cutting them into halves. Carrots are optional but if you are putting carrots in, either buy 2 large carrots or baby carrots, if using large carrots cut and peel into the size of baby carrots. Next we need to get 1/3 cup of raw white rice preferably Jasmine Rice found in almost any grocery store. You will now need to have 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey if possible 80% lean. 1 egg will be needed and 1 and a half teaspoon of salt along with 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. You can use cayenne if some extra flavor is what you want this is optional. For the last bunch of ingredients 1 and a half cup of frozen or fresh peas which is also optional can be bought almost anywhere, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, crumbled, or 1 tablespoon fresh chopped oregano and for the last ingredient needed, Limes cut into slices is the last touch to it all. This sums up all ingredients in order to make albondigas.

                                                                                imgres

2.) Now that all your ingredients have been prepared to make the albondigas your first step would be making the soups broth. You’ll need a large soup pot at least 9 quarts or bigger, to cook all the ingredients. Add chicken stock, water, tomato sauce and salt to the pot. Bring water to a boil and add potatoes and carrots to the mix you already have going. This can vary depending on what you personally want in your soup, some may leave some vegetables out or some may add other vegetables they want. 
3.) Now for the second part you will be preparing the meatballs In a large bowl, mix rice into meat, adding salt, pepper and oregano. Get a good mix of those ingredients and mash them into a ball shape to get your meatball shapes. Then proceed to mix the meatballs you have made in raw egg to help the meatball stay together when you throw it in the pot to cook. Add the chopped garlic and onion you already have prepared into the pot of ingredients now. Also on a side note the meat ball sizes shouldn't be bigger than about 2 inches, don’t stress on measurements of the meatballs and just eye it and your meatballs should be perfect.
4.) To start the third step add meatballs to soup now, when adding the meatballs be sure to gently place them one by one in the soup as you don't want them to be thrown in
there, that may break your meatballs in half and ruin their shapes which also can speed up how fast some meatballs cook depending on their sizes, and we don't want some cooked more than others. Add peas last since they cook fastest and anything else that you have decided to add that is cooked quickly. Cover the pot with the lid and let everything cook for half an hour.
5.) Now for the finishing touches add a few pinches of oregano and also add some sprinkles of salt and pepper, and a small dash of cayenne for some flavor, the amount you put in can vary on how you prefer your soup to taste. That being said you will have to experiment a little with your soup to get it just right for your own personal liking. You can also add lime juice to give extra flavor and if available some chile also for some extra spice. 6.) Now you got a tasty soup that in my opinion isn’t very complicated to make, I hope you enjoyed this “How To” tutorial about making (Mexican) Albondiga soup.
 

"How to make: The Flourless Chocolate Coconut cake " by Rebeca S

Growing up I have always loved cooking and baking. Coming from a family that is from Brasil it takes a huge part in my culture as well. I have been making this coconut cake since as long as I can remember. On top of the cake is this Brasilian dessert called Brigadeiro. If you want to, you can eat it by itself too. It is a bit different than most cakes because you make this one out of the microwave which is what most people I know do. It is a quick and easy thing to make especially if you have a sweet tooth. 

Ingredients for Cake:

❏ 6 eggs

 ❏ 1 ½ tablespoons of sugar

 ❏ 6 tablespoons of chocolate powder

 ❏ 1 teaspoon of baking powder

 ❏ 6 tablespoons of butter

❏ Half a bag of coconut shreds  Ingredients for Brigaderio:

 ❏ 1 can (14 ounce) of condensed milk

❏ 2 tablespoons chocolate powder

❏ 1 teaspoon of butter

How to make the brigadeiro:

 1. Gather all the ingredients

 2. Have a medium size pan ready to put the teaspoon of butter on it

3. Have the heat at medium as well

4. Once the butter has melted add the whole can of condensed milk

 5. Add the 2 tablespoon of chocolate powder 

6. You need to stir the condensed milk constantly while mixing the chocolate  powder

 7. Keep stirring until the mixture get thick and has a fudge consistency

8. Once at the fudge like consistency turn off the heat and let it still until needed for the cake 

    a. Know that it is sticky to deal with so keep that in mind

                                                  This is how the consistency should be. 

   ➢ Now there are two ways to make this cake: one with a layer of cake, then  a thin layer of brigadeiro than another layer of cake with brigadeiro on top  Another way is just making the cake and only with brigadeiro on top. It is all in preference and the time you personally want to take to make the cake. 

How to make the cake with brigadeiro layer inside -

    ➔ I recommend this one be out of the microwave as it gives you the best results
1. Gather all the ingredients but the coconut shreds into a bowl
 2. Mix the ingredients in the bowl a. Either by hand, a mixture or a blender
3. Add the coconut shreds into the mixture  a. Slowly fold the coconuts shreds
 4. Add half  mixture to a pan
   a. Preferably a silicone baking pan for best results in microwave (wet before putting in mixture)
5. Put the mixture into the microwave for 3 to 4 minutes 
   a. Make sure the first half isn't fully cooked but has firm hold
6. Pour the thin layer of brigadeiro onto the cake
   a. Be careful with is process brigadeiro can be sticky
7. Pour the other half of the cake for 3 to 4 minutes until fully cooked 
8. Now pour the brigadeiro on top 
  a. This can be tricky since brigadeiro can be stick once you start it will come along
  b. You can also add toppings like sprinkles as well 


  ★ If you want to use the oven just add the mixture into two metal pans at 350degrees for about 6 minutes but depending on the oven will be longer or shorter in time. Just add the thin layer of brigadeiro in the middle. Just top with brigadeiro as you would. 

How to make the cake with brigadeiro on top

 1. Gather all the ingredients but the coconut shreds into a bowl
2. Mix the ingredients in the bowl
    a. Either by hand, a mixture or a blender
3. Add the coconut shreds into the mixture
    a. Slowly fold the coconuts shreds
 4. Add half  mixture to a pan
    a. Preferably a silicone baking pan for best results (wet before putting in mixture)
    b. Make sure you use a nonstick spray in the metal pan
5. Put the mixture into the the microwave for 6 minutes or the oven at 350 degrees for about 6 as
  well
6. Once done just add the brigadeiro  on top 
   a. Remember it can be tricky to deal with, just take your time.

Tip:  As long as you have the ingredients and bake it fully you will have a delicious cake. Just know there are ways to make the simple cake fancy with the topping. Either way you choose to make the cake just keep an eye on it because it does cook quickly if you don’t.  When dealing with brigadeiro butter is the best way to go. If you want to smooth down the brigadeiro on top of the cake just just any tool you see to fit best and just add butter. This will make sure that the brigadeiro doesn't stick to your tool. 

                                     Have fun making flourless  chocolate cake and enjoy!!

"The Second Half of Senior Year" by Kori Y

     In the days leading up to March 13th, I didn’t know what to expect anymore. Emails were sent out throughout the week informing students that we should be prepared for remote learning in case of a school shutdown. At the start of the week, I was fairly certain that the school wouldn’t shut down. Why would it when all the other times I wished it would close, it wouldn’t? However, as the week progressed, I grew more and more convinced that the possibility of the school shutting down was a considerable one. Then, March 13th arrived and the announcement came that the school was closing. To many students, the shutting down of school was probably a grace they’d get to experience only once in their life. Based on the reactions I heard in the hallway of the B building after the announcement, this seemed quite true.

     I was still a little confused about how I was feeling by the time I got home that Friday as I was overwhelmed with all sorts of different emotions. To be honest, I would’ve been lying to myself if I said I felt completely and absolutely opposed to the idea of not going to school for the next few weeks. In fact, there was a part of me that was relieved that school was “out”. Maybe then, that test that was planned for Monday could be rescheduled or I wouldn’t have to turn in that assignment I hadn’t started yet. However, I was also feeling lost. There was another part of me that hated the fact that school had shut down, not because I didn’t recognize the dangers of continuing to keep school open at times such as these, but because of the time I had left in high school that would slowly be slipping away. As I went to my room, I was already considering the impacts that this school shut down would have. It hit me that the school shut down would have a different impact for seniors that the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen just couldn’t understand. For us seniors, the time that we’d spend at home was time that was originally intended for us to close out our 4 year journey. As a result of the school shutting down, we wouldn’t be able to talk to the teachers that we had grown to respect and admire throughout the years, see our friends, possibly make new ones, and make our last finishing touches on the impact we wanted to leave behind. Before I knew it, my first week of distance learning had begun and immediately, it didn’t feel right. With no incentive to get up early in the morning and no school environment, I wasn’t in the mindset to focus on doing school work. Thankfully, spring break came just as quickly as the first week of remote learning did but unfortunately, it wasn’t much better.

     I sat in my room as the days of spring break passed by. There wasn’t simply a feeling of emptiness but one of confinement. Funny enough, it was one of the most peculiar feelings of confinement ever. Although spring break was here, no one was going out to malls or theatres or to each other's houses. There was no parent keeping me from going outside because I was in trouble. Yet, there was an invisible force keeping me inside. From what I remember, every day of spring break was a beautiful one with just the right temperature and good amount of sunlight. When I went out into the backyard, the air seemed pure and cooling while the sun brought warmth like how a campfire did on a chilly night. However, that was all I could experience from within the confines of my house. I would always find myself eventually returning to my room with a whole lot of time to let my thoughts wander. The outside almost seemed to be mocking me by deciding to bring such great weather while I couldn’t go out. The days eventually all sort of blended together. It didn’t matter much whether it was Monday or Friday or whether it was a weekend or a weekday. The date of the month didn’t matter much either unless it was for a due date to turn in an assignment. However, I still knew that spring break was coming to a close and I would soon be receiving more Google classroom and Remind notifications than I ever had. 

     Eventually, our return to school got pushed from April 3rd to May 1st and then the rest of the school year although I wasn’t surprised. Although this situation brought along a lot of inconvenience, it also gave me time to think, time that I never really had before while I still went to school. Until this quarantine, it had never occurred to me just how much I actually valued time at school. Time away from my senior year made me recognize that although I wouldn’t be able to make a few more last memories from the year, I did at least make some in the beginning of the year and those are the ones I should appreciate. A year ago or maybe even half a year ago, no one would have dreamed that everyone would be stuck inside for so long. Because no one ever really knows when events such as these will occur, it is important to cherish the times where you’re free to be out in public without worry or go to school and be with friends. All the time alone in quarantine helped me understand that we never really see the value of some things until it is taken away from us.

     I hope everyone is okay during this time and thank you to everyone from doctors to nurses to scientists to even your average everyday person for their efforts to make this situation better. Whether it be from treating sick patients directly, studying the virus, or simply social distancing, it is all appreciated.

"Masculinity" by Rinel-Christian A

     A college student stumbles across a friend.  The friend says, “Hey man! How has life been? I haven’t seen you since school started.” The student replies, “Oh hey, it’s been great. Yeah, hardly see you anywhere nowadays.”
     “We should totally grab something to eat some time! You know, to catch up on life and whatnot.”   
     “Totally!”
     “Great! Well… I’m on my way to class right now, so I have to go. Text me if you need anything! You know I’m always here.”
     The college student heads back to his dorm and closes the door. Soon, he finds himself on the floor, facing an emotional breakdown. After recovering, his first concern is, “I’m glad no one was here to see this.”
     Too often, men grow up to believe that revealing their emotion is the “unmanly” thing to do. Social construct has taught us that the highest value of man is to assert dominance at all costs. We associate masculinity with not being able to cry in public, having no weaknesses, being violent, and treating women as objects. These ​broken ideals ​ of the socially-accepted definition of “masculinity” have tampered with a multitude of relationships, and have led us to build a “glass ceiling” around their own character. It has hindered the ability to see past our privilege and recognize that these exact ​ideals ​ have manifested issues that only exist because of a facade we feel the need to put up to avoid getting their guy friends to say, “Just man up.”
     According to the NISVS’s 2010 Sexual Violence Report, “90% of sexual violence against women was from men, and 93% of sexual violence against men was from other men.” Then one may say, “Well there are many factors that affect their upbringing.” To counter, Dr. Valerie Hudson accounted for 350 of these external variables in 175 countries and concluded that not only does patriarchy and male aggression contribute to numerous global issues under the sun, but also found that men have the highest suicide rate. Some may believe it is because men have more testosterone than women. Contrary to this belief, professor of psychology from Knox College, Frank McAndrew says there is little to no connection between testosterone and aggression. Toxic masculinity has been an issue under our noses, and it is time to cast away the negative terms that are so often linked to it.
      I am not saying men should stop being courageous, tough, and powerful. Masculinity should be redefined to mean “the ability to use the qualities that make us who we are to deepen the understanding of our heart.” What I mean by this is to be ​courageous ​ enough to be ​vulnerable ​ , ​tough ​ enough to be sensitive ​ , and to drop our ego and listen to the women in our life. We need to break from this glass ceiling and rise above this brute nature. Through this, we can build fruitful and genuine relationships, romantic or not. Many of us find ourselves in situations similar to that of the college student at the beginning. With this new definition of masculinity, it can spare many of us from suffering alone. 

"Dancing With The Stars" by David G

DISCLAIMER:​ THIS STORY IS NOT ABOUT ME ​PURELY FICTION

      Look, if you thought this might be about the show. Not to disappoint but you are mistaken. I will skip the formalities of introduction because my name is not all that important. What I will say is that I lived most of my life seeing life in black and white. I grew up without parents and my aunt who took me in, goes on oversea business trips often so I usually live alone with her sending me money to help myself. I’ve always been alone. That's how it should be. I don’t really think people like me anyways because I don’t show emotion. The interaction I have between people, felt nothing, hanging out with people, felt nothing, every gift they gave me, felt nothing. I felt nothing.  I thought feeling nothing was normal, until it happened. I felt a sensation in my chest. My heart started to beat faster. What is happening to me? I was scared, I didn’t understand, but whatever display of images that bleed into my eyes truly was a sight to behold. The bright illumination, the brilliance, the beauty, It was amazing. The passion, the fiery anger, the sadness, the vastness. Is that what it is? Huh? Tears? But why? Is this what people call emotion? Sadness? Joy? No, it's both. The feeling of happiness, the feeling that my doors to my heart has finally opened. This feeling is amazing. I have never felt like this. I do not want to lose sight of it again. The feeling of sadness, the fact that I have felt empty for most of my life brought sadness to me. These emotions that have been sealed away for most of my life that makes the very fiber of a being together disappointed me. I started to see the world in true beauty. They way it was meant to be seen. I finally started to see the world in vibrant colors. I have found the river in the desert. No, I have found Earth within the vast universe. I was traveling in the emptiness of space, floating in nothingness. I didn’t know where I was. I lost all hope of finding sanctuary. Then I have finally found it. Mother nature's beautiful creation. The breath of life. This all happened after I went stargazing. Waiting till midnight away from the cities, I thought my life was coming to a close. Nothing in my life brought any emotions so I thought “What was the point of living?” There's nothing for me. I was always unmotivated, apathetic, isolated. Then I saw it. The North Star. The one thing that guides a vessel on its journey to discover the new land. The one thing that keeps ships going on the right path. Then I also noticed Orion's belt, the big dipper, the little dipper. Then the whole sky filled up with stars. But how did I realize what and where these constellations were? Oh I forgot. It was thanks to you. You were the one to guide me all along. I just never realized it. You were there for me every step of the way, but I thought your efforts would be for nothing. You confessed your love for me, but I thought there was someone better. You never gave up on me. I was stupid, If only I had realized that you have always been a part of my life from the very beginning. After that moment, I truly felt like I was Dancing with the Stars.  We spent our days together enjoying each other's company. Laughing together, hanging out together. These were the days we longed for. I can never be more grateful in my life that you have stuck with me all this time.   You have saved me. I love you.  One day you texted me to meet you in the hospital. She ensured that she was completely fine. Upon arrival to the room she told me to meet her in, She was the one on the hospital bed. She lied to me. She told me her mother was feeling ill and she wanted me to come visit. The first thing she told me was that she needed to confess something to me. This whole time she never told me she had a rare genetic disease. I couldn’t believe it. She never told me?
     “Why did you keep this from me? Why? Why! You should have told me! I could have prepared myself for this moment if you have told me beforehand! Why did you keep this from me? I don’t understand. I DON’T UNDERSTAND!” I couldn’t hold back my anger, my tears. I was scared. I was scared that I was gonna lose you that's why I lashed back. She explained to me “I really am sorry for keeping it a secret from you but I did it because I wanted to help you. I knew you were in pain and I knew I would hurt you more if I told you. If something happens to me I want you to know this. Don’t ever lose sight again. Even if I am not with you anymore. I will still always be with you.” A couple days have passed. I visited her in the hospital everyday but we couldn’t have conversations; it was mostly just small talk, long pauses of silence, and more small talk. One day as she was talking, it happened, she suddenly stopped talking. I turn towards her after looking outside the window. My eyes widened. I was in terror. I ran out to call the doctors. She was having a seizure. Many doctors ran into the room to try and save her. I was pleading, and pleading, and pleading that she will survive. What felt like an eternity, doctors came out and with the look on their faces, I knew she had passed away. She left me alone. By myself. This is how it should be. My world is once again black and white.

"Youth: Our Gains and Losses " by Kristin H

     The moment you’ve been waiting for: your name is called from onstage, you raise and
walk up the steps, cheering and yelling all around you. The administration that you barely
interacted with in the past four years will clasp your hand and give you a firm shake. You walk
down their line to receive the piece of paper that defines the grades you’ve earned and the work
you've done for the past 18 years of your life. Smile to the crowd, give a little wave, and the list
goes on. That’s the end. You sit in your seat and wait for it all to end only to take a few pictures
and shuffle off into the unknown of adulthood. That’s the end of your youth. 

     According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, youth is defined as “the period
between childhood and adult age,” a subsidiary definition being “the state or quality of being
young, especially as associated with vigor, freshness, or immaturity.” The coming of age films
we’ve grown up with would have you think that youth is the fun you have prior to college,
including wild parties, hook-ups, and rebelling against your parents. Hollywood lives vicariously
through these carefree cool kids just as we do because real life isn’t a 140 minute film that ends
on the perfect moment. What is in these unattainable characters that we do not have is their
endless youth.

     To put it simply, real life has consequences. In the past two years I’ve seen many former
friends of mine become these caricatures of youth: carefree, rebellious, and draining all the life
juice they can get from every possible moment. I’ve also seen their fear of missing out grow
exponentially, making sure to record every possibly enjoyable moment they can and save it to
their Snapchat memories. I’ve seen their nicotine addictions come to fruition, their anxiety grow
so large they find themselves crying on the floor of the J-building handicap stall, and the hope in
their eyes fade as they realize that the best years of their life are over.

     Yet, these have not been the best years. The youth we hold within us is carried
throughout our lives. Many of us didn’t have the opportunity to make use of the youth we did
have because we spent so much of this short time trying to grow up or deal with circumstances
that did not allow us to enjoy the little time we had. The Journal of Developmental & Behavioral
Pediatrics published a study in 2018 that revealed lifetime diagnoses of depression and anxiety in
adolescents ages 6-17 have increased over time, increasing from 5.4% in 2003 to 8% in 2007 and
to 8.4% in 2011–2012. I was one of these children suffering from both major depressive disorder
and anxiety, and for the majority of my life I felt that the time I had lost to suffering from these
two disorders could never be gained again and I viewed myself as a lost cause in the youth
department. 

     In the past when I have brought this thought process up to the therapists I’ve had, the
answer I received was more or less the same; Those that tell you that these are the best years of
your life are lying to you. In the grand scheme of things, these past 18 or so years have made up
a small fraction of your life. The mistakes you made, the suffering you endured, the inner turmoil that comes with being a teenager ​will ​ be a fleeting memory, if that. Your youth is not confined to
these few years and you will find that it will spread throughout your long life for quite some
time. The happiness you will find in knowing yourself, in learning about the world around you, and in the love you ​will ​ find will exponentially increase the youth you now have. There is no true loss of youth that you will find in your life. Even the most draining and insufferable
circumstances will lead to your growth in heart, spirit, empathy, and mind. There is no need to
worry about these being the greatest years of your life, those years are only starting now. 


     Works Cited

Bitsko, Rebecca H., et al. “Epidemiology and Impact of Health Care Provider–Diagnosed
Anxiety and Depression Among US Children.” Journal of Developmental & Behavioral
Pediatrics, vol. 39, no. 5, 24 Apr. 2018, pp. 395–403.,
doi:10.1097/dbp.0000000000000571.

"How To Do CPR" by Hannah C

 
In any state of emergency, knowing what to do and what you actually can do is essential to have everyone that is involved have the highest chances of survival. CPR is the right action to take when someone is unconscious, not responding or breathing, and with little or no heartbeat. CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and it can help start up the heart again by manually pumping their body’s blood from the heart and giving lifesaving oxygen by blowing air directly into the lungs of the person in need. There are specific steps in order to do CPR properly and following them accordingly can be the difference between life and death. Anything can happen in an emergency and being properly prepared and aware to handle any situation is essential. 

Obviously, reading this how to once or twice won’t make you a qualified professional, or make you get certified in CPR.  Professionals trained in CPR go through hours of in class learning and hands on training before they can even touch a person in real immediate danger. Data has shown that doing CPR without proper training has a higher risk of injury to the individual than not performing CPR until medical professionals arrive. Without knowing exactly what you are doing, you risk breaking the individual’s ribs, cause them to vomit, induce additional brain damage, and lodge forgin objects within the person’s body. This is also not a certified training course in any way, so pulling this up instead of dialing 911 is not recommended. This guide should be used as a foot in the door to understanding the steps of CPR and will hopefully inspire many to obtain their certification which can save the life of a stranger or even someone you hold dear. 

There are three types of CPR, the CPR intended for adults, children, and infants. This guide will just be going over the CPR for adults because it is the simplest and most likely to be used. 

STEP 1: Immediately after noticing a person unconscious on the ground, first ensure your safety, then tap and shout to try to wake them up. Immediately shout for help to dial 911. Look for any normal or not normal breathing, including gasping. Check their carotid pulse on the neck which is the most convenient. If they continue to not respond or you notice their heart is not pumping, lay them down on a dry, flat, firm surface, call for 911 again and immediately begin high-quality CPR. If the individual is breathing fine with a pulse, monitor them till emergency responders arrive. If they have no normal breathing, but have a pulse, provide rescue breathing, one breath every 5 - 6 seconds and check pulse every two minutes. If you do not definitely feel a pulse within 10 seconds, begin CPR. 

STEP 2: Once 911 has been called, EMS (Emergency Medical Service) has been activated. If there are other people around, call for help, an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), and emergency medical equipment. With or without help, start chest compressions. 

STEP 3: Carefully remove the clothing that is covering the victim's chest to allow you to locate the correct hand placement for compressions and allow placement of the AED pads. Position
one heel of your hand on the center of the victim's chest, on the lower half of the breast bone, while placing the heel of your other hand on the top of your first hand. Straighten your arms and hover directly over the individual, with your shoulders over your hands. Always remember the ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths. Once you begin compressions, compress with a rate of 100 to 120/min and press down 2 inches deep. Giving consistent compressions are very important, because each time you stop chest compressions the blood flow to the heart and brain decreases and it takes several compressions before the blood flow returns to normal. If an AED arrives before the round of compressions is done, finish all 30 then follow the directions that the AED says out loud as explained in step 5.

STEP 4: When a person is lying down, their airway is naturally obstructed slightly by the tongue, so in order for breaths to be effective, the victim’s airway must be opened. The head tilt-chin lift method is exactly what the name implies. Push down the individual’s forehead down lightly with your palm to tilt their head back, then use your other hand to lift their jaw and chin forward from right under the chin. Another method is the jaw-thrust maneuver, which is used when the head tilt-chin lift method doesn’t work or a spinal injury is suspected.  Place one hand on each side of the victim's head, then place your fingers under the sides of their chin and lift with both hands, moving the jaw forward. Finally, opening their lips with your thumbs. Their airway is now opened and you can begin administering 2 breaths. Each breath should last over 1 second and should be enough to make the victim’s chest rise.

STEP 5: When the AED arrives during any point of the procedure, it is essential to hook it up to the victim immediately. Before doing anything with the machine, turn it on and wait for the instructions to speak out loud. The instructions will tell you to attach the AED to the victims bare chest accordingly. Then, connect the cables that are connected to the pads to the AED machine. Clear the victim, allow the AED to analyze their heat beat and wait for it to instruct you what to do next. If the AED advises you to give the individual a shock, do not touch the victim and administer the shock. Immediately after it is administered resume chest compressions. If it tells you no shock need, continue doing CPR, starting with compressions again. Every five cycles of CPR, it will analyze the victim again, repeating the same steps. 

STEP 6: Continue compressions and manual ventilation until medical professionals arrive or the person begins to move again. Another person can take over CPR every 5 cycles or more frequently if the rescuer becomes fatigued. 

Following each step carefully will lead to saving a person’s life and can be gratifying to the rescuer to know they did something to help a person in a desperate situation. Getting your own certification to do CPR is absolutely worth the effort and time. Hopefully this inspires you to be interested in taking a class for yourself. 

Source: American Heart Association, Basic Life Support Provider Manual

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This part is not meant to be in the blog, but I am aware of how much this passage is highlighted as not my work, but I assure you I attempted to tweak as much of the diction as I could without changing the accuracy of the directions. 

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 post the comment here on the blog (below the post is the "comments" link to click) AND cut and paste your published comments, complete with dates and time stamps, on to a Word document and turn it in to me by April 2, on Google Classroom.  You must do both to get credit for comments this month.

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!