Author Archives: Ethan W.

Tips for Running Track

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Track season is almost here, and that means a lot of meets right around the corner. Track can be a challenging sport, here are some things that I have learned for running during track season.

1. Get in a proper warm up and cool down.

Getting in a proper warm up and cool down is one of the most important parts of track. I find that getting a warm up and cool down before and after a workout makes running much easier. It can also help you to do better in races and can help you to avoid injury. Stretching before and after workouts is also very beneficial.

2. Wear the right shoes.

Wearing the right shoes is also important while running track. This can help you to improve your times for a race and it can also keep you from getting injured as well.

3. Keep the right pace.

One thing that I found very useful for running track is keeping the right pace. This is especially useful for distance events where you will need endurance over a longer distance and period of time. I found it helpful to keep a pace and maintain it throughout the race and then speed up closer to the end.

4. Get the right diet.

Having the proper diet and eating the right foods is very important for running track as well. It’s important to eat and hydrate before you run, especially before races. I also found it helpful to have a snack for after a race or a hard workout, as it helps to replenish some of the energy that you have lost.

5. Do a variety of workouts.

Doing a variety of workouts each time you train is also helpful for running track. Running the same workout every day can slow your improvement in running. Instead, it’s helpful to incorporate a variety of workouts when training, such as long runs as well as harder workouts. This can help with improvement and can be very useful, especially if you are running distance events.

6. Get good sleep.

Getting good sleep and proper rest is important for running track as well. Getting good sleep can help you to do better in a race, and being well-rested is one of the most important parts of running track.

7. Mentally prepare for races.

Finally, one of the most important parts of running track is being mentally prepared, especially before races. A large part of running, especially in track, is mental, and I found that a large part of running is being able to mentally ready yourself, especially before a race. I found that visualizing success and focusing on goals for the race was very helpful in doing better in a race as well.

The Best Ways to Volunteer in Orange County

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A new year has started again, and what better way to start off your new year than helping out in the community? There are many ways to volunteer in the community, and volunteering helps not only others but gives you important skills as well. Here are some local volunteer opportunities to try to start out the new year. 

1. The Mission Viejo Library

Some of the best opportunities to volunteer locally are at the Mission Viejo Library. The Library holds many events and activities around the community which are great to volunteer at. The Santa’s Workshop event each December is a great way to volunteer, as well as the Arbor Day program at the Oso Creek Trail. I would also recommend writing for the Teen Voice Blog. For the blog, you can write one or more blog posts a month, and you can get service hours for this as well! To learn more about volunteering at the Mission Viejo Library, visit here: https://www.cityofmissionviejo.org/departments/library/about/volunteer-opportunities-library  

2. Second Harvest Food Bank

Another great way to volunteer in the community is at the Second Harvest Food Bank. It’s a great way to give back to the community with programs including food drives that help people in need, especially those without a home or who are food insecure. You can help here by harvesting food from the food bank’s farms or helping in the food distribution center to package and move food and canned goods. To learn more about how to help, visit here: https://feedoc.org/get-involved/

3. Mission Viejo Activities Committee

Another way to volunteer locally is through the Mission Viejo Activities Committee, which plans many of the activities in the community each year. Some of my personal favorite activities to volunteer for are the 4th of July Street Fair, Santa’s Workshop, and holiday decorating around the city. The Activities Committee hosts activities and booths at many city events, so if you are looking to volunteer, visit here: https://mvactivities.com/volunteer-opportunities/ 

4. Mission Viejo Animal Services

One of my personal favorite organizations to volunteer for locally is the Mission Viejo Animal Services, and this is a great opportunity if you enjoy working with animals. To volunteer, you can assist with services at the animal shelter, including walking dogs and caring for other animals including cats and rabbits. To learn more about volunteering at the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter, visit here: https://www.cityofmissionviejo.org/departments/animal-services/volunteer-opportunities/volunteering-center 

5. Pacific Marine Mammal Center

If you are interested in learning more about the ocean and marine biology, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach is a great volunteer opportunity for you, and there are a wide variety of ways to help here as well. Volunteers can care for animals, feed animals, and clean enclosures and pools. You can also volunteer as a marine science instructor to teach others about marine biology and assist with activities for visitors, making this overall a great and educational volunteer opportunity to participate in. To learn more about volunteering at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, visit here: https://www.pacificmmc.org/volunteer 

Overall, all of these opportunities are great ways to help and give back to the community. These are all great opportunities if you are interested in helping with activities, helping those in need, or helping to care for animals. I would recommend all of these opportunities to anyone interested in volunteering or getting involved in the community. 

Best Activities for the Holidays

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It’s almost Thanksgiving, which means the holidays are almost here. If you are looking for activities to do over the holidays, here are some of the best ideas for holiday activities this winter.

1) Go to an ice skating rink.

  • There are several ice skating rinks nearby in Orange County, including at the Irvine Spectrum. The Great Park in Irvine has one as well, as well as several others nearby. Many of these rinks have other various activities to do as well.

    2) Make a homemade wreath.

    • Making wreaths is another fun activity for the holidays. To make a wreath, first build a bouquet or bundle of plants. Then, either use a wire frame or a wreath base and attach the bouquet to this. Finally, tie the bundles together and decorate your wreath with flowers,

    3) Go on a holiday lights tour.

    • A great activity for the holidays and a family tradition for me has been to go on a tour of holiday lights around the city. In fact, Mission Viejo has a holiday lighting contest with a guide to the best lighted houses in the city. The guide can be found at this link: https://mvactivities.com/all-mvac-events/home-lighting-contest/.

    4) Go to a local Christmas event.

    • Another activity you can do over the holidays is going to a Christmas event. One of the best local events is located in Newport Beach, where there is a parade of lighted boats. It will be held this year from December 18-22. Orange County also has a winter festival in December at the location of the OC Fair.

    5) Make ornaments to decorate your tree.

    • Another one of my favorite holiday activities is making ornaments. It is great for anyone who is interested in crafts, and there are also a wide variety of ornaments you can make, including felt, beaded, paper mache, and salt dough ornaments, all of which can be made easily at home. You can also decorate your Christmas tree and your house with these homemade ornaments as well.

    6) Bake holiday treats to enjoy.

    • Baking holiday treats is also a good idea for the holidays. Cookies always make a great treat, and some cookies that are great to bake over the holidays are sugar, snickerdoodle, and gingerbread cookies. Another great holiday treat and one of my personal favorites is hot cocoa, which is great to make at home.

    7) Visit some local Christmas attractions.

    • There are many great local Christmas attractions to visit in Southern California. The Descanso Gardens in Pasadena has a lighted walk every Christmas, and there are several other local places with lights as well. Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland have Christmas events as well.

    8) Play holiday games.

    • Playing games can also be a fun thing to do over the holidays. One of my favorite holiday activities is to play board games with family and friends. Another activity that is great to do over the holidays is Secret Santa, where you can exchange gifts with family and friends. These are some of my recommendations for the best activities to do over the holidays, so feel free to try them out this winter.

    Ethan W.

    Tips for Incoming Freshmen

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    It’s fall again, and the school year is starting back up again. If you are a freshman as I was last school year, here are some tips for the first year of high school.

    1. Use a planner-One of the things that I would recommend doing in the freshman year of high school is using a planner. I found doing this helpful because it helps you to keep track of your homework and activities and tests and it is a great way to keep organized in general.

    2. Another thing that I would recommend doing during freshman year is to join sports and clubs. Joining a sport is great for making new friends as well as keeping in shape, and it also looks great on college applications. I would also recommend joining clubs during freshman year, since it can help you to pursue the things you are interested in outside of school as well.

    3. During freshman year I would personally suggest looking into some of the more challenging courses if you are interested in them. I would recommend taking math, science, and English courses, and look into AP classes if you are interested in them. I would also suggest looking into the electives that are related to the things that you are interested in.

    4. Another skill that I found helpful for the freshman year of high school is making good study habits. For example, try not to only study the night before a test, but try to start studying a while before a test. I also found it helpful to make study guides to review which also makes it easier to study for finals. It can also be helpful to review your notes regularly to make sure you know all of the material.

    5. Another thing that is great to do during freshman year is to get involved in the community and start doing community service. This is great for making new friends as you will meet many people as you serve in the community. Getting involved in the community early in high school also looks great on a college application and will help you to stand out as well.

    6. Finally, don’t worry too much. High school can be challenging sometimes, but one of the things that can be helpful in in getting through your first year is not stressing out too much and still giving yourself time to relax and unwind. Be patient with yourself and don’t stress out too much about mistakes, and keep on doing the things you enjoy. Good luck and have a great first year!

    Best Beaches for the Summer

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    It’s summer, and one of the summer activities that are always good but especially on hot days is to take a trip down to the beach. There are a lot of local beach spots that are great for swimming and scenery or to just relax and unwind, here are some of my personal favorites.

    Laguna Beach: Laguna Beach is one of my personal favorite beach spots. There are many beach choices in this area. One of the best beaches at Laguna Beach is Heisler Park. This is because it is great for walking on as well as swimming since it is sandy and not rocky. This beach also has a marine reserve with tide pools that you can explore as well. Another great beach in Laguna Beach is Treasure Island Beach. This beach is a great spot to snorkel and observe sea life, and it is also good for swimming and has clear water as well.

    Balboa Beach: Another great local beach to visit is Balboa Beach near Newport Beach. It is a very calm beach and is great for swimming, and is a great place to relax as well. There is also a pier with fishing and restaurants, as well as a ferry to the nearby Balboa Island. The beach is also very clean with clean restrooms as well.

    Crystal Cove: One of the best local beaches to go to is Crystal Cove in Newport Beach. The surf is also very calm and it is also a good spot for swimming. It is also a good spot for snorkeling and has coral reefs and lots of sea life as well. It also has several tide pools to visit and is great for taking a walk as well. There are also hiking trails above the beach that give great views of the ocean.

    Huntington Beach: Huntington Beach has a large variety of activities to do as well. The areas close to the beaches there are good for swimming as they are mostly calm, but some areas of the beach have larger waves making them a great spot for surfing and there are in fact several surfing competitions held in the area. This area is also great for paddleboarding and there is also a pier on this beach, which has fishing and views of the ocean as well as great spots for photos.

    Corona Del Mar: Corona Del Mar is also a very scenic local beach with plenty of things to do. This beach has views of much of the local coastline and is a great place to get photos, with cliffs and rock formations, and you can even see as far as Catalina Island on some days. The beach is located in a cove which makes it very calm and good for swimming. It is also a great snorkeling spot as it is clear as well which allows for great views of the sea life. I would recommend walking on this beach as it has walking trails along the beach, and it has great views of the sunset as well.

    I hope everyone has a great summer and that this helps you to find the best activities this summer!

    Best Activities for the Summer

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    Summer time is here, and sometimes it can be a challenge to find things to do and you can find yourself just sitting around. Summer can be much more fun when you have activities to do, so here are some activity ideas for you to get the most out of your summer vacation.

    1. Go to the pool or beach.

    Going to the pool is a fun summer activity that is great anytime. On a hot day, one of the best things to do can just be to take a nice swim in the pool, and it is a great summer activity that everyone can enjoy. Going to the beach can also be a great option for the summertime, as there are many activities you can do such as playing in the sand and swimming. Some great beaches nearby include Crystal Cove and Doheny Beach in Dana Point.

    2. Go on a camping trip.

    Another great activity to do over the summer is go on a camping trip. I personally enjoy camping because it’s a great opportunity to get into the outdoors, and I also enjoy visiting and exploring new places. Some great nearby camping spots are O’Neill Park and Carbon Canyon Park, as well as the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles.

    3. Go fishing.

    One of the best activities to do over the summer is to go fishing. Fishing can be a great activity if you live near a river or lake. Fishing can be both very fun and relaxing and a great way to get outdoors. Local piers such as the Huntington Beach and Dana Point piers can be great places to fish, as well as lakes such as Irvine Lake.

    4. Go on a bike ride.

    Another activity that you can do over the summer is going on a bike ride. Biking is a great way to get exercise as well as to go places, and it can be a fun way to get around and explore. Santiago Canyon near Irvine Lake is a great place to go biking, as well as other trails near the beach areas as well.

    5. Read a book or magazine.

    A great way to beat summer boredom is to read a book. Try to read a new book that you haven’t seen before. Some of my personal book recommendations are the Dune series by Frank Herbert, as well as the informational book Salt by Mark Kurlansky. Reading a magazine can also be very entertaining as well if you are bored during the summer.

    6. Go on a hike.

    My favorite activity to do during the summertime is going on a hike. Going on a hike is a great activity because it allows you to get a great view of nature and scenery, and it also allows you to get exercise in as well as avoid boredom. Some of best hikes nearby in my opinion are the trails in O’Neill Park and around Irvine Lake.

    7. Play a sport.

    Playing a sport over the summer is another activity that I would recommend since it allows you to get in shape and have fun with others. There are many sports you can do over the summer, but my personal recommendations would be swimming and tennis.

    These are some activities that you can do over your summer break, so be sure to try this out if you are bored and to have fun!

    Knott’s Berry Farm Review

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    Recently, me and my family went to Knott’s Berry Farm over the spring break. I had a very good experience visiting there, so here are a few tips and ride suggestions for anyone planning to visit there.

    There were many rides and attractions throughout the park, and many rides are roller coasters but there were still a variety of types of rides as well, including rapids and a train ride. Here are some of my personal favorite rides to go on at the park.

    Calico River Rapids: One of my favorite rides at Knott’s is Calico River Rapids. This ride uses inner tubes which go down a long stream of rapids. This ride is fairly mild but is still very fun and is one of my favorite rides at the park. This ride also can get you wet as well so it is great for the hottest part of the day.

    Ghostrider: Another one of my personal favorite rides at Knott’s Berry Farm is Ghostrider. This ride first goes up a large hill giving you a good view of the entire park, and it then goes down several drops and through many turns, so even though it has no loops, it was still a very thrilling and exciting ride. It is also a longer ride at over 3 minutes long, so despite the usually long wait times, it is still one of the best rides to go on at Knott’s Berry Farm.

    Jaguar: Another great ride to go on is Jaguar. This ride is a longer ride compared to many other of the other roller coasters there, as it is over 2 minutes. It also is good for people of all experiences and ages as it was very fun but not too intense as it did not have very steep drops or inversions but still remained very thrilling.

    Overall, I had a great time visiting Knott’s Berry Farm, but I also learned many new things about the park when I visited, so here are some tips for anyone visiting there for the first time.

    1. Go to your favorite rides first.

    One thing that you can do to get the most out of your day at Knott’s Berry Farm is go on your favorite rides and the ones you want to go on first. Wait times can be very long for many of the more popular rides, especially on weekends and later in the day, so if you want to go on a specific ride, be sure to go on that ride first earlier in the day, and try to go on rides with lower wait times later in the day.

    2. Get to the park early.

    Another useful tip for visiting Knott’s Berry Farm is to arrive early at the park. Try to arrive slightly before the park opens, as the line to enter the park and the lines for the individual rides often get longer later in the day, and I personally found this very helpful in avoiding having to wait in long lines.

    3. Pack a lunch.

    Another tip that I found helpful was to pack a snack or lunch to bring to the park. This allows you to wait in more lines so you can go on more rides while you are there. Lines are also often shorter during lunchtime, so you can eat lunch while waiting in line so you can make the most of your time and not wait in lines for as long as you would otherwise.

    Overall, I thought that Knott’s Berry Farm was a great theme park! I would recommend this park to people of all ages since there is such a variety of activities and events to do there.

    Tips to Study for the AP Test

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    Test season is almost here already, and that means that the AP Test is coming up soon as well. The AP test can sometimes be a lot to study for, so here are some helpful tips that helped me and will make studying a breeze.

    1. Buy a test prep book.

    One thing that I found helpful when studying for the AP test is to get a test prep book. This contains a condensed version of the material found in the course, so you can review the material from the whole year and then test your knowledge of the material. A good place to get these books is from Princeton Review.

    2. Review your notes.

    Another strategy that I found helpful when studying was to review my notes from the year. It can sometimes be hard to remember topics that were taught at the beginning of the year, so reviewing can be helpful especially if you have forgotten some of the material.

    3. Study the important topics.

    Another useful strategy I found for studying is to review the most important topics or areas of the course first before covering other subjects as well. Spending more time on larger topics can be helpful and is a more effective way to review for the test as well.

    4. Take practice tests.

    One of the best ways to study for the AP test is to take practice tests. Practice tests can help you to study better and know what material to focus on while you are studying. They can also help you to take the test more effectively, and I personally found them very helpful. Some good places to find these practice tests include College Board and Khan Academy.

    5. Make a study schedule.

    Another approach you can take to studying is to make a study schedule and to plan out your studying. This allows you to plan backward from the date of the test, and spread out your studying into more manageable blocks over a longer period of time. This also ensures that you are well prepared for the test and are not rushing to study.

    6. Make flashcards.

    Another method of studying that I found useful was making flashcards. Making flashcards can help you to remember important materials, especially formulas and vocabulary. It is also helpful for quickly reviewing concepts, and helps to prepare you for the test as it gives practice with giving answers for a question format.

    7. Use AP College Board resources.

    I also found that the AP College Board online resources were very helpful for studying as well. These resources include content reviews and topic quizzes, as well as AP Daily videos, which are daily reviews of material covered in the AP courses, all of which are very helpful when reviewing.

    These are some of the important ways that you can make your studying for the AP test much easier and more effective as well, so be sure to try these tips and tricks before your next test!

    Heading to the library? Teen Test Survival Kits, created by the Mission Viejo Library Teen Advisory Board, are available to pick up at the library.

    The Best Museums in Orange County

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    Museums are good places to spend time at, especially on rainy days. There are many museums in Orange County to go to and you might be wondering which are the best to visit. Here are some museums that I enjoyed going to and would recommend as well.

    1. The Orange County Museum of Art

    One of my favorite museums to visit is the Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa. They have many interesting pieces of art there, as well as displays and different themes by different artists that change monthly. I have found it helpful to try and get there earlier in the morning as it gets very busy in the afternoon.

    2. The Marconi Automotive Museum

    Another great museum to go to is the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin. It has many historical and exotic cars that have been restored, as well as the original cars from many different movies, and it is overall a very interesting place to go.

    3. Heritage Hill Museum

    Another interesting and historical museum is the Heritage Hill Museum in Lake Forest. It has many restored historical buildings including several adobes from the 1800s. The park has guided tours of the buildings and also teaches about county history, and I found it to be an educational and fun experience.

    4. Richard Nixon Museum

    Another museum that I enjoyed visiting was the Richard Nixon Museum in Yorba Linda in Northern Orange County. It has the site of Richard Nixon’s birthplace, and also gives historical information about Nixon. It is a great place to go for the day and is a great way to learn more about history.

    5. Lyon Air Museum

    One of the best museums to go to in Orange County is the Lyon Air Museum. It is an enjoyable place for people of all ages and has many rare and historic planes that are in good condition. It is also close by, in Irvine, and is a good size to explore, and it is a very good way to spend an afternoon.

    6. Mission San Juan Capistrano

    Mission San Juan Capistrano is one of the best museums and historical sites to visit nearby. The mission is open so you can walk through and see the various areas, and it is very large, with many tunnels and paths to explore. It also has exhibits that give a large amount of historical information about the mission, and there are also activities and special guided tours that allow you to visit private areas of the mission.

    These are some of the most fun and educational museums to visit in Orange County that will be sure to give you a very interesting experience. So be sure to go and visit these museums-they’re sure to give you a good time!

    10 Tips and Suggestions for visiting Disneyland in 2024

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    Disneyland is a very nice place to go throughout the year, with plenty of enjoyable rides and attractions. However, it can sometimes be difficult to visit everything as it can be very crowded. Here are 10 helpful tips that I have found that will help you make the most out of your day there.

    1. Get there early.

    Disneyland can be very busy at times, especially on the weekend. The lines for admission can get very long, especially later in the day. I found that getting to the front early slightly before the park opens can help you beat the crowds and get into the park earlier.

    2. Pack a meal.

    Another thing that I found helpful was packing and bringing a simple meal to eat there. The lines for the rides can get very long, but eating lunch while waiting in line will allow you to ride more rides and get the most out of your day.

    3. Plan out the day beforehand.

    Planning your day beforehand can also be very helpful. Plan to go on the rides that have longer wait times first as times often get long quickly. Then, try to do the rides with shorter waits later in the day when other wait times become very long.

    4. Use the Genie+ Service.

    I also found the Genie+ service very helpful the last time I went to Disneyland. It allows you to schedule the day and skip the long wait times for the rides. Try to schedule the rides that normally have a long line first. However, you only get to use it once per ride, so try to only use it if times are long.

    5. Use mobile ordering for food.

    When you do order food at Disneyland, try to use the online mobile ordering service. Many of the lines and wait times for food vendors are very long, but mobile ordering allows you to skip the line and get your food faster.

    6. Pack a portable phone charger.

    You will need your phone for a lot of things at Disneyland, as many services require you to use your phone including Genie+. I found packing a portable phone charger helpful to bring in case your phone runs low on battery, which will be useful especially if you spend a long time there.

    7. Find a good place to sit down and eat lunch.

    At Disneyland, there are many good places to sit down and eat lunch. A good spot if you are looking for a peaceful place to eat is Tom Sawyer’s island in the lake in the middle of the park. There are also benches around the lake that you can sit at, and it is much less busy than the less of the park.

    8. Go on the indoor rides when it gets too hot.

    It can get hot at Disneyland, especially in the summertime. and it can be better to go on the indoor rides during the hottest parts of the day. Some great indoor rides include Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and the new Star Wars ride Rise of the Resistance.

    9. Buy tickets on weekdays if possible.

    Another helpful tip is to try to book tickets on weekdays if possible. The park is usually much less crowded on weekdays, and this makes it easier to get the most out of your day and avoid waiting in long lines.

    10. Get your pictures taken early.

    You can get your photo taken professionally in many places throughout Disneyland, and the Genie+ service comes with unlimited photos, and you can also have pictures taken in front of rides. However, there are lines to get photos taken and these become very long later in the day, so try to get pictures taken earlier in the day.

    These are some tips that you can use at Disneyland in order to get the best experience and so you can have the most fun. So don’t forget to try these helpful tips and tricks the next time you visit!