Author Archives: Lam T.

My Favorite Camping Destinations

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Throughout my life, I’ve always loved camping with my family and friends over the summer break. During the school year, I look forward to spending time with my loved ones exploring the beautiful sights of nature. My family and close friends started out with local campsites and beach camping, but over the years, we’ve ventured far and wide to see some of the views of a lifetime with our growing camping family.
Following are some of my favorite camping destinations that I would fully recommend!

Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Park

1. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
During the summers of 2022 and 2023, my family and our friends camped in the Tetons for ten nights, and I would say both trips were the highlight of my summer. We camped by Jackson Lake, a beautiful lake with a beautiful view of the mountains, and the scenery was incredible. There are many beautiful lakes and other views nearby, and Yellowstone National Park is only an hour’s drive away. At Grand Teton and in the nearby town of Jackson Hole, there are many fun activities, like paddle boarding and kayaking on the lakes, hiking, sightseeing, horseback riding, river rafting (my favorite!), biking through town, and many more! I also love the unique restaurants, ice cream shops, and souvenir shops in Jackson Hole. Overall, it makes for an exciting experience!

Secret Beach, Oregon

2. Brookings, Oregon
I’ve only been to the Oregon coast once, but I’m hoping to go again many more times. The coast is so beautiful and serene, and the hikes are scenic with breathtaking views and greenery. Camping there really puts my mind at peace because it is so calm and picturesque there. For me, the long drive was completely worth it. There is so much to explore, and I would of course recommend traveling there!

Carpinteria State Beach, California

3. Carpinteria State Beach, California
Carpinteria is a place that will always feel like my home away from home, as I’ve camped there almost every year for a long time. The beach is gorgeous, the waves are perfect for swimming, and there are great trails for hiking as well. It’s also really fun to walk or bike through town, where my favorite places are the ice cream shops, thrift stores, record stores, candy shops, antique stores, and coffee shops. All in all, it’s a beautiful beach not too far away with lots of fun things to do.

Rock Creek Lake, Inyo National Forest

4. Inyo National Forest, California
I’ve camped and sightseen at many places in Inyo National Forest, including Rock Creek Lake, Twin Lakes, Lake Mary, Lake George, and more, all being beautiful places with amazing views and waters great for swimming, paddle boarding, and kayaking. I’ve also biked around and taken the trolley through the town of Mammoth Lakes, where there are excellent restaurants and bakeries. One thing my family loves to do there is hike the trail to Gem Lake from Mosquito Flat. The trail is ten miles, but what I love about it is there are views the whole way there, so you can turn back whenever you want without missing out; there is a lake about every mile on the trail. On the way to Inyo, there is a great bakery in Bishop called Erick Schat’s Bakery, which has amazing breads, jams, sandwiches, pastries, cakes, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Overall, trips to Inyo National Forest are a great experience.

Hume Lake, Sequoia National Forest

5. Hume Lake, California
Hume Lake is a beautiful lake, perfect for swimming, paddle boarding, and kayaking. The view is amazing, and there are places all around the lake to sit and relax by the water. Something my friends and I love to do there is jump into the water off of the large rocks; it’s always so much fun. There is also a general store by the lake where you can get icees, milkshakes, ice cream, candy, soda, Hume Lake hoodies, and lots of other snacks and appliances you might need while camping. Hume Lake is beautiful and it is so much fun to camp at!

To conclude, these are my favorite places to camp at that I would absolutely recommend if you like camping, or even just traveling or sightseeing. I promise that you’ll have an amazing experience and see some gorgeous views!

-Lam T.

The Pomodoro Technique: A Time Management Method

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With lots of assignments and tests piling up, I as a student have been very stressed out recently. Stressing all the time hasn’t helped my productivity or time management; I think I’ve spent more time worrying about schoolwork than actually completing it. Thus, I’ve been trying new study methods, and one has really worked for me.

The Pomodoro Technique is a study method for time management that breaks long study hours into 25-minute periods of focused work followed by 5-minute breaks. Here are the steps in a more detailed form:

Step 1: Identify the assignments you need to work on.

Step 2: Set a timer for 25 minutes and work on an assignment without getting sidetracked.

Step 3: When the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break.

Step 4: Work for 3 more work intervals, or pomodoros.

Step 5: Take a 30-minute break and begin the study sequence again.

This study technique worked really well for me! I was able to complete many assignments I had been procrastinating on and not get distracted by my phone or other distractions the entire time. Something that helped me was making a to-do list and highlighting the tasks of the highest priority. With my phone as the timer, I found that I was much less distracted by it, because each time I opened my phone, I saw the timer and was reminded to keep working. Using a timer works very well for me, as it motivates me to concentrate and get as much work done as possible before the timer sounds. Also, I think a 5-minute break is a great time frame to get up, stretch, and get a quick snack before getting back to work without getting distracted.

All in all, the Pomodoro Technique was a very helpful and successful study technique in my experience. It allowed me to stay motivated and productive while working for multiple hours and completing many assignments without getting sidetracked. Hopefully, it works for you too! If you’ve been feeling stressed or have trouble managing your time efficiently, give it a try!

Lam T.

Why is Taylor Swift rerecording her albums?

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Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

As famed singer-songwriter Taylor Swift continues to expand her discography as a prominent influence on the 21st-century music industry, you may be wondering why she is releasing a “Taylor’s Version” of her past albums. The short answer is, she is rerecording and rereleasing her first six albums, of which she does not own the original recordings.

In 2005, Swift signed with Big Machine Records, which owns the masters (original recordings) of her first six albums. Under Big Machine, Swift did not own her music and was thus unable to control the way her songs were used. Big Machine sold to music manager Scooter Braun, who then sold Swift’s masters to Shamrock Holdings. As a result, each time Swift’s original recordings from her first six albums are streamed or bought, profits are gained by Braun. In 2018, when the Big Machine contract expired, Swift made the switch to Republic Records, where she made sure to acquire possession of her future masters. She now owns the four albums she has released since then—Lover, folklore, evermore, and Midnights.

Red (Taylor’s Version)

Taylor Swift is now in the process of rereleasing her first six albums—Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and reputation. She released Fearless (Taylor’s Version) as her first rerecording in April of 2021, Red (Taylor’s Version) in November of 2021, and most recently Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). The rereleases of these albums showcase her stronger and more mature vocals on all the songs she has written throughout her career.

As part of the rereleased albums, Swift has released new tracks “from the vault,” called “vault tracks,” which are songs she wrote for the original album that were never released. She has released six vault tracks for Fearless (Taylor’s Version), nine for Red (Taylor’s Version), and six for Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

Swift is three album rereleases away from owning all her masters. She writes, “Artists should own their own work for so many reasons. But the most screamingly obvious one is that the artist is the only one who really knows that body of work.” So if you want to support Taylor Swift in her journey as an artist to own her art, make sure you stream Taylor’s Version!

-Lam T.

Back to School: Tips for Productivity

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The school year has just started, and like most high school students, I’m slowly getting used to having homework every night again. Often, I allow myself to get distracted or put off my homework until the last minute. This year, I’m determined to have a successful academic year and a mostly stress-free school life by staying focused and productive. So, for everyone like me out there, here are some of my tips to be productive in school and at home for this coming school year.

1. Work in a distraction-free environment. I prefer to work in a quiet area and put my phone in a different room or on “Do Not Disturb” so that I’m not tempted to check it every time a notification pops up. It’s easy to get distracted and lose track of time when you’re on your phone, so make sure it’s not a distraction when you’re trying to get work done.

2. Keep track of assignments, tests, and deadlines. I recommend having a planner/calendar and writing down your assignments and due dates so you can plan accordingly. This helps me to make progress on my assignments every day instead of letting them pile up. Daily to-do lists also work well for me, and the satisfaction of crossing out tasks after completing them is always great.

3. Get work done at school. To minimize homework, use your study hall/tutorial period as well as class work time wisely, and get as much work done as you can. That way, it won’t become homework and you will have more free time or time to complete other assignments.

4. Take periodic breaks. Working can get tiring after a while, so it’s healthy to take a step back from your assignment and stretch, get a drink of water, and/or have a snack to fuel your study session. Be sure to get back to work afterward!

5. Tackle the most difficult tasks first. Completing your harder assignments first helps you get into the zone and complete your other assignments more efficiently. Personally, completing these assignments gives me a sense of accomplishment that motivates me to continue working.

6. Create a plan for your study sessions. Decide beforehand a window of time to work during (based on what time you feel most productive or when you are free) and which assignments you plan to spend time on. Creating a plan helps you stay organized when working and not wait until the evening to do all your work.

All in all, don’t get sidetracked, and stay organized and focused when you are working. Hopefully, you found these tips helpful and can apply them to your study sessions. Good luck in the upcoming school year!

-Lam T.

Album Review: Good Riddance by Gracie Abrams

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Good Riddance is singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams’ debut album, released on February 24, 2023; and written and produced by Abrams and Aaron Dessner. The album is 12 songs, and on June 16 Abrams released a deluxe edition of the album, which features 4 bonus tracks. Good Riddance is an album unlike most I have personally listened to; and Abrams’ raw, brutally honest songwriting shines through on this album as she reflects on past relationships with others and herself.

Further, many of my favorite songs and albums are written from the perspective of a person who has been the victim of a situation or relationship, the “good guy.” On the other hand, the songs on Good Riddance are written from the other perspective—from the person who has made the mistakes. I really love this fresh perspective, as it was really interesting to hear the raw and honest thoughts of someone who has done someone else wrong through the art of music. Following are a summary of some tracks on Good Riddance:

Track 1: “Best” – a song in which the narrator admits that they were not the best partner in their past relationship. Through her stinging lyrics, Abrams takes accountability for the mistakes she made and the faults she had throughout the relationship.

Track 2: “I know it won’t work” – a song about going through a tough time with someone and wanting to be with them again despite knowing that it won’t work. Though the narrator and the aforementioned person have cut ties, they still linger in each other’s minds, “never really leaving.”

Track 5: “I should hate you” – a song about being unable to hate someone despite how deeply they have hurt you. Throughout the song, the beautiful lyrics echo the way the narrator loves someone so much that they cannot hate them and would even go back to them after all the hurt.

Track 11: “The blue” – the only love song on Good Riddance, where Abrams sings about the inescapable connection between her and someone she has fallen in love with. In the song, she sings that they “came out of the blue” unexpectedly, and she couldn’t help but fall for them.

All in all, Good Riddance was an honest, emotionally intense, and beautifully written album. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it if you already love Gracie Abram’s music or are looking to try something new.

Happy listening!

-Lam T.

Book Review: Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

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Sixteen-year-old Aza Holmes wasn’t expecting to be investigating the disappearance of billionaire Russell Pickett, but a hundred thousand dollar reward is looming and her best friend Daisy is ready to solve the mystery. Aza and Daisy become acquainted with Russell’s son Davis, and together, they collect evidence and gather information to figure out what truly happened to Russell Pickett.

But within this external conflict lies Aza’s true endeavor as she struggles as a student, friend, and daughter. Aza struggles with OCD and anxiety, causing her to get lost in what she calls her thought spiral. She is consumed by paranoia of death by bacterial infection and is unable to live in the present and form real relationships with her loved ones.

Throughout the story, Aza struggles in finding herself and getting better, even when it seems impossible. As her world spins out of control, Aza loses her grip and regains it, learning how to cope with the uncontrollable storms of mental illness.

Turtles All the Way Down is an absolutely heart wrenching, raw, real, and painful story that accurately portrays mental illness. As Aza strives to separate from her intrusive thoughts, readers find that healing from mental illness isn’t a linear journey where one can simply choose to get better. The novel is realistic in its portrayal of life, love, friendship, illness, and healing. Overall, I loved Turtles All the Way Down, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes to read thought-provoking realistic fiction stories that allow them to look at life with a different lens.

-Lam T.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

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I’m sure a lot of people out there have read Suzanne Collins’ bestselling dystopian trilogy, which includes the novels The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay. But what many don’t realize is that the story told in this trilogy is preceded by its spinoff, a prequel to the series.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set 64 years prior to The Hunger Games in a nation known as Panem and tells the story of the 10th hunger games and the events that surrounded it. Something that makes this novel especially intriguing is that it is not told by an ancestor of a protagonist in The Hunger Games, as one might expect. On the contrary, the story is narrated by young Coriolanus Snow, known as the cruel and calculating dictator President Snow in The Hunger Games.

Throughout the story, the history of Panem and the Hunger Games is unfolded, and connections can be drawn between this sequel and the narrative that follows it. I found The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes very interesting, because the reader is able to see into society in the Capitol, where life is perceived as perfect and easy. Light is shed on the history of the Hunger Games and earlier versions of the event, which explains a lot about how developed the event had become by the 74th Games (during which The Hunger Games took place).

Further, this novel shows how a dictator so brutal and merciless as President Snow came to be. Throughout the events of the novel, readers watch as young Snow, innocent and kind, grew into a power-hungry monster hated by all of Panem.

All in all, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is an amazing dystopian novel and a very well-written prequel/spin-off that gives much interesting background on the story of The Hunger Games, particularly a character perceived as a villain. If you are a fan of The Hunger Games, I would absolutely recommend this book!

-Lam T.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Album Review: Ocean Blvd by Lana Del Rey

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In March of 2023, singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey her ninth studio album, titled Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd. This Americana-pop and alternative pop album includes collaborations with artists Jon Batiste, Bleachers, Father John Misty, Tommy Genesis, SYML, and Riopy. Ocean Blvd (short for Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd) has what is perceived to be a more mature, conversational, and raw lyrical style compared to Lana’s previous albums; and in addition to its pop style, includes influences of folk, gospel, and trap.

In Ocean Blvd, Lana Del Rey’s songs touch on themes including family, grief, loneliness, heartbreak, and growth. Following are a summary of a few tracks on Ocean Blvd:

Track 1: “The Grants” – a tribute to Lana’s family and beloved ones on this song as she recounts her memories with them.

Track 8: “Kintsugi” – a song about Lana’s grief and growth from the death of her family members. She relates this to kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the broken parts with lacquer dusted with gold, silver, or platinum.

Track 13: “Margaret (feat. Bleachers)” – written about Lana’s longtime collaborater Jack Antonoff’s fiancé, Margaret Qualley. On this beautiful love song, Antonoff is featured as part of the band Bleachers.

Track 15: “Peppers (feat. Tommy Genesis)” – a fun and catchy track sampling Canadian rapper Tommy Genesis’s song “Angelina.”

In conclusion, Did you know there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd ended up being one of my favorite albums! It has a very mature sound and a variety of unique sounds on each song. If you enjoy any of Lana Del Rey’s music, I would definitely recommend this album for you!

-Lam T.

Book Review: A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielson

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Over the course of one strange night, the family of twelve-year-old Gerta was abruptly divided. The rise of the Berlin Wall created an impenetrable boundary between West Berlin and East Berlin. Gerta’s family was split up; with her father and middle brother in the west and her, her oldest brother, and her mother trapped in the Soviet-controlled east.

Living in East Berlin is dangerous, with soldiers patrolling the city with guns at the ready all day long. Citizens are forbidden to watch the wall, think thoughts of freedom, or travel to the west. Any attempt of escape could end with deadly consequences. But one day, Gerta receives peculiar messages from her father and concludes that he wants them to dig a tunnel beneath the wall into West Berlin.

Gerta and her brother Fritz are at war with themselves, conflicted about whether they are ready to put their lives at risk for a chance of freedom. Gerta grows unsure of the people around her. Neighbors, friends… Can any of them be trusted? As the day that Fritz must report to military duty draws near, panic rises in Gerta and her family. Approaching is their one opportunity to escape to freedom in the west.

A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen is a historical fiction novel about the aftermath of World War II and its effects on a German family living in the east. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, even though it’s different from the books I normally prefer. As a historical fiction novel, it dove deep into showing the impact that wartime can have on a country and how the world around a population of people can change. At the same time, it details how a war and a corrupt government can affect the lives of individual people, their emotions, and the way they grow. I truly enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to readers of all kinds, especially those who already like historical fiction.

Happy reading!

-Lam T.

A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Album Review: Evermore by Taylor Swift

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In July of 2020, acclaimed singer-songwriter Taylor Swift surprise released her eighth studio album, Folklore. Fans were shocked by her abrupt dive into the alternative-indie genre after being a global icon of pop music for years. On December 11, 2020, she followed up by surprise releasing her ninth album, Evermore, shocking her fanbase once again.

Evermore is a 15-track album of alternative rock and indie folk songs. Swift collaborated with Aaron Dessner on the album, and most of it was recorded at the Long Pond Studio in the Hudson Valley. It features the bands Bon Iver, Haim, and The National. As a cottagecore-inspired escapist album, Evermore is most known for Swift’s incredible and haunting storytelling and poetic lyricism, which is backed by fingerpicked guitar, melancholy piano melodies, and soft percussion. This album is a musical storybook full of tales of marriage, infidelity, heartbreak, grief, love, and human emotion. In my opinion, the following are the most well-written songs on Evermore:

Track 2: “champagne problems” – This song is the story of a woman who turns down her partner’s marriage proposal, shocking all their family and friends. As Taylor Swift stated, the characters were “longtime college sweethearts [who] had very different plans for the same night, one to end it and one who brought a ring.”

Track 5: “tolerate it” – This beautifully written song tells of a never-ending struggle where the narrator wants love from their partner, who isn’t paying attention to the narrator at all. Swift drew inspiration from the novel Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, explaining that the young woman in the story put in much effort to impress her husband, yet he merely tolerated her love.

Track 9: “coney island ft. The National” – This song features back-and-forth conversational lyrics between two characters who were previously involved in a relationship. Through somber and nostalgic lyrics, the narrator regretfully apologizes for not loving their partner enough.

Track 10: “ivy” – In “ivy,” Swift sings about a woman falling in love with someone who is not her husband, leading to a secret affair.

Track 15: “evermore” – As the title track of the album, “evermore” is a piano ballad about the narrator’s journey from an endless stretch of deep depression to a place of hope and healing.

To conclude, Evermore is a beautiful album that stirs up emotions in listeners. I would absolutely recommend this album, especially if you enjoy reading classic literature and can appreciate the beauty of Taylor Swift’s lyricism.

Happy listening!

The question pounds my head
“What’s a lifetime of achievement?”
If I pushed you to the edge
But you were too polite to leave me
And do you miss the rogue
Who coaxed you into paradise and left you there?
Will you forgive my soul
When you’re too wise to trust me and too old to care?

-Taylor Swift, “Coney Island”

-Lam T.