Category Archives: Essays

Life lessons from the founder of Apple

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Many know Steve Jobs as the founder of both Apple and Pixar. However, Jobs’ path to success was not easy, and he faced many mental challenges.

Along with that, Jobs learned a couple key ideas. One of them being: you have to do what you love to do in order to become successful. If one does not love what they do, their work does not become passionate, lowering the chance of success. On top of that, being passionate about your work is also better for the consumer experience. In Jobs’ case, loving his work led him to satisfying millions with apple products, that you see everywhere today.

Jobs also stuck by the idea that “you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward”. What he means by this is that it is impossible to see into the future and try and figure out your life that way. However, it is very possible to look into the past and reflect on past experiences, and learning from them. Jobs had done this when he was first fired from his own company. At the time, Jobs thought his life was over, but in reality, this had been the best thing to ever happen to him, as he grew a lot from this and started Pixar, another huge company that we all know today. Eventually, Jobs was hired back into Apple and worked there until he passed away. Another lesson that Steve Jobs has learned in his life was how life is limited, and one has to do what they enjoy and prefer, rather than paying attention to other peoples’ lives.

Especially today, so many people are wrapped up in what others think of them and how they can improve themselves for others, when in reality, focusing on self-growth and setting standards for yourself is what will really make people better. Today, although Jobs unfortunately has passed away, people learn and take ideas from the thoughts Jobs had, and will overall benefit society if everybody thought this way.

-Jeremy L.

AP Studying??

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AP test month can be one of the most stressful periods in your entire high school career. Unlike regular tests AP exams demand a year’s worth of information from you. The best way to handle the overwhelming stress is to be prepared for what is coming. I have taken many AP courses and have found some of the more efficient ways of studying along with the methods that are not beneficial. 

Perhaps the most important variable to consider when studying is making a clear cut schedule for studying that aligns up with your AP test day. For example, for history or science based tests designating a certain time block to study each unit a day is very helpful. Personally, about a month out from my AP world exam I started studying half a unit every single day. This way revisiting information is not overwhelming when test time comes. 

Now that you have a set time for studying it is very important how you spend that time you have created for yourself. I have personally found that simply rereading a textbook and labeling that time spent as studying is not efficient when trying to remember information from an entire year. If you are someone who enjoys using notes to study rather than just rereading them add an extra layer. First look at the topic for the section and try to recall all the information you can about that topic. Next read the page/pages of notes. Lastly, and most importantly, outloud recall all of the information that you just reread without looking at your notes. Doing so stimulates your brain to try and read the information rather than simply forgetting the info minutes later.

When studying for history and science based tests there is so much information that no one can remember every single detail. So, when reviewing try to focus more on patterns that you recognize or different relationships. It is important to remember the college board does not just test you on verbatim facts that you have learned. The test evaluates you on different thinking processes so you have to be able to understand different relationships between time periods or scientific concepts. 

Now for the English based tests such as AP Lang one of the best tips I got was to focus on the News. At first I did not understand how this would be helpful. But, for some AP tests you must write papers where evidence comes straight from your brain, no documents. On these occasions you have to think of different important events in history to make your argument. Therefore, listening and keeping up with the news a month before testing seasons can provide you with great relevant evidence to incorporate into your essays. 

For some people, the hardest part of preparing for such a demanding test is getting the motivation to actually sit down and review. For these people, I recommend getting a study partner. As cheesy as that sounds it can be beneficial for those lacking motivation. Having someone that is supposed to study with you every day holds both your partner and yourself accountable to actually reviewing. Your partner does not need to be studying for the same AP, but having someone who is also preparing can force you to sit down and just begin. If you have a close friend you can study over facetime or at the library(considering after COVID). Other ways are finding study discords servers or zoom servers that are offered online where you can study with other people with the same goals as yourself. 

-Lily G.

Rediscovering Reading

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During quarantine, from the beginning, I have found myself straying away from reading and being pulled into the constant stream of new shows coming out of streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+. While these are great, I found myself missing books and wondering why I wasn’t reading more. So during the winter break, I took the time to read two books that made me fall in love with reading all over again. 

I found that it wasn’t the book specifically that got me back into reading but rather the act of picking up a book of my choosing and being able to hold it physically in my hands. I also rediscovered how therapeutic reading is, especially at a time where it is one of the only things you can do as most things are currently shut down. 

While any genre will do, I always find myself drifting towards this weird combination of romance, historical fiction, and dystopian. Perhaps this is why I am constantly reading because every book is so different. With all the social media apps now, it was very easy to find book recommendations that looked as though I would actually enjoy them and now my to- read list is almost 20 books long. 

With school picking back up, I know we all won’t have as much time to read but I set a New Year’s resolution to try and read at least one book a month to give myself a break from everything else going on it the world and be transported into a completely different place where I can be a spectator rather than a participant.

-Danielle B.

ACT or SAT?

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What made you choose the test that you would have to take? I think the best advice is to take a practice test for each and see which you do better at. There are books to check out with practice tests and books you can purchase as well.

You could also just go in to each test and take official ones just to see how you score, but you have to pay for the actual tests. You may do so well in one that you could find this the fastest way to be done with it.

You could also decide based off researching each test. There are four sections in the ACT and three in the SAT. The ACT is described as being more heavily a reading comprehension test. You have a reading, writing, and science section and the science section does not require a lot of outside scientific knowledge, just the ability to read the questions and answer based on what they present on the test. This makes it another reading section, in effect. The SAT just has the traditional Reading, writing, and math. This makes math worth 33% of your grade where on the ACT math is 25% of your grade. This can help kids make the decision as well.

The UC schools, like UCLA, UCI, etc., no longer look at these test scores which makes your GPA and extracurriculars more important. If you are only planning for these schools, I wonder if you will even bother with these tests anymore. If you want to keep options open, many schools either require the scores or list them as optional.

Best of luck as you make decisions on your future.

The Benefits of School Sponsorships

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In schools all over America today, it is not uncommon for one to see the multiple brand sponsorships and deals that the school has taken part in, with logos being slapped all over the place. When schools get sponsorship deals and such, the company being sponsored pays the school a fair sum of money for their brand and logo to be displayed in the school. Because of this, schools engaging in company sponsorships are very financially beneficial towards the school and the business, especially for those schools that are struggling.

To start, schools seem to always be in need of money. It is no secret that schools usually do not receive the best funding and that they heavily rely on students and parents for financial aid.  Fundraisers and donations from parents are very common means for schools to earn money. However, considering that many students are not financially fit to support fundraisers or make donations, it really questions the effectiveness of these penny-pinching methods, as not every family can afford to just give the school money like this. When schools add in a company sponsorship, for example putting KFC banners all over the school, the school gets a guaranteed source of income from the company. Large corporations are much wealthier and can easily afford to comply with the sponsorship, making it all the more reason for sponsorships. This money could be spent on things like school supplies, repairs, and if there is extra money, maybe even things such as student events and campus beautification. Overall, it is just a more effective way to earn money, which will then in turn make the quality of learning and the school much better.

On the other hand, companies also benefit greatly from school sponsorships. When companies sponsor a school, their brand and logo will get exposed a lot. Students go to school every day, at least they normally would, which means that they will see these advertisements and logos all the time. In my personal experiences, without the use of school sponsorships, I would have never tried the restaurant Raising Canes, which is definitely one of my favorites to this day. It is undoubtedly likely that a ton of other students have had an experience similar to mine, and most who have not yet may have one in the future.  Things like this might give any small business the push they need to get going, or a large corporation extra customers to add on to their growing business.

Company sponsorships are a very efficient and better way for schools to earn money than conventional fundraisers and such. Especially since these sponsorships are a guaranteed source of income that benefits both sides of the party, it really is the best solution to any money crisis a school is having.

-Jeremy L.

Disobedience

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In 1891, Irish author Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) observed, “Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’s original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and through rebellion.” However, his claim that disobedience is a valuable human trait and that it promotes social progress is not valid, as there are more cases of civil disobedience ending up being ineffective and destructive than there are that promote social change. 

With social media and online forms of activism becoming more and more common, taking issues out to the streets and handling them out there has become less and less common, and therefore less effective. In fact, people in high positions of power may see these cases of disobedience not as powerful or meaningful, but rather a burden. Malcolm Gladwell’s assertions stay consistent with this concept, as it is much easier and more efficient for people to express themselves online rather than in-person. The majority of news will spread faster and to more people on social media, making it unlikely that people will take it out on the streets. Also, the majority of protests and acts of activism that happen online often stay unnoticed or local. Such means that these acts of activism are unlikely to reach a state or federal level in promoting change, and are unlikely to spread the awareness intended to. Activism through the use of social media is much more effective and efficient at both of these.

Civil disobedience may not only be ineffective, but it can also be destructive and harmful to others. Take for example, riots and violent protests in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities regarding the death of George Floyd earlier this year. Although in the end, Derek Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder on the morning of October 22, 2020, many innocent locals had to pay the price for it. Many people’s jobs, livings, and neighborhoods were destroyed as a direct result of this case of disobedience. The Western Journal released a video on May 29, 2020, of K.B. Balla, a colored sports bar owner, breaking down after he lost his entire life’s work to rioters. It seemed to Balla that within an instant, the sports bar that he took pride in and cared about was gone. There are many people like Balla who have lost their businesses and other important things thanks to violent rioters. Even though justice was served in the end, it was not worth millions of dollars in property damage, countless injuries, and possibly even multiple deaths.

Wilde’s claims are not valid as the majority of civil disobedience has turned out to be destructive and ineffective. Civil and peaceful methods of activism and protest are much more effective than disobedience and are much more likely to appeal to people in high positions of authority. There are even cases of disobedience when it comes to other topics besides social change, but in the end, these methods are not necessary nor valid.

-Jeremy L.

The Hufflepuff Common Room

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One could safely say that Harry, with his handy Marauder’s Map, adventurous spirit, and knack for getting into trouble, explores much more of Hogwarts than the typical student does. In fact, he manages to enter both the Slytherin common room (with the help of Polyjuice Potion and a few of Gregory Goyle’s hairs) and the Ravenclaw common room–as well as his own cozy Gryffindor common room–within the span of the series.

However, although he develops friendships with a few Hufflepuff students, Harry never enters the Hufflepuff common room. And as a result, the readers never see it, either.

Thankfully, the world of Harry Potter is so richly imagined and developed that it extends beyond the books. Unsurprisingly, a vividly descriptive article on the Hufflepuff common room can be found on the Wizarding World website, written by J.K. Rowling herself (If you’re a Harry Potter lover, I encourage you to check it out–it’s very interesting to learn about the mysterious common room and to read J.K. Rowling’s thoughts on it).

Though the method used to enter the Hufflepuff common room is rather simple (tapping a barrel to the rhythm of the founder of Hufflepuff’s name (Rowling)), and although the room lies low in comparison to the towers that house the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor common rooms, I think I would choose to live in the Hufflepuff common room above the others if I had the choice.

The Hufflepuff common room seems so cozy and bright, with “patchwork quilts,” “[a] colorful profusion of plants and flowers,” and “[s]mall, round windows [that] show a pleasant view of rippling grass and dandelions, and, occasionally, passing feet” (Rowling). Despite being so low in the ground, the Hufflepuff common room still seems cheerful and warm. I love how the majority of the decorations are plants; they add so much vibrancy and homeliness to the room, and I think the constant presence of nature would create a joyful and peaceful mood. In addition, the circular structure of the room reminds me of a cozy little hobbit hole.

The common room “feels perennially sunny”–the perfect atmosphere for keeping your spirits up while studying for exams, relaxing with your classmates, or recovering from a particularly cold and difficult Potions class (Rowling). Imagine leaving the stuffy Divination classroom or a particularly wearisome History of Magic lesson and entering a warm, inviting room lit with golden sunlight and lively plants. The environment itself, I think, could be an instant mood-lifter.

Lastly, the Hufflepuff common room lies right near the kitchens, in case you want to pay the house elves a visit.

Where else would you want to spend your seven years at Hogwarts?

– Mia T.

Works Cited

Rowling, J.K. “Hufflepuff Common Room.” Wizarding World, Wizarding World Digital, 2 Mar. 2020, http://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/hufflepuff-common-room. 

Stay Safe!

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We are in a modern day in age where the global pandemic, Covid-19, is a playing factor in almost every decision made. The only way to get rid of this devastating virus is to know what it is and how to prevent it. Some countries were able to lower the amount of cases present without a vaccine by simply following a few guidelines. 

To start off, EVERYONE PLEASE WEAR THEIR MASK!!!!!! I know it is repeated constantly but it really is a significant matter.Covid-19 is a virus that spreads when someone talks, coughs, or sneezes. Many scientific experiments done by countless organizations and top medical professionals such as Dr. Anthony Fauci explain that masks can catch the droplets that one may breathe out. Less transmission occurs when there is a physical barrier between your mouth and the open air. Many people may be asymptomatic, but that does not mean it doesn’t matter. One can still spread the virus to a parent or a close friend who may not be so lucky.  It is unknown actually how many cases there are in the U.S. But it can be assumed that the number is much larger than what is known. You are not just wearing a mask for yourself, you are doing it to protect everyone around you. There was one scenario where a man who tested positive for covid went on a plane but wore a mask the entire time. The 25 people around him were tested negative since they were all wearing their masks properly and stopped the spread through the air.

I know it can be difficult to wear a mask in public, but when looking at the context, I would wear 100 masks on my face if it meant no one around me would catch covid or even die from it. I especially urge everyone to wear their masks properly. All over the internet and in real experiences I see many people have their masks on them but choose to wear it inappropriately. I personally dislike this the most, nose maksers. Wearing their mask under their nose. Simply pulling up your mask all the way in public may just save an old man with heart issues, or a child with a weak immune system due to preexisting conditions. You never know who is around you. Simply wearing a mask properly, not just holding in your hand may just save a life.

The last topic I would like to elaborate on in gatherings. I understand over this long quarantine it can be very hard to be alone. But when I see on the news that a giant rager was thrown and one of the attendees’ parents or grandparents died because they wanted to party, it breaks my heart. Hanging out with one or two people while wearing a mask and staying 6 feet apart is totally okay. I personally have hung with my cousin by sitting in two different cars while we ate and talked. Finding fun like activities where you are distanced and outside can be just as fun. Remembering especially kids, though you may not personally get hurt, have empathy for those around you. Including parents, grandparents, uncles, and even siblings.

-Lilly G.

Movies During Break

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During this break, I have found myself with nothing to do and lots of free time. With it, I decided to watch a whole bunch of movies from “before my time.” I found that even after my family decided to let me watch the movie alone, I would find them coming in to watch with me, then asking me to wait until they had free time to finish it with me. 

My friends also decided they wanted to watch movies with me and kept recommending more and more movies that we could eventually watch together. Then we could talk about them later and watch other movies based on the ones we liked. 

I have found that there are many benefits to watching these movies. Though it may seem to some like you are just sitting around on a couch, I have found that with finals coming up for many teens, it has been a way to destress. Often with current movies, they are all the same and watching one is like watching them all. When watching older movies, they’re often much more interesting and I pay a lot more attention to them.

Another benefit of these movies is that I have been spending a lot less time on my phone. Watching a movie is still watching a screen, but I think it’s been a lot less harmful to watch a movie from farther away than being on my phone close to my face 24/7. 

As for recommendations, if you’re into classic movies from the 80s or 90s, I recommend Dirty Dancing, Dave, and The American President. As for movies from earlier years, Singin’ in the Rain and The Aristocats as well as Breakfast at Tiffany’s are all amazing movies. I do have to warn that some of them carry a PG-13 rating, so check with a guardian before watching. 

Watching movies is something that can be done year round and every day of the week, but especially on breaks when all you want to do is get away from the modern world and all of the issues going on right now. Watching them from past years, rather than one that came out three months ago can be therapeutic in that you can look back on what was good then and what you wish you had now and vice versa. 

So next time you have a long weekend off of school, or a week-long break, take some time to make a list of movies to watch and sit down with some popcorn. You might surprise yourself with what you end up loving.

-Danielle B.

The Little Things That Count

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Though it may seem cliche, it’s undeniably true that it’s the little things in life that count. Never underestimate or overlook the little things. Even if only the dewdrops clinging to the blades of grass in the morning or the sight of the setting sun, never let these little things escape your notice. Noticing and acknowledging the little things in life are keys to enriching the life you are already living in. Because sometimes, you are not able to change your circumstances and in truth, we don’t actually need to change our reality, but rather our perceptions.  And one of the simplest, yet easily undermined ways to do this is to pay attention to the little things.  Hold on to the little things, and the rest of life falls into place.

Of course, the only way to consciously make an effort to do so is to be aware. And sometimes, we don’t like feeling aware, whether it be of ourselves or our surroundings. Many of us don’t want to sit still with the thoughts in our mind or notice that piece of litter on the side of the road. And I understand that. Yet, you can’t see the wonderful things without noticing all the not-so-wonderful things, because of course,  that is how you gain perspective and gratitude for the little things that you do have. 

After all, you can’t possibly come to be grateful for a gift that you were too blind to notice that you had in the first place. So do not fail to take notice. 

Although at first, it may feel uncomfortable or unimportant to really and truly open up your mind and your heart to experiencing things in greater magnitude, more often than not, many people find this to give them a sense of peace. 

Noticing the small things means taking extra time and care, even if only mentally. But as we all know, your mental state plays a huge factor in the way that you live and see your life. If your mind can consistently remain slowed, calm, and focused on the good things no matter how small, then no matter your surroundings or the circumstances, and no matter how dark the night, you will be able to know that the sun will come again in a short while. 

There’s a common quote that’s often used simply put: “No rain, no flowers”. In order to notice and appreciate the flowers, you must also notice and come to appreciate the rain.

Hardships in life are never easy, but they are what make us learn and grow, so that when you stumble out of the storm and see the newly-bloomed flowers, you come to know what relief and gratitude mean, and you obtain the wisdom as to know that the storm you were caught in was not for nothing at all. 

So, to whoever may read this, feel no sheepishness or guilt in “stopping and smelling the roses” today. Notice the little things, but also do them. Maybe you can be someone else’s living proof that the world isn’t so bad after all, so do not hesitate in offering that kind word or extending a giving hand when the opportunity comes your way.

-Aisha E.