Muskan Week 12 - Stay Positive

With this whole Coronavirus outbreak happening, everything has been shutting down. Schools have already been closed for 2 weeks. All extracurriculars are closed. Many businesses are also shutting down or limiting their hours due to the outbreak. For example, Kohls just limited their hours by only opening the store from 11 am to 7 pm. This has so many people, nationwide, at a loss for what to do. People who are usually always in a rush throughout their day suddenly have free time. I’m one of those people.

I went from staying up late to do all of my homework on time, to suddenly having the entire day free. Before school had shut down, I was scheduled to have rehearsals every day after school and work weekends on top of regular school days. When the state declared all schools closed, tech week got canceled as well. I now have nothing to do for the next 2 weeks from Monday to Friday. I still have work on the weekends, but since I requested off all weekdays for the next 2 weeks, I now have 5 free days in a row.

Although this break was nice for the first 2 days, I am quickly getting sick of staying home. I am, however, trying to look at this as an advantage to boost my mental and physical health regardless of how bored and annoyed I seem to be getting. The full night’s rest I will be getting for the next 2 weeks will certainly boost my immune system, which is perfect for what we’re going through right now. Additionally, this free time now allows me to study more for my SAT’s, which was just canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak. Most importantly, I am now able to spend more free time with my family. Already I have been able to watch a movie with my sister and play cards with my parents. 

Even though this outbreak is a negative aspect of our lives at the moment, it is important to look at the bright side and try to make the most of what we have right now. Use the extra time to do some self-care and relax. We all need it.

What are you doing during your break? Are you enjoying the break? Do you think it’s well needed?

Hayden 12 “Spring better ‘spring’ into action”

Many of you may not know this, but spring is not my most favorite time of year. With allergies and obsessive rain I find myself just wishing for summer, however, I am ready for some spring weather! It has just been so cold and dreary the first few months of this year that I keep finding myself itching for a change, and a destination in the sun!

I don’t want to jump ahead of myself though. I’m not ready to go to the beach just yet. I am ready though to embrace spring and all it has to offer. All the spring flowers are starting to pop up, the trees are turning green, and the sun is staying out for much longer! I am so ready to go all in with spring, and here are my reasons why!

Longer Days. This has actually been one of the reasons in the past why I’m not typically the biggest fan of spring. I love the dark, I’m a night owl, which made me happy when it got dark at 3:30 in the afternoon. Since we had daylight savings though I have felt a bit of a change of heart. I feel much more productive when the sun is out longer! I find myself sitting at my computer until I realize it’s actually 7:30 at night! This can be a blessing and a curse, but right now I’m going with it! 

Warmer Weather. Like I said, in the past I have not been a huge fan of spring. I have just had enough of the cold this year though. It’s been brutal, and I’m ready to wear shorts and t-shirts without shivering. 

New Clothes. A new season for me usually marks the time when I go through my current wardrobe, donate, and buy new things! This is actually one of the few aspects of change that I look forward to. It’s just a great refresher for yourself, and really helps mark the new season. This also helps you feel happier and more confident. You want to make sure that everything you wear truly represents you and makes you feel like the most confident person in the world!

With the winds of winter changing, spring is on its way. Is anyone else excited? If so, why? What is your favorite season? 

MaryJo 12: Netflix Recommendations

With the surprise 2-week break given to us without warning, it is natural that, along with it, most of us are given conflict with what to do with all of the extra time. While 2 weeks is a convenient amount of time to catch up on schoolwork and do extra studying, it’s not realistic that this break will be used for that reason.

Although there’s now plenty of time to improve your social life, it’s not the best idea to go out in public and socialize with a group of friends thanks to what led to our break in the first place. I personally encourage everybody to try their best to stay home as much as you can, since the entire goal of taking a break to school is to prevent any possibility of passing the virus to others, which can, in effect, eventually reach someone who the virus is fatal to. However, staying at home provides valuable time you can take for yourself to relax and release any tensions. It’s easy to become bored when you’re home, but luckily, I have Netflix recommendations that are helping me pass time and may help pass yours.

My first recommendation is definitely one of my favorite shows that I have ever watched: On My Block. I watched it when its first season came out in 2018, and I instantly became obsessed. I quickly watched season 2 when it came out last year, and, after another long year of waiting, I am now on season 3, which just came out last Wednesday. On My Block is about a group of friends living in a gang-ridden, predominantly black and Latino neighborhood in LA. I think one of the reasons I love the show so much is the way it gives me something to relate my Hispanic culture to. Nazareth obviously lacks diversity; I have no Mexican friends, but it’s comforting to see others like me on screen and makes me feel less culturally isolated. Because we live in a safe suburban area, I also think it’s important to see the reality that kids are faced with when living in dangerous areas full of gang violence. The show’s plot is very interesting and never bored me at any point throughout its story line, and it’s full of really good humor and characters that will grow very fond to you. I highly, highly recommend this show and hope I convinced some of you to watch it!

The second show I’ve been constantly watching is The Great British Baking Show. I’ve always loved watching Food Network and bake-offs, so I thought I would give it a try. I am so glad I did, because I don’t know what else I would do with myself if I didn’t have that show to watch. I finished the latest season and am currently working my way back. Besides the interesting challenges they have to complete, the judges and cast are so entertaining. They always make jokes, but somehow the fact that they’re British makes it so much funnier. I don’t know what about their accents is able to relieve all of the problems from my life, but it does. The contestants are always so kind and are constantly looking out for each other, which you don’t usually find with American cooking competitions. I also found myself picking up on weird British slang that I don’t know the meaning behind but use it anyway because I think it’s funny. Overall, it’s a really lighthearted and fun show that I really recommend.

What shows are you currently watching?

Megan - Week 12 - Go Fish

“Meggggan, pwease play Go Fish with us,” Olivia whines.

“While I wish I could, I have to work on this paper. I bet Madison will if you ask nicely,” I reply, knowing full and well that Madison will not.

“But we forget how to play, and we neeeed you. Pleaseee,” Juliet joins in.

I sigh, knowing I’ll be up late working on this paper but also knowing that my little cousins won’t be little forever.

“Okay, I’ll play. Just give me five more minutes, and you can’t get mad if I win,” I tease.

So I found myself playing Go Fish, and I found myself asking the same question that I ask every time that I play a game with my younger cousins: should I let them win?

It’s a real dilemma. On one hand, we all know people who were allowed to win every single game of Candy Land that they ever played as a kid. They often think that they’re the best thing that ever happened to the world, and they’re also super sore losers. When they lose a game of badminton in gym class, they’re ready to snap their racquets in half.

At the same time, kids model behavior. If they can see me lose and not cry or throw a fit over it, I believe that can be valuable too. Monkey see, monkey do. Plus, losing over and over again is no fun, and I don’t want to discourage them from playing games.

So, I decided to let them win once, and then next time, I won. I don’t know if that was the right choice or not, but when I’m not sure, I usually err on the side of balance.

Do you think that we should let kids win every game? Why or why not?