Dear Freshmen,

Dear Freshmen,
      Hello, and welcome to high school! I'm sure you are very excited for the next four years of your life! Since you are a freshman, you are new to this whole high school thing. Let me tell you a little something. High school is not as glamorous as people say. No, it's not like High School Musical. No, it's not intimidating. No, there are not a lot of parties. High school is the exact same thing as middle school, only with a heavier work load. Also, please do not use your lockers 24/7. Not only are you blocking up the hallways, but in high school barely anyone uses their locker. If you go into freshman year expecting romance, drama, and parties, you are in for a huge disappointment. Take freshman seriously, after all, colleges are able to see your grade, and it's probably the easiest year of high school. If it's one thing you must develop over the year, it's your time management skills. If you are involved with many clubs, do sports, and are in honors level courses, manage your time well. Get involved with school sports and clubs to make upperclassmen friends. Be sociable. Don't worry about getting lost at school, after a week you will be all set with all your classes. As a side note, don't be afraid to ask upperclassmen for directions, it is a common misconception that upperclassmen are mean. If its one thing you should not do, it's to act cocky If you are a douchebag/asshole/super cocky, you will not be welcomed by the upperclassmen. It's a senior boys thing to act all "big" and cocky. Be humble and modest. Chances are, you will have some drama with your friend group. Maybe your friend group stops hanging out with you. Whatever the problem, remember that a lot of people are going through the same thing. Honestly, this is your first year at high school. Make it great. Be heard. Be seen. Make a name out of yourself, build a reputation. Just be yourself and have fun.

Science Without Ethics

I am a huge fan of James Patterson, his Maximum Ride series were my favorite. For those who are familiar with those books, then you already know that Maximum and her friends are human/avian recombinants. For those who don't know, the protagonists of the books are humans that have been tested on, manipulated, and transformed so that they appear to be human beings, but they have wings. I love this kind of science fiction stuff that involves humans being genetically modified so that they have some special feature.

Well anyways...

A while ago I was discussing my love for the Maximum Ride books with by biology teacher, and I briefly described the recombinants to her. Me being me, I asked her if it would ever be possible to create human/avian recombinants. Obviously, she said no

But her last phrase, "Testing on humans is unethical." caught my attention. If we were to perform experiments and continue science without ethics, what would happen?

What things would we be able to invent? What would we create? Would we be able to create humanoid war machines like Captain America, or will we end up with zombies? It's very interesting to wonder what we would be able to do if we experimented on humans. Would we create a whole new race of humans who are genetically enhanced? I probably sound very creepy and psychotic, but I think it would be awesome if scientists were able to genetically modify humans so that we have wings (or something of that sort)!

Although I am curious about science and sci-fi recombinants, I do not endorse testing on humans. Imagine a world where it was legal to clone humans.. I would not want to live in that world. And what if we were able to genetically enhance humans but they turn on us?

Also, I though it was interesting that people in general believe that it is unethical to test on humans, but yet it is common practice to test on animals. There are a lot of companies who don't test on animals anymore, kudos to you, but I find it amusing that we humans value our lives over animals. Truthfully, we are animals too, and if you want to argue that animals don't have feelings like we do, animals die too, they experience pain, loss, and animals also have their families. Many Americans own pets who they consider as family members,  and I'm sure pet owners would not want scientists to test on their pets. Although I believe that it is unethical to test on animals, I believe it is necessary if the testing is conducted for medical research.

Shopping on A Budget

Now, I'm no fashion blogger, but I do know a thing or two on fashion, and clothes. Being a teenager, I do love to follow fashion trends and I love fashion. However, clothes can be very expensive, especially if you are someone like me who loves designer clothes. My family is not rich, so I can't drop 10k on a celine handbag or 1k on Valentino Rockstuds (I wish!). Also, since I am a teen, I do not have a high paying job that can pay for my expensive taste, which means I have to figure out how to buy the clothes I love on a budget.

I like to call myself the bargainista. Why? Because every piece of clothing, designer or no-brand, is less than $25. How do I do it? Read on!

Outlets

If you love designer clothing, you must shop at outlets. Premium outlets carry many designer brands such as J.Crew, Coach, Levi's, Polo Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade. Nike, Micheal Kors, et cetera. By shopping at the outlets, you can save so much money. The best time to shop at the outlets are around holidays, for that is when they have huge sales. Just a word of warning for people with high end tastes: some outlets have stores such as Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Versace, but their prices are no different from a regular store.

For Example:
I always shop at the Levi's outlet store. I get ALL my jeans from them. The retail price for Levi's jeans are pretty expensive, but all my jeans cost $19.99 or less. I've even bought their jeans for only $9.99!

Sales

Honestly, I buy all my clothing on sale. I love J.crew as much as the next girl, but their clothes are way too expensive. Thankfully, they are always having sales, which are amazing! If you shop when they have 50% of clearance, you can score big savings. This applies to every store. Most stores will have sales, and sale time is the best time to buy (obviously). Remember that amazing top you saw just when you walked in to the store? But it was $100? That top is most likely going to end up on the sale rack. I recommend checking out the new arrivals, but don't buy them, because they will probably be on sale later. Also, keep in mind that when you shop sales, even the discounted price may sometimes be very steep. So the best sale one can get is when the store has an additional discount on the sale price.

For Example:
Anthropoligie is known for being a very overpriced store. They are currently having 20% off of sale items. I was able to score a floral tank for $23 and a laser cutout leather tank that retails for around $90 for only $23. In my book, $23 is still expensive, but hey, for Anthro, it's a steal!

DSW

DSW is my holy grail for shoes. If you are a shoe girl like me, always browse here once in a while. I always browse and purchase shoes from their clearance rack. Most of their shoes are brands that you haven't heard of, but their genuine leather shoes are high-quality. DSW is for shoe addicts who prefer quantity over quality. However, all my shoes that I have purchased from there have lasted a while and are really comfortable. Oh and this is not a sponsored post. I know that recently DSW has been sponsoring a lot of vloggers and bloggers but I guarantee you this isn't sponsored,

For Example:
I recently purchased two gladiator sandals from DSW. One shoe was only $9.99 and the other was $11.95! One sandal was synthetic leather while the other (the $11.95 one) was real leather!

Lookalikes

The title says it all; lookalikes. If you see something you just absolutely adore but don't have a wallet fat enough for the purchase, look for a lookalike! Settle for that until you can afford the expensive version.

For Example:
Brandy Melville sells their signature Chiyo top (a caged bralette) for $19, but Forever 21 has a lookalike that costs only $9.80.

Forever 21/H&M

Some people avoid these stores because their quality can't compare to other stores. I agree, but if you are looking for trendy pieces, this is the place to shop. The prices are really affordable, and sometimes you can find something cute! Shop here if you prefer quantity of clothes over quality. I'd say that Forever 21 is more for the teenager/young adult crowd, and H&M for the older crowd, but I shop at both. These two stores are great places to purchase cheap basics. The downfall to these stores is that their quality isn't top-notch, and their inventory is either a hit or miss.

Thrifting

I've never been thrifting, but my friends who do always say they get amazing deals. Clothes from a thrift shop cost no more than $5. If you have a lot of time, and aren't afraid to get down n' dirty, go thrifting! If you have a more expensive taste, I would look into consignment stores and Revolve boutiques. These shops are basically high end thrift shops where they carry well known brands.

Standards

Standards are essential to getting the best deals. By standards, I mean your standards. For some people, $20 is considered a great price for a tee shirt, but for others $20 is too expensive. Personally, I think that jeans should cost no more than $25, but I know of some people in my school who pay more than $100 for jeans. Shop around your standards. Also, make sure that what your buying is with its price. Say you found a sweater on sale for around $50, but it was thin. In my opinion, I wouldn't buy it due to its thinness. However, if that same sweater was made from 100% cashmere, I would totally buy it.



I hope this helped!

The Scrutiny of Size

In today's society, there is so much taboo over size, and what is the "perfect size". Body image and size is undoubtedly on every teenagers' or young adults' mind. In the good ol' days (like the 90's and before) robust women were "in". Every women coveted Marilyn Monroe's curvaceous and voluptuous body. Nowadays, every teen wants the body of a Brandy Melville model; a stick figure frame and a mythical thigh gap.

The media has always advertised stick figures. In clothing magazines, all the women are uber thin, and the men all have bodies that are chiseled by the gods. On the runways, all the sleek models strut their tall and thin bodies. Recently, there has been a growing trend in plus size models, and "fativists". This is where a lot of drama and taboo plays in. Many people complain that the use of plus size models is normalizing obesity, and due to "fativists" putting down skinny people to help bigger women gain body confidence, skinny shaming/hating came to life. There is just constant back and forth bickering between the bigger and smaller community on what the media should support.

My personal opinion is this: Whereas society should not constantly spew pictures of super thin women that might push girls into anorexia, we also should not shift to the other end of the spectrum and normalize obesity. I believe that society should endorse a healthy body. I don't think a healthy body is defined by a clothing size, waist measurement, but rather defined by your lifestyle.

So, what is the perfect body size?

I think that the answer to this question is just a matter of personal opinion. Some people think that the perfect body is a supermodel-esque body, some think that it is an hourglass shape, and some people think that the perfect body is a size 14. Some people are born very thin, and are made fun of that. Likewise, some people are born heavier and are bullied for their weight. I believe that you should do whatever with your body to make yourself confident. If you are larger and would feel more comfortable loosing a few pounds, by all means do so. If you are larger and feel confident at your size, you don't have to change. The same goes for thinner people.

Remember, whether you are overweight or underweight or anywhere in between, be confident in your body and don't let anyone put you down due to your size. Do what makes you confident, and do what makes you feel healthy.

And the thing is, no matter what your size, everyone is a little self conscious. Stop fighting and realize that everyone is trying to battle the same thing.

Double Standards of Success

There are so many double standards in the world, however none of them are greater than the double standard of success.

As you probably know, this is the time of year in which college acceptance letters are mailed and received. Second semester seniors already know, or just found out which colleges they have been accepted to. Obviously, there will be a select few that are accepted into the prestigious and fabled ivy leagues.

In every school, there is that senior who is super accomplished, super prestigious, and super successful. There is that type of senior in my school, and in fact, she is a friend. To protect her identity I shall refer to her as Bene. (which means "successful" in Lain) To give you some background on Bene, she is not the pretentious type that you would expect to be accepted into an Ivy League. She's down to earth, very nice, mature, and secretly inappropriate and funny. I don't know what other colleges she was accepted to, however I know that she was accepted to Dartmouth, Yale, and Harvard. Pretty awesome, right?

I run a "Humans Of..." page for my school that is inspired by the popular blog Humans of New York. I featured Bene on my page, and if you are familiar with Humans of New York, they often interview the person they feature. I asked Bene, "What worries you the most about the future?" Part of her response was, "I'm trying to choose a college. I hope I'm not sounding pretentious right now, but I'm choosing between Harvard and Yale. I know people are going to give me flak for this, but it really is the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life!

I was surprised that Bene got some backlash for mentioning that she was choosing between Harvard or Yale. One comment said, "The biggest worry about the future is whether you go to Harvard or Yale? Rough life." 

This highlights the double standard on Ivy League colleges. If you get in one, you would be very excited and proud, however if you didn't you'd probably think, "Whatever. People who are accepted are too pretentious." Also, if Bene was talking about choosing between Boston College and Boston University, no one would care that she mentioned the names of the colleges. Not that BC and BU are bad schools, they are just not as famous or held in prestige as Harvard or Yale. 

What really annoys me is when people who did not get accepted into their dream Ivy League school say things like, "Your college doesn't determine how successful you will be" or "Getting into an Ivy League doesn't make you successful" I totally agree that your college does not determine you successful you will end up in life, however when someone says,  "Getting into an Ivy League doesn't make you successful" I want to  scream, "Bitch, get your jealous ass self away from this planet. I know for a fact that if you got into an Ivy League, you'd be rubbing that acceptance letter in everyone's' face. Stop your goddamn hating!" (sorry but not sorry for the vulgar words!)

My super classy (not really) note to the haterz:

stfu cuz you all jealous

Honestly, the double standards of success are derived from jealousy. After all, "Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius." -Fulton J. Sheen

In a myopic sense, getting into a prestigious college, or the college of your dreams is the biggest success of your life. However, in a long term sense, your success is determined by your accomplishments of the goals you set for yourself, whether that is writing a novel, service trips abroad, landing your dream job, or becoming a millionaire. Don't let the fact that you did not get accepted into your dream college ruin your sense of success, and don't let the jealous haters prevent you from being proud to get accepted into an Ivy.

A Teenager's Opinion...

... on the missing Malaysian Flight 370

As a disclaimer, the opinions expressed are my opinions, and they are opinions. Obviously, people will disagree with me. In addition, I am not exactly the most politically educated person, so I might get some facts wrong, or I might not understand the politics between countries.

OK, I will start this off by saying: Dear Malaysia, you are not a teenager who got drunk for the first time. Get. Your. Sh*t. Together.

My biggest problem with missing Flight 370 is the search for the airplane. Kudos to those who are searching for debris, I realize that it is a nearly impossible task and I am very glad that 25 countries are now looking for the missing flight. But that being said, there are so many people looking for the flight, but who is the leader? Malaysia obviously should be the leader, because after all, it is their plane that went missing, but the Malaysian officials aren't doing very well dealing with the missing flight. Malaysia is so inconsistent. One second they are saying that all the flight passengers are clearing of any criminal suspicion, but another second they are stating that all passengers are under suspicion. Make up your damn mind!  Say if something groundbreaking was discovered during the search, then who would get the right to examine it. Would it be Malaysia? Or China? Or Australia? Or the country who first discovered it? There is such a lack of leadership. I'm not a very avid news-reader so I don't know why there is a lack of leadership or if one country has in fact taken control of this whole search.

Something that infuriates me is Malaysia's interactions with the affected families. As an Asian-American, this is more personal because the majority of the passengers (153 people) were Chinese, and there was an American couple on board. The flight is missing, and nothing has been discovered, but at least give the families answers or bad news! The families with loved ones on the flight want closure, so at least tell them that it is unlikely that anyone aboard the plane survived, or tell them that with the evidence that they have, everyone on board died. It's depressing news, but at least it offers some closure.

Also, I've been wondering, do the families of the missing flight passengers get compensation? I know that that's a terrible and materialistic/money-centric thing to think, because nothing can, and ever will replace a lost loved one. But honestly, do the families receive any compensation? At the very least, the families deserve answers.

I have also wondered what if they never find debris? What it the plane vanished without a trace? What then? What could explain something like this? Most importantly, why did the plane vanish?

As a side note, I have a huge respect for CNN. To me, its mind boggling how they can broadcast hours of coverage for the missing Flight 370 even though there are no new break throughs. How do they spend hours covering the same content without being uber repititional???

Who you are

Who are you?

This question is probably the most thought provoking question in the world. This question is the epitome of self reflection. These three words have the power of causing an existential crisis and a total questioning of your spirit. In my opinion, this question carries a lot of meaning. You don't answer this question by saying, "Well, I like sports. I do blah blah blah blah, and my hobbies are: this, that..." Who you are is much more than what you are interested in or what you do. Who you are is your basic essence. As an analogy, who you are is the quarks of an atom of an element.

Who am I?

Honestly, I do not know who I am. I recognize my specific characteristics, attributes, and aptitudes, but it is impossible for me to sum up myself in one eloquent paragraph. Sure, I can describe my hobbies and personality, but it is impossible for me, or anyone to describe the very essence of their being.

I think it's okay to not know who you are. I think it's totally normal. No matter what your age, like if you are a 14 year old like me, or a 70 year old, I believe that everyone does not always see their whole self. I might be getting really philosophical here, but finding out who you are is part of the meaning of life.

So whether you are a teen wondering why you are having a hard time identifying yourself, or you are an adult wondering why you have been feeling so lost, don't worry. There is a road to self-discovery, and that road is called life.

The whole "inspiration" for this post occurred to me one day while I was showering. As most people do in the shower, I was contemplating life. I was thinking of the future, past, college, and the meaning of life. Suddenly, I thought, "If someone just asked me now to tell them who I am, what would I say?" For once, my flamboyant self was at a loss for words. I did not know how to describe myself. I came to an "epiphany" that who I am is not something I could just recite to someone, or a college essay that could launch me to the Ivies, but rather something very personal and something that can't be found, but rather discovered.

Movie Night: Divergent

So... I'm kind of in love with the movie Divergent. I loved the book, but I loved the movie even more.

To be completely honest with you, my favorite part of Divergent was... THEO JAMES
I probably sound like a desperate fangirl, but that is what I have become. I can't handle his attractiveness!

Things to know... 

There are a few things that you should know before watching the movie. I highly advise you to first read the book, because most movies made form books are not completely accurate. (warning: there may be some spoilers) For those who have read the book, the movie leaves out some events and dialogue. The movie does not include Peter stabbing Edward in the eye. Also, the movie does not really show that Al liked Tris. When Tris asks Four to show her his tattoos, he was supposed to say, "Tris, are you asking me to undress?" Other than the fact that some scenes were excluded from the movie, you should know that Theo James, the actor who plays Four, is extremely attractive. He is flawless. He is beautiful. He is a god.  

Review:

I loved, loved, loved the movie! I thought that the cast was perfect, the characters were just as I imagined them. There was definitely some chemistry between Theo and Shailene. The soundtrack was pretty good. The plot line was understandable to those who have not read the book. One of my friends who I saw the movie with, she never read Divergent but she told me that she understood the movie perfectly. The setting is just as I imagined it, but the Dauntless headquarters were not exactly as I pictured, but fine nonetheless. I thought that some parts of the movie was rushed. The only disappointment I have with the movie is that Tris and Four kissed three times in the book, but only kissed once in the movie!

Overall, I absolutely loved the movie! I'm a total fangirl!

P.S. Sorry for not posting in a while! And sorry for the double Divergent posts!

Divergent

Warning: You are about to be assaulted by complete, utter fangirlism

Rating: «««««

AhHhHhhHhhh...! I love love love this book!

This book is amazing. I don't even know where to start. Everything was utterly amazing. The plot, the characters, everything. I loved the romance in this novel because, c'mon, who doesn't like a little bit of love? The relationship between Tris and Four was adorable!

I know that there is some debate regarding how this book is similar to The Hunger Games. They are both distopian novels, but in my opinion, they are both very different and thus cannot be compared to each other. Divergent probably is more chick-lit than Hunger Games.  

The trailer is perfect, and I saw the movie in theaters last Friday!!!

Summary:

Beatrice Prior is a 16 year old girl who lives in an Utopian city. He lives with her father, mother, and 16 year old brother, Caleb. In her city, people are divided into factions. One's faction will determine their job and lifestyle. The five factions are Dauntless, Abnegation, Candor, Amity, and Erudite. The Dauntless are the bravest and most fearless people. Their job is to protect the city. The selfless people in the city are Abnegation. These people govern the city due to their selflessness, so that there is no corruption. Candors are characterized by their love of truth, inability to lie, and their keen sense of lie detecting. These people work in judicial jobs. The Amity are dedicated to peace, trustfulness, and forgiveness. The Erudite are the geniuses of society. They are intelligent, and have a thirst for knowledge. 

Beatrice belongs to Abnegation, however every 16 year old is required to take the Aptitude Test. The Aptitude test is a series of brain simulations that will determine which faction a person belongs to. Caleb's result was Erudite, but Beatrice's result was different. Beatrice is Divergent. Divergent is a mix of all the factions, and being Divergent is dangerous. During the Choosing Ceremony, where all the 16 year olds gather and chose their faction, Beatrice chooses Dauntless. Her father, an Abnegation, is furious and ashamed, but her mother is oddly proud.

After joining the Dauntless, Beatrice must face Initiation. Initiation is training and a way for the Dauntless to filter out the bravest among the new members, also referred to as Initiates. The training leader of the initiates is 18 year old Four. As you can probably guess, Beatrice and Four fall for each other. Beatrice makes new Dauntless Initiative friends. Her best friends are Christina, Will, and Albert. She also makes enemies, Peter and Molly. Eric is the leader of the Dauntless. He is a bloodthirsty and cruel man. He hates Four, because when they were Initiates, Four was ranked higher than Eric. As Beatrice goes through Initiation, something big is happening. In the news, the Erudites have been blaming the Abnegation government for corruption. The Erudite leader, Jeannine, is secretly planning an attack on the Abnegation to overthrow the government. She and Eric are allies, and Eric has been injecting a mysterious serum into all the Dauntless. This serum causes a person to be in a zombie-like state, and they have a skewed perception on who is a friend or enemy. The Dauntless don't know what the serum is used for, and they have become Jeanine's brain dead army to wipe out the Abnegation. Four and Beatrice are Divergent, so the serum does not affect them. Can they save their friends from murdering all the Abnegation, or is it too late?

Here's the thing about me. If I start reading a book I like, I absolutely cannot put it down until I am finished. I started Divergent one night at 11 p.m, and I accidentally read until 1 a.m! I finally finished the book in study hall the next day. I'm not sure whether I should read Insurgent and Allegiant because my friends told me that the last two books of the trilogy aren't as good as Divergent. What do you think?

I totally recommend this book to anyone and everyone! However this book may seem a little more chick-lit

Must-Reads List

Reading has been the one thing that I have heavily neglected. In 2013, the only reading I did was the required school reading, which is very unlike me. As a child, my parents heavily enforced the importance of reading, and I was a very avid reader. At times, my parents would actually tell me to stop reading because instead of doing homework, I was reading!

I love all books, old or new, long or short, fantasy or nonfiction, however I noticed that one type of book that I haven't read in copious amounts are classics. During school, we read classic literature such as The Odyssey and Lord of the Flies, but I never expanded my palate of classics. I really want to read all the young adult books that are very "in" right now, such as Divergent, The Fault In Our Stars, Eleanor & Park (etc.) However, there are so many great classic literature that I haven't read! There are countless of great literature in the world, but I have managed to neglect reading them! I feel like it is a necessity to read classic literature. Although I'm 14, and it's difficult to comprehend everything in books like the Scarlet Letter, I most definitely want to read the following books within this year. I feel like these books are calling my name, begging me to read them!!

The 2014 Oscars Roundup

In all honestly, the only reason why I watched the Oscars this year was because a) the awesome, amazing, and hilarious Ellen DeGeneres was the host and b) I was hoping that Leo DiCaprio would get his first Oscar! Sadly, he didn't. But Ellen, she was way too funny. When she ordered the pizza, I died. Her selfie was priceless. 

Does watching the Oscars make anyone else wish they were a movie star??

I was totally fangirling when Joseph Gordon Levitt and Emma Watson walked on stage. They are adorable together, and it took me three seconds to ship them! Personally, I think Joseph Gordon Levitt is super attractive and funny. He has a certain classy quality about him, and I loooved him in Inception! 

Just like last year, Jennifer Lawrence was being her typical Jennifer-y self, tripping in the Oscars once again! Hahaha, I love her! She's so easy-going and hilarious!

My Favorite Red Carpet Looks:

Anyone else notice a white trend at the Oscars???

To-Do's

I have never ever made a do to list in my life. I was always one to memorize everything that I had to do. I keep an agenda to organize my homework, tests, and projects, however I never physically recorded my goals for the week. Until now.

I read somewhere online that when you share your goals online, you are more likely to achieve them. I sure hope that works! Apparently, to do lists help with time management and work efficiency. Huh, who knew? I'm a busy girl with goals, and I hope will do everything on my to-do list for the week!

Feel free to share your weekly to-do's!

A Teenager's Opinion...

...on social hierarchy

Before I voice my opinion, I would first like to say a little disclaimer. This is my opinion, so you might agree with me or disagree. Also, this is written from a girl who never really struggled socially speaking (read: I am not a Queen Bee but I am not a Wallflower). In addition, my school is located in an affluent suburb in Massachusetts. Social Hierarchy will vary in every school, but this is how it is at my school:

Social Hierarchy exists everywhere you go, whether you are referring to society in general, hierarchy in government, or, if you are a teenager like me, hierarchy at high school. Ah, hierarchy in high school- or any school, is something to marvel. At my high school, it's something that you don't really notice, but its there, kind of like a silent fart (hehehe yeah I'm immature).

For my whole life, I was never one to care about my social ranking. When I was in elementary school, I was a full-out tom boy, all my friends were guys, and I was overweight. I was that girl who never was girly, who preferred running around or trading Pokemon cards to friendship bracelets. I knew that some girls thought I was weird, but I just didn't care. I have been told in late Elementary School and Middle School that I was fat, but I did not care even the slightest. I had skin thicker than the Earth. I had, and still have, an insanely flamboyant and outgoing personality, despite that some people think I'm weird. I think that my childhood of being "the odd one out" gave me the confidence I have now. It might sound strange, that being "weird" actually makes me more confident, but it's true. I am probably the realest person you would ever meet. I do not kiss up to people, and I may come off as rude because I am very honest, and the way you treat me will affect how I treat you. I apologize if that sounds mean! So before I talk about my opinion of social hierarchy, I should probably tell you where I stand. From Elementary School to High School, I have been all over the social ladder. During Elementary School I was in the middle, at the start of Middle School I was in the middle, then went lower on the social ladder, and for some reason I can't figure out, the Queen Bees thought I was hilarious and cool so they loved me and I rose to the top. And now, I'm in the middle. Most people, if not all of the people in my grade has heard of me. A good number of people know me, but only a few are my best friends. I think most people like me, but I can be a bit too high energy for some people, and probably not everyone admires my intrepidity. I'm getting a bit off-topic here, but basically I'm trying to establish the foundation of my opinion

So... moving on from my childhood...

I think that social hierarchy is stu-pid. It's absurd and makes no sense at all. Why are certain girls and guys considered "higher" than others? Why are certain people thought as more popular? What is the standard for a "popular" person? What makes someone "cooler" than another? Social Hierarchy is synonymous with popularity. The "popular" girls aren't even popular because no one likes them and all they do is snark on their supposed "friends." I have never understood Social Hierarchy. Being "popular" does not mean that people will actually like you. Being Queen Bee will not help you in school. Come on, what really is the benefit of being popular? It's not like you are an A-list celeb and everyone is just dying to breathe the same oxygen as you. Come on, what's the best thing that's going to happen? Getting invited to a few upperclassmen parties?  On the flip side, being unpopular is not the end of the world. There is nothing wrong with being unpopular, it just means that people are too ignorant to get to know the amazing person you are. Personally, social rankings have never affected my self confidence or self worth. Social Hierarchy is a sorry excuse for certain students to tell others of their "worth." The truth is, everybody is created equally, and everyone is equal. Everybody has their insecurities and everybody has struggles in life, and Social Hierarchy only deepens these insecurities. Maybe because I never struggled with "popularity" or Social Hierarchy, but I don't care about social standings. I simply don't care. I couldn't care less if you are more "popular" than I am, I will not treat you differently. I not kiss your ass. Being more popular than me does not mean you are too good for me. This applies to both girls and boys, girls as in popular girls are "too good" to be my friend, and popular "boys" can't be interested in me. I couldn't care less if you are "less popular" than I, it doesn't mean we can't be friends or I'm "too good" for you. The thing is, at my school, the "popular" ones are the true "losers." That may sound harsh, but it's true. They spend every single day screaming in your face and telling the world how popular they are by doing anything and everything for attention. They literally say to the world, "look at me I'm so popular, everyone loves me." Only a handful of people truly like the "popular ones" however a majority of people don't. You may be wondering, if the "popular ones" are so disliked, then how are they considered "popular"? And I do not know the answer. Quite honestly, social hierarchy is completely irrelevant to my life, and I assume that it is irrelevant to the lives of other high school students. I have a lot to worry about, such as sports, babysitting my brother, keeping my grades up, playing the violin and I have no time to worry about- or care about- my social rank. I have my best friends, which is all that matters. No matter where you stand on the social ladder, as longs as you have your best friends, you are set socially. There is simply no time to think about silly things such as social rank. Although I think Social Hierarchy is inane and ridiculous, it's something that will always be present. I guess that it's a natural phenomenon, something in human nature, that makes us separate into a futile social hierarchy.






Also, I would like to apologize for a lack of posts! Sorry!

Summer State Of Mind

sum·mer

·i·

tis

  [summer-itis]

noun

1.

a disease that affects people two times during the year: during winter and a few weeks before summer vacation. the side affects vary, and are not limited to: wanting for summer, sudden cravings for ice cream, missing summer clothing, wanting to travel, wanting to go to the beach

I have officially diagnosed myself with summeritis

Come on, I can't be the only one who is tired of the winter weather. Don't get me wrong, I love snow and all that, but I am a girl who is easily bored. Everywhere I go, all I see is snow, snow, snow. Where are the flowers and green grass when you need them???

Today was 50 degrees and it rained a bit, but that's a good sign in my book. It's an indication that spring is on its way! Yay! Any sign of warmer weather is a godsend. I am lusting for warmer weather because I desperately want to swap my layer of puffer jackets, sweaters, and boots for bright dresses and sandals.

In an attempt to cure my summeritis, I gathered a collection of summer-y photos to make up for the drab weather. 

{none of these photos were taken by me}

Stop and Smell the Roses

Sometimes, you just have to tell yourself- or someone else- to stop and smell the roses.

The Book Club: Ripper By Stefan Petrucha

It's been over a month since I read a book! If you read my New Year's Resolutions, then you already know that my top goal is to read 50 books. Well, here is the second book of the year!

As I mentioned in my other book review, I will try to review this book without giving away too much details of the book! However, that is very difficult so if you haven't read this book before, please ignore the parts that say Spoiler Alert!

Rating: «««««

From the book cover, you can probably tell that this book is a mystery/action book, and it is. It's genre is a synthesis of mystery/action/historical fiction, and there is a dash of horror. This is a young adult book, the writing style probably will not appeal to older readers. 

Summary: (Spoiler Alert)

This book is about the life of orphan Carver Young. It is set in the late 1800's to the early 1900's in New York City. Carver grew up in Ellis Orphanage in New York City. He has a knack for opening locks, sneaking around, and detective work. He is adopted by a renowned detective, Albert Hawking. AS Carver's very first official "detective case," Carver is to find the identity of his father. The only piece of his father that Carver has was a letter from his father to his orphanage. By matching his father's handwriting to a letter written by Jack the Ripper, (spoiler alert) Carver finds out that his father is none other than the notorious Jack the Ripper. When Carver is investigating his father's identity, there have been brutal murders in New York City. The victims are all women, and they mimic the murders of the infamous Whitechapel murders. With the help of Delia, Finn and others, Carver sets out to find his father, who also is behind the New York murders. (spoiler alert) Carver finds out that Albert Hawking was Jack the Ripper in disguise. Carver's father led a double life. He was a notorious murderer as Jack the Ripper, but was one of the world's finest detectives as Albert Hawking. Carver never had the opportunity to arrest Jack. Although Carver is very disturbed that his father was a murderer, Jack writes Carver a final letter, in which Carver realizes that his father was once a good man.

Sorry for the bad summary! It was a very long book with many other major events, so it was hard to condense everything into a paragraph! I guess you'll just have to read the book to know what exactly happened! 

My Opinion:

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and interesting. Personally, I love mystery books, so I really enjoyed this book. There was a plot twist in the book, however it was a predictable plot twist. I only have two complaints for this book. The first is that some chapters are extremely short and choppy. The other is that the ending was not very satisfying to me. Other than that, I loved this book!

Main Characters:

Carver Young: He is the protagonist of the novel. He is a fourteen year old boy who was an orphan at Ellis Orphanage. He was then adopted by his mentor, who is a detective, Albert Hawking. Carver aspires to be a detective, and when he is adopted by Albert Hawking, his first "case" is to discover his father's identity, which leads to an unexpected turn of events.

Albert Hawking: He is a famous detective and co-owns the secret detective agency the New Pinkertons. Albert is a grumpy person, and can be described as half-crazy. He always wears a large overcoat and is not in the best physical condition. (Spoiler Alert) He is Carver's biological father, and is actually Jack The Ripper in disguise

Delia Ribe: She grew up in the same orphanage as Carver, and is his friend. She was adopted by writers from the New York Times, and she works there in the puzzle department. She helps Carver with finding his father and hunting down Jack The Ripper. She and Carver have a slight crush on each other.

Finn Echols: He is yet another orphan who grew up with Carver and Delia. Finn has the repuatation of a "bully" and dislikes Carver. Eventually, he and Carver form a friendship and he helps with capturing Jack The Ripper.

Jack The Ripper: (Spoiler Alert) He is Carver's father, and was disguised as Albert Hawking. The only reason why he started the New York murders that mirrored his Whitechapel murders was to create a "game" that would train Carver to be a great detective, and also lead him to his father. 

Septimus Tudd: He is the other owner of the New Pinkertons detective agency. Septimus works for Roosevelt and he is trying to solve the New York murders behind Roosevelt's back with the Pinkertons so he will gain more attention and respect.

Theodore Roosevelt: He is the commissioner of the police. He is basically the overconfident detective who becomes humbled by Carver's work.

Characters:

The characters were very well developed. There were quite a lot of characters, however each of them had their own distinct personality and persona. From the main characters to the minor characters, each one was very well developed and though out. 

Plot:

I summarized the plot above, however the plot line was fantastic. Kudos to the author for being super creative! It was super cool how the author (spoiler alert) related Carver finding his father to Jack The Ripper. Even though the "game" that Jack set up for Carver was evil and gruesome, it was a very interesting idea, and I loved it! Throughout the book there were small details that I thought were really cool, such as the use of anagrams. The author did a terrific job writing the mystery. You know how in some mystery novels the author reveals a lot to the reader so that the whole story becomes excruciatingly predictable while the protagonist seems clueless? That did not happen in this novel, which contributes to my liking for this book.

Conclusion:

 I definitely recommend this book. For young adults interested in this type of genre, or if you want to read something else other than main stream teenage love stories, then this book is a must read!

Pros and Cons of New England

Nobody's perfect. Oh, and that also applies to places. 

Boston Common

I live in New England. It's an amazing place to live. We have great schools, great people, and great amenities! What's not to love?

But just like anyplace else, New England does have its flaws.

As a New Englander, I have compiled a list of the Pros and Cons of living in New England

Pros:

Snow

I love snow. In my winter lovin' post, snow was my #1 favorite thing about winter. Snow itself is breathtakingly beautiful, but playing in the snow is even better. Who doesn't love a good snowball fight?

Schools

New England is probably most famous for its collection of schools. We are near many private schools, universities, colleges, and music schools. Boston Symphony Orchestras and New England Conservatory are very well known. We are the location of multiple Ivy League schools such as Brown, Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth.

Nature

In New England, nature is everywhere. Vermont is a popular scenic attraction during the fall, and New Hampshire is a popular local skiing destination. The Cape is known for its lighthouses and beaches. Wherever you go, you will always find some scenery to marvel.

Ambiance

Anybody who lives in New England will tell you that it has its own charm and ambiance. You know when you walk into a house, and that house has its own peculiar smell? When you first visit New England, you will feel a peculiar ambiance. It's hard to describe the ambiance, but it's like an old-school, historic, rustic, and classic feeling.

Diverse

Depending on where you reside, New England can be very diverse and ethnic. People of all backgrounds live in New England, providing a range of foods and culture.

Food

Not everyone will agree with me on this, but, New England has some pretty great food. In my opinion, it does not compare to southern BBQ, but New England has great seafood! Maine is known for its lobster, Vermont for its maple syrup, and Boston for its chow-dah... and that's about it!

Beautiful Homes

New England has a long and old history, being part of the original 13 colonies. Many of the old homes and architecture have survived the years. New England suburbs are known for its sprawling brick colonials with meticulously manicured lawns.

The Ocean

The Atlantic is certainly not prettiest ocean you see, its waters are nowhere near clear, and the water is freezing as heck, but being near an ocean is very convenient. Ocean= fresh seafood. Ocean= beautiful beach houses. Ocean= beach. Ocean= beach= fun summer times at the beach. Ocean= whale watching. Ocean= cruise. Ocean= endless possibilities.

History

Being part of the original 13 colonies, New England has a rich and old history. There are countless historic buildings and museums... but that's boring stuff.

Cons:

Snow

Snow can be a pro, but it's also a con. Shoveling is so annoying. I walk home from school, rain or shine, so after a big snowstorm the commute home is very tedious. I hate it when some people do not shovel their sidewalk! Grr! The other downside to snow is cleaning it from the car. We have only one garage, so only one of our cars is protected. We have to constantly scrape ice of the windshields and swipe snow from the roof of our other car.

Expensive

Depending on where you live, the price of living is very expensive. Boston real estate is very high, and Greenwich, CT is renowned for its affluence. Wellesley and Weston are among the richest towns in Massachusetts, and Connecticut is filled with affluent towns. Where I live, the average listing price for a house on the market is $1,246,105.

Hard To Escape

The worst part of New England is that it's hard to escape. To all the New Englanders out there: Face it- you were born here, you were raised here, and you probably will or have attended college here, and you most likely will start your family here.

What are your opinions?

Songs I Can't Live Without

As a human, music is a central part of life. Music is poetry, music is feelings. There is always a song that can describe my feelings.

I love music. Whether it's classical, pop, rock, jazz, or alternative, I love it. Here are a few, well, a couple, scratch that, a lot of songs that I can't live without:

Imagine

This is absolutely my favorite song of all time. John Lennon is perfect.

Halo

It's a Beyoncé song, is there really an explanation for why its amazing?

Team

There is just something about this song. It's so different, striking, and catchy. The music video is very confusing, but I love the song. 

Don't You Forget About Me

This song is a-maz-ing. The beat is so groovy, and the chorus is so catchy. Every time I hear it, I think of the Breakfast Club.  

Thriller

Who doesn't like this song?

Paradise

My friend recently acquainted me with the song, and I am so thankful she did. I always find me playing this song on replay. The lyrics speak to me.

Man In The Mirror

This song is the best of both worlds, really. It combines great music with activism. I love the message, and the song. OH, and I love Micheal Jackson. :) 

I Will Always Love You

AND III EE-III WILLL AL-WAHHHYY-S LAAH-VE YOUUUUUOOOOUUUU

It's All Coming Back To Me Now

My mother was a die hard Celine Dion fan, so I grew up listening to her music. Every time we went on a road trip, her album would be playing and playing and playing. Basically, I spent most of my childhood listening to Celine. Most people know her song My Heart Will Go On from the Titanic, but I like this song better. 

Hey There Delilah

I immediately fell in love with this song when I first heard it. It was my favorite song for a solid 3 years. This song made me want to learn the guitar!

Brave

I found this song through the Windows Commercial, and I am so glad I did. The beat is so catchy, and the lyrics are inspiring. This is my go-to song for motivation. 

Young and Beautiful

There is something so hauntingly beautiful in every Lana Del Rey song. This song is so beautiful and dark. It gives me shivers.

Bad Romance

Ever since fifth grade, I was a fan of Gaga. Yes, she is weird, eccentric, and different, however I love her songs. I love her individuality and uniqueness. This song is my favorite song by her. 

If I Die Young

This is a really beautiful and sad song. I love it so much, but sometimes the lyrics make me cry.

F**K You

Sorry for the explicit song, but this song is so. darn. good. Lily Allen does not get enough credit for how brilliant she is. This song is something I listen to on a daily basis. The lyrics are catchy, but most importantly, this song promotes equality. 

Sorry for so many songs! What are your favorite songs? Let me know in your comments!