How to Be Happy

Laugh

After all, laughter is the best medicine!  

Smile

Smiling is a sign of happiness. Smile every morning when you get up, smile to everyone you pass on the street, and smile when you go to sleep. Smiling is the best way to brighten your day, and everyone else’s around you!

Have Fun

Just have fun. Find the things you love, and do them! Love what you do, and do what you love. It only makes you happier!  

Forgive but Never Forget

Do not be one to hold grudges. Learn to forgive people for their mistakes, however you should never forget them. Learn from your mistakes to avoid the same situation happening over and over again. Although you should remember what people have wronged you, forgive them and love them. If you forgive someone, your soul is freed from whatever they have done, and you are able to recover. “IF you really want to love, you must first forgive”  

Be Optimistic

Always have a positive outlook on life. Always think that the glass is half full. When you are optimistic, it automatically improves your mood. Even if you suffer from a failure, keep a positive view, because that is the only way you can succeed. Being optimistic includes loving the little things in life. Love every single small pleasures in our life.  

Believe in your worth

You are important. You must realize that the world needs you. You are priceless, and regardless of who you are, what you have done, you must know that you are your number one priority. You must learn to love yourself.

Fill your life with loving people

Get rid of all the negative influences in your life. They key to being happy is surrounding yourself with people who love you. Being around loving people who support you will make you happy.

Release your emotions

If it’s one thing you should never do, it’s to tent up all your emotions. If you are feeling low, or you have something that has been troubling you, tell somebody. It increases your happiness when you tell someone your feelings. If you don’t you will only be a bomb that will inevitable explode.

Love

Love and compassion will make you happy. Love others, and you will be loved back. Help others, too. If you have ever helped volunteer for a cause, or helped someone less fortunate than you, then you understand that feeling of accomplishment and happiness that you get afterwards. 

Life will always have its up and downs. Sometimes you will feel on top of the world, however sometimes you might feel depressed. It's all about being happy!

Survival Guide: Midterms Week

Ah, Midterm week. The year is never really halfway gone until Midterm week is over. Its a week of stressing out, tiresome tests, and hair pulling. Its a week when school ultimately controls your life. 

So, how do you survive Midterm week?

Study

Obviously, you have to study to do well on your midterm exams. Try not to cram all your studying into one night. Spread out your study time, and never study last minute! Everyone has their own study habits, however what helps me most with studying is making a study guide for every subject. Even if you are confident you know everything, make a study guide. Writing everything down helps me remember all the information. Reading textbooks are also a great way to study.

Take Breaks

Taking breaks is the key to having a relatively enjoyable midterm week. Do not overwhelm yourself with work, take short breaks! I like to take 15 minutes off and play my guilty pleasure game, Candy Crush Saga.  Also, I always feel more motivated and energized after taking a break. It really helps!

Group Study Sessions

Yes, I know that a study session with friends can be very unproductive, however it is very helpful. When you study with another person, and talk about the material, it helps memorization. I usually get better grades when I study with others. Just make sure you don’t get sidetracked too easily!

Confidence

Be confident! Be optimistic! Believe in yourself! Do not psych yourself out! If you are confident, you won’t be as stressful.

Eat

A hearty breakfast is so so so important. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially during Midterms. You do not want to be hungry during a test. It is essential to eat a filling breakfast. Don’t forget to bring snacks and water!

Sleep

In general, sleep is super important, but it is increasingly so during Midterms. Make sure you get at least 8 hours. Ditch the caffeine, sleep is the only way you will feel fully awake!

Fun

Between all the studying and testing, have fun! If you play a sport, attend the practices. If you play an instrument, practice! Go out with some friends! Just because it’s Midterms does not mean you can’t do anything other than studying! Have some fun!

Keep in Check With Time

During testing, this is something to keep in mind. Pay attention to the clock to make sure that you will finish.

Wear Comfortable Clothes

Comfortable clothing is key. You do not want to be uncomfortable during testing! I highly 

advise against wearing skinny jeans, make up, or tight clothing. I prefer to wear leggings and a 

sweat shirt. 

Arrange Something Afterwards

After Midterms, reward yourself! You finally made it halfway through the year! Arrange a little something with your friends to celebrate! A movie date or a brunch are great ideas! My friends and I are going to see Anchorman 2 tomorrow, when Midterms are finally over!

Snapshots of the Ordinary

I was never really interested in photography, until I realized that photography can make ordinary objects seem extraordinary. Naturally, I decided to take out my camera and take a few shots, and this was the result!

C’est Trés à la Mode!

{Dressing is a way of life}

Resolved: History is an Important Subject in School

In JSA (Junior Statesmen of America), which is basically Debate Team, the topic was Resolved: History is an important subject in school. This topic was so relatable for me. I absolutely hate my history class. I enjoy learning history, however the fact that my teacher treats the class like first graders but gives us the work load of college students is So. Darn. Aggravating! I had a lot to say about this topic, however there were too many people who also wished to voice their opinions and unfortunately, I was not able to speak my opinion.

I vote in favor of history, however I decided to write both a Pro and Con statement. If you guys are interested, feel free to voice your opinions on the comments section! I’m curious what others have to say!

Pro:

                History, just like any other subject we learn, is essential to our curriculum. History overlaps with every subject you learn in school. The world’s greatest writers such as Shakespeare, Langston Hughes, and Leo Tolstoy would still be unknown if it were not for history. We owe our knowledge of great mathematicians such as Euler and Pythagoras, scientists like Mendel, and philosophers such as Plato and Socrates history. Learning history opens your mind and increases your cultural intelligence. In ninth grade, you study many religions, which is beneficial for you. World history increases your knowledge of our world and exposes you to many new and wonderful cultures. American history enhances patriotism, and learning about our history only contributes to our future. By studying the Great Depression, we may solve the recession we are currently in. We learn from history, which prevents us from making the same mistakes in the future. School prepares us for life; our future, History will be increasingly important as us, the next generation, replaces the old. In the future, we must draw upon the past to guide us into the future.

Con:

                History is not important. Think of the other subjects we learn, such as math, science, and English. Most jobs require skills in those subjects, but not history. A Historian is the only career that requires a person to be educated in history. If history is not often used, then why is it considered important? Also, people say that we must learn History so History will not repeat itself. However, we never learn from History. Think of the Holocaust, it was a tragic genocide, however that terrible experience did not stop genocides from occurring. Just recently, there was a genocide in Syria. Also, how can we learn history without good material? Most history documents are biased. History is usually recorded by, for example, a person whose king has recently conquered a new land. The people conquered don’t record the history, so we only see one side while reading history documents. There is so much bias that learning History is basically pointless. Think about this: what if we have been learning history wrong all along?

As a side note, I’d like to say that JSA is a great club and I recommend it. Out of all the clubs I do, JSA is absolutely me favorite. Obviously, it is great to speak, however it is not required. Many of the upperclassmen in JSA are amazing debaters and I enjoy listening to them! Who knows, maybe you will like JSA too! I definitely recommend you join your school’s JSA or Debate Team!

The Book Club: Panic By Sharon M. Draper

On top of my New Year’s Resolutions list was to read 50 books. So far, I have read only one. It’s called Panic, and was written by Sharon M. Draper. I will try to review this book without giving away too much of the plot. I don’t want my review to be too much of a spoiler! Be warned: I might reveal a bit too much of the story!

Rating: «««¶¶

I was browsing the shelves of the library, and the cover of this book caught my eye. You know the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover?” I never follow its literal meaning. A good cover always catches my interest! Unlike many other books, it doesn’t have a summary or description. Instead, it says “Diamond knows not to talk to strangers. But just once couldn’t hurt. Right?” This intrigued me, and I thought it was a brilliant way to draw in readers. The characters in this book are high school students, in the 15-18 year old range. Most of the characters are dancers who attend a studio called the Crystal Pointe Dance Academy.

Main characters:

Diamond: A pretty 15 year old who loves to dance. She has a complicated relationship with her mother, and she becomes disappointed when she doesn’t receive the lead role in a dance at her studio. She is the protagonist in this book. She is kidnapped.

Thane- (Spoiler alert!) Diamond’s abductor. He takes advantage of Diamond, forcing her into the pornography industry. (Don’t worry, the book doesn’t get into details)

Layla: Layla is the best dancer in the studio, however she is a very troubled girl. She struggles with self-confidence, and has an abusive boyfriend. Her mother works 2 shifts, and her father is in prison, but her father isn’t a criminal.

Donovan: Layla’s abusive boyfriend who is very dominant, aggressive, and controlling. He treats Layla like a puppy-dog, and physically hurts her.

Justin: He is the best male dancer and he is in love with Layla, however she doesn’t see his affections.

Mercedes Ford: She is Diamond’s best friend.

Characters:

The characters are well developed, however it’s very confusing. The book indicates that Diamond is the main character, however there are so many other characters with their own plot. In the book, it tells of Diamond’s story and Layla’s story, however both their stories don’t overlap. They are two separate plots. I had a hard time determining who the main protagonist was and how the two stories were correlated.

Plot:

The plot and storyline of this book is fabulous. Absolutely fabulous. Although the plot was good, the idea of the plot was much better than the author's actual writing. The plot was well planned out, albeit the beginning was horrendous. I apologize for being so criticizing, but the beginning just wasn’t good. At all. It was confusing. Plus, the author is overemphasizing the teenage aspects of the book. In the characters’ speech, they say phrases like “true that”, “trippin’” and “yo mama [jokes]”. Teenagers do not say those phrases, and that part of the book was not well written. However, I felt strong emotions while reading this book, it really played with my heartstrings. This book is a good read for teenagers 14-18. The two stories that occur is Layla finding herself and the abduction of Diamond. (Spoiler Alert! I will be summarizing the plot!) Diamond’s abduction was the main story. Disappointed that she didn’t get the lead role in a dance, she was tricked by a handsome stranger, Thane, who told her that she was a superstar and could star in his movie. He drove her to his house and drugged her. The book does not go into detail of her terrible ordeal, however it is implied that she was forced into pornography. She escaped Thane by stabbing him and running away. Layla’s story is about her low self-esteem. Her boyfriend, Donovan, hurt her physically and emotionally. He was aggressive and possessive. He hated seeing Layla do duets with Justin. Through self-discovery, Layla finally recognizes her worth, and breaks up with Donovan. Donovan, the lying, lowlife that he is, sends nudes of Layla to everyone. In her shame, she realizes how much Justin cares for her. Also, Layla’s father is finally released from prison! Layla’s abusive boyfriend made me want to be in the book and hurt him! The abduction of Diamond was thrilling, but unrealistic, but what happened to her made me cringe!

Themes:

This was a very teenage-esque book. The main theme is to never lose faith. Diamond never lost faith in escaping, and her loved ones never lost faith. Layla had to find her faith in herself. Also, another theme is expression of who you are. Through dance, Layla and Justin discovered themselves and their feelings for each other, Layla loves to dance, and it is the one true thing that she loves with a passion. Do what you love.

Conclusion:

This book may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Panic is a book that is more on the creepy side. The beginning is not very interesting or intriguing, but the as the plot progresses, the book gets drastically better. This book is better suited for teens no younger than 14, due to the implication of pornography. It might not appeal to adults. Overall, I recommend this book. If you are interested in reading it, get past the beginning and it will be more interesting to read.

Any books you guys recommend? 

Freshman Year Misconceptions

Its two weeks before midterms, which means one thing: I've completed half of freshman year!

Wow, time flies by quickly. I still remember the summer of 8th grade, when I was worrying about freshman year, and the suspenseful first day of high school. There are many things you watch on TV, see on the internet, or hear from older siblings about freshman year. There are so many misconceptions about freshman year that I thought I should clear up a bit.

Misconception #1- Freshmen are teased

This is probably the biggest misconception and the most inaccurate. Nobody will make fun of you because you are a freshman.

Misconception #2- Upperclassmen are mean

This is incorrect in every way possible. If you have read my article about upperclassmen, then you already know how much I love them! They are extremely helpful and provide guidance, and I recommend befriending seniors. They are amazing sources of advice.

Misconception #3- Football games and pep rallies are major social events

Hah, no. They are not major social events. Emphasis on major. Yes, many people attend varsity football games,however most of the audience are family members of the players and the cheerleaders.   Varsity football gets a lot of attention, so if you are going to attend a game, attend the varsity game. For me, I hate pep rallies. At my school, they are loud, obnoxious, unentertaining (is that even a word?), and pointless. Totally not worth attending. However, every freshman should attend a pep rally and a football game, because of the new experience. Do not go to these events expecting to socialize.

Misconception #4- Don't worry about grades, this year will be a breeze

I know I am still in the middle of freshman year, however I can assure you that freshman year is by no means easy. Definitely study and invest in this year. High school counts. In middle school, it was all fun and games, however your high school grades count towards college. Personally, I wish I was doing better in Biology and Advanced Geometry. You should keep your grades high, but don't be a grade cruncher! Be warned: you will get an excessive amount of homework.

Misconception #5- Boyfriends/Girlfriends

A boyfriend or girlfriend should be the last thing on your mind as a freshman. A relationship is not a priority and long lasting ones in freshman year are unrealistic, so do not waste the year pursuing a guy/girl you like. I'm not saying that freshmen don't or shouldn't date, its just that relationships should not be something to worry about or prioritize.

Misconception #6- You'll have one group of friends that do everything together

This is not Mean Girls, you and your friends don't do everything together. By freshman year, you probably have figured out your friend group. If not, you will. Your friend group are usually your best friends, people you trust and love. Although you have a group of best friends, that does not mean you guys will do everything together. There are so many students at high school, which means opportunities to make more friends. In addition, you will also become close friends with your classmates. Do not worry if you feel as if you or and a best friend haven't been spending a lot of time together, but make sure that you do have some quality time together eventually. You and your best friends aren't identical, so don't expect them to do everything you do and vise versa. 

Misconception #7- Parties

Don't expect to receive any party invitations anytime soon, it's usually the upperclassmen who party. Freshmen don't, and typically aren't invited. Freshmen also don't host parties either. Parties are an upperclassmen thing. However, some freshmen do party, but its usually those type of students. I personally would like to experience one, but not consistently party every weekend. 

I wrote this post from my personal perspective. Feel free to tell me about your freshman year!

Those were the only misconceptions that I could think of. Was freshman year a struggle for you? Comment below!

P.S - Sorry I haven't been posting as frequently, homework has been overwhelming!

Young People and the World

January 3, 2014

Our world is run by young people (See Times Magazine 30 under 30). With their every new creation, invention, and idea, the world is sculpted into something new. The new generation has become a major influence on the world, and every day, you witness young people changing the world. Adults may claim that children, teens, and young adults are inexperienced and inept, however they are the key to change. The new generations replace the old.

Young people are fundamental, and they never cease to amaze me. Altruists of all ages inspire and motivate me, the younger ones more so. It’s an eye opener to read about a 4 year old who established their own charity or a 9 year old who is a youth speaker for the United Nations. Seeing such young people, children even, leaving their mark on the world makes me want to get off of my lazy bum and stand up for a cause.

I was inspired to write this because I feel as though teenagers do not have the respect they deserve. We have the capacity of becoming the influential people featured in magazines today. Yes, there are teenagers whom have made bad decisions, however there are teenagers who are young activists and philanthropists, or aspire to change the world. Sometimes, I feel as if adults devalue teens, which doesn’t make sense because we are young and full of potential. All too often I have heard, “You’re too young…”, “Wait until you are older…”, “You don’t know enough…” So what? What if I’m too young, too inexperienced, and too dumb? Does it change my ability, my potential? I bolster the importance of teenagers. Although we are stereotyped as lazy people who love spending time on the internet, there are a select few who are actively engaged in activism. I’m not an amazing person who has made a huge impact on my community, but I aspire to be one.

I hate the reputation that the stereotypical teen has. Not all of us loves Tumblr, drama, teenage love, video games, and not all of us keeps up with trends, fashions, and songs that are in the "now." Not all of us hate school. Even the teenagers who act like the stereotypical teen have deeper dreams than being re-tweeted by a celebrity. Every body in the world is capable of changing it, and leaving their mark on history. Why are teens less expected to do so? 

A message to my fellow teens:

(Disclaimer: I am not an amazing person who has done amazing things. This is just all my opinion.)

Swap hours of Tumblr for hours of community service. Instead of gossiping about celebrities or school drama, engage in debates and discuss challenges that face our world today. It’s extremely difficult to do something that has a lasting impact on your community, but it’s worth trying. Do something great! 

Beyonce song that is so relevant to this post

P.S. I love Beyonce

New Year's Resolutions

January 1, 2014

Goodbye 2013, hello 2014! I’m not one to dwell in the past, I always look forward to the future. As Edna Mode from the Incredibles said, “I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now.” Dear my blog readers, take advantage of 2014! Only you can change yourself. You write the story of your life! You reap what you sow!  

Obviously, what’s a new year without resolutions?

Call me cliché, but New Year’s resolutions are a must. Even if I don’t accomplish a single one, at least I know I tried!

Here is a list of my resolutions

1) Read 30 50 Books

30 books is a lot, but 50? Is 50 too much? Honestly, I am suffering from what I call good book   withdrawal. It has been forever since I read a book. I really hope I can read 50. No, I will read 50.

2)  Be Nicer

I am considered a genuinely nice person, however I do have my mean and bratty moments. Being around more people has made me realize that my actions affect others greater than they affect me. Being nice can really make someone’s day. When I talk about “being nice,” I mean genuinely nice, not fakeness. To truly be a nice person, one must not judge a person, for everyone are equals.

3) Practice more violin

In 8^th grade, I practiced 2 hours every day. Two hours is a standard amount of time. However, I have lately been practicing only 1 hour. Only one hour. Gosh, I really gotta improve.

4)   Mature

For me, this is a biggie. I am immature. I’m not going to lie, I am immature. I can be rude and obnoxious. I can be conceited and selfish at times. I think maturing does not really count as a resolution, but it is something that I wish will happen in 2014.

5) Do more community service

I am blessed to live in my community. I live in a wealthy suburb, so I am privileged. What I mean by privileged is that I attend a high quality school with high academic standards, I live in a town with no major crime, and I am surrounded by loved ones. In no means am I saying I am rich or sanctimonious. I am really grateful for my community, so I will do more this year!

6)   Less give up Instagram

In the technology savvy generation of today, one would call me crazy. The reason why I am giving up Instagram is because it is consuming my time. I tell myself that I will only look through my Instagram feed, however a “quick” scroll turns to an hour, even two. I simply don’t and won’t have time for Instagram.

7)  Write more

Whether it is doing more blogging, more poetry, or picking up where I left off with creative writing, I hope to write much more in the upcoming year.

8) Lose Weight

Yup, I want to lose weight. Weight loss is not for my self-image, it is for my health. I am borderline normal-overweight. Since I play multiple sports, I will be a better athlete if I lost a bit more weight and toned up.   

9)  Have more fun

Some days, I wish my life was stress free, sadly, it’s not. Having fun is the only way I “vacation” from life. I’m young and I have ceaseless energy, so fun has to be a part of my schedule!

10)  Help Others

Helping others is key to becoming a better person. Regardless how you help, helping is a benevolent action. This year, I want to help others. I don’t know how, but I will.

Next year, I will write a post to see what I have accomplished!

My mantra for 2014:

So I was reading one of my favorite blogs, The CollegePrepster, and her mantra for 2014 was too perfect, so I just had to steal it!

Make it happen! Whatever “it” is, make it happen!

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2014

Happy New Year! Today is the first page of a 365 page book, the first day to a new year. It seems that 2013 was over in the blink of an eye!

Reflecting on the past year, I realize that I have not really done anything. To be honest, 2013 was a very difficult year. For me, 2013 was a year of transitions. Entering high school was the major event of the year. During the first school quarter, I realized how much time I waste and that I was terrible at time management. My grades were also average, with all A’s but one A- and one A+. I am also transitioning violin teachers. My new teacher is far more demanding and strict. Due to extracurriculars, I haven’t been practicing often, which is a huge problem. I am usually an avid reader, but recently, I have not been reading. Instead of flipping through the pages of a book I have been scrolling through my Instagram or Facebook feed. I should really start reading more. Any books you guys recommend? Although 2013 seemed like a bad year, it had its highlights. I absolutely loved, loved, loved high school swimming. I loved the swimmers, the meets, the team dinners and bonding, I loved everything! I was also very excited to be chosen by my coaches to swim at the states and sectional meets! I am currently on the winter track team, and I am also loving my event, the shot put. Socially, I have been stable. I have my clique of best friends, and I have made a ton of new friends. I certainly hope 2014 is a better year for me!

The beauty of a new year is the opportunity of rebirth. What I mean by this is that you have the chance to start over. 2013 is now the past, and all you have to look forward to be the future. Whatever you didn’t do in 2013, do it in 2014. Take advantage of the New Year! Wherever you think you lacked last year, improve this year! The New Year is always a very inspirational time. Here are my favorite quotes to kick off the New Year!

“Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight” –Benjamin Franklin

“Anything’s possible if you got enough nerve” –J.K. Rowling

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door” –Milton Berle

“The only thing that hurts harder than a failure is not trying” –Apoorve Dubey

“Things don’t have to change the world to be important” –Steve Jobs

“Some infinities are bigger than other infinities” –John Green

“Ambition is built upon the strength of your will” -Me

The new year of 2014 brings 365 days of opportunity. I am a very ambitious person, and I have many things planned for this year. I soon will post my resolutions list!

P.S I’m sorry I have not posted anything in the past week! I was on vacation in Florida!