Stanley Zhou, 5/19/21, Period 5, Day B

 Goal Setting & Growth

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

One of my current goals that I have for myself currently is to take care of my mental health. Since my last goal-setting blog, I have learned much more about myself as a creator on the YouTube platform such as how much my mental health affects my videos. I personally create videos intending for them to entertain an audience and spread some positive vibes into someone's day if they might be having a bad day. This is very difficult to do if my mind and body are not being taken care of properly.

I spent a month uploading video daily on my YouTube channel and felt really good about myself. However, my mental health took a toll because I was focusing so hard on making videos that I sacrificed time with family and friends. Sure it is great to do something you are passionate about but, mental health should be a top priority as it will affect your daily routine greatly.

How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

Things I have done to achieve my goal are to spread out my upload schedule for videos and spending more time with family and friends. I have a daily routine of what times of the day I work on videos for YouTube and this limitation in my schedule allows me to work on my videos while still being able to spend time with my family and friends before leaving for college. This is the other major reason I have set this goal, and it is because when I leave for college, I won't be able to spend time with family so I need to take advantage of this and enjoy the time before I won't be able to. My parents and I have set up a schedule where half of my week is spent over in my grandma's house and the other half is spent at home with my parents which allows me to enjoy my family's company before I am off to college. This company improves my mental health too as spending time with family is always a stress reliever and happiness boost. Whether it be cooking with my grandma or learning to drive with my dad, I am enjoying my time with my family and balancing my hobbies with life.

How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

I feel like the world around me doesn't put a heavy emphasis on mental health and personal well-being. A motto from a famous corporation is "Just do it", which I use to look up to but now, I can see there is more to it than to just set your mind on something and grind it out until you can't anymore because it is not healthy for your mind or body. It is great to have aspirations and passions but, it is even better if you can balance it with family life, school life, and social life. I feel like the world around me has to put more emphasis on mental health because good mental health will boost your morale and motivation from personal experience and I believe it is a vital part of our everyday lives.

Tiffany Zhu, 5/20/21, Period 8, Day C

Tiffany Zhu

Period 8

5/20/2021

Day C

Modern Mythology 2021

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

Currently, I am trying to study for my APs and hopefully score high enough that I will be able to obtain the credits for college. It is really difficult with graduation around the corner and senioritis really hit hard for me. I’ve begun to slack off a lot for my schoolwork. I used to finish all my work early but for the past few months I began to do everything at the last minute including this blog. That is all for academic goals but for myself. Being quarantined for a year and 2 months has been a struggle for me. Personally, I have not been vaccinated due to personal issues that are going on so I haven’t really been able to go out. Seeing all my friends hanging out with each other because they are vaccinated has made me feel very lonely. It isn’t really a big deal but I felt like my social life has taken such a toll. When everyone was quarantined my friends and I just simply hopped on to Discord to talk. Now that many of my friends are vaccinated, it's been hard to find time to talk to them. We still talk but it's a shame that I am unable to partake in these small gatherings. So the goal I set for myself is to be a little bit more patient because I will eventually see them and hope that the feeling of loneliness is temporary.

How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

For academics, I’ve mainly been doing practice problems for AP Government and AP Calculus. However, I have yet to start AP Biology since I need to finish some content review first. It's been a struggle to focus but I’ve been trying out different study methods in order to achieve the highest grade possible. As for my social life, I told myself to be a little more patient. I understand my parents' concerns about still going out, although it is a little disappointing that I will not be able to attend graduation and see my friends in general. So I’m patiently waiting for my parents to feel comfortable with me going outside and my vaccination. I’ve been going back to some old hobbies in an attempt to relieve my loneliness such as doing arts. Whenever I have the chance I try to hop onto a discord call and talk to my friends about life in general. I really do hope I am able to interact with my friends face to face before we move into college.

How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

Like I mentioned many times, seeing my friends hangout has made me a little jealous. I want to also hangout with my friends but I also have to understand my circumstances. Although I may seem like I am the only one still quarantined, I know that someone one out there is also experiencing the same thing. Instead of trying to dwell on my loneliness, I try to find new ways to keep myself active. Although friends play a huge role in my life, I also have to realize that sometimes it's okay to be lonely and try to find things I enjoy. This situation has caused me to be more understanding of others, sometimes my happiness is important but the people around me are too. 

Vicky Zhou, 5/19/21, Period 5, Day B

Vicky Zhou

Period 5

5/19/21

Day B

Modern Mythology 2021

Goal Setting & Growth

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why

How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

Currently, my goal is to have healthier habits whether that be exercising more frequently or eating healthier. Throughout quarantine, I would have on and off periods of doing home workouts. Around March and April, I stopped doing my daily routines completely and began to snack poorly. I remember back in March, I was happy about the progress I made and decided to take a break. However, once I stopped, it became really difficult to find the motivation to start again and it was easier to be stationary at the computer.

In the past two weeks, my brother has come back from college and we started to work out together. I start each routine with around 10 minutes of jump ropes in my backyard and then we focus on either the upper body, core, or lower body. We’ve also ordered dumbbells to implement into our routine; I got 15lb dumbbells and he got 25lb dumbbells. I’ve tried using his dumbbells before, but I’m still a long way from being able to curl them. Additionally, because we often skip out on lunch, we decided to go grocery shopping together. Over the weekend, we bought a bunch of fruits and vegetables and have been making salads and smoothies in the afternoon. In the past, I would normally eat breakfast around 11 and I wouldn’t start getting too hungry until 4 or 5. But, because my dinner would be around 7, I try not to eat anything, or else I wouldn’t be able to stomach the dinner. The salads and smoothies we make now, has been really helpful in keeping me satisfied without feeling overly full. 

Having my brother alongside me has made it a lot easier to stay committed to being active every day. We typically work out around 6 pm for roughly 30 minutes. During this period, we also just chat and catch up on each other’s day which makes the experience more enjoyable. Recently, one of my friends brought up the idea of taking kickboxing classes. I was really excited about that because I have always wanted to try boxing. Hopefully attending sessions with another person, will keep me motivated.

Michille Zhang, 5/20/21, Period 8, Day C

Michille Zhang

5/20/21

Period 8 

Day C

Creativity & Fiction

On the Loose

“Good Evening, I’m Sharon. We are interrupting this regular broadcasting to bring you the breaking news of an outbreak at a local prison.”

The distant sound of a news report played in the background as I was focusing on my homework. The monotoned and calm tone formed an almost rhythmic melody as I zoned out. 

“The suspect is a serial killer, a man with a snake tattoo located on his neck traveling up to his face. Authorities recommend being more cautious when leaving your home and avoid going out unless necessary. If you spot any suspicious activity contact the police immediately.”

The absurdity of the case caught my attention. “How incompetent were officers on duty to let a serial killer escape,” I thought to myself. “How likely would the killer be in my neighborhood anyway? Nothing interesting ever happens.”

I decided to ignore the reporting as the likelihood of the serial killer being in my exact neighborhood was very low. Though I was a little wary, I didn’t let it bother my daily life much. I patiently waited for news on the ongoing search of the serial killer, which seemed to be going nowhere.

Several days passed and there was no news pertaining to the whereabouts of the killer. Instead, there was news about a killing every few days. Every victim was slaughtered in the most gruesome and violent way possible. There were many signs of struggle on the crime sites, indicating a cruel and slow death. Blood was splattered all over the walls and each killing was signed with a smiley face using the victim's blood. These gruesome deaths pointed towards the killer on the loose. The trend of the various killings didn’t seem to display any patterns putting everyone into a frenzy. Each passing day caused more and more chaos and paranoia. 

One evening, a fight suddenly broke out in my house about who should take a brief trip outside to take out the trash. Though we were all quite worried, none of the slaughters reported occurred anywhere near our own house. 

“Why do I have to take out the trash today?,” my brother, Steven asked. 

“I always take it out, and you never do anything,” I retorted. 

“But I’m too young to die!!” 

“Do I care? Chill…. The serial killer is nowhere near us, you are only outside for 30 seconds anyways,” I tried explaining.

“Why don’t you take the trash out then?”

“Because I’m scared too.” Steven looked at me in horror, as I tried laughing it off. 

After much convincing, Steven finally agreed on the premise I accompanied him to the door and watched his back. The trashcan was located around the corner of our house. It was almost pitch black outside and slightly chilling, only a dim streetlamp illuminated the pathway. I couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling rising in my stomach. 

I carefully watched Steven turn the corner. After a couple of minutes, a blood-curdling scream filled the neighborhood. 

“aHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

“STEVEN???” I screamed. But, there was no response. I was inclined to move away from my spot in front of the door to go search for him. But decided, “who am I to save him?” as I turned around. 

An ominous presence crept up behind me just as I tried opening the door. A prickling pain jabbed at my stomach as I slowly fell backward and dropped onto the stone-cold pavement. My vision blurred and I could barely make out the figure standing above my body. 

“Great timing isn’t it?” a familiar voice said, as the smile grew on his face. “Everything will just be blamed on the serial killer on the loose.”

I could only weakly manage out a “Why?” as the blood was quickly flowing out from the wound on my stomach. 

“You …. Everything --,” I could only make out bits and pieces of the voice but my vision was slowly turning dark. The last thing I ever saw was Steven bending down to draw something next to my head….

“Good Morning, I am Sharon, your local news reporter. This morning authorities have finally tracked down and detained the serial killer on the loose. He is now being sentenced to death for the countless lives he has taken. Everyone is now free to continue their normal lives without the worry of a serial killer right behind your back!!!!”...

Emily Ye, Period 8, 5/17/21, Day C

Emily Ye

Period 8

5/17/21

Day C

Modern Mythology 2021

Creativity & Fiction

New Horizon

It started as a fun adventure until I realized I was stuck here. 

On March 20, 2020, I was looking for a change in my life—a fresh start. I reached out to a small company,“Nook Inc.,” and bought their getaway package. Before I knew it, I landed on a deserted island.

“This island is now yours! What are you going to name it?” said Tom Nook, founder of Nook Inc.

I could name the island almost anything I wanted—I had all the power in my hands. 

“Universe,” I declared. That way I can say that I built the universe. 

Along with Tom Nook and his two employees, Timmy and Tommy, we arrived on Universe. There was nothing there except the two tents where we would reside. Tom Nook informed me that it would be my duty to develop the land, however, I owed him money.

I was taken aback. He threw me onto a random island with nothing but a tent, yet I owed him money if I were to upgrade anything. And I most certainly would develop this land to be more livable. I had left everything behind in my life to get a fresh start, but here I am in debt to a raccoon. 

“Where do I get the money?” I inquired. I had nothing on me, not even a dime to my name. 

“You can clean up this island and sell stuff to Timmy and Tommy. You would be rewarded generously.”

That was my purpose. To clean and upgrade this land into something amazing and to earn money to pay off Tom Nook. I began to get to work.

I went around the island picking up all the weeds, catching any wasps, and selling all these treasures to Timmy and Tommy. The “rewarded generously” was a joke. I sold my entire inventory, yet that was nowhere near what my debt was. This would take a while to pay off that scheming raccoon.

-----

After two days, I was finally able to pay off my first debt. Yes, first. I didn’t know why I found it more surprising, but this raccoon expects more money from me as I continue to help build this island. Will there ever be an end to this debt? Or will I keep working and become a slave to this raccoon. 

-----

As each day passes, I find myself doing the same thing every day. I travel to different islands every day. I deplete the island of all its resources before returning to my island every day. I sell my finds to Timmy and Tommy in exchange for some money every day. Every Sunday, I wait for the boar Daisy Mae to come and sell me turnips. Then, I check for the turnip prices every day, waiting for the best day to sell the turnips for profits. I go around my island and talk to my only friends, animals of different species, every day. It's the same routine. Every day.

With every day being the same, I wonder if there will finally be a change. Does time even pass? I feel as if I have been stuck in this cycle without the danger of ever dying. Am I immortal? Will life be the same forever?

-----

The island is finally complete to my desires. It is cleaned of any weeds, filled with villagers, and decorated with all sorts of equipment. The island is now recognized as a 5-star island thanks to my efforts. Now what? Everything is finished. What is my purpose now? There is nothing else for me to do, however, life goes on. And my life will go on forever. What is the point of all this then? Did any of this matter?

I visit the one who started it all, Tom Nook. 

“Would you like to start over?”

Would I like to continue my life on this island with nothing to do? Or would I like to restart my life once again and do the same thing all over again? That is what he was asking me. Will this cycle ever end?

Vicki Yang, 5/17/21, PD 8, Day C

Vicki Yang

Period 8

5/15/21

Day C

Modern Mythology 2021

Goal Setting & Growth

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

My goal as of late has been to better split my time for studying more my AP test as well as my college placement exams. As we get closer to the end of the school year, the dates of our exams are also coming up which has started to make me worry about how well I will do. This year I have three advanced placement classes, which has been very stressful on me due to my overwhelming desire to perform well in these subjects. Even though my teachers have prepared us all year for the day of the test, I can’t help but feel anxious about how much information I will be able to retain on the day of the test. Currently I feel as though my ability to relay information from class is lacking which is why I am creating a schedule that is hopefully manageable and will drive me to work harder

In order to make myself focus on studying, I am putting a limit on how often I do other activities such as gaming and watching youtube videos. Because the year is coming to an end, many of my friends have started focus less on school work and more on having fun. Because of this, I often find it hard to decline their offers to game or hangout, which then hinders my ability to study. Therefore, I am choosing to study at least 2 units for each of my classes before doing anything else. By creating a goal to follow I have noticed that it is easier for me to concentrate because I know that by the time I finish I will be able to do the things I want, which helps to motivate me to work harder.

With so many of my friends and family doing fun activities, my attempts to avoid procrastinating have been a bit challenging because of the fact that I’d like to hang out with my friends rather than doing work. However, by cutting my time online doing unnecessary things I have been able to create a good work environment where I can spend my time on schoolwork. Therefore,by creating this effective schedule for myself, I am confident that I will be able to achieve this goal.

Milena Olkhovetsky, Period 5, 05/14/2021, Day B

Milena Olkhovetsky

Period 5

05/14/2021

Day B

Modern Mythology 2021


Socio-political Consciousness

What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?

“Interview with a Vampire”, our class’s most recent work is definitely an interesting one, actually it’s the only piece of vampire literature that I seemed to have enjoyed reading. However, as a queer person with a passion for sociology and pop culture, I couldn’t shake one thing from my mind. This book, as great as it is, is a poster child for the fetishization of gay men in media. Now in no way am I calling Anne Rice homophobic here. She is purely using an established paradigm to portray a certain quality in her vampires, that quality being brooding, dark, or mysterious. Often times homo eroticism falls into this category but why is that? We can think about the time period during which she was writing this book when answering this question. When you think of the 1970s what often comes to mind? Most people would say sex, drugs, and rock&roll. It’s what the decade was known for, especially its sexual revolution. As for media at the time, women felt much more comfortable expressing their sexuality, and media catering towards the female gaze became more mainstream. Hence the production of media with mysterious protagonists. Women found this attractive and it opened up a new target demographic. Homo eroticism was only included in this trope because it served as another question to make the protagonist attractive. “This man is conventionally attractive and is intriguing in a way that piques sexual interest, why is he not surrounded by women?” “He is not aggressive like most men and cares about the people who surround him, why does he not have a female romantic interest?” This mystery is often milked as long as possible until it is revealed that said character is actually gay. Usually, this reveal happens in the form of a sexual encounter, rarely a mutually understanding relationship. These sexual encounters are often written or portrayed in a way that is delicate and passionate. This isn’t without reason. This was the sex that women at the time craved and were deprived of because most heterosexual encounters primarily focused on male pleasure. Now taking that into account you show a woman who is usually not satisfied by her partner, sex that pleases both parties. Of course, this will interest her. Especially because men were the subject of these encounters, women began to idolize this kind of man. This perpetuated the idea that sexual encounters that women desired were only possible between gay men. So as a result what do homosexual relationships become in popular media? They are no longer perceived as people like you and me who can love in so many different ways. They become cash cows. Makes you think twice about the popular phrase “Why are all the good guys taken or gay?”. This was not a matter of framing LGBTQ+ individuals in a positive light or encouraging public acceptance of queer relationships. Rather attracting a larger female audience in order to make more money.

How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?

Today we still struggle with LGBTQ representation on screen and in the writing room. Usually, whenever a gay character is introduced they aren’t written by a gay person, resulting in a gross misrepresentation that relies on stereotypes or tokenization. And representation truly is important, yet it’s so hard to explain why to someone who doesn’t struggle with this issue. As for me, the sheer joy I get from seeing a character on screen or on paper who I can relate to is astronomical. It reassures me and many others like me that our experiences are valid. Oftentimes people form their opinions about others based on how they see them represented in media. That’s why it’s crucial for people to be represented correctly, and that means being represented as people and not sex objects.

Prince Zhang, 5/14/21, PD 5, Day B

Prince Zhang

Period 5

5/14/21

PD 5

Day B

Creativity & Fiction

Craft a piece of fiction that addresses one or more of the following: 

- Literary elements (i.e. structure, tone, diction, mood, irony, and figurative language) to craft a narrative and/or poetry.

- Structural features of drama (stage directions, character attributions/tags, dialogue, monologues, and/or soliloquies) to craft a script.

- Multidimensional characters to develop themes and create socio-political metaphors.

The Missing Key

    As the bell for last period rang, Zia hastily stuffed her pencil case and calculator into her bookbag and made way toward the locker room. Walking through the hallways, Zia's mind drifted toward the last question of her calculus test. 

"Did I integrate that right? Hopefully, I remembered to add C to the end of the equation," she thought.

The locker room was only a few paces away, but Zia walked past it, trying to remember any of the other questions on the test that she was unsure of. She didn't realize she walked past the locker room and doubled back to get her coat. Her fingers turned the cold metal lock as she spun the combination 5-14-21; she opened the locker door and retrieved her coat. After putting it on, she started heading toward the exit and began her journey home.

Zia's house was only a 20 minute walk away from school, but she enjoyed taking a longer route through the woods. Walking along the familiar path, Zia's mind was at peace. Here, she was alone, in person and in thought and allowed her mind to wander as she followed the leaves being blown by the wind. She wasn't bothered by the loneliness; she never considered herself to be "lonely," but rather independent. She appreciated her own company and the occasional squirrel darting across her path or the croak of a nearby bullfrog broke the silence. But today, the trip home was quiet and neither rustle nor croak broke the silence. Looking up, Zia saw gray clouds loomed overhead and picked up the pace, hoping to get home before a potential storm arrived. As her boots left the dirt road and hit solid concrete, she started pulling out the keys of her back pocket. Once she pulled out her keys, she realized something was wrong. She was missing one: the one to her front door.

Doubling back into the forest, Zia hurriedly looked around and traced her steps. The first drops of rainfall were coming down now and she knew it would pick up in a matter of minutes. She checked all spots along the path where the keys could be hiding. She checked in between the roots of the old oak and in the nearby brush. 

"It has to be there somewhere! There's no way I really let the key fall out of my pocket," she exclaimed.

A glint of bronze caught her attention behind some reeds. She made her way toward them and squatted down to brush them away. Her bronze, triangular key lay there, out of place as it's metallic luster contrasted with the dull reeds next to it.

Clutching the key tightly in her hand, Zia sprinted out of the woods as the rain started picking up. She made it onto the porch before any of her books got soaked and she sat down for a breath of air. As she put the key into the keyhole, she noticed that all the lights of her house were on.

"There shouldn't be anyone home right now," she told herself. Perhaps her parents had left the lights on when they left for work.

Before she could turn the key, the knob shook and the door opened. She suddenly wanted the reassuring silence of the woods. 

She was not home alone.

Belinda Yeung, 5/17/21, PD8, Day C

Belinda Yeung

Period 8

5/17/21

Day C

Modern Mythology 2021 

Creativity & Fiction

“ON YOUR MARKS! GET SET! COOK!”

I have been obsessed with cooking shows lately and I am already updated with the latest episode of THE CHEF that I binge-watched over the weekend. Just watching them cook makes my mouth drool and stomach growl on cue. They inspire me to try myself but when I look in my fridge my hopes are shattered. I try to picture myself as a contestant on the show and challenge myself to create a 5-star Michelin dish out of whatever leftovers I have in my kitchen but all I can create is a sorry excuse for tomato sauce on bread, an insult to pizza. But like everyone says, “Practice makes perfect”, theoretically speaking, my food should become edible eventually. Well, another phrase I heard somewhere was, “There is no time like the present”, so I guess it's time to sharpen up my culinary skills.

I remember someone once gave me a cooking spell book for my birthday so time to find it. It's been centuries since I last opened my storage room where the majority of my possessions reside. I crack open the door and as a gust of wind enters the room and a pile of dust falls out. 

“ACHOO!”, I sneezed, the air in here was stifling.

I carefully trek over the random junk obscuring my way, creating an imaginary path as I ventured further into the stuffy room. I found the windows but struggled to open them as they sat untouched for quite some time. I managed after putting in some elbow grease, to open up the windows, which allowed a slight breeze of the fresh outside air along with some dewiness left from an April shower, to fill the room. The breeze alone was too weak to make any notable difference in the atmosphere of the room so it was time for me to work my magic. 

 "չԱսԾխ”, I cast a wind spell and in the palm of my hand formed a heavy gust of wind. I directed the trajectory into the room, carrying centuries’ worth of dust along with it out of the window. It took a while but it is a lot better than before. 

I forgot my locating spell but looking for a book shouldn’t be too hard right? I remember off the top of my head it was a red book with gold lettering, so I quickly scanned the room for a glimpse of color that might catch my eye. Easier said than done, like with most things, the room was full of clutter making it hard to differentiate anything. Would it be quicker for me to zoogle a locating spell online? Sometimes it's best not to be too haughty with one’s abilities and just depend on others, but I have to admit, my dependence on technology has made me quite inadequate and lazy. I find myself glued to my phone for longer than I’d like to admit but I guess one more second shouldn’t make a difference to my daily 12 hour screen time. I quickly zoogle a locating spell but then I realized I could have just zoogled a cooking spell and saved myself all the trouble. But I should finish what I started and if I take the easy route for everything might as well order food, although that does sound tempting, today is a day for self-cultivation.

I located the book and well let’s just say it was a blue book with white lettering but close enough. I scan the pages to see which dish will catch my eye and I come across a beginner-friendly recipe for fried chicken. I recall an episode of THE CHEF, where they were tasked to recreate NFC and how when the judges were eating you could hear the crunchiness of the crispy skin and you could see how juicy and tender the meat was. I suddenly got a craving for fried chicken so it looks like this is the recipe we are using.

The steps look relatively easy, the assembly of ingredients, proper prepping, and finally the spell that is the make or break moment. I read the list of ingredients to myself. Chicken thighs and wings, buttermilk, salt, pepper, seasoning,  flour, egg, and oil. The first step was to mix some of my wet and dry ingredients into a large bowl. Then I covered it with an air seal spell and put it into the fridge to marinate for a few hours. While I waited I prepared the breading with some flour and premade seasoning and poured myself a cool refreshing glass of apple cider.  Then I tuned in for the live release of the latest episode to spend my time as I waited. I guess I was too absorbed in the show that I almost forgot about my chicken until I was reminded of my hunger with the growling in my stomach. 

I checked the time and the chicken was ready to be fried. I returned to the kitchen with high expectations and eagerly took the chicken out of the fridge. I prepared a pot with oil and began to chant the heating spell that would bring the temperature of the oil up just enough to perfectly crisp the skin while cooking the meat at a moderate rate, careful not to overcook and make the meat dry rather than soft and tender. The oil bubbled slightly and fizzed as described in the book so it was time to carefully dip the chicken into the oil. As the chicken touched the oil, you could hear a loud sizzle and smell a meaty aroma slowly fill the room. I slowly cooked 2-3 pieces at a time, careful not to cook too much at once, and carefully pulled out the cooked pieces, laying them on a paper towel to soak up the extra oil. I went in for another round of frying to make the chicken even more crispy and after drying up the rest of the oil, went on to the next step of the recipe. Seal in the freshness and crispness of the chicken with a preserving spell. The difficulty of this spell proved to be quite challenging since it was quite a complex enchantment but this could keep the fried chicken from meeting its doom, turning soggy and cold. I mumbled the spell to myself a couple of times, careful not to mess up any part of it, and decided it was now or never. I took a deep breath and chanted the spell, “ ՑՂնմս՜Խա   յյյճռվյ՟Շծոչո  չքւ֏տյռռճ”.

I looked at my chicken to see it radiate a light golden glow almost highlighting the essence of its crispiness as the rough edges of the skin contrasted with the bright light. Almost like gold itself, the chicken looked too precious to eat yet too delicious not to be tempted. I quickly went to get my camera to document this moment. SNAP! Then I eagerly picked up a piece still hot and carefully bit into the skin waiting for a loud crunch to be heard. There was a crunch, not as loud and audible as the ones in the shows that I watched, but it was decent for my first try. Some steam escaped out of the chicken along with a sweet yet savory smell. I took a bigger bite this time, into the meat. It was juicy and tender but slightly overcooked, notes of umami filled my mouth yet it could use more seasoning and flavor.  I continued to eat the rest of the chicken along with some leftover apple cider. It was nice, revitalizing my taste buds and countering any of the greasiness left from the chicken. Such a combination, even though my cooking skills might be a novice at best, I think the taste of the fruits of my efforts was the most fulfilling. 

Yana Polonskaya Pd 5 Day B Blog 3

 Yana Polonskaya

Period 5

05/14/2021

Day B

Modern Mythology 2021

Goal Setting & Growth

• At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

This upcoming summer marks the time for an extremely important transition in my life--from high school to college, from living at home to a much more independent lifestyle. With the end of the year approaching, I can’t help but think of the numerous things I still want to accomplish before going away. I’ve recently put together a “bucket list” of everything I want to learn/do before I leave for college; I’m hoping to have enough free time in these upcoming months to finish checking off the list. Reading books of my choice is at the top of the list--I used to love reading in my free time, but in recent years, I began to utilize this time to watch movies and TV shows instead. I’ve had a book list consisting of horror fiction and thriller book recommendations (my favorite genre) for years now, but unfortunately I never got around to starting any. I hope to get through at least 3 of the books by the end of the summer--though watching movies is always a great experience, nothing compares to the effect a good book has on my imagination, creativity, and overall state of mind. The next undertaking on my list has to do with dance. Dancing has always been my passion, but in recent years, I’ve also discovered my love for choreographing. I’ve had the opportunity to choreograph routines for our school’s dance team and dance gym, but I know I still have a lot of room to grow and develop as a choreographer. Over the summer, I hope to choreograph at least 2-3 routines that I can be proud of and potentially even teach to others. There’s no greater feeling than watching choreography come to life--each movement is an unspoken emotion, all coming together to tell a unique, personal story. Furthermore, I also hope to develop as a cook. I would love to be able to recreate popular recipes, potentially adding my own unique touch to them. I’ve always loved trying new foods and experimenting with flavor combinations. I also greatly enjoy sharing my favorite meals and restaurants with others. Moreover, cooking/baking helps calm my nerves whenever I get stressed, and it would certainly be a convenient skill to have in college. Throughout the summer, I plan on trying out a variety of recipes. My best friend recently got me a Trader Joe’s Cookbook which I will definitely be putting to use! Finally, the last item on my list has to do with a project I started last summer. I was a participant in the 2020 BlueStamp Engineering virtual summer program, and with their guidance, I was able to design a “Third Eye for Visually Impaired Dancers.” This device uses ultrasonic sensors and color sensors in order to alert a visually impaired performer of their distance from other dancers, as well as from the edge of a stage. However, the program ended before my device reached its final phase. This summer, I plan on implementing all the other ideas I had in mind. First off, I would work on making it wearable in a way that isn’t seen from the audience and doesn’t disturb the dancer, perhaps attaching the base to the back of a leotard and the color sensor to the back of a shoe. This project is extremely important to me, as it combines my passions for science and dance, and I definitely want to complete it in the upcoming months. 

• How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

Over the summer, without a set schedule in place, it’ll be entirely my responsibility to remain organized and manage my time appropriately. Starting to read during my free time will involve breaking habits, as I’ve unfortunately gotten used to watching TV rather than reading books. Choreographing routines will involve a lot of research and perseverance. Since I am not highly experienced, I am bound to experience choreographer’s block and I’ll have to learn how to overcome it. Perfecting recipes will entail a lot of research, patience, and trial and error. Finally, completing my device will be a lot more difficult without the assistance of my instructors. I am not entirely well versed as an engineer, so I would also have to do independent research, watch tutorials, and review scientific concepts. 

• How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

There is constant pressure on students to choose a college major, a future career, a field to specialize in. We are categorized as either “STEM” or “Humanities”; the classes which we take, the extracurricular activities and internships which we choose all reflect our designated career path. In doing so, I found myself having less and less time to focus on all my small interests and hobbies. Everything I did soon enough revolved around either dance or science. However, I began to realize that there are so many sides of me that I haven’t been in touch with recently. I could continue developing as a dancer and a scientist while also maintaining my interests in cooking, engineering, choreographing, reading etc. In a society with people of so many various backgrounds, it’s important to stay curious and celebrate all our varied interests.

Yana Polonskaya Pd 5 Day B Blog 2

 Yana Polonskaya

Period 5

05/14/2021

Day B

Modern Mythology 2021

Goal Setting & Growth

• At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

I’ve always had trouble understanding the phrase “living in the moment.” A majority of our day to day life revolves around reflecting on the past or working to build the perfect future. We dwell on past mistakes, no matter how trivial they may be to the bigger picture. We spend our days worrying about the future, planning out as much of it as we possibly can. I find myself constantly wondering where I’ll go next, constantly regretting past decisions and thinking “what if?”. It seemed as though there was always something I’d rather be doing, as though every choice I made was the wrong one. When leaving the house, I’d wish I stayed home and took more time to relax. When I’d have time to myself, I’d scramble to make plans and leave the house. I found myself in a cycle of stress and anxiety--I was constantly debating and weighing my options, and somehow still always making the wrong choice. I’d wake up today thinking of tomorrow and remembering yesterday. I also noticed my tendency to take pictures of almost every single moment of my life. Every memory had to be captured, and even worse, posted online. Throughout the day, I’d constantly worry about what would make the best social media post. Of course, having the perfect moments captured on camera is a beautiful concept, but eventually it got to the point where I couldn’t have a nice moment without thinking about my phone and my Snapchat camera. My mind was always racing, and I realized that I could never truly be happy while overthinking to that extent. Being mindful and present in every moment is something I’m truly aiming to get better at. There are so many parts of our daily routines that need to be appreciated for what they are, and I hope to get better at calming myself down and finding the beauty in all circumstances. I hope to stop feeling the need to document my life and living in my memories and stories--with every new day comes new experiences that deserve to be cherished. Recently I’ve been putting a lot more emphasis on making the most of every situation and trying to transform my natural state from worried/stressed to productive/happy. Simultaneously, I’ve tried to focus less on my social media presence--a post doesn’t define a moment’s worth. Learning how to be present in every moment is a powerful tool, one that I’m still learning how to utilize. 

• How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

Over time, stress and doubt became second nature to me. Changing my most natural emotions and reactions has been taking a lot of mental stamina. As tempting as it might be to shut down and give into these feelings, I’ve been trying many different methods to learn mindfulness. The first is meditation, which has become a part of my daily routine. I’ve been training my mind to relax, to stop racing, and to focus on my surroundings. The second is staying physically active and developing a weekly workout schedule. Every week I have 1 Hip-Hop class and 2 Pilates classes. When I’m dancing, there's nowhere I’d rather be--I’m always concentrated in the best way possible. When working out, I’m able to focus on my body and clear my mind. Feeling productive has helped me overcome a lot of my negative emotions. Finally, another change I’ve implemented is limiting the time I spend on my phone. Waking up and immediately checking my phone, scrolling through social media while spending time with friends, feeling the need to post the details of my day constantly, and spending hours on my phone before falling asleep are just some unhealthy habits that eventually became ingrained into my daily routine. While I can’t escape social media as a whole, I’ve been trying to call myself out and prevent myself from getting too immersed into the online world. I’ve put a lot of emphasis on staying off my phone while I’m with others, maximizing the in-person interactions that I have. 

• How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

Last year, during the initial lock-down, I found myself appreciating small details that I wouldn’t have cherished otherwise. Prior to the quarantine, I hated my daily morning bus ride, yet suddenly I found myself missing it more than anything. Walks and bike rides that previously seemed monotonous became exciting. Family dinners were lively; every interaction was extremely meaningful. All we had was time, and we felt every minute pass by. As much as I tried to hold on to these feelings of pure happiness from things so small, I reverted back to my usual self as the lock-down gradually lifted and life sped up. In a world so fast-paced and reliant on social media, it’s difficult to take a step back and focus on the singular moment you’re experiencing. However, the past year has demonstrated that we never truly know what the future holds. All we know is the present, and it’s our responsibility to make the most of it. I hope to relearn how to find joy in the most casual parts of my day, even as everything around me moves so quickly. 

Angelica Baburova Period 5 5/14/21 Day B

• Creativity & Fiction

• Craft a piece of fiction that addresses one or more of the following: 

• Literary elements (i.e. structure, tone, diction, mood, irony, and figurative language) to craft a narrative and/or poetry.

• Structural features of drama (stage directions, character attributions/tags, dialogue, monologues, and/or soliloquies) to craft a script.

• Multidimensional characters to develop themes and create socio-political metaphors.

Annie walked towards the shore and looked at the orange sunset. With a blank mind she stared at the serenity surrounding her. Although every decision she's ever made has been calculated, precise, and supposedly correct, she felt nothing.

Reaching the ocean she felt the cold water at her ankles and was brought back to reality. She drove to a beach on a tuesday evening for no reason, to do absolutely nothing. There was nothing that brought her to this moment, no calculation, and no planning. As she stood there, a glimpse of something caught her eye in the sand.

It looked like a watercolor painting had been swirled and made into a shell, there was no reason for something this beautiful and melancholy to be lying in isolation on the tattered brown shore.

The watercolor brought her back to her childhood. The pastel colors of pleasantries. Every goal was easily accomplished, and if not, there was no commitment. You had the time and ability to calculate, but also to learn from trial and error. Rushed back into reality she realized that the moments that have passed increase, and they do so rapidly. There is no more freedom and detachment from time and responsibilities. 

As she looked into the shell the world around her began to shift, the sky became a lighter color, everything seemed to grow around her. Alas, it was not that everything was growing, instead she was shrinking. Looking at her hands, she noticed they are no longer the hands of a 25 year old, but instead the hands of a child nearing 10. Looking to her left stood her mother, unaware of the shift that just occurred. Reaching for her phone she found her first flip phone instead. She has transported back in time. 

“Mom?” She looked up at her mother smiling at the sunset.

“Yes honey? Look at the pink sky!” Her mother replies, continuing to watch the sky surrounding them.

“I want to accomplish something. I want to succeed.” Annie said with a strange maturity for a 9 year old. Her mother turned to her. Without a second of doubt, her face turned serious. “I know you will”, she responded. This answer changed nothing, but Annie knew that this was her second chance. It was her chance to give her life meaning rather than follow the path others told her to follow, she could truly succeed.

But slowly this all faded. The colors of the sky swirled before the world around her turned to black.

Suddenly she was back in her dimly lit studio apartment, the cars outside loudly passing by. There is no such thing as a second chance.

She got out of bed and walked to the bathroom, looking at her sunken face in the mirror. She looked well over 25, the stress did not age her well. She painted her face with makeup, a mask to make it seem as though everything was ok. She practiced her smile before getting dressed and walking to work. Maybe today she would do something new, maybe she could be proud of the things she does today. Maybe, in the end, it's all worth it.