Ivan Hu, Period 7, 12/12/22

 Atomic Habits & Growth

Senior year has been miserable so far.

     Learning the workload of my new classes with college applications around the corner has given me an unusually strong sense of pressure that I have not experienced since preparing for the SHSAT exam. Accepting failure in AP Macroeconomics became an aspect of my life that I had to get accustomed to, regardless of what day it was. In addition, taking care of my grandmother, whose health is gradually deteriorating, is my utmost priority, even if she wants me to focus more on academics.

     In spite of the boundless sea of darkness clouding me, it is worthwhile to look at the light that shines through the cumulonimbus. Striving for self-improvement and efficacy has gotten me through many tormenting moments. Whether I meditated to get all the negative thoughts out of my head or prepared Christmas presents for my friends, these activities rejuvenated me to keep going with my day afterward. I also set reachable goals to keep me on track with what I needed to get done, such as finishing one supplement every three days. 

     I sometimes struggle with identifying my self-worth, but that is my individuality as a person out of billions who perceive the same world. Therefore, performing simple tasks like those above and ensuring that I continue them regularly became the solution to this problem that has permeated my life. As Mrs. Fusaro said, there is no total "work-life balance," and I agree. Everything has an opportunity cost. Personally, choosing what to include in my daily life, whether it would cost or benefit me in the long run, can brighten my experiences at that moment. 

"Carpe diem" - Horace

     Of course, I am sure many of us, including myself, have started feeling the symptoms of the fatal neurological illness, senioritis. Reasons for it might stem from insufficient motivation or energy to begin an assignment (especially Checkpoint 1 Reflection) since it is the last year of high school. I felt this way at some point during these three months, but I became proficient at avoiding feeling this way entirely by working together with my friends. Collaborating in homework or study sessions speeded up the process by many folds and made it particularly enjoyable along the way (bubble tea!) I am grateful for them as they helped me through my most challenging times and rekindled my passion for extracurriculars like attending clubs and dancing to K-pop music.