Ella Espiritu, Period 2, 10/05/20, Day A

 

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

Like all of my fellow seniors, my current goal is to complete my college applications so that I can have an education and hopefully a stable future. At this point in time, I'm focusing on filling out the Common App and perfecting my college essay. This year in particular, the personal essays carry much weight because of the pandemic and the subsequent cancellation of SATs, so it's imperative that I try to pour as much of my personality and personal experiences as possible into what is both too many and not nearly enough words. Although I've written dozens of essays before this, I still felt massively underprepared to write so much about myself, not just in the Common App essay, but in the supplemental questions that many schools require. It's definitely a new experience having to self-reflect so much at one time, and honestly I find it exhausting. Because of this, a large part of my goal involves finishing my applications while still keeping my own life on track by keeping up with school work and remembering to spend time with my family whenever I can.

 

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

I've struggled a lot in keeping up with this goal. I can't honestly say that I haven't procrastinated on it, especially because thinking about the application process gives me considerable anxiety, and I've had so many excuses to put it off. But recently, I've been more productive towards reaching this goal. I've started working on my supplements and registered for more online information sessions and interviews. By reaching out to other students and even by reading their blogs, I now realize that I'm not alone in this struggle, and that I still have a lot of work and improvement to get through if I am to reach my goal. So although I've procrastinated more than I'd like to admit, I'm trying my hardest to put my previous negativity behind me and power through this emotionally gruelling process as generations of students have done before me.

 

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

If the current pandemic has taught me anything, it's that life goes on. No matter how much things seem to have halted outside our walls, no matter how much we may wish to separate ourselves from the tragedy and destruction we have heard of, it doesn't give us an excuse to become detached from the world. Especially in an age where communication is at its very fastest and most efficient, we have reason to stay hopeful and continue with our lives, if not exactly as we would have otherwise done. This new appreciation for my still-turning world has galvanized me into action for my college apps. I've realized that I've been using the negativity of the recent events as a distraction, an excuse to turn my back on what really matters. The world will still be there when we emerge from quarantine (whenever that may be); definitely not the same world, but one still worth living in. And we need to be ready to be a part of it when the time comes.

Kevin Coughlin, Period 8, 10/02/20, Day C

Kevin Coughlin

10/02/20

Modern Mythology

Period 8

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

 

        I don’t understand why white people, men in particular, seem to think that anyone different from themselves are in some way inferior. It started with women. Historically, women were supposed to clean the house, mind the children, and cook the food. Then when Europe found Africa, they turned to the natives living there and started to persecute them and keep them as slaves for the color of their skin. Then, they turned to the LGBTQ community and started to marginalize them and criminalize their actions, even though it had no effect on them. I don’t understand why after centuries of intolerance, all of this still persists in 2020. Systemic racism shouldn’t be a thing in 2020. Conversion therapy shouldn’t be a thing in 2020. The gender wage gap shouldn’t be a thing in 2020. Society should’ve moved past these things a long time ago. It didn't, though. That’s why, here in 2020, people are rioting. It has been shown time and time again that peaceful protesting doesn’t lead to any impactful change. Their asks are very simple: treat me the same as you treat anyone else. The fact that this is not a given shocks and horrifies me. I also don’t understand how/why all this has become so political. These people are asking for basic human rights. There shouldn’t be anyone saying no, let alone almost half of the country.

        I will try to make this as apolitical as possible, but it needs to be said. Watching the debate last week horrified me. Besides the childish name calling and interrupting from two men in a position supposedly full of decorum, two things really scared me. The first is when the president told white supremacists to stand back and stand by. This not only makes it seem as if he’s their leader, but it implies that they will have a use, which, considering that he followed it up with “somebody has to deal with antifa and the left,” makes it seem like he will mobilize him against those that disagree with him/vote against him. The other terrifying moment was in the last few minutes when he suggested that his voters poll watch to intimidate voters of color and did not call for calm in the days of the election, indicating that his supporters may violently stop people from voting.

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

        As I write this, I am finding it very difficult to phrase certain things. In the top section, I am much closer to the type of person I am addressing than the minorities being oppressed. I have privilege. I don’t have to worry about being shot every time I walk past a police car. There is a very good possibility that I will make more money than a woman with the same qualifications than me. I will never be suspected fo a crime just due to my skin color. I can never understand what any of that is like. No one should have to know what it is like to be on the other side of these. I try to help as best I can, but I know that there is nothing I can do to make a real difference. So I am an ally. I am aware of my own inherent biases and I try to look at everyone as just another person.

Teresa Crisantos-Prudencio, Period 8, 10/2/20, Day C

Teresa Crisantos-Prudencio

10/2/2020

Modern Mythology

Period 8

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

    Right now a goal I have for myself is to complete my college applications. This is probably a goal that is shared by all seniors in our school however it does not make it any less important. Finishing my college applications is so important because this will set the foundation for my future education. I have to finish writing my personal essay so I can present to college admissions who I am as a person. This essay is extremely important this year because many schools have gone test optional therefore the weight of the essay is much higher than in previous years. I have been trying to make sure my college applications show my academic achievements and personal achievements. Another goal I have set for myself is to make sure I do well academically this year. This is important because I have to manage the time I spend studying for my classes and the time I spend working on my applications. Since I have gone fully remote I feel like my time Is more flexible and allows me to balance everything I am trying to accomplish. Lastly the last goal I have set for myself is to run everyday. Since quarantine started I wanted to find a way to stay active that didn’t require me to be near others. Running has been the way I have been doing this. 

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

    I have demonstrated resilience towards achieving my goal of completing my college applications by spending a minimum of one hour everyday working on my applications and essays. I have been making sure I complete each supplement for my applications to my best ability. I am also continuously revising my personal essay making sure it shows who I truly am. This has probably been the hardest part of the college application process for me. I have written so many drafts of what my essay can be and have asked people their opinions on my essay to make sure it is well written. Over the summer I have researched different colleges I would like to attend and attended some of their virtual tours and events to make that part easier. Another way I have worked on my goal of doing well academically this year is trying my best to do the work assigned the same day it was assigned so I don't have to do everything the day before the next cycle. Well except for this blog and a couple other things. Lastly in order for me to be able to run everyday I have made sure to plan my day in a way that allows me to have at least one hour to run and do other physical activities.

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

    The world around me affects my perception of these goals because most of these goals have been created due to the circumstances around me. I am making sure I do academically well this year as doing well in school is something that has been stressed to me throughout my whole educational career. In addition I feel like it is always important to try your best in everything you are doing. For my college applications specifically my parents have always emphasized the importance of getting a good education. Due to this I understand the importance of taking my applications seriously and going to a school that I believe offers the most to me. In addition since most schools have gone test optional this year due to the pandemic it has caused me to make sure that all other parts of my application are strong. Lastly running more is something that directly came about because of the pandemic and quarantine. I wanted to better myself both physically and mentally. 

Dustin Cong, Period 2, 10/5/20, Day A

 Dustin Cong

Modern Mythology 

Ms. Fusaro 

10/5/20

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

I know at this point in time all seniors have the goal to complete their college applications and get into the schools they dream of, but I want to write about a goal I've always wanted to achieve for a really long time. I've always hated my body image and it is my biggest insecurity. In the past, I really never tried to improve on myself. Instead, I tried to hide it with baggy clothing and hunching my back to make my chest fat less noticeable. When I went to school or to family gatherings, it felt like everyone was talking about how fat I was, but it was all in my head. When family members did comment on how much I ate, I tried to hide away the pain with a smile. But all of my fears and thoughts came true when I was bullied in middle school for how I looked. I felt like there was no solution to this problem other than cry and the real solutions I needed to do, I had no will power for. I finally started to try to make a change when I couldn't take the insults and self-hate anymore. I went to the gym and played more sports, but I never achieved the body I wanted because it seemed like there was never enough time. In the present, I now have all the time I need because I'm stuck at home in quarantine. There's no longer a reason to make excuses like "I don't have enough time" or "Maybe I'll start in college or sometime later." With all the time I have to myself now, I'm determined to learn to love myself and achieve the body I want.

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

Setting a goal for myself is the easy part. The hardest part is actually getting off the couch and doing what I say I will do. I've created a workout schedule and set I would follow every day. Everday I decided to workout from 4:30 to 6:00, working on a different set of muscles. Day 1 I put as working out abs and doing cardio; day 2 is working on shoulders; day 3 is working on chest and back, day 4 is working on biceps and triceps. I repeat this schedule every day and make sure I do my best to follow it consistently. Diet is around 70% of the work you need to do in order to achieve a fit body. I've decided to eat a lot cleaner by staying on a calorie deficit of around 2000 calories and eating healthy sticking to grilled chicken, vegetables, and one bowl of rice for my meals. The struggle with achieving this goal though is having the right mentality. There have been so many times where I've wanted to just quit and eat the junk foods I like and stop working out, and to be honest, I have broken my diet and stopped working out for a few days before. But what I learned from past experiences in sports is that failure and success all depend on what you do when you fall down. In order to achieve my goal, consistency is key, but if I break off from it, I know I will get back on the horse and keep trying.

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

The world at the moment is changing and although it sucks being stuck at home, it is actually helping me achieve my goal. School has been shortened and instead of having to wake up to get to class at 8 am and coming back home at 5pm because of extracurriculars, I now have so much time for myself. My classes are from 12-3, so I'm able to do a lot of work before class and after so I can workout at 4:30. Another way the world around me affects my goal is that I'm not the only one trying to achieve this goal. My sister was actually the one who first started to work out during quarantine and she pushed me to start too. At first, I was always stuck in my room either doing homework or watching TV, but she kept dragging me to the basement to workout. I got so used to this routine that I go consistently by myself most of the time now. At the moment we don't know what the future is going to look like, but no matter the circumstances I'm hoping to achieve my goal by the start of next summer. 

Dilhara DeSilva, Period 5, 10/01/20, Day B

Dilhara DeSilva

10/01/20                                                                          

Period 5

Modern Mythology 2021                                                   

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

How do we move on? How do we keep going when we know there’s terrifying things occurring in our world? From a personal point of view, I have focused on maintaining a healthy mindset and body. It has definitely been a struggle with the pandemic but I have found a flow in the scheme of things by setting goals for myself. To begin with, I have been working towards completing my college applications, performing well academically, and being a dedicated cross country athlete. These goals have kept me in check and on top of things so far this school year. Though college applications have been stressful, I have found them quite useful in preventing me from procrastinating.  The constant thought of deadlines and essays have pushed me in a better direction in terms of getting my work done. This year, school has brought forth a sense of balance and satisfaction for me. I have been enjoying my classes which has allowed me to thrive academically. Running has been very important to me these past few months. The commitment that comes with training every day as a cross country athlete changes you as a person. I’m thankful for the sport since it has allowed me to stay healthy, fit, and driven.  

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

Achieving these goals have been difficult, especially on the days where I have just been overwhelmed by the world around me. However, at the same time it has been this world around me that has kept me going. My friends and family are my biggest supporters in life and have been extremely helpful in achieving these goals. My parents have always stressed the importance of education so their constant reminders about college and school have kept me focused and on task. At times, I tend to lose sight of the importance of my academics so I have found it very motivating to think about the bigger picture and my future which has allowed me to strive for more. Apart from this, my teammates on the cross country team have pushed me to be the best athlete I could possibly be. Talking to them on a daily basis and discussing what we want to accomplish as a team has been inspiring to me and I hope I don’t let them down this season. 

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

In my perspective, the world around me doesn’t affect my perception of these goals. The goals I set for myself were made to align with the circumstances of the pandemic. I’m still able to train, go to school, and prepare for college. The only difference this year is that I am running and learning by myself. It has been a lot about being optimistic and accountable for myself through this pandemic. As long as I have hope, I can still achieve what I want to with laser focus. 

Abel George, Period 8, 10/07/20, Day C

 Abel George

Modern Mythology

10/7/20

Period 8

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

It feels like yesterday I was at the Tech orientation. I vividly remember one of the guidance counselors telling us how before we knew it we would be seniors worrying about college applications. At that moment in time senior year was the farthest thing from my mind. I was a middle schooler going to a new school with a bunch of new faces around me. But now here I am, its senior year  in the middle of a global pandemic. At this current time I have a few goals that I hope to actively work towards. For one I need to work on my college application meaning essays, finding a college that fits me personally and finding a major that truly resonates with me. Secondly I’m trying to stay on top of my school work  which is much easier said than done.

I view college as the next step on a long road towards building a life for myself. For that reason it's important to find a college I like and a major that I truly enjoy as this is what I'll hopefully be doing for the foreseeable future.  My second goal is to stay on top of my schoolwork this year. I can already feel senrosts kicking in but I want my final year of work in highschool to reflect the type of student I am so I’ll have to stay on top of my stuff.

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

Without almost everything being moved online plus the fact my SAT has been canceled three times so far I’ve been struggling with my goals at times. However I took initiative this summer to find colleges I liked and join virtual tours in addition to emailing them asking questions. My college application is in the works as we speak. I am working to draft an essay that I find good to submit. This has led to many redrafts and restarts but this is a goal I’ve made considerable progress towards since I’ve began. The second goal I am working towards is staying on top of my senior year work. I have been using to-do lists and sectioning of my work to achieve this. By writing down everything I have to do and spending increments of time on each thing I am better able to finish work on time and not feel like I am being swamped with work.

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

We are in a very uncertain time right now. Schools closed in early March and as they finally re-open we are met with a blended schedule which at any moment might shut down and move to all remote. The world around me is constantly changing as new ideas and events occur. I have realized to keep up with an ever-moving world I cannot allow myself to become stagnant or sit around as I go through the motions. I must begin to actively work towards my goals instead of viewing them so passively. This has allowed me to take steps towards finishing my goals whether that be through spending an hour in the morning working on my common app essay or reading my assignments ahead of time.

Derek Dong, Period 5, 10/01/20, Day B

Derek Dong
10/01/20
Period 5
Modern Mythology 2021

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

It is always important to set goals for ourselves as they motivate us to work harder every single day in order to ultimately achieve what we have wanted. I have set both short term and long term goals to keep track of what I need to do as well as keep pushing myself to strive for what I want. 

A few goals I have set for myself are working on college apps for at least one hour per day, working out everyday to stay in shape, and spending time with my friends whenever I can, even if they are over zoom or FaceTime calls. College applications are most likely the top priority for every seniors. With many different deadlines to remember, essays to write, and forms to complete, it is very important for me to designate a time period for myself to work on college app everyday in order to stay on track. Due to PSAL postponing all of its fall sports and all other seasons still up in the air, it is essential to stay fit and be prepared in the case that the season restarts or just for the physical health of ourselves. Since I suffered a partially torn hamstring about one month ago, I can not run or put too much pressure on my legs. Therefore, I have decided to focus my workouts on my other body parts in order to stay fit. Lastly, choosing fully remote learning takes away the opportunity to see and socialize with many of my friends. Socializing is crucial to everyone's daily life and mental health so I want to make sure I have time to talk to my friends.

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

Although setting goals is very important, it is only the first step towards achieving the goals. The process is much harder and it can easily cause us to lose interest and motivation. I have several ways to motivate myself and demonstrate resilience as I work to achieve my goals. I set aside a time period, usually between 6 to 7pm to work on my college app and nothing else. I put my phone away from me so I am not distracted and can be the most productive. Staying motivated while being injured is perhaps one of the hardest challenges that I have to face currently. Watching motivational YouTube videos regarding overcoming injuries is definitely very helpful as I patiently wait for my hamstring to heal. Working out with my friends and teammates are also motivating as we can all push each other to improve. Additionally, I have also set an early alarm so I can wake up and get the day started. I try to balance my work time during the day with relaxing time at night so I can talk to my friends and watch sports. I often look for motivational quotes to remind myself everyday to keep going and give my best for everything.

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

We are certainly living in a very uncertain time right now as the pandemic continues to roll on. Our daily lives are greatly affected: schools are opened but with blended or fully remote learning, social distancing is still in effect, and  some of our favorite activities such as competing in sports, going to concerts and more are currently being put on hold. With our lives not being normal, it is very easy for us to just put down our goals and find excuses. While it is important to pay attention to our mental health and make sure we are happy because our own mental health and happiness comes before anything, I realize the fact that I need to stay focused and strive for my goal. Therefore, the world around us does not change my perception for my goals. I need to make the necessary adjustments and adapt to the situation. I will continue to work as hard as I can and keep pushing for my goals.