blog post 21 - Jake Waits

One challenge I'd like to solve is picking the right college for myself. There are many variables that go into this decision whether I want to go in or out of state, how far away I'm willing to go, how expensive a college is, and is that college good for my major. Currently I feel I'd like to obtain a business or architecture degree but I still haven’t narrowed my college choices down yet. My main focus currently is the University of Kentucky due to the familiarity I have as well as it still being a large school. But I’d also like some space from home so a college such as the University of north carolina or the University of Southern California would be nice as well. Overall I just need to take a great deal of time researching colleges and degrees and talking to older young adults who have already gone through this to see what would work best for me.

blog post 20 - Jake Waits

How to fish as a beginner. 

First make sure you have all the suitable equipment. Mainly a rod, 10+ lb monofilament line, hooks, bobbers, sinkers, swivels/ swivel clips, and live bait most easily accessible are worms. First put the line on the reel and make sure you have at least 150 yards on. Then tie a palomar knot to the swivel and attach a sinker about 4-6 inches up from the hook. Next put the bobber on upwards about 24-30 inches up from the sinker depending on what fish you're going for. Once this is complete you can attach the hook to the swivel clip and thread a worm on making sure to get as much worm on the hook as possible so that it doesn't fall off during casting or gets bitten off by smaller fish. Once your rod is set 

up like so you can cast. To cast bring the rod behind your head(assuming you're using a baitcaster reel) Thyen lightly swing it forward and press the button when the rod is above your head. Once the baiut is cast simply turn on bite alert and watch the bobber. When the bobber goes below the surface grab the rod and give it a good tug to set the hook in then reel in your catch.

blog post 19 - Jake Waits

The most important advice I've ever been given was from Peter. And it was simple but it stuck with me. He told me one day “what's the point of life if you don’t try new things”. As simple and dumb as it may sound it stuck and helped me quite a bit. It's helped me to try new things such as food and activities. It's also helped me make more friends because I go out of my way more often than not to try new things socially and meet more people. If I never went out of my way to try new things then there's no point. I'm just living out a dull existence without surprise or growth. I would’ve had a lot worse of a middle school experience if I chose to take Spanish over Chinese. But I took Chinese and it changed middle school for the better.

blogpost 18 - Jake Waits

High school

• register to vote
• get a salaried job
• go to prom

College

• join a fraternity
• be satisfied with my major
• study abroad

Life

• Marry Happily
• own a Porsche
• own farmland

The most important part of my high school bucket list to me is go to prom because it's so associated with the high school experience. When you think about high school you always think of prom. Not only this but it's always discussed as one of most fun nights of peoples high school careers. The most integral part of my college list is studying abroad because its a rare opportunity and a great learning opportunity to be emerged completely in a foreign language. The most important part of my life bucket list is marking happily because obviously I don't want to be alone in life and I don't want to commit to someone who doesn't make me happy.

assignment 20- master chef - andrei zivkovic

How to make Oreo Cheesecake Cookies 

First you need to get the ingredients and those being

- 4 ounces of cream cheese ( softened )

- 8 tablespoons of salted butter ( at room temp) 

-3/4 cup of sugar

-1 cup of all purpose flour

-10 oreo cookies ( broken into pieces )

1. Get an electric mixer and a bowl, put the cream cheese, butter and sugar into the bowl and mix with the electric mixer until light and fluffy

2. Next still with the electric mixer mix in the flour beating in on low speed, a little bit of flour at a time.

3. After this fold in the crushed oreos and evenly distributed 

4. Get plastic rap and cover the bowl and put it in the fridge to chill for 45 min and also go ahead and preheat the oven to 350 degrees
5. Get the dough out of the fridge and grab a spoon and scoop out a large scoop of the dough place them on the baking sheet about 2-3 inches apart and then push spoon down into dough to get a good cookie shape and bake for 12-15 min.
6. Once the timer goes off take them out of the oven and let them cool then place them on to a plate and enjoy. 

Assignment 24- Penelope Pierson- Jr. to Senior bb

Honestly, I've had a great junior year. I remember a week before school started, I was already getting flooded with reminds from Mrs. Dewees, and it made me so scared for what's to come. I walked into her class, and already she was teaching. How scary. when I got home that day, I started crying to my mom because I thought I wouldn't be able to handle it. Turns out, I was able to handle it and now, Calculus is one of my favorite classes and I have yet to have failed one of her tests. Now, that's not the only thing that has made me happy this year. I was able to get a lot closer to people who before were not exactly the closest of friends. For example, Andrei, Andrea, Jordan, Kelly, etc. All of these people I was aware of and definitely have had pleasant conversations with, but now I'm comfortable enough with them to really express myself and invade their personal space even if they don't want me to. But with senior year (woah I'm old) coming up quicker than I expected, I want to really pursue things I'm passionate about, like learning how to speak Japanese and finally having iconic vacations with my friends across country. But, even if my senior year isn't great, at least I'll be able to say that I at least one good year during my high school life.

Assignment 22- andrei zivkovic - international life

So one of my favorite things to do in life is travel. I have been lucky enough to travel a lot in my life but one place I haven't been able to go to is the place I was born in which is Russia. I think that this is one thing that makes me stand out in life. In college I want to go into the field of international business. traveling the world is something that I would love to be able to do more and being able to incorporate that into work. My dream school also is Boston College, they incorporate ethics into the field of Business and also overall the city of Boston is just a very international city and also a big college city. I think going to different places in the world gives me a good perspective on the world and my family is also very international. I have family in mainly Switzerland and Poland but I love being able to experience different places. 

asignment 21 - Robotic Grandpa

It was a nice summer day August 6th 2018 at 3:48pm and I was biking to work at the time I was lifeguarding at Signature Club. All of a sudden I found myself on the ground not being able to get up or stand. First thing I did was not call my mom but text work and my exact words were "Yo I'm gonna be a little late I can't really stand right now" eventually after laying on the ground for about 30ish min my mom came and then she took me to the ER where I was for the rest of the night and where I got news that was gonna make my life rough for the next couple weeks. So I found out that I cracked my femur straight through by the hip and was gonna get surgery and have 4 screws in my leg. The main reason that this was a setback for me was getting used to what my life was gonna be like and also keeping my mindset in a happy place. I had to adjust my ways of life to this injury and honestly the hardest thing was showering. The first time I tried to get into the shower I fell on my leg and broke a handle out of the wall. There were also tiny daily things that I had to adjust when it came to life on crutches. The main thing though was accepting that I wasn't able to do much when it came to sports and friends. It was the same thing every day, school then went home and repeated which after a while became very boring. It was really hard to stay positive throughout the whole process which I would say was the biggest challenge. Throughout the next couple years there is always a chance that the blood supply in my leg can stop or something medically concerning can happen and that's also frightening. So whenever I feel my leg start to hurt or something I get scared that something bad is going to occur. I have yet to set off metal detectors at the airport though so I am waiting on that experience. Overall though I learned to slow life down and also by the end I could zoom around the halls on my crutches.  

Assignment 22 - Justin Zhu

My entire life I've rarely found many other Chinese kids and people in my daily life. On top of being naturally gifted at math and science I've experienced every kind of stereotypical or racist Chinese joke in the book. "You have glasses because you can't see since your Asian." "He's Asian of course he's good at math." "I bet you get good grades in order to become a doctor." Over time I've become practically numb to these kinds of jokes. I don't especially care or react when someone references my race in a joke. Personally, I feel like a reaction similar to mine is better for getting rid of insensitive jokes because most people who make racial jokes feed on the reaction. I've found the less I react the less I have to put up with the ignorance in insensitivity of other people. This kind of reaction allows me to situate myself in new situations where I meet more people who don't realize they can get a rise out of me.

Assignment 21 - Justin Zhu

One large obstacle I've faced is differing between my family's traditional Chinese values and more modern American values. Personally I've grown up to become what I consider a relatively normal American kid. I enjoy my freedom, talking to my friends and playing games and sports. While my parents don't mind what I do socially, its over academics where my values and their's clash. My parents always want me to be the top of my class and have amazing test scores. Even my high ACT score, my dad wasn't satisfied at all because it wasn't "perfect." On the other hand, I want to be more relaxed. I don't mind being an average student without straight A's so I don't actively study or practice academic skills at home. I'd much rather play games with my other friends than stay in the kitchen going over Spanish. It's over this conflict of personal values over academics that I've learned to split my time more evenly, playing games primarily on the weekend while spending most of the weekday studying or working on assignments and finding extra time in class to review for an upcoming test or quiz.

Assignment 20 - Justin Zhu

How to install Pokemon Roms and Rom hacks on your computer

1. Install an emulator dependent on what game you want. If you want to play a game from generations IV to V, then a NDS emulator is necessary (DeSmuMe). If you want to play a game from generation III or earlier then a game boy emulator is necessary (VBA).

2. Install an unzipper, I prefer the unzipper WinRAR but 7zip also works. After a month of using WinRAR, there will be a small popup every time you use the program, but you don't actually need to pay anything. The creators intended for the program to be free but use the popup so large companies are forced to pay them. Screw corporations right?

3. Find the rom of the game you want to play. Any google search will work, but make sure not to misclick and download any malicious files. Roms will never download as a program but just as files openable via WinRAR or 7zip. The rom itself should be inside and should be a .gba or .nds file.

5. Make a folder where you want to play your games and place your emulator and the rom you want to play inside.

6. Just drag the .gba/.nds file over its respsective emulator and release. I window should pop up and now your pokemon game is playable!

Juliann Hyatt #20 how to install a minecraft mod

How to install a minecraft mod

1. Decide which version of minecraft you wish to play with mods (I recommend 1.7.10, 1.10.2, or 1.12.2 for the most variety)
2. Search for “minecraft forge [version]”
3. The link should be curse forge or something like that
4. There will be two options, download latest or recommended. While they recommend the recommended, in most cases you want the latest as certain mods only work with newer versions of forge
5. Click the download, do NOT click the download in the center of the adf.ly page, That’s a virus. Wait for the countdown and in the top right corner there will be a button to continue to download. Click that one
6.  Run the file once it downloads. 
7. Click install client and make sure that the files are installing under your user
8. Go to file explorer and type %appdata% in the search bar
9. Click the . minecraft folder
10. Create a new folder named “mods”
11. Go online and find a mod that you want
12. Download it in the correct minecraft version. It will say that the file is harmful, you have to keep the file anyway. 
13. Move that file from the downloads to the mods folder
14. Go into your minecraft launcher and load the vanilla version of minecraft 
15. Close it out once it loads
16. Go to installations and create new
17. Change the version and scroll through until you see the forge version, it should be at the bottom. 
18. Play that installation and enjoy

Assignment 22- Jasir Rahman- Change

The world is broken.  I am incapable of advocating for the status quo when it is so inherently flawed.  I think this mindset developed in its fullest form when I moved schools.

Yes, I went to a rich, white, private school.  I wasn't a big fan.  Maybe it's because people who looked like me were few and far between.  However, I attribute a lot of my disdain for said school within the context of its inner workings.  The drama caused by the aristocracy that controlled those at the top was quite interesting to watch, entertaining even at times.  Horse people and the "architects of Lexington" reigned supreme, with their vast bank accounts bankrolling the school.  Then, those with connections to the institution itself were next up on the totem pole, closely followed by other white people who could afford tuition. Then finally, at the bottom resided those few people of color.  I don't know how dynamics evolve in high school, although my sister's experience found that the trend continues.  Ultimately, I feel as though this class system within the upper echelons of Lexington leads to a system where the whims of people at the top were prioritized over those who aimed to enrich the academic experience of students.  The elementary school academic team lost priority to other elementary school track, despite the fact that they can coexist quite easily, all because one parent within the administration feared of losing children to the academic team.  A football team was formed recently at this school because one of the horse people wanted their son to play.  Despite the fact that they just completed 2 new installations to the school and may risk bankruptcy, the project ensued.  Grade inflation, a lack of AP tests, and a general lack of educational emphasis in lieu of athletics and other exploits.  All under the guise of it being a more than an adequate educational institution in it of itself.  The tuition that rivals that of many collegiate institutions, may be worth it if consistent results from just attending said institution were sufficient in it of itself, but that's not the case.  Many who go to this institution on top of their curriculum (which requires an hour-long study hall might I add) still must shell out thousands of dollars a year to pay for standardized test tutoring.  And even after all that, many end up just going to UK anyway-which is fine if that's your choice and I respect that- but why in God's name would you pay for a high school that costs double that of in-state tuition at UK, when your child could just as easily go to a public school and do similarly academically?  Schools are meant for learning and the wasted resources that go towards fruitless exploits to appease donors disgusts me.

After I left and could reflect and see what was happening at that institution clearly, I couldn't help but look at our government and see the exact same thing.  Consolidated wealth leads to corrupting influences over the most important institutions in the United States.  Fossil fuel and oil companies, for example, hold undue influence over the government through dirty money and lobbying, leading to subsidies and tax cuts that amount to rewards for destroying the planet.  Thusly, my experience with aristocracy and corruption leaves me a skeptic of business as usual.  I am an advocate for structural change that enables equality for all who want a say, so that marginalized groups that have been left behind for decades may finally have some semblance of influence over issues that affect their lives.  There is always a beneficiary to the current system, and more often than not its not the people the system is aiming to help, but those who profiteer off of the flaws and corruption within.  I'd prefer the former scenario.

Assignment 21- Jasir Rahman- Yeah... It's About Debate

I am struggling to find essay topics that aren't cliches. That is a problem. Don't worry, rest assured when college applications and crunch time rolls around, I will have a better story of challenge.

My freshman year debate career was abysmal. I don't know what happened to be honest. All I remember was frustration. My first debate round ever, the other team was absolutely absurd. The topic regarded anti-missile defense systems, and our opponents were running an argument about how it causes cancer. I knew it was absurd. But once I got up for my summary speech, I froze. I stuttered my way through a most likely incoherent speech for the judge in which I failed to use normal logic. All the while their beady-eyed coach vehemently nodded and mouthed points to our opponents. I was determined to show that coach what for, but alas I wasn't there yet. We went 0-3, and the losses kept coming. The only successful run was a 2nd place finish out of 4 teams in our division. I couldn't even be proud.

Then, instead of the novice division that I had competed in all season, I competed in Varsity with one of our experienced Juniors (he would go on to win State the next season). After my nerves of going against upperclassmen subsided I went on to gain confidence. Every round I competed in was better than the last. Ultimately, we didn't break onto the playoff rounds, but I had learned so much. Unfortunately, my enlightenment came too late. My poor performance relegated me as an alternate for our State Debate run. I would have to wait until next year to prove myself. I was determined to not have a repeat of the previous year, so that summer I studied debate from online resources, watching high-level rounds and understanding the technical aspects. Then, a few months later my time came to prove myself.

Our first tournament of the year was a national tournament hosted at UK. Schools from all over the country had come to debate, almost all with much larger and more sophisticated teams, but I wanted to set the tone for the year. The maintenance of my newfound confidence was important but nowhere near as important as my methodical study of the nuances of public forum, as we were going against teams from more technical circuits. In prelims, we went 4-2 and broke to out rounds. We ultimately made it to semifinals of a national tournament. However, I wasn't fully convinced that I had come that far. We had months to prepare for this topic, and it was in the JV division, not even Varsity. At our next tournament in semifinals, we went against a team from the same school of my first ever round. The coach was there. Without hesitation, I asked him to be somewhere the judge could see him, as to prevent cheating. His smirk that crept up his mouth when he saw that timid kid from a year ago curled down into a scowl. The round commenced, again an absurd argument was presented from our opponents, but this time instead of freezing without response, I maintained composure and proceeded to pick apart their baseless claims one by one until the judge had no choice but to vote against our opponents. I had finally done it.

Since then I've done pretty well for myself in Varsity PF, all because of a choice. Instead of giving up and saying this might not be for me, I stuck with debate. I'm not saying never give up on something, however. Even when I lost round after round, I enjoyed debate. However, nothing great comes without hard work and perseverance. If you love something and want to excel at it, persevere and put in the work, and you'll see results.

Assignment 25- Sarah Clark -another one of my incoherent and rambling blog posts :)

Ok so I’ve recently been just kind of fueling a random collection of memories and likes/dislikes into blog posts and I feel like they can be really incoherent and may or may not answer the question entirely but I also feel like it's pretty accurate as to how I feel and my general state of mind. So here is another collection of thoughts that hopefully somewhat describes WHO Sarah Clark is. I already regret writing that last bit in the 3rd person but no time to waste!

I like biking in circles down my newly paved and rarely travelled neighborhood road. I like looking at how perfect the houses seem, and I like that they all look the same from when I was a kid. I like leaving my windows all the way rolled down even if the wind is so strong I have tears in my eyes and it's so loud I can’t hear my music. I like waking up when the sun has already risen, and I like seeing your name on my phone screen when I turn off my alarm. I like reading biographies of people born in Kentucky and then visiting the places they worked at for a year, or spent time at as a teenager. I like smiles coated with sugar and words filled with sincerity. I like phone calls at night not because I like talking to you so much, but because I like it when it's silent, and I know we’re both sitting there and experiencing the same silence and it’s not awkward but it's like there’s this space that we’re both in that is somehow beyond this world. I like to write with parallel sentence structure because it allows all of my thoughts to pour out at once. I like hitting forehands and I like hitting backhands. I like winning. I like beating people who cheat at tennis and I like shaking people’s hands when they’re mad at me and don’t want to. I like getting compliments even if I roll my eyes and tell you to shut up and stop flattering me. 

I like looking at old pictures and listening to old songs and reading old texts because it makes me miss you more. I like standardized tests because I like looking at my completed bubble sheet. I like being liked too much and I like getting good grades too much and I like gossiping and other shallow things too much. But I like the sound of your voice when you’re tired, and I like lying behind my elementary school and staring at the sky and wondering if this, if 7 continents and 4 oceans and one sky, if that’s all there is. Because it doesn’t seem like much.  But I like this world, and I like my life, and I like the little things that make it my life. When things get tough, I like lying on the ground and watching the clouds move above me and feeling the Earth spin beneath me. When things get tough, I like going into our attic because it's surprisingly empty and eerily quiet and it reminds me of the silence we used to have on our phone calls and it feels like a space apart from this world. When things get tough, I like to close my eyes in that attic and listen to the silence and think about absolutely nothing. 

Assignment 23- Hannah Whaley- badass playlist(and for rainy days)

You’d think my “rainy day” playlist would be relaxing and perfect for whatever book I’m snuggling up to read. In some ways, it is made to be cohesive with the book I’m reading. I like to read fiction with action to it, which is why I often find myself picking up fantasy or science fiction. When I have this kind of music while reading about epic fights between the hero and villain, it is like background music in a movie. Not necessary, but good for amplifying the scene. This playlist is MAINLY used for any time I’m feeling confident and, for lack of a better word, like a badass. Use it to workout or read or work or drive - any time you’re feeling yourself. These songs aren’t for everyone. Enjoy!

Song 1: “I Will Not Bow” by Breaking Benjamin
This song introduces a strong rock playlist perfectly. It is not too hard to listen to, so it is a good introduction. This song helps you feel like other people’s opinions don’t matter - which they shouldn’t. It’s good for putting you in the mood for the rest of the playlist. “I will shut the world away” is one of the lyrics, and it helps prepare you for the other songs.
Song 2: “Warp2” by Ghostboi
This song adds a slight rap vibe to the playlist, but the bass is incredible. The words are barely understandable, and the beat is the main focus of the song. This song is a little bit creepy, but it makes you feel like you’re the one other people should be afraid of. It also is great for when you’re feeling morally ambiguous. I put this song second because you need something before it to warm you up to a song that is so...different.
Song 3: “Ready to Go” by Republica
After two harder songs, this song is a bit more calming. Like any good playlist, it brings you back down after two faster-paced songs. But the pace is still decently fast - so it doesn’t extinguish the rock  mood you’ve put yourself in. This song quite literally makes you feel “ready to go.”
Song 4: “I Hate Everything About You” by Three Days Grace
Now we’ve had a break, it’s time to get back into the more angsty, harsh music in this playlist. This song is perfect for realizing you’re the only person who matters. That you care about yourself most - as you should. When listening to this song, try to imagine somebody you wish you hated but can’t. It makes it more fun because the line between love and hate is terribly thin sometimes.
Song 5: “Anthem for the Underdog” by 12 Stones
This song is one of my favorites on this playlist. It promotes inner-strength and fighting back. I always feel powerful when listening to it. It’s fifth in the playlist because by now, the listener has caught the vibe of the playlist and can enjoy this song the way it should be enjoyed.
Song 6: “Coming Undone” by Korn
I LOVE this song. The best ones have to come later in the playlist - finish strong! This song also makes you feel on top of the world. It makes you want to crank up the volume then drop and do ten. If you need a pick me up in heart rate this song does the job.
Song 7: “When I’m Gone” by Three Doors Down
After two harder songs, this song is another more relaxing addition to the playlist for the first 30 seconds. Then it picks back up a little, but is less angsty. It’s just nice to listen to.
Song 8: “Wrong Track” by Broken Hands
This song is the penultimate because it’s another good rock song but not the best. It’s not too hard but it’s still enough to blow your brains out. It’s a good song for before you you want to get something done.
Song 9: “Wasteland” by 10 Years
To finish off the playlist, here’s a song that will leave you with a resonating feeling of badassery and inner strength. The end of this  song is why it’s last. The ending is fantastic - it picks up a lot and end with a bang like any hard hitting playlist should.

Just give this playlist a chance.
Not suggested for people who struggle with mental health because it really gets you feeling some type of way. For me that’s powerful but for others maybe not so much.

Assignment 24: The Future

You're done!  - well almost

Your Junior year (nearly) OVER.

Tell us about it.

Successes? Failures? Lessons Learned? Risks taken? Mistakes made? What will you do in the Summer?  What do you want for your Senior year? How do you plan to reach your goals?

Minimum of 150 words - due on Sunday, April 19 at 11:59 pm

May 10 is the last day to make up blogs 23-25

Assignment 24- Sarah Clark -junior year in sounds, sights, and feelings

Junior year. Where to begin.

I remember the sound of the Ellis knocking on my car window before school so we could do our Calculus homework. I remember the smell of my backpack after I spilt coffee in it one dark November morning. I remember the sun coming through my bedroom window on Saturdays, and I remember hiking two weeks ago and only thinking about the leaves on the ground, the dirt on the path, and the rocks I stepped over. I remember feeling sad and then listening to sad music to make it worse. I remember the moment I won the last point of my finals match in a tennis tournament, and how bittersweet it felt to know I could never go back to that moment. I remember the sound of my brother on the phone, and I remember how it felt to hear about his new life. I remember toasting frozen waffles in the morning, and I remember boiling ramen noodles at night. I remember driving myself home from tennis, and I remember not wanting the solitude to end, so I remember pulling out of my driveway and driving past my house, then past my neighborhood, until I was past Lexington. I remember the drama. I remember ignoring someone for weeks and then receiving a text from them and forgetting all about it. I remember writing paragraphs, deleting it all, and continuing to play the charade. I remember phone calls at night that made me feel stupid by morning, and I remember lying in bed listening to the same song over and over again. I remember the sound of birds in the morning reminding me it's springtime. I remember being so consumed by a bad mood that if anyone talked to me I was sure to yell at them. But I remember more good moods, where everything I said or heard seemed hilarious. I remember the oven beeping after Ellis and I made cupcakes, and I remember the sun streaming through the windows when discussion turned to yelling in Mr. Logsdon’s 1st period. I remember my friends telling me to let go of these little things, and not every argument has to be the hill I die on. I remember that the same blue Chevy drives in front of me on the way home from school, and I remember the sound of the rain on my windshield distracting me from the green light in front of me. I remember junior year, but I remember how it made me feel more. 

#24: I Should've Listened to Them: Kelly Landry

     Junior year. I can't accurately describe how much harder it was than I thought it would be. This difficulty isn't rooted in anything specific, just a mild prolonged existential crisis. Everyone always said "junior year is definitely the worst" and I completely disregarded it thinking "I haven't been involved in really any cliche high school drama, I'm probably the most confident in myself I've been in years, and I still have one more year, surely it won't be that much worse." But there was/is more than that. This school year has been my busiest ever, I've become a student intern at my church, I became highly involved in several different things- I'm on the leadership team of Henry Clay's FCA, I'm a leader of the HC UNICEF club, and I'm on the HC lacrosse team. I'm the kind of person that when I truly care about something I'm all in, I will work for hours on plans and details and improvement. Especially during second semester (before corona cancelled life) I had tasks and responsibilities literally every single day of the week, I was starting to get burnt out. I still loved everything I was doing but as an introvert I wasn't "recharging" enough. Not only was I incredibly busy but I am dealing with more personal matters, my best friend (a super cheesy term but I can't think of a better way to word that concept) is currently a senior in high school and goes to a different school so I don't get to see her nearly as much as we want. Because she's graduating all-too-soon I wanted to really make the most of the rest of the time we're living in the same state and city. However our busy schedules and now quarantine have essentially taken away a lot of our remaining time.
     Despite these struggles there have also been an abundance of great things about junior year. I literally love driving myself to school because it gives me a chance to just think and listen to music. I have gotten way closer with a lot of people I didn't think I would be close with. My busy schedule and now even quarantine have given me a lot of opportunities such as developing friendships in different spheres of my life, exploring hobbies/interests, and doing things I've put off for a while.
     It's been both harsh and incredible. I think I'm ready for senior year. I'm dedicating senior year to living life to the fullest extent of joy I can.

#21: Challenging the Perception of Identity: Kelly Landry

(Looking back on what I've written this feels almost more like a sophisticated journal entry so please disregard how unfocused this is.)

Identity- a challenge every single person faces at some point in their lives. As community, knowledge and security-craving individuals, our desire to definitively define who we and others are is extensive. I think it's the root of why we have concepts such as "teenage angst" and a "midlife crisis." The desire to label ourselves and others in order to understand and cope with life is ingrained in us. There is always some level of existential turbulence within everyone. According to Erik Erikson (a great name by the way) in his theory on psychosocial development there are eight stages of such development. All of the stages involve the discovery of identity. In stage 2 (autonomy vs doubt) toddlers try to learn how to independently take action or face doubting their own abilities (eating, walking, etc.), in stage 5 (identity vs confusion) adolescents work to refine their sense of self by testing and integrating different roles (occupation, politics, religion, etc.), and in stages 6-8 adults struggle with finding fulfillment and a sense of community and accomplishment. Finding our identity is a struggle we all face literally from birth, so why haven't we found a solution? Isn't there something that will fulfill this desire? I don't think it's as simple as that. Change is the really the only constant in  everyone's lives, so to have a definition that fits every aspect of our lives is impossible.

Assignment 20- Jasir Rahman- How to do Pikachu's nair loops

1.  Acquire a Nintendo Switch and a copy of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
2.  Insert the cartridge into the Switch.
3.  Go into Games and More, then within that menu select Training mode.
4.  Select any stage, preferably the Training stage.
5. Select Pikachu (preferably with the green bandana, purely aesthetic but it's the coolest skin) as your character and any random character (preferably a large character so it is easy to combo) as an opponent.  Press start.
5.  Now for the combo itself.  Depending on your controller setup it will be different.  I personally have a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, don't use tilt stick, press both the X and Y buttons at the same time to short-hop, press A for aerials, have grab configured to my shoulder buttons, and have tap jump disabled.  Grab your opponent.
6.  Flick down on your left stick.
7.  Press X and Y at the same time (or alternatively press x really fast, a lot more difficult) to short-hop.
8.  Wait until you are at the peak of Pikachu's short-hop and then press A without holding the stick in any direction to perform a neutral aerial attack (also known as nair).  You will know you are doing it right if Pikachu's body is engulfed in lightning.
9.  Let the nair hit the opponent 2 times, and then on the third, it flick your left control stick down in order to make Pikachu fast fall.  This should make the opponent fall out of hit stun (they won't take more damage as they fall) and drag them down to the floor with you.
10.  Hold the left stick upwards and press A in order to perform an up-tilt.  It should flick up the opponent with Pikachu's tail.
11.  Repeat steps 9 and 10.  You may have to react to the way your opponent moves as you hit them and jump slightly to the right or left depending on their directional influence (also known as DI, if your opponent holds a certain direction on their left stick it influences the direction in which they travel, helps to fall out of combos such as this).  This combo is quite technically advanced but will net you upwards of 80% damage if done correctly.  It only works at lower percents (0-20%) for light characters, but for heavies can work at later percents (20-40%).

Assignment 19- Jasir Rahman- No Distractions

The YouTube channel RwnlPwnl often takes desi (Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi) culture to the extreme for the sake of satire and parody.  A few months before learning to drive myself, I stumbled across a video from them called "Driving with Desi Dads."  It was hilarious.  I can't get into the cultural nuances here, as they would act as a tangent to the point of the blog post, but if you're a desi you know what I'm talking about if you watch the video.  Ultimately, the father teaching his son to drive (in the immigrant car of choice, an Accord) berates his son in a quite fobby (slang for Fresh Off the Boat -y) manner to turn all "earbud, radio, phone, telephone, off" because "he is coach."  I never thought my dad would say that to me when I learned to drive.  But he did.  I should've seen it coming. 

My whole life he has been a proponent of being completely undistracted whilst performing tasks, specifically for others.  I am part of a younger generation of multitaskers- hell I am listening to music right now while typing this out.  However, I am writing this blog post primarily for myself.  It's my grade and it is kind of therapeutic to rant about stuff on blogger.  The distinction in my quality of attention and work ethic comes when I am called upon by others to perform.  My father's culture is much less individualistic than that of the United States and perhaps that is why such an emphasis is put on serving others.  When other people are dependant on my actions in order to fulfill their needs of happiness, success, or whatever other roles I must fulfill, I feel an obligation to perform for them in order to secure their own success, even if it means compromising my own desires.  I have been taught to not be selfish in group situations almost implicitly.  In the car, I am responsible for my passengers and their safety.  Ultimately now that I have my intermediate, my decision to listen to music in the car is to reduce stress and thus keep composed on the road.  However, since it makes my parents feel better, I opt to turn it off with them in the car- for their sake, not mine.

Assignment 18- Jasir Rahman- Buckets

1. A prerequisite to my college bucket list is that which I do in high school.  My parents say I need to distinguish myself from other applicants in order to have a shot at most schools.  The book How to Be a High School Superstar corroborates such sentiments.  However, the book's approach is to engage in exploration in those areas in which one is interested in order to garner interestingness and thus admissions success, as AOs become invested in your journey of intellectual vitality.  I have been attempting to create a functional website for a business venture that I am interested in pursuing.  To get this venture up and running before admissions season in a few months is imperative, but I feel as though I am much too late.  I am scared.  I pray that my hard work pays off and I am able to get this up and running and have something, whether it is the website or not, that can impress colleges.

2.  Assuming I get into schools and attend college, I hope that I have the opportunity to take courses in my father's native tongue or perhaps Arabic, both of which hold a significant cultural value that I feel has been lost on me due to the duality of my existence.

3.  I would prefer personal growth over all other materialistic pursuits that one may list off as something to attain in a bucket list.  I should stop worrying all the time.  Keep my mouth shut.  Don't be so arrogant.  Fix other personal flaws that I hide in my subconscious out of the dread of self-confrontation and reform.  I want to be a better person.  That is all.

#23: The Ultimate Road Trip Playlist- Kelly Landry

The perfect playlist for a chill summertime road trip would be (in no particular order because I always use shuffle when I listen to music):

• "Crash My Car" by COIN is ironically a very good song for a road trip playlist, it epitomizes the adolescent and young-adult experiences of both jubilation and slumps with chill instrumental features and lyrics, almost as if saying "it is what it is so live your life."
• "comethru" by Jeremy Zucker is just generally a good song with memorable lyrics and simplistic vocals and instrumental parts.
• "Talk Too Much" by COIN because it also epitomizes experiences and feelings from a youthful perspective, it's upbeat and something you can feel the beat of.
• "Houston Dubai" by Vampire Weekend because it's upbeat with charming instrumental elements and has a theme of travel, however when you actually listen it's about homesickness and how travel is exhilarating but eventually it takes its toll.
• "Keep It Gold" by Surfaces because it's upbeat but still pretty chill and embodies casual adventure/exploration.

I couldn't come up with just one perfect song for several other artists so other good artists include: Hippo Campus, Khalid, and Lauv.

#22: Abounding in Antitheses- Kelly Landry

My personal qualities and personality are abounding in antitheses. I consider myself a rather friendly, open-minded, and malleable person; a people-pleaser who is fairly easygoing. I am also exceedingly indecisive and contemplative. However I am passionate, relatively aware of my goals, and tend to be a perfectionist. I think these relatively contradicting attributes are significantly influenced by my core personality traits (amiable, adaptable, enthusiastic, ambitious, and image-focused) and my circumstances (both of my parents are logic-focused, driven, perfectionist, etc.). I have grown up with the desire to be successful but still well-liked (if you can't tell I'm a type 3) and have been encouraged to do the best I possibly can. I'm not exactly sure how to relate this back to a specific college being a particularly good fit, but instead I think it says more about how it doesn't really matter what college I end up attending because my personal qualities will almost guarantee that I achieve success in both my personal life and career.

Assignment 17- Jasir Rahman- Rian Johnson's Shot Composition

SPOILER WARNING FOR KNIVES OUT AND THE LAST JEDI 

Depending on your view of the divisive 2nd installment of the Disney Star Wars trilogy, you may despise or praise the mind of Rian Johnson.  I found myself in the latter camp after viewing The Last Jedi.  Perhaps I allowed my nostalgia to get the better of me, but I found myself mesmerized by the film despite its flaws.  The magnificent shots, nuanced performances, and plot twists ultimately left me engaged throughout the entire film.  Having discovered Johnson's work, I was excited to hear he'd be in the director's chair for Knives Out.  Needless to say, it was fantastic storytelling and it carried over the same things I thought made (approximately 2/3rds of) The Last Jedi great. 

The vast Star Wars universe gave way to fantastic shots throughout The Last Jedi that drew the audience into these vast unknown reaches of the galaxy.  The best shots, in my opinion, come right after one another during the climax.  General Holdo's sacrifice of ramming into a First Order Dreadnaught at lightspeed.  While the logistics of such a move within the context of the universe have been hotly contested, the resultant shot provides a (literal) jaw-dropping moment for those in theaters, demonstrating beauty, destruction, and shock as you watch the ship break into fragments in silence, allowing the moment to truly sink in.  Not only does Johnson have a hold over static shots, but also action setpieces, as he directed a fantastically engaging sequence in which Rey and Kylo Ren fight off Snoke's guard in one glorious shot.  Despite the smaller scale, Knives Out is not without its own great shots.  The opening shot of the mansion plays on all the tropes of whodunit mysteries to the extreme.  A low angle of a dark mansion framed by an old tree in the foreground with fog that serves as a prelude of the mystery that has yet to unfold, all accompanied by a whodunit score that is a bit over the top which sets the tone for the film that is about to be seen.  The whodunit trope is continued throughout the entire film with the minute details, such as light bleeding through windows and grain, that were added to make this film that was entirely digital look like it was shot on film.  The scene in which the family is interrogated was blocked in such a way that it worked from multiple angles, all while maintaining shot continuity and maintaining the mystery of Detective Blanc with backlighting obstruting his face from clear view.  The final shot of Marta high on the balcony above the family as she sips from the "My House, My Rules, My Coffee" mug that belonged to the now deceased patriarch Harlan is a gratifying moment for the audience as it demonstrates her victory in an ironic fashion.

Assignment 22 - Hannah Whaley - something to know about me?

One monumental circumstance in my life is that I’m a twin. People tend to forget about it because we’re fraternal. He’s a boy with dirty blond hair, fairer skin, hazel eyes, and a class clown mentality. We’re polar opposites. I like to read, he likes to shoot guns. I like to dance, he likes to play football. I’m up, he’s down. I’m right, he’s wrong. We naturally butt heads and it’s always been that way. But, I’m seventeen now, meaning I’ve had seventeen years to practice finding a balance. Polar opposites like my brother and me, it isn’t easy for us to see eye to eye. But I’ve become a master of trying to accept people for who they are and become close to them despite any disagreements. I’m obviously far from perfect. But if there’s one thing having a completely different person as a twin has taught me, it’s how to get along with completely different people. I’m a good fit for college because I’m friends with everybody. I’ve managed to find a way to open my mind to new experiences and perspectives without changing my own core beliefs. I’ve had seventeen years to perfect trying to put myself into other peoples’ shoes, and this is a great thing when being thrown into an entirely new world of strangers when attending college. In college, you discover types of people you didn’t even know existed. You meet groups you never could’ve imagined. And the ability to be open yet self aware could be very valuable to becoming part of the community on campus. He may be a butthole, but that’s one thing to thank my twin for.

Assignment 21- Daniel Mendoza Vasquez

If there’s any one thing that I struggle with, it’s consistency. I know for a fact that if I were more consistent in my pursuits, I would have achieved much more than I have. The best, though far from the only example of that is soccer. Anyone who knows me knows how much of a fan of it I am, and how much I love it--but that doesn’t really translate into skill. Granted, I’m far better at it than any average person, but could I make varsity if I tried out today? Probably not. And the main reason for that is that I’ve never stayed consistent with it. I didn’t play recreational soccer until 3rd grade despite wanting to much earlier, and played through 4th. When I moved, I stopped playing, and didn’t play again until late 7th grade. 8th yes, 9th no, 10th yes, 11th no. There are various reasons for me not being able to show up to tryouts and such, but it is much more so my problem than it is a product of circumstances. So this, of course, makes it hard for me to develop in the game. I don’t know why this is, I really don’t. Perhaps there’s not enough pressure on me, perhaps I’m not motivated, I have no idea. It’s not just soccer either, it’s just one example of something that I can’t stay consistent at despite how much I admire professional players and how much I keep up with it.

Assignment 22- Penelope Pierson- The legendary taco bell story

Taco Bell. The best-known fast food taco franchise in the United States. Well, I don’t know that, but at least in my hometown Lexington, that fact stands. I’m not much of a taco eater, as I’m more into nachos, but on a chilly day a few years ago, my beloved crunchy snack sat cold on the table at my local Taco Bell.

I had just left the house with my dad and my seven-year-old brother, eager to eat something “real” (basically anything that wasn’t in the fridge at home). I purchased a Nacho Supreme ® while the boys got their usual: an excessive amount of hard and soft tacos, asking for a variety of hot sauces to “spice up” their pliable and crunchy meals. We weren’t the only people at this establishment; there was a group of buff college-looking boys sitting a few tables down in some obnoxiously high chairs and across the restaurant sat an unhappy family consisting of a mother, a boyfriend, and his pregnant girlfriend.

Just as the number for our food had been called, each of us eager to start munching our gloriously processed grub, an argument broke out between the young woman and her boyfriend.

My father and I decided to keep an eye and an ear out on this couple. Because of the nosey relationship my dad and I have, we gossip, so any form of relationship drama is great content for us. But our newly found entertainment was becoming all too confusing. Abruptly, the angry boyfriend left his girlfriend and moved towards the counter where he proceeded to attack the cashier, attempting to drag her by her hair.

He only released  the battered woman when my dad intervened. The man’s girlfriend approached him, perhaps hoping to calm his nerves, but he unexpectedly reached out with forceful hands and grabbed the woman around the neck. She (concerningly) seemed unfazed with the situation, almost as if it was a common occurrence.  My dad told me to watch my brother. I stood once making sure my brother was still seated and dialed 911. 

“911 what’s your emergency?” a woman's voice asked.

“Hi, yes there is a man choking his girlfriend at this Taco Bell.” I responded.

“All right, police are en route, could I have the address of your current location please?” she asks. 

My geographic knowledge failed me. I’ve always been bad with street names, so when the operator asked me what street I was on, I walked over to one of the other employees, distraught with the current situation. “Excuse me,” I said, hopefully helping her out of the daze she was in, “but what street is this?” 

“Harrodsburg Road” she responded moments after I asked.

As I returned to the voice over the phone and inquired about how long it may take and the current location of the en route officers, my father struggled to pull the man’s frustrated hands off the woman’s neck. “Stay on the phone” the emergency operator instructed me, and I did as I led my brother towards the back of the store, farther from the action. This is when I noticed the group of college boys from a few tables down, intently watching my fifty-something father wrestle a much fitter, mentally disturbed man away from his submissive girlfriend, all while watching it through the lens of the smartphones. 

Once securing my brother safely towards not only a door and farther away from the horrendous actions of the attacking man, I trekked back towards the front, where the woman was calmly talking to her partner and my dad, telling them “she’s fine” and how much she loves her boyfriend. Suddenly, the man switched positions, now using his forearm to choke and lift the woman by her neck, letting her feet dangle as he lifted her off of the ground. Suddenly, his attention was fixated towards me and proceeded to speak.

I vividly remember the man telling me to “MOVE.” He repeated this but I didn’t listen. I wasn’t sure what would happen if I abided by his commands, so I stayed put. Grappling with the man, my dad motioned me to move farther away (which I later learned that my dad feared he may have a weapon). My father’s glasses were knocked from his face and landed on the tiled floor. I grabbed them so they wouldn’t be stepped on.  

Once my father separated the crazed man from his oddly serene girlfriend, the police finally made it to the scene. The authorities took action and talked to the combative man, the meek woman, the injured cashier, and my weary dad. I retrieved my brother from the back of the store and sat down, and told the emergency operator that law enforcement had arrived and that I would hang up. I scanned the room as I anxiously waited for the conversations between the victims, perpetrators, and police to finish up and noticed the college boys once again, sitting unfazed. It peeved me that I, a thirteen year old, had to be the one to step into action while they ate their dollar tacos, witnessing the conflict and recording it as it unfolded but choosing to stay seated without helping.

Afterwards, my family was a little distressed when the man was allowed to leave with the pregnant woman who still seemed to love her abuser so much. My nachos by this point had become cold to the point that they were bleak to look at. It also didn’t help that we weren’t exactly in the mood to eat anymore. We got up, threw away our cold food, got in the car, and drove off.

Now, how does this give context to me now? And was this a vital piece of information about me? No. But, I do think it can really show my stubborn personality, which definitely people in my everyday life have to deal with on a constant basis, so at least now they can know that I've had this attitude for a long period of time, which can at least let people have a better understanding of me. Not super sure if this is a good trait for college, but whatever, if they like me, they like me, if they don't, oh well.

Assignment 22-- Daniel Mendoza Vasquez -- Meandering Nonsense

The nature of my origins is probably what shaped me and thus what makes me most unique. I was born in New Orleans to immigrant parents and then spent a couple years bouncing back and forth between Colombia and the US. Eventually, I spent six consecutive years in Raleigh and I thought that that was where I would stay, but then my dad got a new job and we moved here to Lexington. I’ve been here for six years since. So my problem, then, is that I don’t know what to call home or what to answer when people ask where I’m from. Sure, my house is literally in Lexington, but I don’t feel a connection to the city or state like others do. If I’m completely honest, I don’t even like it that much--and I’ve warmed up to it exponentially since I first moved here. Raleigh could qualify, as that’s where I moved from, but that was also temporary and I have nothing left there. I was born in New Orleans and it’s a great city, but I only spent a couple months there. Then there’s Colombia, where I lived for some time and of which I am a citizen along with my mom. Of course, children with parents in the military would probably scoff at this dilemma and it sounds sadder than it is. The point is more so how that issue and all that movement, combined with me being an only child, has given me a sense of self-sufficiency and independence. Not in regards to my parents or family, but otherwise. I am all that I need. People often ask me if being an only child feels lonely, and I always respond with an emphatic “No”. I feel perfectly fine by myself and as I’ve grown up I have seen how much of an advantage that is compared to others who become dependent on other people around them.

Assignment 20-- Daniel Mendoza Vasquez

How to Make Colombian Buñuelos

Ingredients: 1 cup Yucca flour, 2 eggs, 1 cup queso fresco, a pinch of salt, vegetable oil

1. Fill a large pot ¾ of the way with vegetable oil. The measurement doesn’t have to be exact. Put it on the stove and start heating it up (around 300 degrees, not too hot)
2. Take the rest of the ingredients and place them in a bowl. Mix thoroughly using your hands until a dough-like substance is obtained.
3. With that dough, make several little balls of moderate size; maybe 2-3 inches across. 
4. Make a significantly smaller ball with the dough and put it in the oil to test if it is ready. If the ball rises to the top of the pot within 10 seconds, then the oil is hot enough for the rest.
5. Start carefully dropping the balls into the pot with the oil to cook them. Remove when golden brown. If the oil is too hot, the cheese may expand beyond the ball you made and make a weird looking shape, but that is no cause for concern as they will taste the same.
6. Drain any remaining oil on the bunuelos and enjoy!

Assignment 23 - Elizabeth Moore - Not your grandmother's playlist... wait no it definitely is

The perfect playlist for a drive through the country (with a retro twist : D )

It’s that kind of day all the country singers reminisce about. The sun is up, but it’s not too hot to roll down the windows as you tackle the rolling hills of the country just outside your hometown in your trusty SUV. The perfect summer’s day for a drive through the countryside with the wind in your hair. And this is the perfect playlist to accompany such an experience. It’s my logic that in the most recent decade, forms of entertainment as simple as going for a drive have virtually disappeared. The allure of the digital age casts a shadow on an appreciation of the quieter things in life. So that’s why this playlist is a compilation of my favorite nostalgic songs. The kind of music people listened to when life was far simpler.


Route 66 – Chuck Berry – 1961

              I always appreciate when a song thematically matches what you’re doing, so of course, this retro road trip playlist HAD to start with a song about a road. I absolutely love this song because the lyrics reflect 1960’s culture down to bits of jargon that have become obsolete. For that reason, my favorite lyric is “Well if you ever plan to motor west/ Jack, take my way it's the highway that's the best”.


You Make My Dreams (Come True) – Daryl Hall & John Oates – 1980

              At this point in your drive, you’ve hit the winding foothills of rural Kentucky, and you’re speeding along the narrow road, wind in your hair. You’re not thinking about any of your troubles, just enjoying the ride, so this track’s upbeat rhythm is perfect.


Fun, Fun, Fun – The Beach Boys – 1964

              OOOOOh yeah! We’re getting into the summer vibes. You’re feeling carefree, reckless, and a Beach Boys track is EXACTLY what you need.


This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole – 1975

              Okay this is just great music, plain and simple. This is my sing-along song; the chorus is simple and fun and you’re far enough into your drive that you’ve reached the middle of nowhere, so it’s absolutely okay to belt it out.


Hooked on a Feeling – Blue Swede, Björn Skifs – 1976

              I like the acapella intro to this classic, it’s something a little different from the last four tracks. If we’re being honest, three out of four of the last tracks were love songs, so if you’re a high schooler you’re definitely thinking about a summer romance. This song provokes those thoughts some more, and my favorite lyric, “I’m high on believing/that you’re in love with me” reflects the mood of your drive at this point; you’re confident, optimistic, and having a great time! This one is definitely another sing-along song :).


Sh-Boom – The Chords – 1954

              The extreme decrescendo in the last few bars of “Hooked on a Feeling” is an excellent transition to “Sh-Boom”, a comparatively quieter song, which has something to do with both the 1950’s style and the recording technology available at the time this song was released. This one is my absolute favorite at the moment because the style reminds me of the “good times”. I swear I belong in the 1950’s. “Sh-boom” belongs in this playlist because it’s nostalgic, and makes the listener dream of good days to come while appreciating the present.


Wake Me up Before You Go-Go – Wham! – 1984

              Before you get too far into thoughts about romance and unrequited love – we don’t want to kill the carefree mood of this car ride – this song is a fun relief from the worries in life and is an absolute BOP. One of my favorite lyrics is “Jitterbug into my brain/ Goes a bang-bang-bang ‘til my feet do the same”. My grandparents were award-winning jitterbuggers and that lyric lets me imagine that I was growing up when they were young – the age of dancing and classic radio. For the same reason, I also love the lyric “You take the grey skies out of my way/ You make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day.”


Stop! In The Name Of Love – The Supremes – 1965

              As the day starts to wane, you’re driving a little slower to the tempo of this song, watching the trees pass by as the sun lowers in the sky, and appreciating the moment.


One Fine Day – The Chiffons – 1963

              One last burst of excitement and fun before you start heading home. But it’s been one fine day.


Downtown – Petula Clark – 1965

              As you prepare to head back into the city, I think this song is the perfect accompanying track. The initial melancholy tone of the melody parallels to the natural sadness we experience at the end of a wonderful day. But the crescendos to an upbeat, lively chorus reinvigorate us, and excite us for what is to come.