How I Balance School, Badminton, and Life by Parnika Thakare

 How I Balance School, Badminton, and Life

by Parnika Thakare 

Honestly trying to balance school, badminton, and everything else in life gets really hectic

sometimes. I’ve been playing badminton professionally for years, so it’s not just a hobby—it’s

part of my daily routine and because of it I also have to do fitness. Add school, tests,

homework, and just normal life stuff on top, and it can definitely get overwhelming. I used to

stress a lot about getting everything done perfectly, but I have recently realized that balance

isn’t about doing it all at once. It’s about figuring out what needs your energy right now and

prioritizing things at the right time. I mean it's just my experience and not necessarily right,

but it did help me a lot.

One thing that really helps me is planning ahead—nothing fancy, just a to-do list or

reminders on my phone. If I know I have a tournament coming up, I’ll try to finish my

assignments and school work earlier or use travel time to finish it. Some days, badminton

takes up more space; other days, school does. It depends. I even joined my schools track

team for a season and it was super exhausting but I love trying new things so...other than

that I’ve also learned to ask for help when I need it, whether it’s from teachers or family,

although I try to avoid it. And if I miss a day or fall behind a bit, I try not to beat myself up

over it (though I do can’t help it😭)

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that rest matters too. Without rest I used to just feel sleepy

and exhausted the whole day which did affect my studies too. So, I make sure to give myself

breaks—whether that’s doing art, watching movies, spending time with family and friends, or

just doing nothing for a bit. I’m still figuring it all out, but I’ve found that balancing school,

badminton, and life is possible if you take it day by day ,be organized, prioritise things and

don’t forget to breathe.

When My Heart Betrayed Me By: Anushka Bhatt

 

When My Heart Betrayed Me

By: Anushka Bhatt

It started like pressure —

not pain,

just a weight

pressing into my chest

like a warning I didn’t understand.

Then came the sweat,

cold and sharp.

My arm went numb.

My breath, trapped.

Like my body forgot how to be alive.

My heart stuttered,

skipped,

panicked.

Sirens.

Flashing lights.

A monitor beeping

like it was counting down something

I wasn’t ready to lose.

I never thought it could happen to me.

But hearts don’t ask permission

before they break.

Room 407 By: Anushka Bhatt

 

Room 407

By: Anushka Bhatt

The ER was freezing.

Sofia’s mom wrapped her in a hoodie, but it didn’t help. Her stomach still burned, and the nausea hadn’t gone away for days. They had tried urgent care, but they said she needed a specialist. The specialist said they didn’t take her insurance.

So now they were here. Room 407. Sixth hour waiting.

Sofia was tired of being told to “just drink water” or “it’s probably anxiety.” No one ever seemed to listen. It was like being invisible — a patient on paper, not a person.

A nurse finally walked in. “Sorry for the wait. The doctor’s doing his rounds.”

Sofia nodded. What else could she do?

But then something small changed. The nurse sat down. “Hey. I know this has been frustrating. I’ve seen a lot of patients come through here who get brushed off, especially young women. Just know — you’re not imagining this. We’ll figure it out. You're not crazy.”

Sofia didn’t expect tears, but they came.

Sometimes the difference isn’t a miracle cure. It’s someone who treats you like you matter.

Room 407 still had flickering lights and stiff hospital beds. But that nurse? She reminded Sofia that even in broken systems, there are people who care — and that’s sometimes what helps you hang on.

The Sleep-Deprived Teen Epidemic: Why Your All-Nighters Are Hurting More Than Your GPA By: Anushka Bhatt

 

The Sleep-Deprived Teen Epidemic: Why Your All-Nighters Are Hurting More Than Your GPA

By: Anushka Bhatt

Let’s be honest: when was the last time you got 8 full hours of sleep? No, scrolling on TikTok until 2 a.m. and crashing doesn’t count.

If you’re like most teens, you’re running on caffeine, deadlines, and vibes. But did you know that sleep deprivation actually affects your mood, memory, immune system, and even your mental health?

According to the CDC, teenagers need 8–10 hours of sleep a night, but most of us are barely hitting 6. That’s a problem. Not just because we’re tired — but because our brains are still developing. Sleep is when our brains literally file memories, repair stress damage, and help regulate emotion.

Lack of sleep has been directly linked to:

• Increased risk of depression and anxiety
  
  

• Poor academic performance
  
  

• Mood swings and irritability
  
  

• Increased risk-taking behavior (yes, even that dumb decision you made last weekend)
  
  

Want to fix it? Start with one small change:

• Power down screens 30 min before bed
  
  

• Try to go to bed and wake up around the same time daily
  
  

• Skip energy drinks — they wreck your sleep cycle
  
  

Better sleep = better mood, clearer thinking, and more energy for literally everything. You deserve rest. Your brain does too.
(Source: CDC - Teens and Sleep)

The Group Chat By: Anushka Bhatt

 

The Group Chat

By: Anushka Bhatt

Everyone thought Maya had it together.

She was the funny one. The group chat always lit up when she joined — random memes, song recs, inside jokes from lunch. She got good grades, posted aesthetic study pics, and showed up to every hangout with a smile.

But no one saw what happened after she logged off.

They didn’t see the nights where she lay awake, her heart racing for no reason. Or how she deleted messages five times before sending them, afraid of being “too much.” They didn’t hear the thoughts that whispered, You’re not actually anyone’s favorite.

One night, after an especially bad panic attack, Maya typed something she never had before.

Maya: “Hey, can I be real for a sec? I’ve been feeling super anxious lately. Like...all the time. It’s exhausting.”

She stared at the message.

Three dots appeared. Then disappeared. Appeared again.

Her hands shook.

Then it came.

Ava: “Omg, same. I thought it was just me.”

Liam: “Bro, I’ve been lowkey struggling too. Thank you for saying something.”

Jules: “Wait, can we actually talk about this? Like for real?”

And just like that, something shifted.

The group chat didn’t fix her anxiety. But for the first time, Maya didn’t feel alone in it. And sometimes, knowing you’re not alone is the beginning of everything getting better.

My Volunteering Experience (and Why You Should Totally Try It) by Parnika Thakare

 My Volunteering Experience (and Why You Should Totally Try It)

I didn’t expect much when I first started volunteering. I just thought, “Let's try something

new.” But it ended up meaning a lot more than that to me. One of my first experiences was

at the public library, helping with children's craft prep, then at a kids festival and virtual

volunteering. Then, back in India, I joined a plantation drive where we spent the day planting

trees in a dusty open field that seriously needed it. That day, I felt like I was doing something

real — something that actually helps and creates an impact though small.

The most unexpected thing to me was how much I got out of it. At the library, I learned

patience and how to complete the task in the given time. It's kind of a responsibility,I even

made new friends there . And during the plantation drive, it just felt good to get my hands

dirty doing something for the environment. I met new people, had conversations I wouldn’t

normally have, and felt this tiny spark of purpose — like I was doing something more than

just studying.

If you’ve never volunteered before, I’d suggest just starting something small and seeing how

it feels. It could be at a library, a clean-up event, or planting trees in your neighborhood, it’s

honestly worth it. It’s not just about “helping others” — it helps you grow too. And you never

know. You might end up liking it more than you expected.

Weather Lady; thoughts on the weather & family by Fatima Azeem

 Weather Lady

My mom was driving the car, and I sat beside her as rain poured down. Anyone would know how much it had been thundering days before. Usually, most people would say a storm isn’t a fun experience, especially hearing the rumble of clouds grow closer after each passing moment. My mom doesn’t appreciate it when I reference the idea of the sky “letting go of its bladder” when it rains super hard, but it’s just so entertaining to think about, albeit it’s a joke. Anyway, I recall a moment where I ended up watching a streak of lightning fall in front of me and my house (I was manifesting it until it literally got waaay too close to me) when my mom spoke up. “My grandmother used to tell me that when raindrops form bubbles on the ground as they fall, it means rainfall will continuously happen all day long.” I looked at the rain creating bubbles like she was saying before asking her, “How did she know?” My mom didn’t know, but she told me that since that day, the statement her grandmother had told her on a whim always turned out true, which is so interesting, because do old people just gain this knowledge somehow?? She lived so long that my great-grandmother could predict the weather. How??? Still, it’s kind of comforting how some stories pass down generations, and this story met me, and it’s not stopping in this generation either.