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Wednesday, May 20, 2015

The End of the School Year by Joshua Liao

The End of the School Year

                I stagger home after a long night out, and I realize that the toughest times are still ahead. Such is the life of a high school student during the homestretch of the year. Courses are reaching their climax with the most difficult and important materials being taught. Everything that the teachers have said are coming together at this point. In this one particular incident, my high school sports team had a social night out, and I had to stay to the end. The event ran late and I didn’t get home until 10:30 PM. I was so tired that I fell asleep on the bus ride home. Then I realized that I had an enormous Biology test the next day, covering two chapters whose vocabulary I had barely even looked over. I sit down and try to calm down, holding back on the oncoming panic. In the back of my mind, I wonder about time management. Could I have avoided this? Well last night, I was up late trying to study for a test I had today, and last weekend, I was trying to finish a project that was due yesterday. So no, I really couldn’t have managed time better. Now I understand why all-nighters take place. Now I wonder if I will be pulling one myself. Summer is so close, and yet so far. Every last assignment and test grade could be the difference between an A and B. One bad grade could derail my hard work for the semester. So I stay up. In the end, I manage to get to bed at a reasonable hour (1:30?), walk to first block like a zombie, and live to fight another day.

Joshua Liao

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Book Review of City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare by Ravjit Kaur

Book Review of City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare (Book One Of The Mortal Instruments Series)
by Ravjit Kaur

Do you love werewolves? What about vampires? Ever heard of demons? Well, then this book is definitely for you. Filled with action-packed scenes, this great sci-fi novel will keep you on your toes until the very end.

Clarissa (Clary) Fray was oblivious to the world of paranormal creatures until the night she witnessed an otherworldly murder at the Pandemonium Club in New York City. She meets moody Isabelle and kooky Alec, the brother and sister. Then, there’s Jace. Who she can’t quite figure out. Quickly realizing that she’s something other than human, she lies to her best friend Simon for her sudden disappearance. Whirled into the world of the Shadowhunters, warriors that kill demons and keep werewolves and vampires in line, she struggles to understand why she is so important. When her mother gets taken by demons and she gets attacked by them, more questions arise. What would demons want with a human like Clary? And what does this have to do with the mysterious Valentine that everyone seems to hate? When the Mortal Cup(one of the Mortal Instruments) and Jace are taken by Valentine, Clary sets out with a werewolf pack, determined to get them and her mother back. When she finds Valentine, a shocking discovery about her own father and Jace sends the world spinning out of control. Will Valentine get away with betraying the Shadowhunters, leading an uprising, and kidnapping her mother? Or will Clary and Jace fight to get their old life back?


This is a wonderful book to read. The characters’ interactions are funny, witty, and hilarious to read, and the rivalry between the two sides is undeniable. If you want to know the story, then I would recommend reading this book. Don’t forget about the rest of the series! #2 City of Ashes, #3 City of Glass, #4 City of Fallen Angels, #5 City of Lost Souls, and #6 City Of Heavenly Fire. 

Victim by Chandu Singathi

Victim
Ah, the good ol’ summertime.  My thoughts occur less often, my heart beats at a steady pace, and my breathing returns to normal.  I look down at my bare feet, which are getting darker and darker each moment, burning continuously under the sun.  These moments will never return, because before I know it the big ball of fire will go back into hiding, and the sky will solely consist of dark clouds and white dust.  Fearful of the future, I come to the conclusion that I must appreciate these moments because each year the cold season gets longer and the sun becomes more scared to come out.  The trees become bare, the animals hide away, and the droplets of rain turn into ice as soon as they touch the ground of the earth.  But I must keep fighting, because the longer I bear the tough times, the more I will appreciate carefree moments like these.  I prance around in my white dress, letting my long black hair loose, without worrying about a single thing.  No pressure, no bullies, no fear.  All of the chains are cut loose, and everything I have ever known seems better than ever.  I look to the right, then to the left, and see that I am not alone.  The birds chirp, the bunnies hop, and the trees sway in the gentle breeze.  But then I see her, and all of the memories come back.  The torture, the pain, the tears: all of it returns to me.  She ruined me, and I wish she was never alive.  My happiness-- my pure joy—all of it ended after a single glimpse of the devil that transformed my laughter into sorrow.  With her band of evil twins, she turned my life into a horror story:  I was scared to do anything.  So I turned around, but I knew that there was no way I could ever retrieve my previous moments of serenity.  Not even the beauty of the world around me can overtake my thoughts of hopelessness and regret.  And it was all her fault.


Chandu Singathi

Poet's Prison by Ananya S.

Poet’s Prison

I will trap you in the palm of my hand,
Hold you and never let go no matter
How much you scream and plead
To be released from the prison I build
Just for you, my beautiful, precious thing
Every day, I will behold your pretty face
And your eyes that shine like diamonds
I will hold your soft delicate hands in my own
And grip them firmly lest you should pull
Away from me, like you always do
And forever will you be mine
Mine

But what’s this? Cruel irony!
You I possess in body and mind
Yet in heart and soul you do not
Belong to me and your spirit, your
Indomitable spirit has escaped these
Iron walls and barred windows as if they
Were nothing more than air and dust
So I confine you to a page in my journal
Capturing every detail and memory as you leave
With words, preserving but an echo
Whilst outside this cage, you roam free
Free

~Ananya S


Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Enmity by Chandu Singathi

Enmity (poem about A Separate Peace by John Knowles)

He didn’t know yet that he was unique
too unusual for rivalry
brought back to life by the touch of God
like every other thought and belief of his: it should have been true
I was not of the same quality as he
he wasn’t going to get away with it
we’re all enemies, we can and will turn on each other all the time
But I always jumped
it was all cold trickery
it was all calculated
it was all enmity
In some way he needed me
You’re going to be the big star now
It’s going to be all A’s for you
It was a crazy idea, I must have been delirious
his balance gone, tumbled sideways
You want to break something else in me
You always were a savage underneath
I could not escape a feeling that this was my own funeral
I was on active duty all my time at school; I killed my enemy there

By Chandu Singathi

Emotions by Ananya S.

Emotions

Joy is the chocolate that melts in your mouth,
As you snuggle under a soft, woolly blanket,
The smooth, white pages of a book you have
Waited to read, crinkling as you turn them.

Sorrow is the ice cream that falls on the pavement
Not even two minutes after you’ve bought it,
Leaving you with a promise, an expectation
Of creamy sweetness, shattered in an instant.

Fear is the closet door, left open just a crack,
The large, hairy spider that sneaks up a wall,
The light that flickers even when the switch says “OFF,”
The dark, lonely spaces of great unknowns.

Love is a cozy cottage surrounded by snow,
Underneath the velvety sky dotted with stars,
A wisp of smoke trailing out of the chimney,
And a single lit window, to guide you home.




by Ananya S

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Miss Telall post 5/9/15

5/9/15
Hello loyal SBPL readers, it’s your favorite advice columnist- Miss Telall, with two more entries. If you’re having issues or just want to talk, she’s always up to offer advice, so be sure to email her at MissTelallSBPL@gmail.com, and check the SPBL blog for a reply addressing your problem. All entries are always ANONYMOUS!

Dear Miss Tellall,
     
      I’ve never been the most fashionable girl, and yet lately I’ve been really into finding my own style. After watching so many YouTube videos and reading a lot of magazines, I really want to try out wearing new combinations of clothing- they make me feel so much more confident. My mom, though, doesn’t like it. I guess what I’m interested in now is too revealing or something, because she won’t let me wear a lot of what I want to wear to school! She complains about expense even though I’m using my own money from allowance. I mean, everyone else is wearing these things too- isn’t she so unfair??

                             Sincerely,
                         Style Shutdown
Dear Style Shutdown,

        Every teen goes through a point in time where they change styles and looks, finding their own image. It’s a point of freedom and happiness to find your own elements of individuality, so congrats! Confidence is a beautiful thing. On the other hand, you are still a teen, and are thus under your parents’ supervision. If your mom feels like your style has gotten too revealing, she probably has legitimate reasons and explanations for it. Never let an argument drag out as just that- an argument. When you have a disagreement, preserve your relationship, and instead tell each other calmly why you deserve to wear these clothes, or why you need to be more reserved. Furthermore- if she’s concerned about school rules, you might want to review the school’s actual policies against your own taste, just in case! Never let yourself- or even your mother- become blindsided by your respective, biased views. The best policy is always to try and see a disagreement from both sides.
          On the topic of finances, remember that your allowance is a privilege, and comes from your parents! It may be your choice what to spend it on, but it is also your parents’ right to be concerned and offer advice. Explain to them how your newfound style makes you feel. Your parents might actually just be looking to help watch out for your finances.
           Finally, no exaggerations. Most likely, not everyone is wearing what you’re not allowed to wear. I know it’s hard to resist the pressure of “fitting in” in high school, but remember not to do something just because “everyone else” is doing it. Not only are they most likely not “all” participating, but the most important thing should be  your happiness, and the contentment of your loved ones. Don’t sacrifice family or friends for image! Good luck!
                             ~Miss Telall
         
Dear Miss Tellall,
      
     I have a lot on my plate right now. I’m dealing with multiple issues which are adding to my stress currently, including friend drama and family troubles. On top of that, I have my school work to deal with too. My grades are slipping, and it’s beginning to affect my perception of myself, as I’ve always been a good student. I need some help dealing with all of this stress.

Sincerely,
Stressed Out
Dear Stressed Out,
      Being stressed out can happen to the best of us; however, learning how to cope with constant stressors is a highly valuable skill required for any individual. Some common techniques to reduce your stress and make you feel better include exercising (going on a power run). Exercise has been scientifically proven to spark dopamine production, rebuild toxic damage to the brain, battle anxiety and depression, and boost self-esteem. It’s a fantastic way to feel better about yourself and get healthy. Additionally, scientific research points that listening to music can help relieve stress in multiple ways, as it triggers specific biochemical stress reducers. Another way to reduce stress is to drink tea, especially black tea. Black tea leads to lower post-stress cortisol levels and powerful feelings of relaxation, resulting in a calmer mood. Most importantly, the technique of meditation, the practice of taking a break from our daily activities and quieting the mind’s thoughts, has been used for centuries to soothe the mind and body from existing stressors. There are numerous meditation techniques, from concentration meditation, which involves focusing on a single point, to mindfulness meditation, encouraging the meditator to observe the “patterns” of their thoughts and feelings. Here is a website to guide you on your endeavors regarding meditation: http://tinyurl.com/mhpwa5v.
         And that’s a wrap! Stress is something that hits the best of us, but it’s important to find out the most effective mechanisms which help you combat it. If things don’t start to seem better, remember to talk to someone and ask for help; parents, guidance counselors and doctors are all there to help us when we need them.

~ Miss Telall


5 Helpful Tips-How to Get Ready for School the Fast Way by Ravjit Kaur

5  Helpful Tips - How to Get Ready For School The Fast Way
by Ravjit Kaur

1.   Get everything ready the night before: If you pack your bag, take out your clothes, find all your makeup(if you wear any) and pack your lunch the night before, it saves a lot of time. Then you won’t have to go hunting for your things in the morning, and missing the bus because you couldn’t find your homework or something important.
2.   Set your alarm 15 minutes before the time you want to wake up at: Setting your alarm earlier will make you feel like you got to sleep in, and you will feel a little bit better rested. The alarm will go off, and it will trick your brain into thinking that you get 15 extra minutes to sleep, when you’re really just getting the same amount of sleep as you did before. You will feel ready to face the day! :)
3.   Take a quick, cold shower: I know, long hot showers are the best. But, if anything, hot showers make you even more sleepy. A quick cold shower helps you wake up. You may not like it, but your body will thank you later in the day when you don’t fall asleep during math.
4.   Eat a quick but nutritious breakfast: Everybody loves their delicious bacon and eggs, but maybe save that for another day when you’re not under a time crunch. A glass of milk and a granola bar is a quick, easy breakfast, and it also will keep you full until lunchtime. Don’t try sitting down to a 3 course meal when you have 10 minutes left to catch the bus.

5.   Don’t check your phone while getting ready: Believe it or not, this is probably the most important rule. Checking your phone while getting ready for school wastes the most time. We all have that urge to sit down for a couple minutes and scroll through our Instagram feed or text our friends, but you think you sat for a few minutes, when in reality, it’s time for the bus to arrive and you still haven’t taken a shower. If you have extra time after getting ready, that’s the time to check your phone. The Dark Side does have cookies, but the thought of the wrath of your parents because you missed the bus should be enough to keep you from checking your phone. 

Precious Moments a poem by Ravjit Kaur

“Precious Moments”
 - a free verse poem -
by Ravjit Kaur


The light flashes,
and you all say cheese.
Bright smiles and wide teeth,
funny poses and crazy faces.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
Kids wiggle, parents scold.
Stay still for the pictures.
Squirming, they break free
of their parents’ hold.
Cameras click,
capturing precious moments. 



Weeded By Thara Venu

Weeded
By: Thara Venu

In the garden of humans,
there are the daisies...
The flowers- young’uns-
have the enviable petals.
Petals made of skin and bones,
colors that originate from deep within every cell
are mourned for.
Stems, long and skinny, are admired and then envied.
Leaves are trimmed so that their prickly thorns aren’t seen, or felt
and the nectar is thought of as the sweetest part of the body-but never seen.
Instead, petals are open enough
to reveal the sweet belonging that each bud craves for
in this garden of humans.