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Tuesday, March 21, 2017

How to make use of a snow day (or any day off from school) By Rav Kaur

How to make use of a snow day (or any day off from school)
By Rav Kaur

In honor of the two snow days we unexpectedly received, I was motivated to write this article.

1.      Wake up at a reasonable time. Allow yourself to sleep in, but not to the point where you are waking up at noon and skipping breakfast and going straight to lunch. Sleeping in too late will mess up your schedule, and cause you to feel overtired.
2.      Do some homework. I know, no one wants to think about homework on a snow day or a day off, but putting away distractions and doing homework for an hour is good. It helps you get ahead in classes so you can take some work out of a packed school day. Also, it will make you feel accomplished.
3.      Clean anything that needs to be cleaned. Many times, I will sit at home and be bored out of my mind on days off. Cleaning/Sorting things helps keep your hands busy and keeps you away from watching too much TV. Also, it helps you feel like you accomplished something. Just turn on the radio and jam out to your favorite songs as you move things around.
4.      Watch some TV! I don’t know about you, but on a regular school day I don’t have time to watch my favorite show. Watching TV on a day off helps you relax. However, binge watching is not good. Restrain yourself to one or two episodes or maybe a movie, but that should be it.
5.      Indulge in a hobby! Doing whatever you like for a little bit can be very relaxing. Whether it is drawing, reading, playing a sport, cubing, or crafting, it is sure to help you feel productive.
6.      Hang out with your friends. Many times, you may not be able to see all your friends at school. Ask your parents to drive you to a friends house if the outside conditions are not too bad, or walk if they live near you. Hanging out with friends is a classic way to spend your time on a snow day/day off.
7.      Spend time with your family. If you have siblings, it means they will be off from school too, so you can spend quality time that you may not have everyday with them. Also, if it is a really bad snow day, sometimes parents don’t have work. If everyone is home, organize a family game or activity to double the fun.

8.      Try cooking something new. With all this extra time on your hands, what better to do with it than to try out some tasty treats? Who knows, maybe they will actually turn out yummy!

Book Review of A Separate Peace by author, John Knowles by Anuj Kadakia

Anuj Kadakia

Book Review of A Separate Peace by author, John Knowles. 

This book was both interesting and enticing. I continuously read the book and did not cease to enjoy reading it. It is a story about two teenage boys, Gene Forreter and Phineas. These two boys have a constant war between themselves while also maintaining a strong friendship. The novel can be extremely relatable at times, leading to a urge to want to continue. This relatable character is primarily through Gene. He is a student who continually tries his hardest to succeed, but somehow gets overpasses by someone else or has an issue occur to him from his environment. This mix of actions that occur to him make it so the reader feels a level of sympathy for him, while also agreeing with his thought process. 


On top of this interesting character development, the story itself is enticing. It shows how easily friends can turn into enemies and how easily friendship can deteriorate. If the correct procedures are taken in a friendship and a large deal of care is placed in the relationship, only then will it be strengthened and reinforced. A war is going on in the story, and the author, John Knowles, effectively shows the reader that although large issues may be erupting in people's environment, their mental perception of the actions around them will have the largest effect. I initially believed that this book would not be interesting whatsoever and that I would have no drive to complete it, but as I progressed through the novel, my desire to continue reading rose. This book should definitely be read because it is a relatable, interesting novel. It goes to show that not all books need to catch your eye instantly, maybe you have to try something new. In the end, you may find that the new action you attempted was a great decision. 

Friday, March 3, 2017

What to do When you are Bored by Krisha Shah

What to do When you are Bored
by Krisha Shah

Boredom. Whenever I am bored, I find that anything that I would normally do lasts about five minutes before losing its enjoyment. I personally find that I can no longer focus on anything besides the clock, and end up eating to pass the time. This is obviously not ideal, so here are some alternatives you can use to get rid of boredom:

  1. Make dessert. Instead of eating food, you can make something. If you are looking for a longer solution, bake a batch of brownies or make a cake. For something shorter, make a milkshake or a smoothie.
  2. Do a fun DIY. Find a fun craft that you can do. Depending on the time you have, find a reasonable craft online.
  3. Catch up with an old friend. Find a friend that you haven’t talked to in a while. Talking to them will make you feel better and more refreshed.
  4. Finish long-term projects/homework. Dig into the projects and homework assignments that aren’t due until a few weeks for now. By starting on these projects, you will relieve yourself from potential stress.
  5. Paint your nails or do your hair. Paint your nails with an intricate design. It will consume time while still rewarding you afterwards!


Ultimately, boredom busters will depend solely on you. Find something that is the most reasonable for you and follow through with it. Good luck!

Thoughts on Somali Refugees leaving US for Canada by Annamika Dua


Recently I read an article called “Fleeing America: Why refugees are risking life and limb to escape to Canada” by Mallory Simon and Sara Sidner. This story talked about how Somali refugees had initially come to America seeking help, but when they could not find anything here, they decided to go to Canada. Two of the refugees this article who were talked about were Hussein Ahmed and Mohamed Hossain. Both of these men were only a few of the many who struggled through the snow, and at some points even had to crawl through it, in order to get to their destination: Canada. Unfortunately, some refugees also suffered from frostbite on their way. The reason so many refugees felt the need to suddenly leave America was because of Trump’s ban on Somali refugees. They knew that if they stayed in the U.S. and were caught, they would be deported. Both Ahmed and Hossain are extremely thankful to Canada and its people for letting them into their country and saving their lives. They finally, after many months, feel like they have found a home. I think that this is a very large issue that needs to be solved as soon as possible. As Americans, we may not think about this too much because we sometimes get too invested in our own small problems. What we need to realize is that there are thousands of refugees out there, children and adults, who need our help. Anything we can do for them we should. I think that we should learn more about these people and try to figure out a way in which this problem can be solved.


Review of the Movie Doctor Strange by Anuj Kadakia

Review of the Movie Doctor Strange by Anuj Kadakia

     If you find yourself with some extra time, you should definitely try watching the movie Doctor Strange. It is a film that will keep you at the edge of your seat with all of its action and suspense. 

     An incredible surgeon gets himself into a car accident and loses the ability to execute operations on his patients. In an attempt to recover and get back to the position he was in, he goes as far as to travel across the world, in search of a group of people he does not even know. He realizes that he is getting involved with much more than he believes. He comes across a hidden group of sorcerers and becomes the apprentice of one. After some time, he comes to the realization that there is more than what meets the eye. He must unfold the truth about who he is and what his purpose is. With the use of magic and sorcery, this surgeon fights his way to the truth. 


     This movie is extremely interesting and makes it so that you are always waiting for what happens next. I would rate it a 9/10, being one of the best movies I have ever seen, with the amazing special effects, along with the great acting. If you were a fan of Harry Potter, you will definitely enjoy this movie. It brings you into a world filled with secrets and magic.