Too Much TV by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan

 Too Much TV

Television has been a popular form of entertainment for many years. People watch TV to relax,

learn about the world, follow sports, watch movies, and spend time with family. Watching

television in moderation is not necessarily harmful. However, spending too much time watching

TV can negatively affect a person’s physical health, mental health, sleep, school performance,

and social life. For these reasons, it is important to balance television with other healthy

activities.

One of the biggest problems with watching too much television is that it can lead to a less active

lifestyle. When people spend several hours sitting and watching TV, they are not moving around

or exercising. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that children and

teenagers benefit from regular physical activity because it can improve their physical and mental

health. If someone spends most of their free time watching TV instead of playing sports,

walking, riding a bike, or being active outside, they may not get enough exercise.

Too much television can also interfere with sleep. Many people watch TV close to bedtime,

which can make it easier to stay up later than planned. Spending too much time on screens can

also make it harder to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Sleep is especially important for

children and teenagers because their bodies and brains are still developing. Not getting enough

sleep can lead to tiredness, difficulty concentrating, and problems with learning during the

school day.

Another concern is the effect that excessive television watching can have on schoolwork.

Television can become distracting, especially when someone watches it instead of completing

homework or studying. For example, a student might plan to watch one episode before doing

homework but continue watching for several hours. As a result, the student may finish their work

late or not have enough time to complete it carefully. Limiting TV time can help students create

more time for studying, reading, and other responsibilities.

Watching too much television can also affect social relationships. If someone spends most of

their free time watching TV, they may have fewer opportunities to communicate with friends and

family in person. Activities such as playing a sport, eating dinner together, working on a hobby,

or simply talking with family members can help people develop communication and social skills.

Television can be enjoyable, but it should not replace real-life relationships and activities.

There can also be mental effects from spending excessive amounts of time watching television.

Some television programs contain violence, unrealistic lifestyles, or other content that may

influence how viewers think about the world. This does not mean that watching TV automatically

causes these problems, but the amount and type of content a person watches can matter.

Choosing educational and age-appropriate programs can make television a more positive

experience.

However, television is not completely bad. Educational programs and documentaries can teach

people about science, history, geography, and different cultures. TV can also provide

entertainment and give people a way to relax after a busy day. The main issue is not watching

television itself, but watching too much of it and allowing it to replace important activities.

In conclusion, watching too much television can have several negative effects. It can reduce

physical activity, interfere with sleep, distract students from schoolwork, and take time away

from friends and family. At the same time, television can be useful and entertaining when it is

watched responsibly. The best approach is to create a healthy balance between screen time

and activities such as exercise, homework, reading, hobbies, sleep, and spending time with

other people. By controlling how much TV they watch, people can enjoy television without

allowing it to negatively affect their daily lives.

Bibliography

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Physical Activity Guidelines for School-Aged

Children and Adolescents.” CDC, www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-children/about/index.html.

American Academy of Pediatrics. “Children and Media Tips.” American Academy of Pediatrics,

www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/default.aspx.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. “Why Is Sleep Important?” National Institutes of

Health, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/why-sleep-important.

American Psychological Association. “Screen Time and Children.” American Psychological

Association, www.apa.org/topics/children/screen-time.

Tech a poem by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan

 Technology is everywhere we go,

It helps us learn and helps us grow.

From phones we hold to computers we use,

It gives us options, ideas, and news.

We wake up and check our screens,

Searching for messages and new routines.

We use technology every day,

In more ways than we can explain.

Computers help us finish our work,

Even when the answers seem to lurk.

With just a search, we can learn something new,

And find information that might help us too.

The internet connects the world,

With messages sent and pictures unfurled.

Someone far away can hear what we say,

Almost as if they were here that day.

Technology helps doctors save lives,

And helps scientists make discoveries arise.

It helps explore the ocean deep,

And study the stars while others sleep.

Robots can build and robots can clean,

Some can even work like a human machine.

Cars are becoming smarter each year,

And self-driving technology is getting near.

Artificial intelligence can learn and create,

Helping people accomplish tasks at a faster rate.

It can answer questions and help us think,

Sometimes giving answers in just a blink.

But technology isn't perfect, you see,

Sometimes it causes problems for you and me.

A computer can crash, a phone can break,

And sometimes the internet refuses to wake.

Too much screen time can take away

From talking to people face-to-face each day.

We need to remember to put screens aside,

And enjoy the real world that's right outside.

Technology is a powerful tool,

But using it wisely should be the rule.

It can help us build, discover, and learn,

If we understand the lessons we earn.

Think about how far technology's come,

From giant computers to phones that are small.

Things that once seemed impossible to do

Are now things that people can simply pursue.

And who knows what the future will bring?

New inventions and incredible things.

Maybe we'll travel to planets unknown,

Or build new machines we've never shown.

Maybe someone reading this poem today

Will invent something that changes the way

That people live, work, learn, and play,

And make the world better in their own way.

Technology starts with an idea,

A question, a dream, or something unclear.

It takes imagination, patience, and time

To turn a simple thought into something that shines.

So don't just use technology—create.

Learn from mistakes and don't be afraid.

Write the code, build the machine,

And chase the ideas that live in your dreams.

Technology isn't just screens and wires,

It's curiosity, knowledge, and desires.

It's people trying to make things better,

One new idea, one step, one letter.

The future is waiting, and who knows what we'll see?

The next great invention could start with you or me.

Because technology's story is still being written,

And the best part is—

The future hasn't been invented yet.

AI: To Be Feared? by Nandan Kamalakannan

 AI: To Be Feared?

Artificial intelligence seems to be everywhere nowadays. It

can answer questions, explain difficult topics, create

images, translate languages, help write code, and even

"talk" with us. Sometimes, it seems like AI just appeared

overnight. Now it is a part of our lives.

At first, I wondered if we should be afraid of it. After all, AI

does things that used to take a lot of human effort. If a

computer can write an essay, solve a math problem, or

make a presentation in a matter of seconds, then what will

humans have to do?

But when I thought more about it, I started to look at AI a

bit differently. It doesn't have to be a competitor for

humans; it can be a tool.

Think about calculators. When they became common,

people didn't stop learning math; instead, calculators

helped people do long calculations quickly so that they

could spend more time thinking about the math problems

themselves. I think AI could work the same way. When I

don't understand an idea in class, I can use AI to help

explain it in a different way. If I am writing code in a new

language and it's not working, I can use AI to help explain

why my code isn't working. When I have an idea for a

project, but don't know how to start, I can use AI to help

me brainstorm.

I don't know what AI will look like ten years from now, but

I'm sure it will be a lot more powerful. The jobs we have

now might disappear, and new jobs that we can't even

imagine will be created. This does not need to be

frightening. Our grandparents saw television become a

common tool. Our parents saw the internet arrive. We

grew up with cell phones and social media. Now, we are

growing up with AI.

Instead of asking "Will AI replace me?" we should be

asking, "How can I use AI to be a better doer?" AI can give

us the answers, but creativity, curiosity, kindness,

responsibility, and the ability to make individual decisions

are human traits that can never be replaced.

So, I choose not to be afraid of AI; instead, I want to learn

how to use it wisely, because in the future it will not be

people who compete with technology that will succeed, it

will be those who can work with it.

All Grown Up By; Sujal Mirchandani

 All Grown Up

By; Sujal Mirchandani

I always hoped, when I was young, that growing up would be something wonderful. As a child I believed that adults could do anything they liked, stay up as late as they liked, buy anything they wanted, and no one would tell them what to do. Having grown older now, I am beginning to see that I was entirely wrong.

It's a strange sort of middle stage to be a teenager. You're not quite a child anymore, but at the same time you don't really consider yourself to be an adult. Your parents may say that you're old enough to make your own decisions, only for five minutes later to tell you to clean your room. That's confusing.

What frightens me most about growing up is having to make my own decisions. At the moment, whenever I don't know what to do I can generally ask my parents for advice, but one day I'm eventually going to have to work it out on my own and I'll have to decide where I want to live, what kind of job I want to have, and what sort of person I want to be.

To be honest, I don't know.

I believe that adults often give the impression that they have everything worked out and that they know exactly what they're doing. However, I'm now coming to the realisation that they probably don't; they simply know how to act as if they do.

I always believed that growing up happened suddenly—such as one morning waking up and finding out all at once how to do your taxes, pay your bills, cook all sorts of things, and make sound decisions. Nowadays, however, I think it must be a slow process.

You have to pick up things one step at a time.

I'm looking forward to having more freedom, but I'm also going to miss being able to rely on my parents. I don't want to mature too quickly and I'd like to enjoy my youth while I still can.

I think that growing up is simply a combination of excitement and fear. I'm not ready for all of it yet, but I suppose no one really is.

Summer Break By: Sujal Mirchandani

 Summer Break

By: Sujal Mirchandani

# Summer Doesn't Feel Like It Used To

Summer was my favourite time of year. Back when I was younger, it seemed as though summer went on forever. I used to wake up late, spend my time playing outside, playing games and watching television, and yet the day still seemed very long.

Summer now seems a lot shorter.

I can't say whether it's due to my age or simply because I'm busier, but it seems as if summer is vanishing. You're still celebrating the end of term one moment and the next you're coming across back-to-school advertisements everywhere.

Back in my youth, summer seemed to be a big adventure; I still enjoy it nowadays, but I have more things on my mind such as college, work, studying, sports, and just trying to work out what I'm doing with my life.

It's kind of annoying.

One reason why summer seems different is that I know it won't last forever. When you're a child you don't really consider time at all; you just enjoy the day you're having.

I am always thinking about the speed at which time is moving.

At times I wish that I could return to the stage when I was a small child for a whole summer; not since things were perfect, but because I didn't worry about many things and my greatest difficulty was simply being bored.

It's almost pleasant to be getting bored.

I think that's just a consequence of growing older; things which once seemed normal now become things you miss.

I'm making an effort not to worry about the summer passing so quickly, and I really want to enjoy it while it's happening.

Before I know it I'll most likely be back in a classroom again, thinking about where the summer has got to go.

To be honest, I'm already going to say that it went far too quickly.

What happened to the Nets??? by Ibrahim Rogers

 What happened to the nets???

Honestly, I still find it crazy how quickly the Brooklyn Nets went from being one of the favorites to win the championship to having to rebuild their team. After the 2021 season ended in such a disappointing way, James Harden was the first superstar to leave, followed by Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. All three players who were supposed to lead the Nets to a championship were eventually traded away. I was honestly disappointed with how the whole situation went. I would have loved to see that 2021 team run it back, especially after they recovered from injuries and after how close they were to making the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately, the Nets failed to make it out of the first round in the next two seasons and eventually went 20-62 during the 2025-26 regular season.

Now, the Nets are in a completely different 7, but I do think there is some potential for the future. They have acquired players like Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. and drafted Mikel Brown Jr., so it's a start. Still, it is crazy to look back at how much changed in only a few years. 

What struck me about this is how this isn't the first time a great team can be doomed by injuries. Just like the Golden State Warriors did during their dynasty. A team could have everything they need to win, but injuries can change their future completely. The Nets are an example of just how quick that can happen.

The Unsung Hero by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan

 When it was raining cats and dogs outside, I remembered the wiggly creatures that would come

out after. Worms may be small, quiet creatures that often go unnoticed, but they are among the

most important organisms on Earth. Living mostly underground, worms perform a variety of

essential tasks that help maintain healthy ecosystems. From improving soil quality to supporting

plant growth and recycling waste, worms play a powerful role in keeping the natural world

balanced.

One of the most important contributions worms make is improving the structure and fertility of

soil. As worms move through the ground, they create tunnels that allow air and water to flow

more easily. This process, known as aeration, helps plant roots grow deeper and stronger.

Without proper aeration, soil can become compacted, making it difficult for plants to absorb the

nutrients and moisture they need. Worms naturally solve this problem simply by moving and

burrowing through the earth.

In addition to aeration, worms are also natural recyclers. They feed on dead plants, leaves, and

other organic matter found in the soil. As they digest this material, it is broken down into simpler

substances and released as worm castings. These castings are extremely rich in nutrients such

as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are essential for plant growth. Because of this,

worm castings act as a powerful natural fertilizer, often improving soil more effectively than

artificial fertilizers.

Worms also play a key role in speeding up decomposition. Without worms and other

decomposers, dead organic material would take much longer to break down, causing waste to

pile up. By processing this material quickly, worms help return nutrients back into the soil,

keeping ecosystems healthy and productive. This nutrient cycle is essential for forests, gardens,

and farms alike.

Another important role of worms is their place in the food chain. Many animals rely on worms as

a major source of food. Birds, frogs, turtles, and even some mammals depend on worms for

survival. If worm populations were to decline significantly, these animals would struggle to find

enough food, which could lead to larger ecological imbalances. This shows that worms are not

just important for soil—they are also vital for supporting animal life.

Worms also contribute to sustainable living through a process called vermicomposting. In this

method, worms are used to break down food scraps and organic waste into nutrient-rich

compost. This helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills while creating a valuable

resource for gardening and farming. Vermicomposting is an environmentally friendly solution

that more people are beginning to use at home and in communities.

Furthermore, worms can even help scientists understand soil health. The presence of many

worms in an area is often a sign that the soil is rich and healthy. On the other hand, a lack of

worms may indicate pollution or poor soil conditions. Because of this, worms are sometimes

considered natural indicators of environmental quality.

In conclusion, worms are far more important than their small size suggests. They improve soil

structure, recycle nutrients, support plant growth, and provide food for many animals. They also

help reduce waste and contribute to environmentally friendly practices like vermicomposting.

Although they may not always be visible, worms are constantly working beneath the surface to

support life on Earth. Protecting these simple yet powerful creatures is essential for maintaining

healthy ecosystems and ensuring a sustainable future.

Work Cited

Sanya, R. E., Gyaviira Nkurunungi, Biraro, I. A., Mpairwe, H., & Elliott, A. M. (2017).

A life without worms. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and

Hygiene, 111(1), 3–11. https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trx010