Apple TV Streaming by Samhita adapa

 Apple TV Streaming by Samhita adapa

Almost everyone’s got Netflix and maybe even Disney+. HBO Max if they’re lucky. But I bet you that what most people don’t have is Apple TV, which is insane because Apple's been consistently pumping out quality TV for almost years now. Home to some of the most popular shows in these years like Severance and Ted Lasso, Apple TV is nowhere near the popularity of other streaming services, although it may be higher than Paramount because I still haven’t met a single person who pays for that. 

Like probably literally everyone else on the globe, I only got Apple TV to watch Severance season 2. And when my family forgot to cancel after the season stopped airing, I looked through the catalog and realized to my surprise that there was an insane amount of TV shows that all looked extremely promising. Aside from Ted Lasso, which I think is also both extremely popular and good, Apple is knocking it out of the park with their TV, particularly their sci-fi shows. Silo, starring Rebecca Fergurson is great, and For All Mankinds is definitely worth a watch as well. And more recently, Pluribus, from Vince Gilligan, is absolutely fantastic and probably worth subscribing to for a couple months when the second season comes out. Aside from sci-fi, Pachinko is a great drama about Japanese occupation of Korea, and if you haven’t seen it already, Ted Lasso is awesome too. Aside from popularity and fans, their TV shows have been getting a lot of critical acclaim as well. Severance has gotten 41 nominations and 10 primetime Emmy wins. Ted Lasso has won 13 emmys as well as winning outstanding comedy series back to back in 2021 and 2022. So clearly, quality is not the issue here. They’ve been consistently producing good entertainment so what is the real root of the problem?

Catalog. Despite their multiple award winning shows, Apple TV does not have a good catalog. There are no seven season shows to binge watch nor does it have your favorite comfort series you rewatch when you’re sick.  Netflix has Gilmore Girls and The Walking Dead. HBO practically hit the jackpot with the amount of shows they have to watch, like Veep, GoT, Friends, or The Wire. Disney has practically all of their sitcoms, including the ones from Hulu now. Paramount’s got Avatar: The Last Airbender and Spongebob, I guess. Their catalogue just isn’t big enough and to be honest, the interface is a nightmare to navigate too. They have nothing to fall back on. $15 a month isn’t an amount you can just forget about either. And with the breaks between seasons now reaching almost two years, people don’t want to keep a service that has nothing to offer, especially with the amount of streaming platforms there are in general. To simply put it, the subscription isn’t worth the money. No matter how badly I wanted to watch the Studio, there was no way to justify the price to my parents. It’s more of a “get the 3 month free trial after buying a new phone and watch everything you want to before it runs out” type of service. That being said, if you ever end up getting the subscription or meeting someone who actually pays for it and is willing to share, I recommend watching Presumed Innocent.

Why Ben Shelton's US Open Loss Still Feels Like a Win by Nandan Kamalakannan

 Why Ben Shelton's US Open Loss Still Feels Like a Win by Nandan Kamalakannan

If you watched the 2026 US Open final, you already know what happened. Ben Shelton lost to Alexander

in four sets, 3-1.

It sounds like a major disappointment. You make it all the way to the final of the biggest tennis tournament

in the country, the whole crowd is going crazy for you, and then you lose. But honestly, watching Shelton

this entire tournament didn't feel like watching someone fail. It felt like a lesson in how to never give up.

To really get why Ben is the way he is, you have to look at his dad, Bryan Shelton. His dad was a pro

tennis player back in the day and then became a super successful college coach. He didn't just teach Ben

the physical mechanics of how to hit a ball. He taught him how to keep his head on straight.

You can see his dad's influence everywhere. Even with all the hype, the sponsorships, and the crazy

media attention, Ben stays completely grounded. He doesn’t walk around the court acting like he’s better

than everyone else. He just genuinely respects the sport and his opponents.

But we also have to talk about how he actually plays. His aggressive shots are insane. Every time he

steps up for a massive serve or winds up a heavy forehand, it honestly reminds me of watching old clips

of Pete Sampras. It’s that same explosive, fearless energy where you feel like the ball is going to leave a

mark on the court.

Even in the final against Alexander, when he was down in the sets and the pressure was huge, Shelton

refused to quit. He didn't drop his head or throw a tantrum when things went wrong. He just chased down

every single ball and fought for every point like his life depended on it—not just in this final match, but

throughout the entire tour.

At the end of the day, everyone wants to win the trophy. But staying humble, playing with everything you

have, and fighting until the very last second is what actually makes people remember you.

He might have lost the match, but Ben Shelton proved that sometimes how you play is way more

important than the final score.

Why Exercise Can Make You Happier: What Happens in Your Brain by Nandita Kamalakannan

 Why Exercise Can Make You Happier: What Happens in Your Brain 

by Nandita Kamalakannan

Have you ever gone for a run or finished a workout when you didn't really feel like exercising,

only to feel better afterward?

That feeling isn't just in your imagination.

Exercise doesn't only change what happens to your muscles and heart. It also changes what

happens inside your brain.

When we exercise, our heart rate increases and our body needs more oxygen. This causes greater

blood flow throughout the body, including the brain. But the interesting part is what happens

inside the brain as a result.

One of the best-known effects of exercise involves neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are

chemical messengers that allow nerve cells to communicate with each other.

Exercise can influence several neurotransmitter systems involved in mood, motivation, attention,

and stress.

One of them is dopamine.

Dopamine is involved in motivation, reward, attention, and learning. When you accomplish

something difficult during exercise—finishing a run, lifting a certain weight, or beating your

previous time—your brain's reward system can become involved.

That can make completing a challenging workout feel satisfying.

Another neurotransmitter involved in mood is serotonin. Exercise can affect serotonin signaling,

which is one reason physical activity is being studied for its effects on mood and emotional well-

being.

And then there are endorphins.

You may have heard people say that exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals

produced by the body that can help reduce the perception of pain and contribute to positive

feelings during or after exercise.

But the story doesn't end there.

Exercise can also affect a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF.

BDNF helps support the growth, survival, and function of neurons. It is involved in processes

related to learning and memory. Physical activity can increase BDNF signaling, which is one

reason researchers are interested in the connection between exercise, brain health, and cognitive

function.

Exercise also interacts with the body's stress system.

When you're stressed, your body activates systems involving hormones such as cortisol. Exercise

itself is a physical stressor, but regular physical activity can help the body adapt to stress and

may influence how the stress-response system reacts over time.

This may help explain why going for a run after a stressful day can sometimes make your

problems feel a little more manageable.

There is another connection between exercise and the brain that teenagers should probably care

about: sleep.

Regular physical activity is associated with better sleep for many people. And sleep is extremely

important for the brain because it supports memory, learning, emotional regulation, and recovery.

So exercise can potentially create a cycle:

You exercise.

Your body and brain respond.

You sleep better.

Your brain gets time to recover and process information.

You may feel better the next day.

And then you're more prepared to be active again.

Of course, exercise isn't a magic solution for every emotional problem. Feeling sad, stressed, or

anxious is a normal part of life, and serious or persistent mental-health concerns deserve support

from trusted adults and health professionals.

But there is something pretty amazing about the fact that moving our bodies can affect our

brains.

We often think of exercise as something we do to become stronger, faster, or healthier physically.

Maybe we should also think of it as something we do for our brains.

The next time you put on your running shoes, go for a walk, ride a bike, or play a sport,

remember that you're not just training your muscles.

You're giving your brain a workout too.

Works Cited

"Benefits of Physical Activity." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4 Dec. 2025,

www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/benefits/ .

"Neurotransmitters: What They Are, Functions & Types." Cleveland Clinic, 14 Mar. 2022,

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22513-neurotransmitters .

"The Ultimate Brain Booster: Exercise and Mental Health." Stanford Lifestyle Medicine, 1 May

2024, lifestylemedicine.stanford.edu/the-ultimate-brain-booster-exercise-and-mental-health/ .

The Importance of Self-Esteem by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan

 The Importance of Self-Esteem by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan

Self-esteem is the way a person thinks, feels, and views themselves. It can affect many parts of

everyday life, including how people handle challenges, make decisions, communicate with

others, and respond to failure. Having healthy self-esteem does not mean thinking you are

perfect or better than everyone else. Instead, it means recognizing your strengths, accepting

your weaknesses, and understanding that you have value even when things do not go as

planned.

One of the most important parts of self-esteem is learning to accept yourself. People often

compare themselves to their friends, classmates, athletes, celebrities, or people they see online.

These comparisons can sometimes make people feel like they are not good enough. However,

everyone has different talents, experiences, personalities, and challenges. What may look easy

for one person could be difficult for another. Rather than constantly comparing yourself to

others, it is healthier to focus on your own progress and the things you can improve.

Setting goals is another great way to build self-esteem. When people choose a goal and work

toward it, they can see how their effort leads to improvement. Goals do not always have to be

huge accomplishments. Something as simple as improving a grade, learning a new skill,

becoming better at a sport, or speaking up more in class can create a sense of accomplishment.

Reaching small goals can build confidence and motivate people to take on bigger challenges.

The way people talk to themselves can also have a major effect on self-esteem. Everyone

makes mistakes, but it can be easy to become overly critical when something goes wrong.

Instead of thinking, “I am terrible at this,” a person can think, “I am still learning, and I can

improve with practice.” Changing negative thoughts into more realistic and encouraging ones

does not mean ignoring problems. It means recognizing that one mistake or failure does not

define an entire person.

The people around us can also influence our self-esteem. Supportive friends, family members,

teachers, and coaches can encourage us when we are struggling and remind us of what we are

capable of doing. Positive relationships can make people feel respected and valued. At the

same time, it is important to remember that other people's opinions do not determine a person's

worth. Someone may criticize you or doubt your abilities, but that does not automatically make

their opinion true.

Failure is also an important part of developing self-esteem. Nobody succeeds at everything on

the first try. In fact, failure can teach valuable lessons that success sometimes cannot. When

someone makes a mistake, they can think about what went wrong, learn from it, and try again.

Each time a person gets back up after a setback, they can become more confident in their

ability to handle difficult situations.

Self-esteem can also affect how people treat others. When someone feels secure in

themselves, they may be less likely to feel the need to put other people down to feel better.

Healthy self-esteem allows people to celebrate their own accomplishments while also being

happy for the success of others. It can help create stronger friendships and healthier

relationships because people are more comfortable being themselves.

Ultimately, self-esteem is about understanding that your value is not based on being perfect,

winning every competition, getting the highest grade, or receiving approval from everyone

around you. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, and good days

and bad days. Building healthy self-esteem takes time, but accepting yourself, setting realistic

goals, learning from mistakes, focusing on personal growth, and surrounding yourself with

supportive people can make a big difference.

Having self-esteem does not mean believing that you can do everything. It means believing that

you are capable of learning, improving, overcoming challenges, and continuing forward when

things become difficult. When people learn to recognize their own value, they can approach life

with greater confidence and a healthier attitude toward themselves and others.

Psychology Today. (2019). Self-esteem | psychology today. Psychology Today.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/self-esteem

Trust by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan

Trust by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan

 Trust is one of the most important parts of any relationship. Whether it is between friends, family

members, teammates, or teachers and students, trust helps people feel safe and comfortable

with one another. Without trust, relationships can become filled with doubt and

misunderstanding. Building trust takes time, but it can make relationships much stronger.

Trust begins with being honest. When people tell the truth, others know that they can depend on

what they say. Even when the truth is difficult to share, being honest is usually better than hiding

something or making up a story. Once someone discovers that they have been lied to, it can

become much harder for them to believe that person in the future.

Keeping promises is another important part of trust. If you tell someone that you will do

something, you should make a real effort to follow through. This could be something as simple

as completing your part of a group project or helping a friend when they need you. When you

consistently keep your word, people learn that they can depend on you.

Trust is especially important in teamwork. In a sport, for example, teammates have to trust each

other to do their jobs. A basketball player needs to trust a teammate to make a pass, and a

relay runner needs to trust the next runner to be ready. When teammates trust each other, they

can communicate better and work toward the same goal.

However, trust does not always come easily. Sometimes people make mistakes or break

promises. When this happens, rebuilding trust can take time. The person who made the mistake

needs to take responsibility, apologize when appropriate, and show through their actions that

they are willing to change. Simply saying “trust me” is not enough; trust is built through

consistent actions.

Trust is also something we should give to ourselves. We can learn to trust our own abilities,

decisions, and preparation. This does not mean believing that we will always be perfect. It

means knowing that even when something goes wrong, we can learn from it and keep moving

forward.

Ultimately, trust is built through honesty, reliability, respect, and time. It cannot be forced or

created instantly. When people trust one another, they can communicate openly, work together,

and support each other. Trust may be invisible, but it is one of the strongest foundations for any

successful relationship.

Time Management by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan

Time Management by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan 

Time is one of the most valuable things people have. Everyone gets the same 24 hours in a

day, but people use those hours in very different ways. Time management is the skill of

organizing your time so that you can complete your responsibilities while still having time for

yourself. Learning how to manage time can help students, athletes, workers, and almost anyone

else become more organized and less stressed.

One of the first steps to better time management is figuring out what needs to be done. Making

a list of assignments, chores, practices, activities, and other responsibilities can help you

understand how much you have to accomplish. Once you have a list, you can decide which

tasks are the most important or have the closest deadlines. This prevents you from forgetting

something important.

Another helpful strategy is breaking large tasks into smaller pieces. For example, if you have a

big project due in two weeks, completing the entire project in one night could be extremely

stressful. Instead, you could spend the first few days researching, then organize your

information, write a draft, and finally revise your work. Smaller steps make large responsibilities

feel much easier to handle.

Avoiding distractions is another major part of time management. Phones, video games,

television, and social media can quickly take up a large amount of time. Sometimes a person

may plan to spend only ten minutes on their phone but end up spending an hour. Setting

specific times for entertainment can help you stay focused when you need to work.

Time management also means understanding when you need a break. Working for hours

without stopping can make it harder to concentrate. Short breaks can give your brain time to

rest and help you return to your work with more focus. Getting enough sleep is especially

important because being tired can make it harder to learn, concentrate, and make good

decisions.

Another useful habit is planning ahead. Looking at your schedule the night before can help you

know what you need to accomplish the next day. You can prepare your backpack, organize your

materials, and decide when you will work on assignments. This can make mornings and busy

days much less chaotic.

Good time management does not mean filling every minute with work. It means making

thoughtful choices about how you spend your time. There should still be room for friends, family,

hobbies, exercise, and relaxation.

Learning to manage time takes practice. Nobody becomes perfectly organized immediately.

However, by making lists, setting priorities, breaking large tasks into smaller steps, avoiding

distractions, and planning ahead, anyone can improve. Time management is a skill that can

help people succeed not only in school but also in their future careers and everyday lives.

Sportsmanship by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan

Sportsmanship by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan 

Sports are not only about winning. They are also about learning how to work with others, handle

challenges, and respect the people around you. One of the most important qualities an athlete

can have is sportsmanship. Sportsmanship means showing respect, fairness, and a positive

attitude before, during, and after a competition. Whether you win or lose, good sportsmanship

shows what kind of person you are.

One important part of sportsmanship is respecting your opponents. Even though you are

competing against another team or player, they are working hard just like you are. Cheering for

your teammates is important, but making fun of an opponent or celebrating in a disrespectful

way can take away from the spirit of the game. A good athlete can be competitive while still

treating everyone with respect.

Sportsmanship is also about how you handle losing. Losing can be frustrating, especially when

you have practiced hard and expected to win. It is natural to feel disappointed, but blaming

referees, teammates, or opponents does not solve anything. Instead, athletes can learn from

their mistakes, congratulate the other team, and use the experience to improve. A loss can

teach you just as much as a victory.

Winning also requires good sportsmanship. It can be exciting to win, but athletes should avoid

making others feel bad about losing. A simple handshake, high-five, or “good game” can show

respect. The best athletes understand that their success does not make them better than

everyone else.

Sportsmanship also matters outside of sports. The lessons athletes learn—respect, teamwork,

patience, responsibility, and handling pressure—can help them at school and in everyday life.

Being a good sport means doing the right thing even when nobody is forcing you to.

In the end, the scoreboard only shows who won the game. Sportsmanship shows something

much more important: how you treated others and how you handled yourself. Winning is great,

but being respectful, hardworking, and supportive makes someone a true athlete.