Series of Haiku's by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan
Fall
Scarecrows scaring birds
A falling spree of leafage
Harvest starts right now!
Spring
“Chirp, Chirp,” spring is here
Buds blooming, squirrels darting
a Vivaldi art
The Gates Open
“Ring,” time to wake up
Parents dragging kids to school
Summer’s over, “What!”
What is there to complain about? by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan
Each creature has its gifts, no doubt.
Animals are built to survive,
With traits that help them stay alive.
Yet every strength has limits too,
Working only when conditions suit.
To truly change, to shift your way,
Takes generations, day by day.
But humans hold a different power—
Our minds can solve within an hour.
In less than time it takes to grow,
We shape new paths and learn to know.
Still, we forget what nature gives,
The simple ways the world still lives.
A blazing day, no cooling air?
Just find a tree—there’s comfort there.
All things carry loss and gain,
A mix of sunshine, joy, and pain.
It’s this balance, strange yet true,
That makes each being something new.
If oceans wished the sky were low,
The forests would have no place to grow.
If the Moon burned bright like the Sun,
The Earth would end—its days undone.
So nature speaks in quiet gifts:
Be glad for what your life uplifts.
For what you have, though small it seems,
May shape another’s hopes and dreams.
A Timed Race by Sarvessh Senthamarai Kannan
The clocks ticks
Waiting for friends, “Won’t Stop.”
Want school to end, “Won’t Stop.”
The adults say, “Life is a Race.”
But what if there was no pace.
No place where you had to be.
Don’t let the universe decide your pace,
Let dreams be your pace and time be your chariot.
Ride through rough forests, snap your lariat.
Test your limits, what’s there to lose?
Time won’t wait, so why should you?
Sisyphus by Rishi Patil
What is the meaning of this world
Where people suffer and are tortured at every corner?
While some didn’t have to move a finger for anything they have?
One may be tempted to give up due to what they are subjected to
For seemingly no reason at all
“We are destined for absolutely nothing”
But if so
Why do we feel joy?
Or love?
Or nostalgia or pride or inspiration?
We feel because we are inherently our own meaning
We feel because we are humans
And in this life slowly draining us
We have to fabricate the light at the end of the tunnel
To be willing to keep going
Why I Recommend Reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerlad
Kavin Sivakumar
The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerlad is a novel that is filled with surprising events, and follows deep themes such as why recreating the past is dangerous. Although the story was published in 1925 the themes that are learnt throughout the story are still relevant, and can still apply to many people today. The story takes place in the 1920s in New York, and the story follows Nick Carraway as he meets his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. I believe this story will let you see that happy memories in the past should stay in the past, and trying to recreate it will only lead to consequences.
One of the main reasons I would recommend reading The Great Gatsby is because of the characters that are in the story. I mentioned two of the major characters, Nick and Gatsby, but they’re still many major characters that impact the story greatly. I find this important because when you first meet the character they seem minor, and not important to the story, but as you read on you will see the “minor” characters end up having a big role and impact on the story. In addition, the emotions, and personality of the “minor” characters play a major role on the main characters actions, and motives. I believe this is what makes The Great Gatsby different from most novels.
Another reason I would recommend reading this novel is it shows the danger of recreating the past. The story shows how even if you have all the money, and power in the world, trying to recreate the past exactly will lead to failure and disappointment. The story shows how people's emotions can change, and that trying to ignore your true emotions in order to try to recreate the time you were happy will only lead to you feeling disappointed. Also, the story highlights the point that you have to accept that people change, and refusal to accept change will only lead to disappointment later on in life.
The novel is engaging, exciting because the story is well paced, and the events in the story don’t seem too sudden or too late. I find this point important because many people don’t like reading classic novels because they are considered to be paced slowly, however in The Great Gatsby the events happen in a timely fashion, which makes it enjoyable to read.
Overall, The Great Gatsby is a great novel to read if you have some free time or if you are looking to start a new book. The characters in the story will help drive the plot, and keep you invested in their lives. The lesson of recreating the past the story teaches us can help us see the past in a different way. Also, the pacing of the book makes it easy to read since the book keeps the story going without making the reader wait for a long time for the next major event to happen. All of these factors are what make The Great Gatsby such an amazing novel to read.
It's Okay Not to Have Everything Figured Out by Shuxuan Chang
During a recent family gathering, everyone met at my grandma's house. After dinner, the adults began asking me and the other teenagers about our plans for the summer and our future. They asked questions like which college we wanted to attend and what career we hoped to have. Sometimes, those questions made me feel like I was expected to have everything figured out already.
One of my relatives asked me about my dream college. Whenever I ask her a question, she often tells me, “You should search online instead of asking me.” I always felt confused by that. It wasn’t because she didn’t answer my question—it was because whenever she asked me for help, I always tried my best to answer her questions. I wondered why she couldn’t do the same for me. Later, she called my parents over and asked them about my grades. At one point, she asked them something that I didn’t understand, so I asked what it meant. She simply replied, “You don’t need to know.”
On the way home, I kept thinking about what had happened. At first, I felt frustrated, but then I realized that not everyone likes to share what they know, and I can’t control how other people respond. What I can control is how I react. I also realized that it’s okay not to have every answer about my future right now. I’m still learning, growing, and figuring things out, just like many other teenagers. Asking questions doesn’t make me less capable—it’s part of learning, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
When Expectations Become Pressure by Shuxuan Chang
At the beginning of summer break, my father asked me about my plans for the summer. I told him that I could accomplish many things in two months. For example, I wanted to volunteer, explore colleges I was interested in, research universities, and study next year’s classes.
Every day, I try to complete my daily plan. Sometimes, I feel exhausted because I set too many expectations for myself. I keep telling myself, “I have to finish this today.” Even when I make a plan, I sometimes don’t have the motivation to follow it. I put a lot of pressure on myself, and it makes me feel tired. Sometimes, when my parents excitedly ask me about my progress, I tell them, “I don’t know. I just feel tired because I know I still have a lot of work to do.” Sharing my plans with others sometimes makes me feel more pressure. My parents told me that sometimes it is better to keep my goals private until I make progress.
I talked about this with my friend, and she said she had experienced the same thing. She realized that sharing every detail of her plans created a lot of pressure because everyone knew what she was doing. After that, she stopped sharing all of her goals with others. Listening to her experience helped me understand that sometimes, keeping some goals private can reduce unnecessary pressure. I also learned that it is important to focus on my own progress instead of worrying too much about other people’s expectations.
After thinking about this, I realized that having goals is important, but I should not let my goals control my life. It is okay if I cannot finish everything perfectly. Sometimes, taking a break and adjusting my plan can help me move forward. Goals should motivate me, not make me feel trapped by pressure.
