Late Quiet Nights
By: Sachi Dixit
The house is quiet,
like it finally fell asleep
Lights are off,
doors are closed,
and the world feels paused
My phone glows in the dark,
the only light that stays awake with me.
Time moves slower at night,
like it’s giving me space to think
No one’s watching.
No one’s asking what's wrong.
I don’t have to explain myself.
Late at night,
when everyone is asleep,
I feel the most real
just me, my thoughts,
and the silence that actually listens.
Why Being Busy Is Actually Good
By: Sachi Dixit
Being busy can be good because it gives people a sense of purpose.
When you have things to do, you feel more motivated and focused. Staying
busy can help you feel productive instead of bored or stuck doing nothing.
Being busy can also improve mental health. Staying active keeps your
mind occupied, which can reduce overthinking and stressing about every
small detail. Having a routine helps people feel more organized and in
control of their time, making daily life feel less overwhelming.
Another benefit of being busy is personal growth. When people balance
schoolwork, hobbies, or personal responsibilities, they learn important life
skills like time management and responsibility. Being busy also pushes
people out of their comfort zone and encourages them to try new things,
which helps build confidence.
Even though being busy has several benefits, balance is still important.
If someone is busy all the time without rest, it can lead to burnout and take
away from spending time with family and friends. Taking breaks and
making time to relax helps keep being busy healthy and positive instead of
stressful.
Off Day
By: Sachi Dixit
Today felt like a glitch in a game,
Like my world was playing on slow.
The sky looked the same,
But something felt different
The halls were loud
But my ears were numb,
Like everyone was talking,
But I couldn’t catch a single word
My body was here
But my mind was far away,
Like I was walking through fog
And couldn’t find a way
Nothing was wrong
But nothing felt right
Like I was staring at the sun
But still couldn’t see the light
I don’t know what happened
Or why it all felt strange
But Im hoping tomorrow
It won’t feel so off again.
Why I Recommend Reading Short Stories
Kavin Sivakumar
Many short stories have engaging plots, meaningful lessons, and are easy to read with a busy schedule. Unlike longer novels, short stories can be read in one sitting, which make them more appealing to readers who don’t have a lot of free time or to readers who don’t enjoy reading long novels. Even though these stories are short they often have a meaningful message and dramatic and impactful moments.
One of the reasons why I would recommend reading short stories is because they have meaningful messages and emotional scenes. Many short stories go over the topics of fear, guilt,and morality. For example, in the short story “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe it goes over the topic of guilt and how you should never allow your emotions to make decisions for you. Another example of this would be the short story “Harrison Bergeron”. This story shows how being equal doesn’t always mean being fair. Since these stories are smaller than normal novels, identifying the theme is much easier because these stories are more focused on getting the theme out. This causes many emotional and impactful scenes to be in short stories such as “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “Harrison Bergeron”.
Another reason I would recommend reading short stories is because it explores many different perspectives. Many short stories have a character do something that is morally questionable and even though you might not agree with them at first while reading the story you can understand why they did what they did so it can help you build empathy for others. Also reading different perspectives can also help you understand different beliefs and values not just in stories but also in real life.
Short stories are also memorable because they often contain a turning point in a character's life. These moments are shocking, emotional and thought provoking which causes the reader to remember this story by it. Although these stories are short they introduce a character and you build a bond with this character by knowing their beliefs and view points so when the big twist hits you are going to be shocked. This illustrates how short stories are memorable.
Overall, short stories are great to read if you have some time to spare. Although the stories are only a couple of pages long they still manage to catch your attention and teach you meaningful lessons that can be used in your life. The big twist that most short stories have also make them more memorable which make you want to keep reading more and unique short stories. All of these factors are what make short stories such amazing stories to read.
Netflix’s Need for Profit Over Storytelling
by: Samhita adapaNothing is more insulting than a movie or TV show assuming its audience is too stupid to comprehend what is happening on screen and Netflix is the biggest offender of this. With Netflix recently buying Warner Brothers, people are left scared about their current and upcoming projects, whether they will be dumbed down to appeal to those who scroll while watching TV.
The term Second Screen generally refers to those who have a laptop, phone, or IPAD on while having the TV on at the same time. This is why many TV shows are made for casual viewings, like Riverdale and Seinfeld. Both these shows are good. You don’t need to devote your entire mind to analyzing all the subtleties. Sure, there are jokes you miss if you don’t completely focus on the show, but it makes perfect sense if you are doing something like checking your phone or cooking while watching the show. This in itself isn’t the problem. The problem surfaces when Netflix intentionally dumbs down their movies and shows, which they refer to as content, so people can scroll through Twitter as they are watching the show. This becomes a problem when shows start becoming redundant when you focus on it, as you are supposed to. Storylines become stale and uninteresting. Dialogue becomes repetitive and inorganic. Netflix instructs screenswriters to intentionally do this, to have characters announce what they’re doing to the viewer just in case they missed it while watching a TikTok.
The intent behind this is to keep viewers from turning off the show. If someone is on their phone during a movie and the movie is getting too hard to keep up with, they are more likely to shut off Netflix than their phone. By pushing more shows and movies that are “second screen enough”, viewers can be on their phone and keep up with the show at the same time. Because how else are they fully supposed to enjoy and digest a show if they can’t have TikTok open at the same time?
The issue I have with this is when this is being forced on movies and especially TV shows that have extreme potential. By doing this, they aren’t allowed to challenge things, be different. They aren’t able to be complex, subtle, and unique because they need to appeal to everyone, including those who can’t put their phone down to watch even one episode.
Another issue that I have with Netflix is the binge model. Especially when they split seasons into parts. Part of the TV experience is the time you have to digest between each episode. You use that time to discuss, theorize. It’s a collective experience. Everyone is talking about it, everyone is excited. There’s a sense of community that comes with those weekly episode airings. Think of HBO Sundays. So many great shows are longstanding because of the experience associated with them, like, Succession, Game of Thrones, The Wire, The Sopranos. As I write this, Welcome to Derry is airing every Sunday and as soon as I finish the episode, I immediately bond over the shared experience with my friends or random strangers on Twitter. By releasing seasons through the binge model, you effectively kill this experience. Some people might have finished the entire season by the time you hit play on the first episode. When a whole season drops at once, you feel obligated to finish the show within a day otherwise you would get spoiled the moment you hop on some sort of social media. This hinders the enjoyment of the show as you are rushing through it.
As if this couldn’t get any worse, there is the act of splitting the season in two. They do this to increase profits, to keep people subscribed for longer and keep the show relevant. This actively kills any hype there is for the next part of the season within that wait period. Take JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure as an example. JoJo Fridays used to be a thing fans were excited for every week. When Netflix got the rights for Stone Ocean, they decided to release the season in batches, effectively destroying the excitement and anticipation for the season.
Overall, I strongly disagree with Netflix’s model of television and the direction they seem to be taking. They are clearly prioritizing profit over quality and this is hurting the creative potential of their shows and movies. However, this doesn’t mean everything Netflix puts out is low-effort and lazy. There are tons of great Netflix original shows that clearly had a lot of effort put into storytelling and direction, like, Beef, Squid Game, Mindhunter, and Peaky Blinders. These shows prove how great television could be when there is time and care being put into it, not just being made for second screen viewing.
Why Music Feels Like Threapy
By: Sachi Dixit
Music feels like therapy because it helps people express emotions they don’t know
how to put into words. When someone is feeling sad, angry, or overwhelmed, listening to
music can help them feel understood. It’s like the song is saying what they’re feeling inside
when they can’t explain it themselves.
Music also helps people calm down and relax. Slow songs can reduce stress, while
upbeat music can lift your mood and give you energy. You can almost always find a song that
matches your current mood, since there are so many unique and meaningful songs.
Music brings people together, which makes it even more powerful. Hearing the same
song on the radio in a car, singing along with friends, or dancing to music at parties creates
shared moments. Even people with different backgrounds can connect through the same beat
or lyrics, making them feel closer.
Overall, music is powerful because it connects people to their emotions and to each
other. It helps people process feelings they may not even realize they have and reminds them
that they aren’t alone in what they’re going through. At the same time, it brings people
together through shared songs, memories, and moments. Music plays a big role in our lives,
even when we don’t notice it—it’s always there in the background. Imagining a world without
music feels empty and strange, which shows just how important it truly is.
Why snow days are the best
by: Akanksha BhatSnow days are honestly the best. You wake up, check your phone, and see that the school day is cancelled. This immediately changes your mood. No alarms, no rushing, no early mornings. Just a whole day to yourself.
What makes snow days so good? It is because you have no expectations for the day. You can stay in pajamas, binge your favorite shows, scroll endlessly, or just sleep as late as you want. Homework also doesn't feel as urgent to finish because you have extra time, and everything slows down in the best way. Even simple things, like making a cup of hot chocolate or watching snow pile up outside your window, somehow feels extra cozy on these days.
Snow days also bring adventure. Going outside in the snow, whether it's building a snowman, having a snowball fight, or just walking through the cool breeze, makes the day feel even more special. It is the one time when being outside in the freezing weather actually feels fun instead of annoying.
The best part? Snow days turn ordinary days into something memorable. Friends text about the crazy amount of snow, neighbors are outside taking pictures, and social media blowing up with posts about school being cancelled. For a moment, everyone seems to just enjoy the unexpected break.
Snow days are more than just a day off, they are a little pause in the middle of everything. A day to relax, have fun, and maybe even do nothing at all. And honestly…those are the kind of days that stick with you.
