Graduation is coming up in a couple months which means senior year will be coming to a close. Because we are so close to the finish line, many of us just have our minds set on graduating and being done with school. Even though most of us just want to get senior year over with, let’s not forget that we only get to be seniors once and though we may not realize it now, the second semester of senior year has the potential to be one of the best semesters of your life!”

“Grades Don’t Matter Second Semester of Senior Year”

Ok, most of us know that this is only a half truth. Colleges will still look at final transcripts and if your grades really do slip, there is a chance they might rescind you. Hence, grades do matter to a certain extent and we should keep striving to do well in our classes. However, now that college apps are out the window, colleges won’t get the chance to look at your second-semester-senior year-grades since decisions are released before the end of the year. This means that you could cut yourself a little slack and not stress out about earning a single B because it likely won’t have an impact on your college’s decision. Thus, now is the time to breathe and distress because once college started, your grades will matter A LOT MORE. 

Senior Assassins

Now that it’s second semester, it’s time to go wild and be goofy since it’ll be the last time you really get to spend time with your high school friends. Although I am not in assassins myself, I hear from my peers that it’s incredibly fun. The fact that people take it so seriously makes senior assassins a memory that’ll make you snicker 50 years from now. And if you happen to be the one ultimate assassin you just might win yourself some mula! If you want to make some funny memories this semester, senior assassins are the way to go. All it takes is 5 bucks and squirt gun!      

Senior Events

Alas, we can finally participate in the senior events we long coveted to participate in years ago. There is truly a lot to look forward to this semester. Such events include the Senior Fashion Show, the Senior Variety Show, Airband, Senior Celebration, Senior Week, and Prom. All these events are super fun and unique to Naperville North. Really, there is no school that does Airband better than NNHS and we don’t hear about our classmates getting hypnotized in the auditorium everyday do we? Now that we are seniors, we should live the senior life and attend as many senior events as possible because we will only get to be seniors once and these events are the BOMB!

Ditch Days/ PSAT Days/ SAT Days/ Snow Days

Muahahaha. Look at all those underclassmen, stuck in school taking long, awful, boring tests. Now that we are seniors, we get to sit back, relax, and take the day off while these suckers gotta take a test. Oh sweet sweet vengeance. We were all once there too. 

On top of test days, senior year also includes a ditch day. The one ditch day I’m going to go into is the Monday after prom. This is such a notorious ditch day that teachers build their schedules around it so there won’t be much to make up if you choose to ditch. It’s also after finals which gives us a bigger reason to chill as well. What’s nice about having a ditch day the Monday after prom means is that we can spend more time partying and doing after prom activities without stressing about school happening the following Monday. 

Alas, snow days. We haven’t had one yet but in the case we do have one, it wouldn’t matter because we will all be out of here by May 18. Hence, snow days are essentially free days off of school that we don’t have to make up for! Isn’t that sweet? 

Now that I’ve gone through the list of the many reasons why second semester of senior year is the best semester, I hope that y’all take the time to enjoy it and savor every moment. Remember, now is the time when you can go out and have fun with your classmates without the stress you experienced as an underclassmen. Graduation is definitely something to look forward to but don’t lose sight of the perks that make second semester of senior year one you’d want to go back to. 

Works Cited

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If you are vertically challenged like me you’ve probably heard this a million times already: Hey, how’s the weather down there? And you’ve probably rolled your eyes a million times hearing that. But hey, it’s totally ok to be short. In fact , it’s almost like living the high life..ahem…no pun intended. Sure, reaching things might be a bit tough sometimes along with all the teasing but there sure are a lot of perks! If you aren’t already embracing your shortness, it’s about time that you read the blog. Allow me to uncover your eyes and show you the wonders your height could do for you!

Leg Space

Criss cross applesauce? Sitting on a plane? No problem. We’ll make ourselves comfortable in no time. Having shorter legs means we always got a plethora of leg space. This is something that our taller counterparts often envy. Imaging cramming your legs into a tiny space? That must be suffocating. Next time you sit in the back seat of a car or are in an airplane, stretch them legs and savor the feeling of free legs!

Taller Guys

There is no further explanation needed here ladies.

Front Row Seats

Ok, being short means it’s really easy to be blocked in pictures or concerts. However most people will take note of that so you know what that means? You get to go in front! That means you’ll get to be in front of every picture, thus making you the spot light  in every photo. And don’t even get me started  about concerts. You get to be in the very front row! In front of all the action! 

A Shorter Fall

I’m sure there have been times where we all wished that we were 6 ft. But have you ever wondered what it’d be like to fall 6 ft? Being shorter means we are naturally closer to the ground. Hence, there is a shorter fall. Pfft…a shorter fall. Yes it’s a big deal. To feed your inner nerd,  Newton’s third law is: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, being taller means that your head is gonna smash into the ground with a greater force and that the ground is going to smash back at your head with the same amount of force…ouch. I think I’ll go for the shorter fall. 

Discounts

This Friday, I went to the Cinemark  theater in 7 bridges to buy a ticket for the R-rated “ Invisible Man”.  And of course I was greeted with the following question: “Can you show an ID ma’am”. And the best part was that they didn’t bother to check my 6 ft friend was 17. Being on the short end of the spectrum will often land you in these situations. But I’m telling you, it’s not all such a bad thing. Not only should you be flattered that people think you look young but you can use your youthful appearance to win yourself some discounts. If you just lay low and keep quiet about how old you really are you just might snag yourself a cheaper child-priced movie ticket which happened to me on several occasions last year. 

Speaking from a short person’s standpoint, I can certainly say that there is a lot to embrace about being fun sized. Really, who can say no to extra leg space, taller guys, front row seats, short falls, and discounts. But regardless of whatever height you happen to be, every height will have its pros and cons. However, you should love your height because that’s what makes you unique and beautiful! And don’t underestimate the perks your height can bring you. 

Works Cited

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We all have childhood fears. For some of us, it was the monster in the closet. For others, it was clowns. For those of you who had such fears, you are not alone. As a child, my fears would keep me awake at night. The worst part is that all these fears were “developed”. If you are in need of empathy or up to hearing some hilarious yet frightful stories, I encourage you to read on. 

Generic Aliens 

My grandparents are to blame for this one. Back when I was a kindergartner, my grandparents played a documentary about extraterrestrials. Most of the documentary was probably a hoax but to a 5 year old, everything was true. The documentary was all about people getting abducted and coming back with a strange scar on their wrist. The recreated scenes of the Aliens performing surgery on the abductees were what scarred me the most because I thought it was real. And at that age, I had a low tolerance for seeing blood.  

After watching that documentary I was afraid to go to sleep at night. I would refuse to go to bed unless the light in my bedroom was on. Eventually, there came a point where my dad handed me a mini flashlight and he told me I could turn it on if an Alien ever came to get me and they would run away. For a month, I would sleep with the flashlight on underneath the covers. Unfortunately , my flashlight ran out of battery at a certain point but my fear of abduction eventually dissipated by the time I started first grade. 

Xenomorph Aliens

If something is R rated, there’s got to be a reason behind it. Right around 1st grade, my dad let me watch the movie Aliens with him. The aliens in this movie were far scarier than the human-looking ones I saw in my grandparent’s documentary. These Aliens bled acid blood, drooled acid saliva, penetrated humans with their mouth and tale. But that’s not the part that really scared me. What scared me most were the chest bursters.

 In the movie the Aliens would reproduce by laying eggs. The eggs would eventually hatch and a spider-like creature called a face hugger which  would walk around looking for a host and humans happen to be perfect. Once the face hugger finds its host, it would latch on the host’s through and choke them so they have no choice but to open their mouth and allow for the face hugger to insert a tube down their esophagus to deposit an embryo. The face hugger would eventually die and fall off and the host would regain consciousness for a short period of time. Eventually, the host will fall to the ground, writhing in pain and clutching its stomach. Within moments, a xenomprh Alien will burst out of its chest, covered in blood, and run around killing people. 

After watching that movie, I became paranoid of face huggers latching onto my face when I was unconscious  and depositing an egg in me. My dad did not help me because I would ask him if I had an Alien in me and he would grin and say yes and I would be horrified. One time, my stomach growled when I was about to go to bed and I thought my time had come. I was so distraught and I came to my dad crying because I thought the Alien was going or burst out  my chest and killed me, that’s why my stomach was making sounds. My dad probably rolled his eyes and gave me the “cure” which happened to be an activia yogurt to expel the Alien. Luckily the growling stopped and now I realize I was probably just really hungry. 

Bloody Mary

In second grade there was a boy at my table who was talking about some ghost named Bloody Mary. I didn’t care very much at first but then he went into detail. He said that the ghost would pop in a mirror and rip your face off if you went into a bathroom, locked the door, turned off the lights, and then spun around and said her name three times. 

Since the day I heard about Bloody Mary, I always left the door to the bathroom unlocked when I was using it. I had to be sure that there was a quick escape for me should the ghost ever decide to sneak on me. I continued to leave my door unlocked all through 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade. In those 3 years, I had only walked 3 times. It was until 4th grade that I started locking my door because my nonna walked in on me and gave me a lecture about how I should always lock the door when using the bathroom. 

Just as I was about to overcome my fear, my parents bought me a 6 foot mirror to place in my bedroom and it was on the wall right in front of my bed. For another few months I would struggle to sleep and wrap myself in a blanket  burrito for extra protection. This fear went away by 5th grade after extensive searching on you tube for the Bloody Mary challenge. After realizing   all of ‘em were fake, there was no reason to believe it was real. 

If you ever decide to have kids, please please please do not show them creepy documentaries, R-rated horror movies, or tell them terrifying ghost stories. If you do, be sure to tell them that it is not real because kids are SUPER impressionable. Scaring the crap out of them will keep them from sleeping at night which is very important for their growth. That being said, I hope you got a kick out of my hilarious childhood horror stories. If you ever reflect back on your personal childhood fears, what seemed terrifying must now be terrifically funny.

Works Cited

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Being half Taiwanese, I can’t help but be exposed to some of the most delicious delicacies. Thinking about pork intestines makes my mouth drool…..Huh? You heard me right. I LIKE PORK INTESTINES. And on top of that, I enjoy kidneys and tripe. I can assure you that I am not Hannibal Lecter. The stuff I like is soooo much better than liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. If you are getting sick of the American burger and are up for some adventure, I can guide you in the right direction. 

Spicy Pork Intestines in Savory Hot Sauce

Ok, frankly, pork intestines sound gross but it’s got the most spectacular flavor. The first time I tried intestines, I had no idea that I was eating intestines. My evil dad made me try a piece and wouldn’t tell me what it was until I tried it. I was a little disturbed upon discovering what I was eating but after one bite, I could never go back, one piece of intestine is never enough. I could care less that I was eating intestines after that. 

It’s nice, chewy, and incredibly savory. Pork intestines are UMAMI. The fat coating the interior of the intestine practically melts in your mouth. Oh and we cannot forget about the hot sauce! That sauce will kick start a party of flavors in your mouth. For if you are somebody who loves some spice, this dish is the dish for you. I highly recommend going to Mapo for this dish because it’s so close to Naperville North!

Sauteed Kidneys

I remember sitting in Champ’s class when he asked us if any of us had tried kidney. My hand shot right up along with a few other kiddos. Champ shook his head in disapproval and said it was gross because we were basically eating filter. He is 100% correct. But I was sooo ready to get into a debate to make my point that the deliciousness of kidneys overpowers the grossness of it . 

Kidneys can be sauteed in so many ways. Because Kidney has a neutral flavor, you could saute it in any sauce,spice, and vegetables of your choice. My favorite kidney dish is also at Mapo: nice, crunchy kidney sauteed with crisp bamboo shoots, bell peppers, and black ear fungus seasoned with spicy pepper and soy sauce. Kidney can be made into any delicious combo. On top of that , it has some nutritious benefits. According to https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319229, Kidneys are, “Rich in nutrients and proteins, kidney meat contains omega 3 fatty acids. It is also known to contain anti-inflammatory properties and to be good for the heart”. To all y’all health nuts seeking a nutritious protein source, kidney would be the way to go. 

Steamed Tripe 

First of all, if you don’t know what tripe is, you are missing out buddy. Second of all, its cow stomach. Trust me, tripe is far from bloody cow guts or whatever atrocity your mind may be picture right now. Tripe is something I have been eating since childhood. Back in the day, my parents would drive all the way to a Dim Sum in China Town so we could enjoy this delicacy. Lucky for y’all a dim sum place recently opened a few years ago in Naperville called Min Hin so y’all can try tripe any day. If you don’t know what dim sum is, then you have another reason to venture out and try some good food along with tripe. 

The best part about tripe is its fun texture and shape. Tripe has a crunchy texture, kind of like squid but more brittle. There are a bunch of delicate, dotted flaps attached to it. Like kidney, tripe is tasteless so there is a lot of room for culinary creativity. One of my favorite versions of tripe is Cantonese style steamed tripe you get at a dim sum. The tripe is served right out the steamer on a plate in a wooden box. The ginger sauce that drizzles the tripe is nice, warm, and savory. It’s almost like a soup. The ginger gives the tripe a nice heat and really spices up the tripe. The way this tripe is prepared will be far from tasteless and might even become your go to at a dim sum. If you are up for some dim sum and curious to try something of a new texture in a mouth watering sauce, I suggest you place an order soon!

Again some of these internal organs might sound repulsing but they taste far from that. I encourage you to try them so you can open your palate up for more delicious food you may not have considered before. I am a picky eater so for me to tell you that these dishes are AMAZING, I mean are SPECTACULAR. Now that you have a list of dishes to try, there is no reason to be bored eating the American Burger. Remember, you never know until you try!

Works Cited

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319229

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There were so many times I wanted to bat down my dad like the whack-o-mole game when I was watching episode 9 of star wars. When it comes to movies, my dad LOVES to do commentary and it SUCKS. Despite Star Wars Episode 9 being my favorite episode, my dad’s commentary does hold some truth and got me thinking about some gaps in the movie. If you found yourself conflicted about certain aspects of this Star Wars episode, you are not alone. Your support of this blog might inspire JJ Arbrams might make another episode or make a more satisfactory alternate ending. 

Lazy Force Ghosts

When Rey revisits the island of Ahch-To, she is greeted by the Force ghost of Luke Skywalker who offers her a ship to defeat Palpatine. What may seem like one of the most inspirational moments of the movie makes the entire movie somewhat of a joke. HELLO? WHY DOES REY HAVE TO SACRIFICE HERSELF AND FIGHT PALPATINE ON HER OWN WHEN LUKE SKYWALKER, A FORCE GHOST, CAN LIFT A MASSIVE SHIP OUT THE WATER?Look here,  Luke Skywalker is already dead so he obviously can’t die twice. So in a sense, Luke Skywalker is invincible and if not, more powerful than Palpatine. The whole defeating palpatine gig could be solved if Luke just stepped up.

Also, Anakin has a force ghost, Yoda has a force ghost, Obi Wan has a force ghost. Why can’t these force ghosts from a jedi army to defeat Palpatine with, well, the force? Their words of encouragement were nice but ultimately led to the death of Rey. And I hate to say this but during one of the saddest moments of the movie, when Rey is about to give up, I couldn’t help but giggle at the sound of Yoda’s voice. All seriousness was lost when Yoda’s wacko grammar lived on past his death. 

Kylo, The Boyfriend That NEVER Goes Away

Ok, after Palpatine knocked Kylo Ren into the bottomless pit, it seemed pretty obvious that it would be the end of the Skywalkers and that the title, The Rise of Skywalker,  was complete BS. However, Kylo Ren was able to sustain that fall and somehow CLIMB thousands of feet up that steep, steep crack. Just how on earth? And the funniest part is that it wasn’t the fall that killed him, but it was him sharing the force Rey? I don’t know whether Kylo is a super-boyfriend or weak sauce at this point. Nonetheless, I could not help but shed a few tears when he died because my Reylo ship died with it as well. 

Rose

Never mind the fact that Rose was one of the biggest heroes in the last movie. It seems as if she was just a side character throughout this whole episode. Based on the last episode, it seemed that Finn and Rose had a thing going on but that can also be put to question as it appears that Finn may have developed a second love interest on another planet. 

It took THAT LONG

Poe Dameron seemed pretty down about the lack of support the resistance was getting. It took 3 episodes for the Allies to show up after numerous distress calls, never mind light speed. Their arrival was almost like a quick fix to the plot because the writers knew pretty well they met a dead end in their own script and that the resistance was gonna get stomped by the first order. 

“Unfinnished” Business

Right when Finn and Rey were about to sink, Finn called out to Rey and said there was something he needed to tell her but was cut off when the sand got the best of ‘em. After surviving the sinking, Rey asked Finn what he was about to say but he blew it off. The second time, Poe asked him what he wanted to say, Finn also blew it off. And before we know it, the movie is over, and none of us have any idea what Finn was about to say. Isn’t that CRUEL??? Why bother mentioning something if you aren’t gonna give an answer? And I totally get the writers are trying to be mysterious and all but this was totally uncalled for and what Finn has to say isn’t super vital to the plot so they might as well tell us already, you know what I mean? 

To all ya Star Wars fans out there, just to make it clear, I am not a hater. The Rise of Skywalker was definitely a fun movie to watch and it had its moments. I’m just here to point out what the last movie could have done to satisfy our Star Wars cravings. Unfortunately, the Rise of Skywalker is the last episode so if you want a better wrap up of the series as much as I do, let’s join forces and email JJ Abrams to make another movie or ask him make up a happier, alternative ending for all ya Reylo shippers out there. 

Works Cited

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All day long, our fingers are double tapping on Instagram, swiping through tweets, or punching random questions into google like: What kind of shampoo does Adam Driver use? DON’T GET ME WRONG, THE INTERNET IS AWESOME. But the problem is that once we’ve exhausted a social media platform or googled away our questions, we often go about searching for other social media platforms or generating more random questions to escape the bottomless pit. Our addiction to the internet has put us in a vicious cycle no matter how much you try to entertain yourself with it, you will always return to the bottomless pit. 

If you are finding yourself stuck in this bottomless pit, I know of a ladder that will get you out: guitar! I bet you weren’t expecting that and your head must be loading up with questions for google right now. But before you tap away into that search engine, give your fingers a break and allow me to provide you some answers as to why this magical instrument should be in your hands right now. 

Letting out the feels

You just had a bad break up. On one hand, you have a glorious banana split sundae. On the other hand, you are on your phone, scrolling through your ex’s insta. The problem here is not the ice cream. What really needs to be addressed here is do you feel any better after confiding in your phone? Chances are, probably not. Stalking your ex will only leave you feeling more infatuated and make the process of letting go even harder. Right now you have two things you gotta deal with: feelings + moving on. Although you might not necessarily be bored in this situation , you will certainly be miserable and your phone is not going to help you, but a guitar will. 

When you pick up that guitar, you have two options. You can either compose a song or learn a song. Either way, you will still be playing a song and every song is a channel for emotion. Playing a sad song after a difficult situation will make you come to terms with your emotions and accept them. Opening that bottle of emotions with your guitar will leave you feeling liberated of those hard, lingering feelings. Furthermore, guitar will help you take your mind off the tough subject because much of your brain power will go towards playing those strings instead of dwelling. If you ever need a way to ease off some tough emotions, guitar will be your best friend.

Becoming a Rock star

Your mouth drops. You cannot stop yourself from head banging. Your eyes are glued to that video of Angus Young playing that killer guitar solo on his gibson. Once the video is over, you cannot help but repeat it, over and over and over until that song is stuck in your head and …you get bored. 

Instead of getting bored over your favorite song, how about you learn to play it? There are so many tutorials out there for guitar and so many arrangements ranging from easy to hard. If it’s your first time playing, start with an easy version of your favorite song. Once you master that song, you will have to play it 50 times on your guitar opposed to 5 times on your phone to actually get bored. The reason being that you will learn to appreciate the song the more you play it. You will become familiar with the beat, rhyming, and notes that made it such a great song in the first place. Mastering your favorite song will make you fall in with it even more and leave you feeling like a rockstar. 

Making a Puzzle

All that fruit ninja and temple run must have left you feeling suuuuper unproductive and bored to the point you want to delete em off your phone. If you want to exercise some brain power, a puzzle is one of the best ways to do so. BLEH….puzzles? OK CHILL OUT DUDES, what I meant is that you should compose a song. 

The beauty of guitar is that it’s easy to learn. A few chords is all it really takes to make a song and because of that, there are tons of songs out there. There are love songs, rock songs, and sad songs and whatever more the guitarists of the galaxy can come up with. Writing a song not only works the muscles of your fingers but it also requires you to use your ears and exercise your temporal lobe so you can come up with a tune of your liking.

The amount of work you have to put in to write a song will leave you far from bored. On the contrary, coming up with that song will leave you feeling like a mastermind and mad scientist because it takes a lot of brain juices and experimenting to make that baby sound good. The best part is that you get to perform it and woo your folks. Who knows, you might even serenade a girl to prom! That would surely be a thrill!

I don’t know about you but guitar is a gift of the gods. Now that I have shared with you its beauty, I hope you would hesitate to toss it into a volcano if the Greek gods descended from heaven and asked you to sacrifice either your phone or a guitar to save the world. Guitar does wonders, allowing you to channel your emotions, rock your mind out, or exercise your brain. If you find yourself bored out of your mind, whether it be from googling or counting sheep, I suggest you pick up a guitar.

Works Cited

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Hey you ! Yes you! The one who’s been running on the treadmill running for hours upon hours with your lungs burning and your hair dripping sweat! I hate to break it to you but hours upon hours of cardio won’t do much for you, which is why the word “cardio” must be making you gag right now. Believe me, I’ve been there. It’s time for you to take a vacation from the treadmill and pick up a barbell instead.  Join me on this quest and I will show you the miracles of weight lifting. 

BECOMING FEARLESS

I get it. Walking into the weight room for the first time can be intimidating, that’s probably why you’ve never been in the first place. I felt the same way, I never stepped foot in the weight room until my senior year. There were times where I would contemplate going but seeing the jacked gym-sharks lift a million pounds and drop their weight with a huge “BAM” kept me out. I was afraid to pick up the barbell because I felt insecure about how little I could lift, my lack of experience, and potential injury.

There eventually came a certain point during the summer where my boredom with cardio got the best of me so asked one of my karate classmate’s dad how to dead lift. The moment I lifted that barbell, I felt liberated.Conquering my fear of the weight room gave me the opportunity to switch up my work out, making my time at the gym an adventure instead of a torture. 

I encourage you to step foot into the unknown, as scary as it may seem, because before you know it, the weight room will be your personal man cave-a place where you can have fun and destress. Overcoming your fear of the weight room will leave you feeling unstoppable and open you to a new world of exercise.

MAKING FRIENDS

Remember, not everyone starts out lifting twice their weight or doing a thousand pull ups. We were all awkward and clueless at one point and that’s totally okay. To get from point A to point B we all need a sense of direction to guide us. Okay, what I’m saying here is to not let yourself be intimidated by these gymsharks.

 In fact, you should go ahead and talk to them. If you need help mastering a technique they are the best people to talk to because A. they know what they are doing and B. learning the technique right will prevent you from serious injury. And if you need one of ‘em to spot you, don’t hesitate to ask. Gymsharks need to be spotted themselves too, otherwise, how else would they safely meet a personal record without being crushed by a weight? 

Getting to know people in your weight room not only ensures your safety but it will also make the weight room much less intimidating. In fact, you might even make a few friends. There have been times when I’ve been stuck on the bench press and if it weren’t for the gymsharks, I would have wound up hurting myself. Trust me, underneath all those muscles are some of the kindest people you will meet. 

BECOMING STRONGER

When I say stronger, I don’t mean physically but also mentally. Weightlifting calls for a lot of positive self-talk which ultimately drives you to take on the challenge, whether it be stepping onto the weight room for the first time, lifting a heavier weight, or trying a new exercise . Ridding your mind of  “I can’t” and replacing it with “I can” will make you into a strong minded person because you will tackle whatever challenges lie ahead. If you need a boost of determination, weightlifting is the sport for you!

PHYSICAL GAINS

Along with the mental gains comes the physical gains. WAIT….GAINS? Yes gains. Weight lifting will make you gain weight but the weight you are gaining is MUSCLE. So even though the scale says you gained ten pounds, you will look like you look like you lost fifteen because muscle burns fat, so the more of it you have, the higher your metabolism will be. This is essentially the reason why you cannot depend purely on cardio. 

Cardio is a wonderful calorie burner but it is not a great muscle builder. When you do cardio, your body taps into the glycogen stores of your muscles along with your fat stores to supply energy, hence, too much cardio can actually deteriorate your muscle. Cardio also fails to provide an afterburn, so the calorie burning stops as soon as your workout is over. 

To maximize the benefits of your workout, it’s best to do both cardio and weights. Doing weights will help you build the muscle to elevate your metabolism and burn fat in the long term. Doing cardio will allow you to burn extra calories to help with weight loss and toning. Weightlifting is one of the best tools for sculpting your body and improving your sport performance.

Alright, if I still haven’t swayed you to pick up a barbell, good luck keeping up with the more painful, bland, cardio workouts. If you still feel uncomfortable going to the weight room by yourself,go with a friend or take a class or two so you learn the proper technique and don’t injure yourself. Weightlifting is a miraculous sport and hobby because it makes you strong in both mental and physical aspects. It also opens up opportunities for you to make some friends! So don’t WEIGH your options any longer. IT IS TIME TO GO BEAST MODE.

Sources

https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/images/2014/your-ultimate-guide-to-spotting-graphic-3.jpg 

https://fitnationmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/shutterstock_225746320-750×400.jpg 

https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/h2NJn9xt0r4fQf3ndMap1bxcj_A/fit-in/1024×1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2018/03/16/892/n/1922729/addurlsVAb9L/i/Cardio-vs-Weights-Weight-Loss-Transformations.jpg 

https://cdn2.omidoo.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/full_width/images/bydate/nov_9_2011_-_251pm/shutterstock_74158666.jpg

 What’s the eighth wonder of the world? Asian parents of course! For those of you who have ‘em or for those of you who’ve heard of ‘em, have you ever stopped and asked yourself, “Why do they severely stress over ‘B’s ? Why do they give thousands of homework books? Why do they cook mounds of food that only a sumo can eat? Why do they drive through thunderstorms for cheap grapes?”  Not to worry ! We will have all these questions answered by exploring the four types of Asian parents. You will soon discover how their wild practices prove to be beneficial, whether it’s making the next the spelling bee, winning a math competition, running a marathon or receiving a desired coloring set. 

Tiger Parents

“Tiger Parents” are hardcore parents who can’t put enough stress on grades. They all strongly withstand the “Straight ‘A’ Policy”. Failing to meet it means goodbye to your beloved possessions. Say you receive a “B” on a math test. It will be made clear to you that “B” stands for “Bad” with the no-cellphone-for-two weeks-punishment. Subsequently, you work your butt off to earn an A. Unfortunately you will still be interrogated with,“Where’s the plus?”. So, what’s all this stress about? Put it this way, earning good grades gets you into great colleges and great colleges gets you into your desired occupation. Therefore, all this pressure is placed upon you so your parents can ensure your stability and happiness in adulthood.

Tiger Mom Gif 

Anubis Parents

The “Anubis Parents” would habitually compare you to other Asian kids around the block. You being the heart that’s weighed against the feather aka the other Asian kids. If it happens that they’re more talented, your parents will pressure you to be more advanced. For instance, it isn’t unlikely of them to participate in bragging tournaments, using your achievements to overpower Amy Young’s enrollment in Mandarin Three. In the meantime, you can find yourself miserably sitting in Chinese school, reading lame stories and writing dreadful essays. When freshmen year rolls by, you are given the option to skip to Mandarin four. Only to be a year away from that sweet AP course. From this, your parents teach you that life is a competition itself. Hence, you must always reach for the top to go far.

Chinese School Meme 

The Witch Of The Wok

 The “Witch of the Wok” is the mom that’s always cooking. There would only be a handful of days you feel hungry. Let’s imagine the moment you step into your house, your mother rushes to you and urges you to try her bean paste bun. When you sink your teeth into it, you encounter a dry, sticky lump that slowly skids down your throat. Might as well take the bun on like a champ, you don’t want to receive another thirty-minute lecture on wastefulness. When the five minutes of suffering is over, she places three more onto your plate, pinches your arm and says, “Aya! So skinny! Neighbors think I’m starving you!”. All in all, your mom only wants you to grow up healthy and macho. You also may not have grown those five inches or broke the school mile record without her.

 Wok Meme 

The Penny-Pinchers

“ The Penny-Pincher Parents” save money in every possible way . They frequently drive to wholesale stores, buy clearance items, and get refunds as low as a dollar. Say you find a dress, not just any dress, but the dress hanging on a rack at Macy’s. All is well until you find the price tag glaring daggers at you with the $100 sign. When it comes time to ask your parents if you can get the dress it isn’t unlikely that you will get this response: “ Aya! Do I look rich to you? Go check Walmart”. Unfortunately, no dress will ever be the same, especially at Walmart so you just might wound up sulking for a week or so. However, when homecoming rolls by, you will find that beautiful dress resting on your bed! It turns out that all those tid bit savings weren’t for nothing. Although Asian parents may seem a little extreme when it comes to saving, most of the saving they do is for you. 

    Penny-Pincher Meme 

 In the end, all these pet peeves turn out to be little acts of love. Despite how annoying they appear, it all pays off when they take a positive toll on your education, competition, health, and satisfaction. What’s  really left to do is to thank your parents, whether they’re Asian or not. You couldn’t have been as successful without them. Who knows, you might love your kids just the same.

Awesome Parents Image 

“AHHHHH, your dad’s music is bouncing the whole car” my grandma would complain. I roll my eyes and continue to head bang. I’ve loved rock and roll since preschool. My dad raised me on it. I love the beat, the loudness, the solos. It makes me feel ALIVE. Rock and roll is almost like a mirror in a certain way. You can play it so it reflects your mood. Whether you are feeling angry, mad, sad, or happy, there is always a rock song for you and listening to it will help you relax or cheer you up. Without much further ado, let me enlighten you with some of my favorite songs that suit my varying moods. 

Feeling love sick?

During our teenage years, it’s no surprise that our hormones would be RAGING. Sometimes, we go insane, thinking about our crushes, wondering why we live in a world where our crushes feel so out of reach. Or perhaps we dwell on our annoying you memorable exes, trying to understand why it didn’t work out. Going through this love sickness is no fun at all. But I got a song that will address and soothe such all pangs: “Why Can’t This Be Love” by Van Halen. 

This song is exciting from the start. It starts out with a low helicopter beat that slowly gets louder and then BAM! The guitar comes in and Sammy Hagar is blasting his lungs, channeling our questions about love to the world. Although there might not necessarily be an answer as to why love is nonexistent between you and your crush , the hype electric guitar in the background will brighten your mood and help you take your mind off your love frustrations. Believe me, you will want to have this love song on loop. 

Having a bad day?

DARN IT, you are grounded again for getting into a petty argument with your sibling. You are not allowed to leave the house tonight and your plans to see a movie with your best buddies are canceled. All you want to do right now is punch a hole out the wall but that will result in an additional month of punishment.

Instead of punching the wall, how bout jamming to “Enter Sandman” by Metallica. Alright, I know you must be thinking: How will an angry rock song help me feel less angry? Well, from my experience, listening to angry rock songs actually calms me down, in fact it makes me feel like a total bad… you know. I found that channeling my anger through music is far more effective than taking it out on the wall or letting it affect my mood and interactions. Something about the loud drums and the heavy metal guitar leaves both my heart and my ears satisfied. If you are having a rough day, I suggest you listen to this song because it will cool you down throughout. And putting some more energy into head banging will leave you feeling like rock star. 

Stressing out? 

Oh no, it’s Thursday and you haven’t even started the paper that’s due tomorrow !!! You have been busy working on your college apps all week and studying for other tests! What are you going to do? All the panic is rushing through your veins. You look at your closet and consider rolling up into a ball and crying at the unfairness of the world. 

WAIT. DON’T CRY!!! DON’T GIVE UP JUST YET! I have the perfect song that won’t make you tired but will leave you inspired: “Friday I’m in Love” by the Cure. This song basically sums up your entire week, mentioning how Monday through Thursday can be a big pain in the butt for everyone, however, as soon as Friday comes in, BOOM ! Life’s a party and you have Saturday and Sunday to enjoy as well. This song reminds us that we are all suffering through the week together, but all that suffering is only temporary because the weekend always pays a visit. This song will channel positive energy into you and inspire you to power through the week so you can experience that weekend you have in mind! Now use that wonderful cell phone and have a listen to this song because it will make the rest of your week so much more fun and enjoyable. Trust me, you do not want to miss out on hearing that happy, catchy guitar in the background! 

Rock On Y’all!!!

Okay, for those of you who dislike rock like my grandma, I believe it’s time to expand your horizons and give rock a chance. For those of you who already love rock, hooray! You make me and Aerosmith very proud. But regardless of whether you like rock or not, listening to these songs is a MUST because they are the type of songs that will leave you feeling hyped, relieved, and motivated if you ever feel trapped in a down mood or are simply in need of some extra excitement. If there is one thing you take away, remember rock is truly a cure for the soul! Be sure to click this link to listen to my top recommendations!

When was the  last time you opened your mail box to find a personal letter addressed to you? When I say personal letter, I do not mean a bill or an annual holiday or birthday card. What I mean is a letter that is just for you, out of the blue, it could be as simple as a quick note from someone who wants to see how you are doing. If you have received one before, consider how it made you feel.  I’ve been exchanging snail mail with my Aunt since late July and opening one of her letters always fills me with excitement because it is almost like uncovering a mystery. It makes my day to read one of her letters because it takes away the day’s stressors. It also makes me happy to know that someone from afar cares about me.  We continue to do this because it’s been a great way to keep up to date and it also give us both something to look forward to when we check our mailboxes. If people sent more personal letters, perhaps their days could be brightened too. Unfortunately, the number of personal, handwritten letters people are receiving nowadays is decreasing. In fact, the The New York Times, has reported a 50% drop in the number of first-class mail items sent through the Postal Service. Sending messages digitally has become a more popular mode of communication because of its speed and convenience. However, the art of handwriting letters should not be abandoned because it holds more depth and embodies certain qualities that are lacking in today’s modern form of digital communication.

Snail Mail Photo

1. Surprise!

Nowadays,  our mailboxes are occupied by advertisements and bills. It’s rather depressing to come home after a long day only to find that there is nothing really there for you, in the mailbox.  According to The New York Times, the average American receives an average of 10 pieces of personal mail a year, excluding holiday cards and invitations. Finding a personal letter under the pile of bills and junk can definitely brighten someone’s day. 

Mail Box Photo

2. An Everlasting Keepsake 

With current technology, messages can easily be sent via text messaging,  email, and social media. Undoubtedly, these mediums of communication are fast and convenient. However, the down side to this technological advancement is that messages can be deleted just as quickly as they are sent. Ask yourself, when was the last time you saved an email or text message so you could reread it from time to time? Physical letters and cards are far more cherished than a text message. According to Brit + Co, people are far more likely to keep physical letters than messages sent through a technological medium. 

Box of Letters Photo

3. Express Your Creativity

There is something magical about putting pen to paper. Because writing a letter is a slower process, its gives us the flexibility to think and express our creativity on to paper. The beauty of paper and pen is that what you put down is limited only by your imagination. There is just so much you could do with a letter to make it personal. You have the freedom to choose the  paper, envelopes, stamps, and ink for your letters. You can also have some fun by drawing pictures, sending photos or adding stickers. Writing letters is a channel to your creativity.

Creative Letter Photo

4.It’s Meaningful

It takes only a few seconds to a couple minutes to send out a text message or shoot out an email. Writing letters, on the other hand, is a process in comparison. It requires more effort for someone to collect their thoughts and transfer them down onto paper by hand. In addition to writing the letter, the person must also take the time to seal their message in an envelope, address it, stamp it, and put it into a mailbox. The amount of time and care it takes to send a handwritten message to someone makes it much more meaningful than a text message. So before you hit the send button, consider writing a letter instead because it’s the little gestures that reach deeper into people’s hearts. 

Meaningful Letter Photo

5.Build Brain Power

Ever experience a sleepless night? Try writing a letter to someone instead. According to  Dr. Marc Seifer, a graphologist and handwriting expert on Mashable,  the simple act of jotting down a sentence by hand can calm a person down significantly while also retraining their brain. Furthermore, writing letters boosts memory retention so if you happen to be reflecting on a particular moment in your letter, you can truly bring it back to life in your head as well. 

Brain Power Photo

Alright, I’ve made my case and now I challenge you to write a letter to anyone of your choice. It could be a family member, a friend, a boss, or a teacher or anyone you wish to talk to. Pull out a pen and a sheet of paper and start writing. If you are stuck, write something you are thankful for. When you are done, tuck that letter in an envelope and stick it in your mailbox. I guarantee you that when the person on the other end pulls out your letter from their mailbox, you’ll have made their day a special one.