Month: November 2019

The NYT Crossword: Add Mehak to your Leaderboard?

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In my world, Instagram and Snapchat have lost their value. Mindlessly scrolling through pictures and videos can get boring (yet super addicting) way too quickly. Fortunately, I have another form of addiction that doesn’t make me feel like I’m losing brain cells: games. 

 

Although Papa’s Pizzeria and Subway Surfers are some of the most iconic pastimes, those aren’t the games I find myself playing for hours. I’m talking about the games that are far more than finger swiping and pressing squares; the ones that build your knowledge. 

 

I’m sure that the thought of games with any academic relation may repulse many, but they are more fun than they seem. We seem to forget how much random knowledge we’ve accumulated, and the thrill of putting that to use while learning more is unmatched. There are still hundreds of games left for me to explore, but I’ve found some that are worth mentioning. It pains me to say that I’m not going to address the basic examples (crosswords, solitaire, sudoku, etc.).  If I did, I would spend all 1000 words raving about crosswords. So after you download the NY Times Crossword app, consider adding these 5:

 

  1. QuizUp

QuizUp is a trivia game that allows users to choose from hundreds of categories of questions. These categories range from 2010s music to Logos to Finish the Saying and so, so much more. You can choose one of these categories and either play as a single-player, against a random opponent, or a friend on the app. QuizUp is a fun way to test the knowledge you already have in categories you’re interested in, but sometimes it’s fun to try something completely new. As you play the game more, there are opportunities to be in tournaments and to gain more categories. I can say confidently that every player has a category that they can win in, as there is such a wide array of topics. The challenge of answering questions faster than someone or beating your own personal record intensifies as you play the game more. If you always secretly wanted to flex your knowledge of athletes, celebrities, books, or anything else, QuizUp might be the game for you. 

 

2. Atomas

Gif of Atomas

At first glance, this game seems to be more for chemistry nerds. I personally don’t really care for the science part of Atomas, but still somehow got addicted to playing it. Basically, the goal of Atomas is to merge similar elements together with the optimal strategy of symmetry. As seen in the gif above, the + is used to merge elements together, while the – allows you to replace an element. There are a lot of other orbs that come up with their own rules, but you figure it out as you go. The game ends when the game board is too full. 

 

There’s something so satisfying to me about the strategy of arranging the elements so that more of them can be added together. Seeing the elements collide to clear up the board is entertaining enough to me, but the science part of it is a plus. Atomas brings out the same motive as many other games: to get the highest score. But the idea behind this game makes it far more challenging and captivating. 

 

3. Elevate

 

Elevate is a little different from the other games. It’s not your traditional game; there’s no competition, or pride in “winning.” Elevate is purely for self-improvement. The app is a brain training program that offers various activities for categories like memory, focus, agility, and more. Every day, there is a new set of activities and your scores are tracked, helping decide future activities. 

I like Elevate because it tests skills that I use on a daily basis. I’ve seen how these basic tests have strengthened my focus and ability in deciphering daily information, which I think is pretty cool. 

 

4. Stop

“Stop” is another trivia game, that involves getting a letter and having to come up with answers for different categories that start with that letter. Similar to QuizUp, Stop is another way to test your knowledge, but there’s more competition to Stop. I’ve found that playing Stop with friends is way more fun than other trivia games, based on the time limits. Your competitor and you switch off in terms of who goes first in a round, and whoever goes first sets the bar for how much time their competitor can take for that round. This rule makes the game more competitive and more entertaining if you’re playing with people you actually know. Also, Stop is easier than other games in the sense that there’s more than one right answer, allowing you to be more creative with your answers. 

 

5. 94%

 

If you like trivia game shows, you’ll probably like 94%. The game consists of multiple levels, each with different sentences or questions. The objective is to think of as many answers that fit the statement and to gain more points by thinking of the more common answers. Some questions are simple, as shown in the picture, but others are far more cryptic. 94% is another way to see how much you know, but also to learn the most prevalent answers, which can be shocking at times. 

 

If you read through this entire blog or at least skimmed it, I’m very impressed. I may be alone in my infatuation to these types of games, but I thought it may spark curiosity in others. If you are also an avid player of these types of apps, please suggest any other ones to further my addiction. If you plan to try any of these out, let me know and we could possibly play against each other. 

 

No matter what avenue we use to unwind and entertain ourselves, it’s always a plus if we can do so while improving and growing. It’s not about playing these games to seem smart or focused but to let your inner learner flourish and reach its potential.

A Day of Cake and Disappointment

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It’s been 17 years and I still can’t bring myself to be ecstatic about birthdays. The opportunity to eat cake is great and all, but every year, it’s overshadowed with unusual pressures and expectations. I see friends and family count down till their birthdays, reminding everyone around them of the upcoming festivity. They savor that day, relishing in the love and attention that they receive.

But for me, my birthday has never been as perfect as it seems to be for other people. I’m not sure if I’m the only one that relates to this (it would be really awkward if I was), but I always find myself in a weird mood by the end of the day. I always make the same mistake of subliminally having unreachable expectations for the day that only emerge once they haven’t been met. Everything seems great at first until a pestering thought rots my brain. A single question of why a certain person didn’t wish me or what someone meant when they said something lingers eternally. One moment I’m grateful, and the next, I’m overthinking everything I was once grateful for.

An accurate recreation of my brain’s tendency to focus on the negative.

Well, my birthday’s in 4 months, so how I handle the abnormal amounts of attention and doubt will be a problem for later. The spark for this reflection on birthdays comes because my older brother’s birthday is on November 16th. Anyone that knows me well knows my connection with my brother; I don’t think he’ll ever read this blog, so I can admit that he’s the funniest person I know. Much of my knowledge of the world comes from him, and I would’ve made a hundred more mistakes if it weren’t for his constant advice. Just as he has guided me through different aspects of life, he unknowingly is teaching me another lesson: how to see birthdays more positively.

An example of the effect of positive self-talk.

It struck me recently that my brother, Jay, has an inspiring way to view birthdays. Every time we’re celebrating for anyone, he’ll always ask them the same question: “What are your goals for the next year?” At first, this may seem like a daunting and unrelated question. I didn’t really understand why he did it at first, but it’s beginning to make more sense. Here’s some context: If there’s one thing Jay stands by, it’s the idea of self-talk. He’s lectured me about it time and time again, emphasizing how important it is to communicate positively with yourself. Simply removing phrases like “I’m going to fail this test” or “There’s no way I can do _____” and replacing them with “I’m going to do my best on this test” or “I can do ______” has drastically changed how he views the world, and I believe it. I’ve seen how he’s become increasingly more confident and ambitious, just with this change of perspective. The reason why he asks people the question is to get them to think ambitiously, and look forward. Although your birthday shouldn’t be the only time you think of your goals, it can serve as a hopeful reinforcement of what you plan on achieving.

 

Upon seeing my brother’s inspiring take on birthdays, it offered me some solace for the negative connotation that I had been placing on birthdays, specifically my own. A birthday doesn’t have to be about people wishing you, or having some extravagant party and receiving gifts; it can also be a day of personal celebration. With every year that passes, you can take time out to reflect on the ups and downs, but more importantly, appreciate the position that you’re in. Once you have a strong sense of the present, the future will look much brighter.
Not only did the question ritual help me appreciate birthdays more, but merely thinking of my brother’s birthday helped lighten up the occasion. As he turns 23, I can’t help but be proud of all that he has accomplished- not only academically, but personally as well. From another perspective, I now understand why people enjoy birthdays so much; celebrating the people you love and being with them is exciting in itself. I know that I’m definitely looking forward to smearing cake all over Jay’s face this weekend, and of course, asking him the age-old question, but I’m also optimistic about what is yet to come.

An accurate depiction of the difference between me and Jay.

Your Mental Health > College

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As we emerge from the nerve-racking days leading up to November 1st, let’s evaluate our performance. From what I saw, stress and time management were weak spots for many, including myself. In every direction I looked, I found an anxious student scrambling to finish their apps. Although there were some that are just far too organized and had their applications submitted weeks in advance, they had to assume the role of reading all of their friends’ essays, reigniting the anxiety in them. 

Looking forward, there are deadlines that have to be met and applications that need to be submitted. As proud as I am of you for getting through the early round, we all have a long journey awaiting us. But as we continue writing essays while attempting to not ditch every day of school, it’s important to keep a clear perspective. If you’re debating pulling all-nighters for weeks in a row, obliterating your social life, leaving all of your apps for winter break, or any other concerning sacrifice, I’d suggest reading the following reasons not to. 

 

  1. Learn from the thousands before you

Every year, a new batch of thousands of students go through the same process as you. Students have already gone through the hardships of applying: use this to your advantage! A simple Google search gave me millions of pages from people who want to help students through the college application process. One of the most prominent pieces of advice (besides the unusual tips for “standing out”… somehow applicable to thousands of students… ) is to not get too worked up about it. I like how Ann Brenoff put it: “The college application process is one of those things where the best-laid plans of mice and men may just lead you in circles. Try not to worry about it too much. There are lots of paths to get to a goal.” It can be difficult to see things in the long run, but just know that every person ends where they need to be. Trying to meticulously plan and overthinking everything will only make the process more difficult. 

2. You’ll thank yourself afterward

The skills you can build now will carry you for the rest of your life. College application season isn’t the only time where time management, organization, and efficiency matter. This is just the beginning of the true culmination of these abilities. The sooner we can create habits of completing tasks on time, revising our work, and having a clear idea of what we need to get done, the more successful we will be in any endeavor. You may convince yourself that you’ll be more responsible in college, and you’ll build these great habits then, but it’ll only be harder to do so then. Not only will you already be adapting to a new location and curriculum, but you’ll be facing many more growth opportunities. Going into college and the workforce with well-developed, positive habits will make your life so much easier. 

3. Your stress spreads to everyone around you

When we procrastinate, we all know, in the back of our minds, that it won’t end well. But just as we push off work, we seemingly push off the impending mental breakdowns that follow along.

If your own mental health isn’t much of a concern, think of the mental health of your peers. A person placed in a stressful environment inherits the nerves around them; suffering from second-hand stress is a legitimate phenomenon that occurs from being surrounded by people who are “tightly-wound.” Ranting to your friends once in a while won’t hurt them much, but once you’re having mental breakdowns every 35 seconds, it’ll get to them too. 

I mean this in the nicest way: your friends care about you and want to help, but they can’t help if they end up feeling as worried as you. 

I still have a long way to go until I can embody these pieces of advice fully, but it definitely helped to put this period of my life into perspective. If you still feel discouraged, remember the many, many others that were in the same boat as you, that overcame their obstacles and reached their goals. Whether you are already done with applications and have no worries, or you have 39 applications left and plan to be riddled with stress for the next two months, I assure you that you will be successful wherever you go. 

 

Works Cited:

“Are You Suffering From Secondhand Stress?” HuffPost, HuffPost, 7 Dec. 2017, www.huffpost.com/entry/secondhand-stress_n_4556964.

Brenoff, Ann. “The College Application Advice I Wish Someone Had Given Me.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 11 Oct. 2016, www.huffpost.com/entry/the-college-application-advice-i-wish-someone-had-given-me_n_57d83d53e4b0aa4b722ccd7d.