(bi)weekly biz

What is art? Honestly, I never thought I would be asked this question. And although I wanted to be an artist when I grew up in Elementary school (I was never the astronaut wannabe) and I’ve taken a few art classes, I never contemplated art on a deeper level. Like many things, I see it as a big gray area. Sometimes, I look at the essentially splatters of paint I called art in my childhood (all so nicely framed by my parents). Is that art? Can the meaningless brush strokes formed by a three year old really constitute as art? Can it be even in the same category as the items in art museums? When I look at pieces made by Georgia O’Keefe, Banksy, or even the illustrator of my favorite children’s book, I would definitely remove my artwork from the list of examples of art.  But then, I start to wonder - does it really matter? If my parents found sentimental value in the every slab of paint, should it be discounted? I think, at the end of the day, whatever makes you tick, whatever art empow...

I can't lie - I don't know how likely I am to really come back to this list. Regardless, here are the books I hope I read in the next ten years: 2026 - The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley I'll be honest - my dad has been begging me to read this for the last few years, and I think it's finally time I listen. This will be my first year of college, meaning it's time to really get educated beyond just the subdued version of history I am exposed to at school. Especially because I will be spending so much time in Detroit during my freshman year, I think it is imperative that I learn about black history and its ties to the city. 2027 - American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins I've heard a lot about the life-changing nature of this novel, and by 2027, I truly think this issue will be a prominent focus in American politics, culture, and society. When I was a freshman, I vaguely remember listening to a podcast episode featuring Cummins during a long drive,...

Elham: "They like English accent French accent not your accent not my accent" This line stuck with me as I read the play, especially when you mentioned your inability to relate to it because you are two generations deep, almost fully assimilated into "American" culture. I am also 2 generations deep, a second-generation American. So why is my experience different? It's because: - The sub spells my name when calling attendance instead of attempting to say it. - My first-grade teacher refused to believe I celebrated Thanksgiving. - No history textbook has a picture of someone like me. It's because I've had the following conversation more times than I can count: Them: "Where are you from?" Me: I live in Michigan, I'm American. Them: "No, where are you really from?" And as much as I feel the urge to respond passive-aggressively, I’ve come to realize that these questions often come from kind, well-meaning people who are simply curious. ...

I'm an overthinker. I'm an overthinker to a level you can't even imagine. Every minute left on delivered, every slight change in tone, and every period in a text message means something to me. I'm constantly asking myself: Are they mad at me? What did I do wrong? How do I even begin replying to this? Amidst this constant anxiety, I do my best to remind myself to be present, put my phone down, and worry less about the outcome. And yet, this often causes further tension: Am I living in the moment enough? Am I missing something important? Am I doing this all wrong? The poem A Story by Li-Young Lee resonated with me because of this constant internal conflict. Throughout the poem, the father, so focused on the possibility of the son's future, cannot express his feelings of love in the moment.  With just one more quarter of the life I have known for the past thirteen years left, I find myself caught in the same trap. I worry when I enjoy something so much that I lose tra...

This act of "becoming" is scary. I mean seriously, it's kept me up at night. Am I achieving the right goals at the right time? Am I growing into a good person? Who is the person I want to be? These questions have taken up way too much of my brain capacity over the last year and have become even more relevant as the prospect of moving away from home looms closer. As I suddenly have to think about the person I am becoming outside my parents' shadow, I am left questioning who I am on my own.  This process of growing up has been interesting thus far, and it is certainly nowhere near an end. Physically, I have grown the capacity to stand, walk, and run. Mentally, I can now solve more complex math problems, write better essays, and do more challenging puzzles. Emotionally, I have developed stronger empathy skills, I can better understand my own feelings, and I learned to control my immediate, emotional responses to stress. In every moment of doubt and triumph, I’m reminded ...

Prompt #6: Explain how Santa got run over by a reindeer... Honestly, Santa really should've expected this. I mean, who puts an egotistical, self-obsessed, and obnoxiously glowing reindeer in front of the pack? They were bound to get lost.  You see, Rudolph was not like the other reindeer. He struggled to listen to Santa, believing himself to be the better navigator. So naturally, when Santa pulled the reigns on Christmas night, directing his reindeer toward the International Date Line, Rudolph pulled the other way sending them spiraling toward Africa, believing himself to know the direction in which to go.  Santa tried to regain control but the chaos had already ensued. Before long, the sleigh was spinning in circles and upside down (thank goodness Santa was wearing his 6-point harness) with Donnor and Blitzen kicking their feet wildly in the air. Meanwhile, Rudolph's insufferable nose grew brighter as he continued to push down, diving straight for the South Pole....

Since we read "The Three Girls" this week, a very queer-coded piece, I made a list of my favorite sapphic artists: 5) Chappell Roan It seems impossible to compile a list of sapphic artists without including Chappell Roan. After her viral Coachella performance in April this year and her subsequent release of "Good Luck, Babe!" Chappell seems to have come out of nowhere. She is known for her love of drag and won Best New Artist at the VMAs. In some ways, she reminds me of the Marilyn Monroe we studied in "The Three Girls," especially in her desire to escape fame in some moments. However, she is also the opposite, incredibly vocal about her queer identity in every aspect of her life. I can't list her as my favorite, simply because I have not listened to her music enough, especially because she is so new to the spotlight. However, I absolutely love her unapologetic nature and can't wait to see what she does next! 4) LYVIA LYVIA is definitely the smalle...

My eyes dilated at the paper in front of me. I tried to control my breathing as I felt myself hyper-focusing on the crinkle at the top of the page. This is an imminent disaster. Why did I let him pass the paper to me? I should’ve just gotten it myself. There’s something so beautiful about a flat, perfect sheet of paper - why would anyone want to ruin it? Honestly, the assignment is barely worth doing if the paper is wrinkled. I attempt to refocus on the teacher’s lecture (something about poetry?) but there’s no use. The crease controls me.

I still can't begin to understand how people manage to function off of 2-3 hours of sleep every night. And yet, everyone seems to be doing it? There's no doubt that we've turned it into some crazy competition. I'm already prepared to walk in tomorrow and hear the following conversation: "oh my godddddd. i literally stayed up until midnight to finish that blog post." "that means you basically got 6 hours of sleep. ugh you're so luckyyyyy. i stayed up till 3." So, not only are we invalidating others' problems, but we are also creating a culture that encourages others to make unhealthy choices for bragging rights. It's not the only thing we do it for either: "you wrote your ap seminar paper three days before it was due? i did mine the literal day it was due." "i can't believe you drive 50 in a 45. like you gotta drive 65 at least!" This isn't to say that I'm not guilty of the exact same things, but I'm sta...

walking into room 214 for the first time, i remember picking the seat in the corner, right by the door. i was given a poem to read and annotate on the first day of school, and i remember going home and telling my mom that i was most definitely going to fail ap lang. looking back i probably severely overreacted, but the only way i made it through was because of the writers and people who supported me. i cannot thank you enough. i am deeply indebted to the writers that guided me on this journey. sarah vowell for teaching me, for the first time, that professional writing does not always have to be formal in the partly cloudy patriot. david foster wallace for reminding me to stay optimistic in this is water and for boosting my ego over my veganism in consider the lobster. maxine hong kingston for highlighting the use of storytelling to convey a deeper meaning in the woman warrior. f. scott fitzgerald for introducing me to a million new perspectives on the american dream and our country...

Think about your very first-ever non-fiction book. Perhaps it was in elementary school - an informational book about frogs, probably 10 times more photographs than words. Think about how you may have felt - the awe of looking at something so real, something that felt like it was coming straight off the page. Now imagine that book without the pictures. Just a few words lie sparsely on the page. Not the same impact, right? Think about the first time you had to assemble something - maybe a Lego set or a piece of furniture. Most manuals have a few pictures to help you figure it out. And sometimes, you may have to refer to a YouTube video to figure it out. Would you have been equally as successful without the photos and videos that guided you? Imagine a phone without a camera roll. A TikTok without a feed. A scrapbook without photos.  Photos and videos are parts of our lives in so many ways. Imagining a world without photos seems so dreary and devoid of the vivid memories and emotions t...

Today, environmentally conscious behavior is becoming incorporated into consumerism culture. Everywhere we turn we see "The Best Vegan Diet!" or "Buy This Free Trade, Vegan, Sustainably Sourced, Dye Free Sweater - Only $899!" It has become a trend, a subgroup of "Woke" culture, an attempt to seem "with the times" and relevant.  Corporations have created eco-friendly seeming contributions, but continue to prove time and time again that they do not care about the actual issue of the climate crisis, rather, they are out to seem "good" to consumers. Starbucks released a new strawless lid to reduce its plastic usage, which included more plastic than the old lid and straw combined. This proves that Starbucks was not actually interested in the health and safety of this planet but rather in its skyrocketing sales.  Activism for the conservation movement reached its peak when I was in 7th grade, in 2019. Greta Thunberg and other young, relevant ...

Prompt 7: A Letter From the Future Today CNN announced that the bottom third of Florida has officially gone underwater. I guess I'm not in shock because they've been predicting this for the past few decades due to the rising global temperatures and sea levels. They are predicting that air will be unbreathable in the next 40 years. I suppose I'm more disappointed in the past generations that destroyed our environment past a point of no return, with no care for the generation that actually has to live through this. You burned fossil fuels in almost all of your daily activities leading to the destruction of the natural world. Despite the many warnings you received from experts about the harmful nature of your behaviors, you refused to change them. You continued to eat meat and drink milk despite being aware of its negative impacts on the environment. You simply brushed off these issues, labeling them as “later-issues.” Perhaps it’s because you had no care for those of us that ...

Arya and I decided to team up for this one - this is for you, Sara :) Essentially the premise of this blog is to call you out on your many politically incorrect statements (maybe we should make a Google doc for you instead of Mrs. Valentino).  I know Arya is discussing your obsession with drawing your friends as monkeys, so I'll talk a bit about using an Indian accent to comfort those around you. The other day when Ivana was stressed you were somehow supportive, hilarious, and definitely politically incorrect in your attempt to console her. I'm not quite sure how you managed to do it, but I need to take some notes. It's not to say that I don't appreciate the way you speak. You always manage to lighten up a room with your presence and funny comments. When you say "politically incorrect" things - it somehow makes the conversation better and keeps it lighthearted. Thank you for that :) I'm glad we ended up in the same English class because I would never have ...

In our week's essay workshop, we discussed starting our essays with popular quotes from literature. I decided to try and memorize a few to have on hand - here are some of the ones I found: "Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records" - William Arthur Ward In our last essay about adversity, this would be a great one to qualify the prompt. This quote could be used in any essay where the prompt deals with challenges we have to face in our lives.  "It always seems impossible until it's done" - Nelson Mandela This quote can be used in essays about perseverance or overcoming obstacles, but could also be used in an adversity essay. This has a pretty broad range of essays that it could be used for, so it's a good one to have on hand. "It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting" - Paulo Coelho This is from the novel,  The Alchemist.  It can be used in prompts about dreams or aspirations for the futu...

Pros And Cons Of IDF Soldiers Posting On TikTok The article satirizes Israel’s unjust genocide against the Palestinians and how they romanticize it through their TikTok propaganda. It does this by providing a satirical slideshow of the pros and cons of Israel's TikTok usage.  1. Pro: "Keeps them busy." The author asserts through this sarcasm that the IDF doesn't actually need to be kept busy since they are busy blowing up the homes of the Palestinians. 2. Con: "It’s usually considered smarter not to post the evidence online." Although the IDF may think that they are revealing evidence that would convince the world to align with their cause, the author argues that they are actually providing evidence that is harmful to their perspective. By utilizing the common conception that evidence shouldn't be posted online, the author illustrates how Israel is promoting evidence against itself in the media. 3. Pro: "Already sent millions in U.S. aid for IDF dan...

In class this week, we discussed the gender inequities faced by women today. On social media, we are often surrounded by people who tell us that men and women have reached equality in America. One of the most prominent arguments against this is the wage gap between men and women. According to the American Association of University Women , women who work full-time make up only 84% of what men earn per year. Some argue that this is because women choose lower-paying jobs, but this is not the case. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, women were only permitted to work in factories that paid little money. The smartest and most notable working women became teachers, a job that paid more than factory work, but still paid less than the typical man's job. This is often used as an example to explain the disproportionately small amount that teachers are paid today.  Nursing, a now female-dominated job, used to be heavily male-dominated. Once women were allowed to become more active in the wo...

When I was young, I always wanted a Barbie. Every friend around me had one, so when I would visit their houses, I would love playing with her hair, dressing her up, and doing her make-up. I begged my parents to buy one for me, but they never would.  So, before I turned 7, I asked my grandparents to buy me one for my birthday. Yet, my parents also intercepted that before they could buy it for me. Instead, I received a large dollhouse full of dolls of all ages, all skin tones, and dolls with disabilities. While I enjoyed playing with them, I still longed for a Barbie. I wanted a doll who looked like the women I saw in the movies with their perfect proportions and light skin. Even though my parents tried to keep me away from her, I couldn't help but start wanting to look like her.  In hindsight, I'm glad I never got a Barbie when I was younger - who knows how that could have affected my self-esteem? Yet, when I grew older, I never stopped questioning why I wanted a Barbie so badl...

When I was young, my grandma would always ask me, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Every time she asked, I would have a different response - astronaut, firefighter, detective, actress, artist. Yet, when I was eleven, she asked me like she always did and I replied "Teacher!" This time, however, she looked at me disapprovingly and said "You are old enough to start thinking about what you actually want to do, like a real job. Have you thought about being a doctor like your Mama?" It was the first time I had been told that my dream wasn't good enough - little did I know that I would be faced with the same dismissal in my life. I am told - you "must" become a doctor, engineer, or researcher lest you let down everyone around you. Teaching is a job for the "stupid people who couldn't get into any other field." And teaching in an urban underserved district? How stupid can you be? You can get yourself killed! And your family - ...

As we discussed the horrible genocide of the Jews during World War II, I feel that it is important to bring awareness to other genocides around the world. In addition, in today's current news, we hear about India's killing of Sikh activists in Canada and the US. Just this week, the FBI released that it caught an Indian agent attempting to assassinate a Sikh advocate, making this issue even more relevant. After countless attempts to snuff out Sikhs in Punjab, India's Prime Minister - Indira Gandhi launched a full-scale attack on the central community center, Harmandir Sahib in an attempt to just kill a few Sikh "terrorists" in 1984. Although India implemented a full media blackout and killed every journalist who documented the events, the media was able to get through and document the genocide. Over 10 days, in an operation named "Operation Bluestar," the Indian Army murdered over 10,000 children, men, and women. Not only were many killed, but countless ...