By: Perri Schwartz I had trouble saying “I love you” back to my parents right after I turned 3 years old. I would only say “too” instead of “I love you too”. My parents did not know what was wrong, and I was not a late bloomer, either. On May 9th, 2006, the answer was finally found, and I was diagnosed with Autism. This was my barrier that needed improvement. How could I have made it this far to break through the barrier? For 8 years, I learned proper communication skills in speech therapy. On December 5, 2008, I finally said “I love you” to my parents. This day is celebrated every year in my family as “I-Love-You Day”, which aims to shrink the divide between myself and neurotypical people. The traditional teaching methods in my earliest school days proved to be ineffective for me. My neurotypical peers never needed to “break through a barrier”, and this made the experience frustrating. So, when I went to a school for kids who are similar to myself, I began to learn much more thoroughly and effectively, and I began making huge strides in my education journey. In 6th grade, I discovered my affection and passion for journalism. The news felt like my only escape from how I was being taught. Enraptured with real world relevance, it provided clarity on complex topics, and I was fully engaged with the newscasters’ constant eye contact. Inspired by the charisma and eloquent-speaking styles of journalists, I was inspired to become one myself. There aren’t many autistic journalists, and by being a force within industry, I will make it more inclusive. In high school, I made the life-changing decision to join BBYO, a Jewish youth group which has allowed me to make friends from all over the world, voice my experiences to my peers through their newspaper, The Shofar, and gain leadership experience by attending leadership conventions serving as a co-chair of the 2020-2021 All Abilities Inclusion Task Force, which will propel young Jewish teenagers to become advocates for those of all abilities. I am the only Autistic journalist on the staff for The Shofar, where I utilize my communication techniques I learned in therapy while noticing details other writers don’t. By finding my voice through The Shofar, I’ve explored the power of words. Outside of journalism, I serve as President of my school’s Interact Club, where I lead a club of approximately 12 other students through community service. Using my communication skills, I’ve created flyers and written proposals. Given the stereotype that Autistic people can’t be empathetic, it’s important to be involved in advocacy work. Becoming a champion for these issues proves that someone who has once struggled with words can now be a voice for the voiceless. Doctors thought I would not make it this far. I proved them wrong. I’ve pushed past many boundaries associated with Autism, but I couldn’t have made such stunning progress on my own; my parents’ unconditional care and friends’ supportive mentality allowed me to thrive. And so, I always go above and beyond to accept, include, and love people no matter who they are; I “pass it forward” because with me, that attitude made all the difference. My mission is to prove the prefix “dis” has no place in front of the word “abilities”.
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Written by: Veronica Maciag My household is filled with contradictory opinions, sometimes feeling as if it’s me against everybody else; all due to one of the most prevalent topics in the world: politics. With both of my parents being immigrants from Poland, the views held in their country were, in a sense, too strongly developed for them to change their ideology after arriving in America. Being a republican country, Poland normalized the concept of discrimination against many groups for a majority of the citizens that were raised there, especially in the late 1900s. Though, for me, it seems that remaining oblivious of politics throughout a majority of my life was a good strategy, that is until I reached eighth grade. I vividly remember speculating about Donald Trump’s election in 2016 as well as the rise of his opinions based on gender and race. All I could remember thinking is, why? Why would anybody be so harsh on other human beings? Why does he so outwardly say such negative opinions? It was as if I was seeing America for the first time, but through an entirely different lens. As my eyes opened I began to look around and realize that even the people in my own home seemed to agree with his views. That day I delved into the topic of politics, finally researching it and getting up to speed with what others had realized years ago. That day, I can proudly say, led me to begin developing my views on the world- that of everyone deserving equality- and becoming an activist to use my voice and advocate for that which I believe, regardless of what I had been raised hearing. Although, getting here has been difficult. Outwardly disagreeing with those in my household resulted in a tense and divided environment, with many claims about me “not knowing what I’m talking about'' or that I “will realize what’s right eventually”. However, I chose to ignore it, risking my familial relationship, for something that I knew needed my attention. Beginning freshman year of high school, I began to seek out any opportunity for me to aid my community, as those around me weren’t. I signed up to be a member of a wide range of clubs in my school, including the Red Cross Youth Council, the Environmental Protection Initiative, Amnesty International, and I even became a lifeguard. All based on the same ideology of helping, whether it be helping the earth or others, at least I was finally given the opportunity to help in any minuscule way. From then on whenever I had time, I worked to volunteer or contribute my ideas and ultimately spread awareness of the infinite issues of this world. The fact that my parents didn’t, and still don’t, particularly approve of my actions certainly makes being an activist difficult, especially as an adolescent who relies so heavily on the adults in her life. Yet, I don't regret it for a second. The fact that I am working to inform others, and helping to make my school a safer place for anyone makes it all worth it. I know that many people are afraid and apprehensive of standing up for what they believe in, especially to their parents, but I personally don’t doubt for a second that it was all worth it. No matter what your beliefs are, and regardless of your age or any other superficial factors, you have the capability of speaking out if you so wish to do so. I was raised by parents whose beliefs were completely inconsistent to my own, having all odds against my favor yet I branched out and defined one of the most important factors of my character today. By: Mohammed Ghattas A legend as a gestation Narcissism is an eponym from Narcissus. Ovid have taken the time to talk about it in his verse, Metamorphoses in 8 CE. It was about a Greek myth -- Narcissus, the son of the river’s god, Ciphesis. Narcissus was an Apollo that anyone who saw him fell in love with him. Albeit being an Adonis, he was refusing each girl who loved him even the wood’s mermaid. Narcissus got the retaliation gods’ back up, ergo they have cursed him. One day, and when he was drinking from a lake, he saw himself. In a blot from the blue manner, he became besotted with himself; he did not do anything but looking at himself until he kicked the bucket. Near the place where he breadth his last, a yellowish flower grew -- Narcissus; its name was the same as him. From this legend, narcissism was denoted as a Narcissistic personality disorder. The well-known Austrian Sigmund Freud claimed that conceit is normal in the child emergence; on the contrary, it can be a syndrome provided the child was not capable of passing this stage, and it perpetuated with him till being an adult. In psychology, the self-absorbed is who always preens and boasts about himself. He regards himself as a phenomenal, special, and beyond the comparison; furthermore, he believes that no one can comprehend him except for who has a genius for life. He exaggerates in elucidating his consummations; also, he is heart and soul in ruminating about success, being omnipotent, and the immaculate love. After cogitation, it will be palpable and incontrovertible that the egoistic is a pariah; however, in the beginning of relations, he win laurels about communing with people and procuring their veneration by dint of being charismatic; he is sometimes attractive on account of looking after his physique. Narcissists amid people: Stacy Campbell and Keith Campbell stated that in emerging relations zone, people revere the narcissist; he is eminently clever in making the first impression which lasts; he can be better than those who have emotional intelligence. When reaching the enduring zone when your relationship with him be like bosom friends, his egoistic start to be manifest -- yearning for always reverence, a relation like what is between a superstar and his fans. Furthermore, he likes hitting below the belt in your heels of Achilles, although he loathes raising Cain and being rebuked severely. To corroborate so, Delroy Paulhus have brought some people, making them conversing with each other once a week where each one can talk for 20 minutes at mist for seven weeks. Additionally, he informed them to evaluate each other in the commencement of this conversation and the end of it. In the beginning of the first week, people think that narcissists are self-esteem and assertive, intriguing, and astute. In the end of the seventh week, all these has transformed where people’s money for narcissist was that they are crowing, barbaric. Devoutly, the narcissists have a plethora of woes in his romantic relation where it can last for four months at most, pursuant to sundry reports. On the other hand, social media platforms will be a fidus Achates for such people where they can exhibit their character without making a counterfeit personality. Social media gives him the confirmation from people to know his positions via reactions, comments, shares, and so are online games. A study in South Korea was conducted on 1500 person who are playing games. They have found that narcissists are exposed to addicting a game like a world of warcraft where he can level up, collect weaponry, and become more potent in this default world. Albeit his demerits, the narcissist can be more successful that who is not egoistic. His assertiveness that he is better than the others will be the impetus for having grit. A study in Italy was made to authenticate that. Compared to their intelligence rate, the narcissists were capable of bringing higher grades than anticipated. Also, being convinced that he can lead can make the narcissist an efficacious leader, Alexander the great, Napoleon Bonaparte, Donald Trump, and many others. Ronald Deluga, a professor in psychology in Bryant asked manifold experts in psychology to evaluate the American presidents according to their vanity; he brought some history experts and asked them to assess their effectuality on their society during their presidency. After comparing the outcomes, the result was that the narcissist presidents were the best in eliciting fruitful reverberations in their community. Michael Maccoby, a scientist in anthropology and an expert in leadership said that anyone who is in a leading position should be narcissist to an extent calling these people “productive narcissists.” Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Andy Grove were productive narcissist for his money. Some factors of narcissism are germane to genetics where you have no control on that; there are a cornucopia of miscellaneous factors like how the child was brought up. That is, when you praise someone, there are two kinds of praise -- personal praise and process praise. By dint of a profusion of personal one from parents to their sons and daughter, this may make them narcissist. Also, the community can make a child narcissistic like individualistic communities such as the capitalistic societies, unlike the collectivistic ones like Communistic societies. Succinctly and deploying laconic words, no one loves who is big-headed and denigrating the others like narcissists; however, he was sealing his fates and jolted out of choice, for instance, genes he has inherited or a society of such principles he was brought up in. All these are symptoms of a psychological minefield he is meeting with like dejection. How can we deal with a narcissist? This is a moral paradox. The best way is to deal with him kindly, endure him; no one is immaculate. We are humans who have both advantages and disadvantages. Ergo, denoting him as a pariah will not be the remedy. -- Links: Dr Max Pemberton For The Daily Mail. (2017, July 11). Do you live or work with a narcissist? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4683390/Do-live-work-narcissist.html. Coughlan, S. (2018, June 26). Narcissists 'irritating but successful'. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/education-44601198 Alfano, A. (2015, June 1). Too Much Praise Promotes Narcissism. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/too-much-praise-promotes-narcissism/. 21st, J. M., 17th, jim D., 11th, J. F., 16th, velvetanne M., 29th, M. G. M. G. M., 5th, K. J., … 2nd, J. A. (2017, September 15). In a Relationship with a Narcissist? A Guide to Narcissistic Relationships. PsychAlive. https://www.psychalive.org/narcissistic-relationships/ Maccoby, M. (2014, August 1). Narcissistic Leaders: The Incredible Pros, the Inevitable Cons. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2004/01/narcissistic-leaders-the-incredible-pros-the-inevitable-cons. Written By: Vanessa C. Today is such a momentous milestone for my language learning journey. 100 days of Duolingo, the free gamified app that has its iconic Duo owl which encourages you to go learn everyday, think it's gimmicky, fake and ineffective? Not for me. For the last 100 days, I have been working consistently on my Spanish learning as part of making 2020 a little more bearable and busy for me. The flame hit 100, much to my delight. These last 100 days, or to put into clearer perspective, 3 months and slightly more, has been some of the best and most emotionally challenging time of this year. For the unacquainted, Duolingo is a free language learning site offering 30+ languages for learning using its signature gamification technique, with levels to pass and shortcuts, the modules and lessons cleverly delivered in an aesthetically pleasing manner on the dashboard. With this, I have learned so much, and today, I will show three of the lessons which have impacted me the most. Lesson #1: Consistency and Patience Wins The Game Yes, this may seem obvious but learning Spanish for the last 100 days has truly taught me that consistent AND proper, quality practice makes all the difference between knowing and doing nothing to making real, concrete progress towards your goals, whatever they may be. It may seem incredibly insignificant in the moment, that small burst of 10-15 min of practice, but overtime, even in half the time of 100 days, 50, you will see changes that spur you on to practise harder, faster, better. Application: To achieve your goals or maintain a good track record, make sure to be consistent in your practice. Whether you’re learning a new skill or revising one, be consistent. Set aside some time every single day to work on your new skill, it could be 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes or an hour. You decide how long. Staying consistent helps you fill the time and build consistent habits. Lesson #2: Passion Is Power I learned Spanish for two primary reasons, I longed to go to Europe someday, and Spanish is one of the most common languages spoken there, and also one of the largest spoken languages in the world. The second reason I learned it was because it sounded really nice and good when native speakers spoke it, so I was determined to sound like that someday, even if it took 1000 more days. Passion guide me along on the days where practice seemed like a taxing task which I would never intend to do, and on the days where Spanish seemed like a distant dream, I knew that as a self-professed lifelong learner, I was determined to go and pursue this path, no matter how long it took me. If I've taken away anything, is that passion is the happier cousin of gritty practice, and it will be a valuable tool in your toolbox to conquer anything, whether it's learning a new language or learning to juggle. Application: Be open to new ideas, the more you expose yourself to new ideas, the more likely is it that you would develop a passion for it. And remember, to have passion means that you are a little crazy about it, and that’s good! Invest your time in them! Lesson #3: Be Open To Seeking Help We often think of learning as this solitary, even lonely pursuit which will either be our own or none to achieve. The truth is, learning shouldn't be that way and there will be times when we're a little stuck. It's easy to think that our method is right, that there is simply no better way to learn and do than what you are now, the truth is, the wealth of resources available on the Internet is one of the best tools and resources we can use to guide us along on this journey of learning a new skill or acquiring new knowledge. For language learning, I have found Benny Lewis's Fluent in 3 Months, or shortened to (FI3M) which is a fantastic learning tool for learners of any language as well as Luca Lampariello's blog. For Spanish in particular, I recommend Ben and Marina's Notes In Spanish, a fantastic training site as well as SpanishPod101, mainly focusing on podcasting and video training to help improve people's Spanish. Through these resources and so, so much more, I have learned that with people who are on a learning journey with you makes the process so much better and that sometimes, it's perfectly fine to have someone guide you on the way. I encourage you to explore and understand these resources if you want to upscale your learning. Application: When you’re stuck in your own life, be open to seeking help from someone. We often think that we have to be strong and not ask for help, but that would just leave you stumbling in the darkness. Getting help shows that you are strong enough to acknowledge that something is wrong. Get help fast, soon and more. Whether it’s a trusted adult, your older sibling, friend or parents, know that there will always be help when you need it. *This doesn’t mean you don’t think for yourself first, try and fail. Ask for help after. Lesson #4: Sharing Is The Best Way To Solidify and Gather Content This makes use of the powerful technique known as active recall, where the brain is forced to churn out the most relevant and important information from the content we've gathered and allowing it to solidify in our minds. Sharing what you have learned is one of the best and most effective ways to make sure the content sticks in your brain after learning content-heavy material like a language. Sleep also helps to make it better, so the best time to do it is to share what you have learned with someone, be it a family member, your teddy bear or your roommate just before bedtime, you will notice drastic changes. Application: Share often and share more. Whatever you’re learning or doing, make sure to share the experience with someone else. This can give you a chance to structure information to make it understandable for your listener while allowing you to share your own experience. A win-win! -- All of these lessons are just from 100 Days of language learning. And even if you’re not a language learner, you can use the lessons as your guiding principles, work hard in everything you do, be more mindful and conscious in noticing the important things about your learning process. Your own observations will shape how you choose to learn years down. By: Ashley Rosser In 1776, while the United States was fighting for independence against Great Britain, Abigail Adams wrote the words that will forever be ingrained in the feminism movement, "Remember the ladies," almost 240 years later. Women make up 23.7 percent of Congress and 26 percent of the U.S. Senate. While these numbers seem underwhelming, it's an improvement. Michelle Obama When Michelle Obama became the first lady, her circle of influence expanded exponentially. She was able to take something she was passionate about and turn it into a national program that would benefit over 328 million people. While, in some cases, females are not elected to office, they still have tremendous influence and the potential to accomplish programs on a national level. Kay Granger Kay Granger started her career by being a teacher and businesswoman and flourished into the first female mayor of Fort Worth. As her expectations grew, she defeated Hugh Palmer, becoming the first Republican female to represent Texas in the U.S. House of representatives. As her popularity grew, she wrote her first book, "What's Right About America, Celebrating Our Nation's Values." While climbing the ranks of the house of representatives, she served as Conference Vice-Chair. She has previously served as Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations. She also sits on the United States House Committee on Appropriations's Subcommittee on Defense and Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education Subcommittee. As seen in this document, "Remember the ladies" has been an appropriate statement from the 1770s through today. As time went on, women have earned the right to vote, own land, demand equal pay regardless of gender, and be represented in governmental levels from local city councils to presidential candidates. Women have excelled in all levels of government and currently have national and worldwide influence. Abigail Adams was right. "Remember the ladies" will forever be appropriate in American culture. By: Mendel Cohen Rosh Hashana, which translates to head of the year in Hebrew, is the Jewish New Year. Judaism operates on a calendar based on the moon. Unlike the traditional New Year, Rosh Hashana is not a joyous holiday- it is a time for self reflection, morality, and holiness. Rosh Hashana is 1-2 days long. This year, Rosh Hashanah will begin in the evening of Friday, September 18, and ends in the evening of Sunday, September 20th. Traditions of Rosh Hashana include: ⁃ The blowing of the Shofar (ram’s horn). ⁃ Eating a pomegranate, which is said to have 613 seeds; one for every commandment of the Torah. ⁃ Eating apples dipped in honey, and avoiding bitter and sour foods; which expresses hope for sweetness in the coming year. ⁃ Serving round challah, which symbolizes the cyclical nature of life, and that the next year will be complete. ⁃ Serving a fish head; which is associated with productivity and leadership, as well as the hope that we will be the head, and not the tail ⁃ Lighting candles Rosh Hashana is a beautiful holiday with great culture. There are many rituals, traditions, and practices used to reflect the nature of Rosh Hashana. By: Joy Dong Taylor Swift is one of the most successful and infamous singer-songwriters of the 21st century, paving the way for many musicians to follow, and is truly the mother of modern pop music. Beginning in 2006, 16-year-old Taylor Swift released her eponymous country-styled debut album. It earned top rankings in charts in the US and all across the world, received positive reviews from critics; and was the first step in her notorious music career. Fourteen years, seven albums, and 56 songs later, Taylor Swift’s most recent album, released on July, 24, 2020, details a new and untouched style of music, showing how talented Swift is; able to juggle multiple genres perfectly. Creative, storytelling, intriguing, relatable, meaningful, harmonious; folklore is a true masterpiece. Though this album is absolutely beautiful at face value, the meaning behind the lyrics adds to the intricacy and haunting melodies. Swift hasn’t revealed the entire backstory, but she does mention on Instagram that, “In isolation my imagination has run wild and this album is the result, a collection of songs and stories that flowed like a stream of consciousness.” Unlike many, if not all, of her previous songs, folklore isn’t an album based on personal experiences, but mainly about a story Swift created in her imagination during the COVID-19 lockdown. The first track on the album, called “the 1” she seemingly writes about remembering a relationship that was cut short, and one that she wishes would have lasted. Swift sings,“it would’ve been fun, if you would’ve been the one.” Fans suspect this to be “[a] nostalgic remembrance of myths and what ifs.” This theme of lost loves carries on to the second track, entitled “cardigan.” It is believed that this song is one of the three included in from the “teenage love triangle,” that Swift writes about in a post on social media. This track is told from a girl named Betty’s perspective. Swift writes and shows in her music video different stages of a young love, beginning in a cabin, and travelling to a magical and beautiful land. After this phase, Swift is seen almost drowning in an ocean storm, before she then finally returns to the cabin where she started. This metaphor likely symbolizes Swift/Betty looking back in the past phases of a relationship that started perfectly, and then endures rough patches. One of the lyrics, “I knew you, leaving like a father running like water... I knew you’d come back to me” shows how Betty feels, after a boy runs away with someone else, and then returns to ask for forgiveness. The boy in this love triangle, named James, also has a song told in his point of view, called “betty.” It is written to the girl he wronged in the past. In the song, James talks about wanting to attend Betty’s party, to apologize and ask to be taken back. He insists that his affair was “just a summer thing,” while making excuses, claiming, “I’m only seventeen, I don’t know anything.” The other character involved in this triangle is named Inez, and her perspective is detailed in the song, “august.” This song shows how Inez and James’ relationship was doomed from the beginning, and writes about how the summer love “slipped away into a moment in time.” Each of these songs are filled with catchy lyrics and beautiful melodies, with brilliant and well-thought-out storylines, and are my personal favorites from the folklore album. Taylor Swift, once again, has proven to be a master in the art of singing, as well as storytelling. With every album, every song, every lyric, she showcases her bravery, cleverness and willingness to venture out and experience new styles and concepts. From country, to pop, to rock, to contemporary, to jazz, to funk, to alternative; Taylor Swift can do anything and everything. Happy to say I’m a devoted Swifty. Stream folklore now ! By: Mendel Cohen ADHD is a developmental disorder that impairs certain functions. ADHD can negatively influence school, work, mental health, and relationships. It is a genetic disorder. Children with ADHD are 5 times more likely to have depression. The subtypes of ADHD are: inattentive type (formerly called ADD), hyperactive type, and combined type, which is the kind I have. The symptoms of ADHD include:
Important terms to know: Stimming - Stimming is also known as self stimulatory behavior. It is specific to neurodivergent people: those with ADHD, Autism, OCD, Tourette’s, etc. It is defined as a repetition of movements, words, or sounds. Common stims include hand flapping, rocking, and playing with stim toys. Stimming helps neurodivergent people avoid sensory overload, reduce anxiety, regulate emotions, and focus. The main difference between stimming and fidgeting is that fidgeting is optional whereas stimming is crucial to well being and mental health. Hyperactivity - Having increased movement, being impulsive, being distracted easily, and having racing thoughts. Emotional dysregulation - the inability to manage the intensity and duration of emotions. Executive dysfunction - An impairment that impacts analytical and organizational skills as well as trouble with decisions, completing tasks, and procrastination. By: Dr. Rutuja D. Being reprimanded by parents over poor grades rather than reckoning the amount of efforts, diligence and hard work, fleeing over the last page of the test paper hurriedly to check the marks rather than analyzing and assessing the errors committed, feeling chagrined when parents discussed poor grades in a vexing manner. All situations sound familiar, don't they? Obviously- since many of us would have gone through the same, we all have confronted the same. Times might have changed, but circumstances remain the same. The worthless gravity imparted to the grades remains perennial. The trivial emphasis of grades is exasperating at its best and at the same time and crippling at its worst. The corroboration for this lies in the fact that most of the universities round the globe predominantly pin their hopes on possession of a bunch of medals of achievements in every existing field and skyrocketing ranks to ascertain the aggregate of knowledge a particular student has acquired while gaining elementary education. Whenever a student receives low grades, no one would criticize the grading system, no one would hold in high regard the endeavors he/she has put in. One would only hold social media, hobbies, cellphones, miscellaneous scapegoats and most importantly, the student itself responsible for the same. Nowadays, so much relies upon the grades, that parents end up agonizing about the same, thereby augmenting not only the mental coercion but also raising the stakes for the students. In a broad perspective, it is quite apparent when a student has to deal with such circumstances, it becomes quite obvious that he/she would suffer from mental health disorders,slip into heinous acts and addictions, engage into conflicts, lose friends under the name of competition, disputes in relationships etc. merely because of treating grades as a barometer of intellect and intelligence. Hence, educational reforms are the need of the hour. Restructuring various courses, refining subject choices as per their will, creating an atmosphere for conducting engaging and interesting lectures, and searching out some brainstorming sessions and ideas to make sure that each and every student feels involved . By: Perri Schwartz The 2020 grads had it bad. Now, we should think about the class of 2021.
As a member of the class of 2021, my senior year is the one that has been drastically altered by the virus. I have to wear masks to school. There is plexiglass in some of my classrooms. There are one way directional buildings. I have to wipe down my seats after every class. I have to sit six feet apart from my friends at lunch. I may not even get to go to school- period. The fear of another self quarantine scares me, but I’m not giving up hope. I will not let these challenges disappoint me. I will learn, I will pray, but most importantly, I will make my last year of high school the best one. I will have to face several obstacles, but I will never let them get in the way of my academics and last of the memories. I will work with my friends, family, teachers, and mentors to foster hope, laughter and joy and to celebrate milestones including college acceptances and decisions, have ceremonies such as graduation, and celebrations such as graduation parties. I will fight for ordinary days and the future, and I will create the last of the memories. I am part of the class of 2021, and I am not giving up! Not even by a long shot. |