Breakdown of Yellow Dust From China (Dae Jung Kim)
Korea is currently swept by a renewed amount of yellow dust that is blown across from the Gobi Desert, China. Such an occurrence hadn’t taken place in five years, the most recent one on the November of 2010. Based on the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the red alert was up for the northern areas and several parts of Gangwon Province, while no signs of danger were sent to the southern areas such as Ulsan or Busan. From a report in March 27th, 2015, there was a mass blow of yellow dust at 10 am, obscuring most of the city while the level of dust began to subside after 4 pm. Indeed, more than 800 micrograms of dust was reported.
Nevertheless, this amount of dust could cause a mass intake of dust, not to mention getting covered in it. Under these harsh weather conditions, it is most preferable if people try not to go outdoors. If such dust enters the body, this could be a hindrance to breathing. Breathing in the tiny sand molecules would enter the lungs, then cause the oxygen transferring section of the lungs to get clogged up, preventing proper transportation of oxygen, weakening the body. Such conditions could lead to drowsiness or inability to actively move around as they are able to do in normal conditions. Additionally, such dust would affect one’s eyes to become sore and dry, let alone skin, due to contact with the dust. The symptoms for both occasions are frequent coughing and dry skin and eyes. So please be cautious when going outdoors.
-04/28/2015
Nevertheless, this amount of dust could cause a mass intake of dust, not to mention getting covered in it. Under these harsh weather conditions, it is most preferable if people try not to go outdoors. If such dust enters the body, this could be a hindrance to breathing. Breathing in the tiny sand molecules would enter the lungs, then cause the oxygen transferring section of the lungs to get clogged up, preventing proper transportation of oxygen, weakening the body. Such conditions could lead to drowsiness or inability to actively move around as they are able to do in normal conditions. Additionally, such dust would affect one’s eyes to become sore and dry, let alone skin, due to contact with the dust. The symptoms for both occasions are frequent coughing and dry skin and eyes. So please be cautious when going outdoors.
-04/28/2015
Spring Vacation (Jamie Mun)
Spring break was what most of the students were waiting for. During school while students were studying, they were probably thinking about spring break. Spring break starts from March 30th to April 3rd. So, there is a total of nine days off of school. Breaks are a time of relaxation and peace. Depending on each student, they are up to many different things. Some of them may go watch movies that were recently released in theaters or hang out with their friends. They may even catch up on some sleep, since most of them are sleep deprived because of the massive amount of school work, or just plain procrastination. Also, many of the students are planning on going to see some cherry blossoms because it has been around seven days since spring has started. The locations they plan on going vary throughout each student. Some of them may go to Yeouido, Jinhae, or Kyeongjoo to view the cherry blossoms. On the other hand, numerous students are probably going to academies to prepare for the various aptitude tests, such as the SATS, TOEFL, or ACTS. Others may start studying for their AP tests ahead of time. Although spring break is about enjoying a period of time without any stress, students should start preparing ahead of time and not forget the amount of work they have to do. Additionally, since it is almost the end of the year, let’s enjoy the time because time goes by fast. So, have fun with the happiest moments in your life, even if it’s short.
-04/28/2015
-04/28/2015
A Travel Journal From Vietnam (Soo Jin Lee)
Vietnam has a shape of a dragon; its long stretched-out land can be divided into north, middle and south. In the north, Hanoi, Ninh-Binh and Halong Bay are known for famous tourist sites. Let’s escape from a busy city life and take a short trip to Vietnam.
When we think of Vietnam, we imagine people wearing a cone-shaped hat, which is called a Non. A Non is a traditional hat used to block sunlight and rain in Northeast Asia. It is hard to find people walking around wearing them in the city but it is a common site in Ninh-Binh. Ninh Binh is also known as Halong Bay on land. Its a karst landscape is surrounded by waterway, where the tourists get to admire naturally made limestone caves on a boat. Some parts of the caves have just enough space for a boat to pass through. While going through, the tourists experience the thrill of almost crashing into the cave. Ninh-Binh is the perfect place for lovers and families to relax and enjoy the nature of Vietnam.
It is recommended to try the restaurant nearby where they serve herb-goat meat dishes. These dishes are made with wild goat meat and fresh herbs. The herbs remove the stench from the meat, making it more edible and healthier. For Korean tourists, the restaurant even provides Kimchi.
Sightseeing and tasting the local food is an important part of experiencing Vietnam’s culture. Hanoi, the heart of Vietnam, is famous for its traditional water puppetry. Unlike the puppetry we know, Vietnam puppetry is held above water. The puppeteers control the puppets with half of their body in water. The performance is about farming or Vietnamese legends. However, the show may seem boring if the viewer is not fluent in Vietnamese.
In the capital of Vietnam, the Vietnamese preserved their great leader, Hochimin. The Tomb of Hochimin requires a baggage check before entering and also has soldiers scouting. Such security indicates that Vietnam is indeed a Socialist country.
The reason why The Tomb of Hochimin is so popular is that the Vietnamese consider Hochimin as the greatest leader who devoted his life to reuniting North and South Vietnam. Although he had absolute power, he never abused it and kept a simple life. It is also a significant place because it was where he read the Declaration of Independence. Many people visit the place on Memorial Day.
Whiling travelling through the city, a new type of transportation called a streetcar has been introduced to be of use. It is similar to a golf cart but has more seats. The streetcar takes the tourists around the cities to show the lives of the Vietnamese citizens. The trip takes about an hour.
Lastly, Halong Bay National Park is a definite place to visit. It takes up 1553 square kilometers and was chosen as the most beautiful national park in Vietnam. Halong means “dragon has descended to the sea.” According to legend, a group of dragons protected the country from the invasion of foreign enemies and the jewels the dragons spit out to fight the invaders later became islands.
Most people plan to travel to more well-known tourist sites in western countries such as Europe but it is always nice to travel somewhere close. Think again and start your world trip in Asia!
-02/16/2015
When we think of Vietnam, we imagine people wearing a cone-shaped hat, which is called a Non. A Non is a traditional hat used to block sunlight and rain in Northeast Asia. It is hard to find people walking around wearing them in the city but it is a common site in Ninh-Binh. Ninh Binh is also known as Halong Bay on land. Its a karst landscape is surrounded by waterway, where the tourists get to admire naturally made limestone caves on a boat. Some parts of the caves have just enough space for a boat to pass through. While going through, the tourists experience the thrill of almost crashing into the cave. Ninh-Binh is the perfect place for lovers and families to relax and enjoy the nature of Vietnam.
It is recommended to try the restaurant nearby where they serve herb-goat meat dishes. These dishes are made with wild goat meat and fresh herbs. The herbs remove the stench from the meat, making it more edible and healthier. For Korean tourists, the restaurant even provides Kimchi.
Sightseeing and tasting the local food is an important part of experiencing Vietnam’s culture. Hanoi, the heart of Vietnam, is famous for its traditional water puppetry. Unlike the puppetry we know, Vietnam puppetry is held above water. The puppeteers control the puppets with half of their body in water. The performance is about farming or Vietnamese legends. However, the show may seem boring if the viewer is not fluent in Vietnamese.
In the capital of Vietnam, the Vietnamese preserved their great leader, Hochimin. The Tomb of Hochimin requires a baggage check before entering and also has soldiers scouting. Such security indicates that Vietnam is indeed a Socialist country.
The reason why The Tomb of Hochimin is so popular is that the Vietnamese consider Hochimin as the greatest leader who devoted his life to reuniting North and South Vietnam. Although he had absolute power, he never abused it and kept a simple life. It is also a significant place because it was where he read the Declaration of Independence. Many people visit the place on Memorial Day.
Whiling travelling through the city, a new type of transportation called a streetcar has been introduced to be of use. It is similar to a golf cart but has more seats. The streetcar takes the tourists around the cities to show the lives of the Vietnamese citizens. The trip takes about an hour.
Lastly, Halong Bay National Park is a definite place to visit. It takes up 1553 square kilometers and was chosen as the most beautiful national park in Vietnam. Halong means “dragon has descended to the sea.” According to legend, a group of dragons protected the country from the invasion of foreign enemies and the jewels the dragons spit out to fight the invaders later became islands.
Most people plan to travel to more well-known tourist sites in western countries such as Europe but it is always nice to travel somewhere close. Think again and start your world trip in Asia!
-02/16/2015
Around: Another Cliché Heart-Melting Modern World Story (Daniel Choi)
Compared to just a few years ago, the modern society and its people seem to have grown cold-hearted. Generosity, trust, and other warm-hearted words have become so rare that any small, insignificant events illustrating these concepts seem to show up on the news. This is however, what the world seems to have become and despite what people may say, sharing these heartwarming short stories seem to be the most people can do to. Therefore, a certain story that occurred in Gangnam, though cliché, seems to catch the public’s attention.
The story begins with an android application called “Around,” a mobile application where anonymous users share their stories on an online dashboard and others comment. Only people invited by others are able to access it so it is a more closed community. Recently, a user posted a post saying “Gangnam station sweet box.” As the post goes, the person filled his personal locker in Gangnam Station with sweets (mostly chocolates) and decided to share the password on “Around.” He says that if there’s anyone who’d like some, they can take it.
One may question the user’s movies. Why would he do this? According to the writer, he says it’s because “the world is kind.” Worn out from his exhausting life, he was able to gain comfort from the community and wanted to return the favor.
So what happened next? Surprisingly, the sweet box didn’t run out for a long time. People who visited to take a piece of chocolate decided to fill it back in so the next visitor could get their share as well. People are even using the application all around the country to create their own “Sweet box” in their own town. From train stations to University lockers, the action has become secretly sensational in South Korea.
Though the event is small and insignificant, it is a clear sign of rare generosity among complete strangers in modern society. With these small actions of love sparking up once in a while in the community, perhaps the world can hope to see a better, warmer world in the future.
-02/16/2015
The story begins with an android application called “Around,” a mobile application where anonymous users share their stories on an online dashboard and others comment. Only people invited by others are able to access it so it is a more closed community. Recently, a user posted a post saying “Gangnam station sweet box.” As the post goes, the person filled his personal locker in Gangnam Station with sweets (mostly chocolates) and decided to share the password on “Around.” He says that if there’s anyone who’d like some, they can take it.
One may question the user’s movies. Why would he do this? According to the writer, he says it’s because “the world is kind.” Worn out from his exhausting life, he was able to gain comfort from the community and wanted to return the favor.
So what happened next? Surprisingly, the sweet box didn’t run out for a long time. People who visited to take a piece of chocolate decided to fill it back in so the next visitor could get their share as well. People are even using the application all around the country to create their own “Sweet box” in their own town. From train stations to University lockers, the action has become secretly sensational in South Korea.
Though the event is small and insignificant, it is a clear sign of rare generosity among complete strangers in modern society. With these small actions of love sparking up once in a while in the community, perhaps the world can hope to see a better, warmer world in the future.
-02/16/2015
The Water We Use Today (Dae Jung Kim)
Currently, about an average of six hundred thousand tons of water are used by two million people every day. This means that underwent pollution, which would be about six hundred tons, would return back to a water filtering center in order to be filtered. Compared to the speed of the water being polluted, trying to clean the same amount of water takes 11 to 12 hours, which is an awful a lot of time.
Looking at the overall process, the water has to undergo several specific steps before it is clean. First, it will go through a light process of taking out large chunks of garbage and particles such as sand. Next, the water will be transported into a tank which enables microscopic particles denser than water to be sunken to the bottom of the tank.
Then, it is transported to the most important part of the entire process, the bioreactor. Here, the microscopic organisms eat up other particles that the first two processes did not manage to filter out. The organisms, after eating the particles, become weighty and sink down to the bottom, becoming sludge.
However, there are some precautions that the people of the center must take. If, by any chance, the water contains too many of the organisms used in the bioreactors, it might lead the water to attract too many of these creatures to swarm over a body of water, causing the water to be polluted due to the organisms absorbing all of the oxygen molecules. Therefore, chemicals are required to kill them off there. In addition, the temperature must be exact in order for the organisms to live or else they will die off.
The point here is that, if, by any chance there are errors in between the process of cleaning up the water, one never knows what might happen. There may be errors in the heating system in the case of the bioreactors or the level of organisms used may be a bit too much, causing more pollution of water than before. Whichever may be the case, it shows that the water used in people’s daily lives is precious. South Korea is already considered a country where water is not sufficient enough.
The amount of water being used every day must be shrunken down to a minimum. Already it takes half a day to clean just one portion of the six hundred thousand tons. As the saying goes, polluting occurs instantly while clarification does not. Therefore, the limited amount of water in society should be used efficiently, not merely wasted away.
-02/16/2015
Looking at the overall process, the water has to undergo several specific steps before it is clean. First, it will go through a light process of taking out large chunks of garbage and particles such as sand. Next, the water will be transported into a tank which enables microscopic particles denser than water to be sunken to the bottom of the tank.
Then, it is transported to the most important part of the entire process, the bioreactor. Here, the microscopic organisms eat up other particles that the first two processes did not manage to filter out. The organisms, after eating the particles, become weighty and sink down to the bottom, becoming sludge.
However, there are some precautions that the people of the center must take. If, by any chance, the water contains too many of the organisms used in the bioreactors, it might lead the water to attract too many of these creatures to swarm over a body of water, causing the water to be polluted due to the organisms absorbing all of the oxygen molecules. Therefore, chemicals are required to kill them off there. In addition, the temperature must be exact in order for the organisms to live or else they will die off.
The point here is that, if, by any chance there are errors in between the process of cleaning up the water, one never knows what might happen. There may be errors in the heating system in the case of the bioreactors or the level of organisms used may be a bit too much, causing more pollution of water than before. Whichever may be the case, it shows that the water used in people’s daily lives is precious. South Korea is already considered a country where water is not sufficient enough.
The amount of water being used every day must be shrunken down to a minimum. Already it takes half a day to clean just one portion of the six hundred thousand tons. As the saying goes, polluting occurs instantly while clarification does not. Therefore, the limited amount of water in society should be used efficiently, not merely wasted away.
-02/16/2015
A Commercialized Christmas (Jamie Mun)
Christmas is coming up soon and everyone is shopping for presents here and there. But people are starting to forget about the significance of Christmas. Christmas is an official holy day. This holiday began because Christians wanted to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. On the 25th of December, people set up Christmas trees with a star on the top. The star represents the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity or Gabriel (angel). This holiday was celebrated by many non-Christians as well. However, as time passed by, the people of the 21st century have rapidly turned this sacred day into a simple commercial holiday.
To begin with, let us start off with the sales. Nowadays, the economy is taking advantage of holidays and the citizens in order to earn money. Many retailers all over the world depend on Christmas. This is why they are coming up with various marketing strategies, such as Black Friday. During these tempting deals, instead of appreciating the actual religious holidays, people are so focused on buying presents when the sales are available. During this season, people are in a huge frenzy, shopping and spending their money in stores until as late as 12 a.m. It is evident that Christmas has completely transformed into a commercial holiday.
Continuing on, retailers have overused the phrase “Happy Holidays” and “Season’s Greetings” to a point where Christmas has its own controversies. In societies today, there is a preeminence of consumer holiday traditions over religious ones. Conflicts have risen to argue which types of greetings people should be saying. Should we be saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays?” Before this conflict began, many people would greet others by saying “Merry Christmas,” since the holiday is a day to pay tribute to Jesus Christ. But gradually, people became obligated to say “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” because retailers began to use these phrases in order to greet those who weren’t Christian. Now, the controversy occurs every time Christmas approaches because many Christians believe that it’s upsetting or believe that it’s disrespectful to say those specific phrases. They believe that people should respect the celebration of the birth of Christ by saying, “Merry Christ-mas.” This means that people are slowly losing faith over the holy day and the holiday is progressively becoming a commercial holiday.
These days, Christmas is turning into a secular holiday for adults to exchange gifts and for kids to wait for Santa Claus to arrive with their presents. People should now realize that the true meaning of Christmas as a whole has been lost.
-12/01/2014
To begin with, let us start off with the sales. Nowadays, the economy is taking advantage of holidays and the citizens in order to earn money. Many retailers all over the world depend on Christmas. This is why they are coming up with various marketing strategies, such as Black Friday. During these tempting deals, instead of appreciating the actual religious holidays, people are so focused on buying presents when the sales are available. During this season, people are in a huge frenzy, shopping and spending their money in stores until as late as 12 a.m. It is evident that Christmas has completely transformed into a commercial holiday.
Continuing on, retailers have overused the phrase “Happy Holidays” and “Season’s Greetings” to a point where Christmas has its own controversies. In societies today, there is a preeminence of consumer holiday traditions over religious ones. Conflicts have risen to argue which types of greetings people should be saying. Should we be saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays?” Before this conflict began, many people would greet others by saying “Merry Christmas,” since the holiday is a day to pay tribute to Jesus Christ. But gradually, people became obligated to say “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” because retailers began to use these phrases in order to greet those who weren’t Christian. Now, the controversy occurs every time Christmas approaches because many Christians believe that it’s upsetting or believe that it’s disrespectful to say those specific phrases. They believe that people should respect the celebration of the birth of Christ by saying, “Merry Christ-mas.” This means that people are slowly losing faith over the holy day and the holiday is progressively becoming a commercial holiday.
These days, Christmas is turning into a secular holiday for adults to exchange gifts and for kids to wait for Santa Claus to arrive with their presents. People should now realize that the true meaning of Christmas as a whole has been lost.
-12/01/2014
The Controversy With Pluto (Daniel Choi)
In the year 2006, Pluto, the ninth planet of our solar system was decided to be dwarf planet by the public.
Hence, it was no longer considered a proper “planet.” This decision received much controversy with many arguments, but people began to accept this as the fact and the public started to take this as a given. About two months ago, however, this topic was once again debated by the community. This topic was once again engaged by the people on the news as they began to argue over whether or not the planet Pluto should be
considered to be part of the solar system.
Why is it that the problem with Pluto returned? Did people simply make a mistake in the past? In order to know what really happened, one needs to first see why Pluto lost its position as a planet in the first place. The first reason was because it is unlike that of any other planets in the solar system. Pluto’s orbit is out of the ordinary. Prior to the year 1999, Pluto was not the ninth planet in the solar system. Pluto’s orbit intersected with Neptune’s Planet, which caused a distinct change in their positions. Pluto was not considered the ninth for about two hundred more years.
It is this randomness and uniqueness of Pluto’s orbit that differentiated it from the rest of the planets. Another reason was its size; Pluto is only about one-fifth of that of earth. Of course, size shouldn’t matter that much. However, its location was the more serious problem – other dwarf planets were located near Pluto. In conclusion, its orbit was off and it was hard for scientists to distinguish Pluto from the disorganized celestial bodies in space.
However, although, it was proven that the orbit never followed the others, Pluto is still nearly round and makes circles around the sun. Also, Pluto did not change over time. Dwarf planets that used to be around Pluto no longer exist in the modern day. However, Pluto still remains solid.
Factors of changes that occurred in space during the past made the public more willing to classify it as a planet once again. It has not yet been decided if Pluto should be a planet. Upcoming debates in the near future will probably give us the answer.
-12/01/2014
Hence, it was no longer considered a proper “planet.” This decision received much controversy with many arguments, but people began to accept this as the fact and the public started to take this as a given. About two months ago, however, this topic was once again debated by the community. This topic was once again engaged by the people on the news as they began to argue over whether or not the planet Pluto should be
considered to be part of the solar system.
Why is it that the problem with Pluto returned? Did people simply make a mistake in the past? In order to know what really happened, one needs to first see why Pluto lost its position as a planet in the first place. The first reason was because it is unlike that of any other planets in the solar system. Pluto’s orbit is out of the ordinary. Prior to the year 1999, Pluto was not the ninth planet in the solar system. Pluto’s orbit intersected with Neptune’s Planet, which caused a distinct change in their positions. Pluto was not considered the ninth for about two hundred more years.
It is this randomness and uniqueness of Pluto’s orbit that differentiated it from the rest of the planets. Another reason was its size; Pluto is only about one-fifth of that of earth. Of course, size shouldn’t matter that much. However, its location was the more serious problem – other dwarf planets were located near Pluto. In conclusion, its orbit was off and it was hard for scientists to distinguish Pluto from the disorganized celestial bodies in space.
However, although, it was proven that the orbit never followed the others, Pluto is still nearly round and makes circles around the sun. Also, Pluto did not change over time. Dwarf planets that used to be around Pluto no longer exist in the modern day. However, Pluto still remains solid.
Factors of changes that occurred in space during the past made the public more willing to classify it as a planet once again. It has not yet been decided if Pluto should be a planet. Upcoming debates in the near future will probably give us the answer.
-12/01/2014
Christmas Gift Recommendations (Kathy Lew)
With the arrival of December, people are excited by the month’s worldwide holiday. Christmas, the most anticipated yet worrisome holiday, is coming up. Although it is an all-time favorite holiday for people all around the world, the 25th of December tends to stress people out over what they should give to their loved ones as gifts to celebrate Christmas.
But don’t worry; here are some examples of practical gifts for Christmas:
First of all, accessories that can be shown off to close friends such as earrings, necklaces, watches, and etc. are great gifts. They are practical and hardly unnecessary. Accessories can let your loved ones feel proud and loved. They don’t have to be expensive and fancy. As long as they are neat and pretty enough, not a single person in this world would dislike showing off these wonderful new gifts from you!
Secondly, muffler scarfs, gloves, and sweaters are never outdated. By presenting them with this warm winter equipment, you’ll be able to keep them safe from the cold breezy weather that will last long until March. If you want your friends and families to stay healthy until the next spring comes up, gifts that will warm them up are great ideas. But make sure they are fashionable. No one would want to walk around the street wearing shabby clothes!
Thirdly, scented candles also make great Christmas presents. During the winter, houses can’t be freshened easily by keeping windows open. By giving them candles, you can help your loving friends and family’s houses stay fresh.
Fourthly, neatly homemade Christmas cards filled with love are always great gifts. Although they might not seem to be great presents such as accessories, no one would hate a sincere, genuine card from his loved ones. Be confident!
Lastly, if you still couldn’t decide on what to give, your last resorts are cash and gift cards. If you don’t want to disappoint others by getting them something they didn’t want or need, providing them with this last option is a wonderful idea. With the gift of money, they can go out buy what they want for themselves. You may think that money or gift cards are impersonal. But in truth, they will thank you for letting them something they truly want!
-12/01/2014
But don’t worry; here are some examples of practical gifts for Christmas:
First of all, accessories that can be shown off to close friends such as earrings, necklaces, watches, and etc. are great gifts. They are practical and hardly unnecessary. Accessories can let your loved ones feel proud and loved. They don’t have to be expensive and fancy. As long as they are neat and pretty enough, not a single person in this world would dislike showing off these wonderful new gifts from you!
Secondly, muffler scarfs, gloves, and sweaters are never outdated. By presenting them with this warm winter equipment, you’ll be able to keep them safe from the cold breezy weather that will last long until March. If you want your friends and families to stay healthy until the next spring comes up, gifts that will warm them up are great ideas. But make sure they are fashionable. No one would want to walk around the street wearing shabby clothes!
Thirdly, scented candles also make great Christmas presents. During the winter, houses can’t be freshened easily by keeping windows open. By giving them candles, you can help your loving friends and family’s houses stay fresh.
Fourthly, neatly homemade Christmas cards filled with love are always great gifts. Although they might not seem to be great presents such as accessories, no one would hate a sincere, genuine card from his loved ones. Be confident!
Lastly, if you still couldn’t decide on what to give, your last resorts are cash and gift cards. If you don’t want to disappoint others by getting them something they didn’t want or need, providing them with this last option is a wonderful idea. With the gift of money, they can go out buy what they want for themselves. You may think that money or gift cards are impersonal. But in truth, they will thank you for letting them something they truly want!
-12/01/2014
Stress Levels increase with New School Year (Brian Park)
The feeling of being overwhelmed is something most high school students have experienced at least once. Having too much work to do, too many tests to study for, too many college applications to write, and more can burden students and cause lots of stress, if not taken care of properly.
Likewise, a junior, Michael Choi, also experiences stress from his school work and exams, but because he is able to manage his stress properly, he avoids falling behind in his studies.
Many students, just like Choi, often find themselves in stressful situations because of the amount of work they need to do. Combined with the pressures of the society they live in, parents, and the expectations they set for themselves, students can be faced with an overwhelming amount of stress they sometimes don’t know how to deal with. However, by learning some of the methods on how to deal with stress and by looking at the bigger picture, anyone can prevent stress from having a negative effect on their lives.
According to the American Heart Association, there are four key ways of dealing with stress— positive self-talk, emergency stress stoppers, finding pleasure, and daily relaxation. Emergency stress stoppers help deal with stress on the spot, like taking deep breaths or going for a walk.
Having someone to talk to is also a valuable resource, according to the social studies teacher, Michael Donkin. Exercise, sleep, and thinking in a nice, calm manner also helps.
“You get a range of individuals that have their own ways of coping with stress,” Donkin said, “Is there a right way or wrong way? It depends on what you’re doing with your actions regarding that.”
Psychology teacher Jason Musselman mentions that there are two different responses from our nervous system that cause stress — the parasympathetic and the sympathetic. The sympathetic system cares about the world, which is where we tend to receive the stress, and the parasympathetic system provides the relaxation needed to deal with stress.
A senior, Soohee Kim, similar to Choi, finds her own solution to relieve stress by listening to music. Choi also plays guitar, which also has a role of relaxation because he believes doing fun and enjoyable things will also help with reducing stress.
“If you live with a certain amount of people, stress is relevant because not only do you take care of yourself, but you think of others, and others might not listen to you,” Kim said.
However, Musselman believes stress is something we cannot live without because it is something that help us grow mentally and physically.
“I think that it [stress] helps us to realize that we are greater than we think we are,” Musselman said. “We can do more than we think we can. And if there was no stress, we wouldn’t move.”
One of the most stressful situations that Musselman encounters is when he has an increased amount of work in a limited time. But ultimately it is his own choice to push himself to the point of duress. However, by using stress-relieving skills daily, he is able to manage the stress that he has.
Although Donkin faces stress on a day-to-day basis, he doesn’t see stress as such a bad thing either. By working with different students, he faces “good” stress by helping them realize their potential they don’t see in themselves.
When Musselman notices when students have stress in his classroom, he strives to listen and work with the students. However, because he teaches an AP class, he tries to balance the pace and the course load with the stress of the students in order to adequately prepare students for the AP exam.
Donkin also seeks to find balance, but still tries to push forward and maintain a level of professionalism for both teaching and studying.
“The train’s still moving forward,” Donkin said, “It might not move as fast until you get everyone on board, but you have to ensure that everyone is in the right state of mind to learn.”
For students who face a lot of stress, Musselman recommends students to talk with him in advance if they are having trouble completing assignments on time, but not before the day that it is due.
With stress from homework, Donkin sees it as a matter of responsibility of students to do their work, but for more serious symptoms of stress, like depression, Donkin says that kind of stress needs to be resolved immediately with counseling.
“If you do feel stressed, notice it early,” Musselman said, “Don’t wait until the last minute to decide you need help… you need to have some self-awareness, watch your stress levels, see your schedule, and say I’m going to be stressed this week, I’m going to talk to so and so.”
-09/26/2014
Likewise, a junior, Michael Choi, also experiences stress from his school work and exams, but because he is able to manage his stress properly, he avoids falling behind in his studies.
Many students, just like Choi, often find themselves in stressful situations because of the amount of work they need to do. Combined with the pressures of the society they live in, parents, and the expectations they set for themselves, students can be faced with an overwhelming amount of stress they sometimes don’t know how to deal with. However, by learning some of the methods on how to deal with stress and by looking at the bigger picture, anyone can prevent stress from having a negative effect on their lives.
According to the American Heart Association, there are four key ways of dealing with stress— positive self-talk, emergency stress stoppers, finding pleasure, and daily relaxation. Emergency stress stoppers help deal with stress on the spot, like taking deep breaths or going for a walk.
Having someone to talk to is also a valuable resource, according to the social studies teacher, Michael Donkin. Exercise, sleep, and thinking in a nice, calm manner also helps.
“You get a range of individuals that have their own ways of coping with stress,” Donkin said, “Is there a right way or wrong way? It depends on what you’re doing with your actions regarding that.”
Psychology teacher Jason Musselman mentions that there are two different responses from our nervous system that cause stress — the parasympathetic and the sympathetic. The sympathetic system cares about the world, which is where we tend to receive the stress, and the parasympathetic system provides the relaxation needed to deal with stress.
A senior, Soohee Kim, similar to Choi, finds her own solution to relieve stress by listening to music. Choi also plays guitar, which also has a role of relaxation because he believes doing fun and enjoyable things will also help with reducing stress.
“If you live with a certain amount of people, stress is relevant because not only do you take care of yourself, but you think of others, and others might not listen to you,” Kim said.
However, Musselman believes stress is something we cannot live without because it is something that help us grow mentally and physically.
“I think that it [stress] helps us to realize that we are greater than we think we are,” Musselman said. “We can do more than we think we can. And if there was no stress, we wouldn’t move.”
One of the most stressful situations that Musselman encounters is when he has an increased amount of work in a limited time. But ultimately it is his own choice to push himself to the point of duress. However, by using stress-relieving skills daily, he is able to manage the stress that he has.
Although Donkin faces stress on a day-to-day basis, he doesn’t see stress as such a bad thing either. By working with different students, he faces “good” stress by helping them realize their potential they don’t see in themselves.
When Musselman notices when students have stress in his classroom, he strives to listen and work with the students. However, because he teaches an AP class, he tries to balance the pace and the course load with the stress of the students in order to adequately prepare students for the AP exam.
Donkin also seeks to find balance, but still tries to push forward and maintain a level of professionalism for both teaching and studying.
“The train’s still moving forward,” Donkin said, “It might not move as fast until you get everyone on board, but you have to ensure that everyone is in the right state of mind to learn.”
For students who face a lot of stress, Musselman recommends students to talk with him in advance if they are having trouble completing assignments on time, but not before the day that it is due.
With stress from homework, Donkin sees it as a matter of responsibility of students to do their work, but for more serious symptoms of stress, like depression, Donkin says that kind of stress needs to be resolved immediately with counseling.
“If you do feel stressed, notice it early,” Musselman said, “Don’t wait until the last minute to decide you need help… you need to have some self-awareness, watch your stress levels, see your schedule, and say I’m going to be stressed this week, I’m going to talk to so and so.”
-09/26/2014
A Kafkaesque Dream (Jamie Mun)
Tick-tock-tick-tock.
I was awoken by a sudden noise. It was an annoying ticking sound of a running clock. The noise kept repeating itself; it gradually grew louder and louder until I finally woke up.
It was silent when I opened my eyes.
I blinked for a few moments and rubbed my eyes lazily. I realized that I had fallen asleep while doing my homework. My textbooks were still open and so was my pencil case. All my pens were assorted in order from the darkest to lightest color. Other than that, my desk was a horrible mess with scrunched up paper thrown around everywhere.
I realized that I had this uneasy feeling that something was not right. I started to slowly, very slowly, examine the room.
I was in the wrong room.
It wasn’t my usual small beige bedroom that had a desk, a bed, and a closet. I was in a room with lots and lots of desks. The desks were neatly ordered into four rows. They were located in a gigantic room, like the size of a football field. At the end of the room, there was an ordinary white board, but next to it was a desk and a chair.
Suddenly, I noticed an object that wasn’t there before; it was a human-sized doll in her late thirties sitting on top of the chair.
It was just sitting there, still, and unmoving.
I observed the enormous room again with suspicion. From where I was sitting, I could tell that on every desk there was a piece of paper. I decided to get up and check it out. I went to the desk closest to my right and flipped the paper over.
There was a big fat red letter “F” written across the white A4 paper. Immediately, I felt something move and I heard the footsteps of heels behind me.
Click-Clack-Click-Clack.
I remembered, from the back of my head, about the human-sized doll. My heart beat thumped, faster and faster. I steadily turned my body around.
In front of my face was another face.
Smiling… no, smirking.
It was the doll.
I fell back onto the floor and that’s when I heard the familiar noise yet again.
Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock.
I jolted right out of my bed with my eyes wide open. I breathed in and out short gasps, quickly, trying to calm myself down. My hands were all sweaty as they clenched hard onto my blanket. They were both shaking violently.
The desks were gone. I was back in my room. But my mind wandered back from reality and the unconscious nightmare of my mind.
I could still feel her glassy orbs glaring into mine with a heinous smirk across her face. It would be long before I could fall asleep again.
-09/26/2014
I was awoken by a sudden noise. It was an annoying ticking sound of a running clock. The noise kept repeating itself; it gradually grew louder and louder until I finally woke up.
It was silent when I opened my eyes.
I blinked for a few moments and rubbed my eyes lazily. I realized that I had fallen asleep while doing my homework. My textbooks were still open and so was my pencil case. All my pens were assorted in order from the darkest to lightest color. Other than that, my desk was a horrible mess with scrunched up paper thrown around everywhere.
I realized that I had this uneasy feeling that something was not right. I started to slowly, very slowly, examine the room.
I was in the wrong room.
It wasn’t my usual small beige bedroom that had a desk, a bed, and a closet. I was in a room with lots and lots of desks. The desks were neatly ordered into four rows. They were located in a gigantic room, like the size of a football field. At the end of the room, there was an ordinary white board, but next to it was a desk and a chair.
Suddenly, I noticed an object that wasn’t there before; it was a human-sized doll in her late thirties sitting on top of the chair.
It was just sitting there, still, and unmoving.
I observed the enormous room again with suspicion. From where I was sitting, I could tell that on every desk there was a piece of paper. I decided to get up and check it out. I went to the desk closest to my right and flipped the paper over.
There was a big fat red letter “F” written across the white A4 paper. Immediately, I felt something move and I heard the footsteps of heels behind me.
Click-Clack-Click-Clack.
I remembered, from the back of my head, about the human-sized doll. My heart beat thumped, faster and faster. I steadily turned my body around.
In front of my face was another face.
Smiling… no, smirking.
It was the doll.
I fell back onto the floor and that’s when I heard the familiar noise yet again.
Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock.
I jolted right out of my bed with my eyes wide open. I breathed in and out short gasps, quickly, trying to calm myself down. My hands were all sweaty as they clenched hard onto my blanket. They were both shaking violently.
The desks were gone. I was back in my room. But my mind wandered back from reality and the unconscious nightmare of my mind.
I could still feel her glassy orbs glaring into mine with a heinous smirk across her face. It would be long before I could fall asleep again.
-09/26/2014