“Toys and gadgets or books and notes: decisions of adolescence”

 

 

Adolescence is a time when we begin to develop new own identities and figure out what we want in life. For some, this means experimenting with their hobbies and interests. For others, this might mean trying out new activities, from playing sports to joining a music group or even learning how to cook. During this time, one of the largest sources of internal conflict one can experience – that I have too – is what should take more of our precious free time; books and the internal urge to write about this new world we’re experiencing, or our phones and gadgets?

 

Of course, both technology and books can help us learn and develop new skills and hobbies. The benefits of reading books, for example, include improved vocabulary, writing skills and critical thinking skills. They can also serve as good sources of entertainment and are a great way to relax after a long day at work. Writing, of course, is its own reward. The ability to sit with yourself at the end of a long day, to reflect on things, to create something so valuable and personal – the feeling of it is unmatched!

 

On the other hand, the benefits of using technology include the ability to stay connected with your friends and family. In many ways, what we consume on our phones provides instant gratification – I have the world’s videos and shows at the tip of my fingertips. Moreover, using the internet, I can visit just about any corner of the world. Gadgets like video game consoles offer highly immersive stories and the feeling of accomplishment.

 

Of course, both have their drawbacks. Books can take a while to feel gratifying (worldbuilding takes patience), and it is difficult to sit down and write every single day. Technology, on the other day, can make us into tech addicts. Too much screen time can also affect your mental health by disrupting your sleep cycle and causing you to become lethargic and irritable.

 

The more I think about it, the more it becomes clear that what adolescence is really about, is striking a balance. Having grown up, we must make more careful and planned decisions around how to spend our time. And while both books and technology are attractive and offer benefits, it is important to give them both equal time. The consumption of technology must not get in the way of finding time for ourselves, or the quiet of getting lost in a book. If we make time for both, we can lead a healthy life where it is not just indulgence that rules our days, where everything is, in equal parts interesting, immersive, and rewarding.

Source:

https://bhstoday.org/1864/commentary/teens-prefer-technology-over-books/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343156923_Reading_During_Adolescence_Why_Adolescents_Choose_or_Do_Not_Choose_Books

Some Shoes Fit Some; Some Leave Shoe Bites: Coming to Terms with Yourself

 

Growing up can be a strange conundrum. On one hand, there is a whole new world that reveals itself to you – the great outdoors, where all kinds of freedoms can be yours. So many possibilities, so many new people. On the other, you have very little idea about what to do with any of it. More importantly, once you figure out what to do, how do you know that you’re getting it right? There are no blueprints to being a teenager – you’re the only one who can figure out what kind of person you want to become. Everything must be learned on the job, and ‘becoming yourself’ is a job that comes with no time off.

 

Is it any wonder that the biggest struggle adolescents face is that of fitting in? At a time when you are essentially half-adult, half-child, it can be difficult to know where you stand with both yourself and the people around you. This is especially true for teenagers who are struggling with mental health concerns, which can truly cement the feeling that no one understands you. So how do we stay true to who we want to be without worrying about being judged or getting it wrong?

 

Lately, I’ve begun thinking of adolescence as being in a massive shoe store. There are hundreds of pairs, in different colours and sizes, and for some unknown reason, you have been left in here – free to try them all! The only thing that makes sense is to explore. As you go through different shoes, wearing them to walk the length of the story, maybe take a run, you realize something. Some shoes fit wonderfully. Others will leave shoe bites (sometimes, nasty ones). But you’d never know which ones you like until you explore them all!

 

Like all good things, our teenage years can only be figured out through trial and error. We make mistakes, fall, and get back up. We wait a while for the shoe bites to heal, and go right back to trying on shoes. Occasionally, we get it right – we find people who accept us for our flaws, find a hobby that lifts the world off our shoulders, and have days that make us smile. These things will often come as shoes that look slightly different from what we initially expected. Their shape, size, and design will often look unfamiliar. But once we try them on, they will fit snugly, and it will all make sense. Before you know it, you will be walking out of your teenage years with bags full to the brim with enough shoes to last you a lifetime.

Source- https://paradigmtreatment.com/staying-true-to-yourself-and-the-struggle-of-fitting-in/

Homework or Doomwork?!

Nowadays, students can only think about one thing: homework! After a long and exhausting day at school, they should have the rest of the day to do whatever activity they choose, hang out with friends, or play outside, except that they are required to do more school work. A subject teacher has a set of students, who in turn have multiple subject teachers so their homework exponentially grows according to the number of subjects per day at school. Is it fair? 

According to the survey data, 56 % of the students considered homework a key source of stress. The remaining students viewed tests and the pressure to get good grades as the primary stressors. Notably, less than 1% of the students said homework was not a stressor* China, Russia, and Singapore give the most amount of homework, averaging around 12 hours per week.

In 1095, Roberto Nevelis invented homework as a punishment for students. Over the years, it has become a part of students' everyday lives. Although homework can be beneficial to all, it becomes detrimental if someone is forced to do it. Short deadlines not only cause the students to dislike their teacher but also the subject. Teachers must come up with new ways to get students to practice their subject, rather than simply giving deadlines. Sometimes, the homework we take hours to complete is scrapped and expected again. The pressure of a perfect assignment snatches the joy of doing that assignment.

Talk about deadlines - we as students, are expected to adhere to them while our teachers would take months to give back our corrected work. If giving back our work isn’t that time-bound then why make it a deadline? Students should be allowed to submit their work whenever possible within the stipulated time, or teachers can set longer deadlines, like a fortnight.  There is no question that homework is important for students but not in the volume schools give it in. Kids are prevented from expressing their creative side by staying stuck in wrapping up the classwork; if a student is coming home after a long and stressful day at school, they won't have time to finish their homework, which will take more than two hours, plus express their creative side by engaging in a hobby.

Thus, schools should lessen home assignments for one and all.  

* https://gateway.aurorak12.org/2021/03/02/when-homework-causes-stress/

Pollution precedes perishing

 

• Living in Delhi is said to be equal to smoking twenty-plus cigarettes every single day.

• Air pollution can reduce the life expectancy of Indians by nine years, says a report by a US research group.

• A study conducted in 2020 shows 54,000 premature deaths - owing to the high rise in the levels of pollution. 

The capital city’s pollution worsens with every passing day. I, a citizen of Delhi, can confirm that after Diwali the Air quality index (AQI) has deteriorated and it is unbreakable for an average human. It requires wearing a mask mandatorily outdoors and having multiple air purifiers at home.  

Delhi's alarming levels of air pollution have been attributed to a variety of factors namely crop burning in neighbouring states (Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan), vehicular emissions, and fireworks during Diwali season. The city's landlocked geographical location also leads to Industrial pollution and large-scale construction activities.

I have recently come across numerous cases where people have been rushed to hospitals for lung diseases like asthma attacks and respiratory infections. Air pollution also leads to Acid rain and crop damage. I urge people to burn fewer fossil fuels as, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides are also emitted into the environment, thereby further polluting the air. Year after year, Delhi has become a gas chamber while reducing peoples’ life span. It is imperative that people take precautionary measures to prevent suffocation and asphyxiation. A busy road on Delhi can now be equated to Hitler’s gas chambers. STOP AIR POLLUTION OR GET AN ALERT FOR YOUR ELIMINATION!

A Rendezvous with the Disney world

Disney World is an amazing amusement park that is ginormous and radiant. As a matter of fact, it actually has: Four Theme Parks (Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot Centre, and Animal Kingdom), Two Water Parks (Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach), about 20 Disney-operated hotels (depending on how you count), 12 hotels not operated by Disney, a “downtown” shopping and restaurant district, Disney Springs and, a few other less notable features (e.g., golf courses). So, it is basically an entire city all by itself except for the fact that there are no private houses. It would take more than a week to catch a glimpse of the entire park. 

Something the Disney world is known for is the mystifying display of light in the sky during nighttime above the Cinderella castle; It is amazing even though it is late at night and very crowded; it is worth all your time and effort. It is called, ‘ Once Upon A Time Castle Projection Show’. You can also take great pictures in front of the castle.

If you do not have the budget to go all the way to Iceland to watch a diffused glow emanate from the northern horizon, it is not a problem. You can always count on the frozen (movie) rides and shows to show the northern lights. Even though the movie is not as amazing as the actual lights, one gets a surreal feel of the original.

Another staple in Disney World is the parade. The floats are very tall so you could admire the view from afar. During the parade, the streets bustle with an enthusiastic bevy of tourists so it becomes pertinent to reserve your seat before it gets occupied. 

Walking to this extent gets exhausting at times so replenishing our bodies with meals is the next best thing to do; but heed my disclaimer as my experience tells me to share with you how unhealthy and calorie-laden foods are sold there.  The most common things you get to eat are: churros, burgers, hot dogs, pizza, coca-cola, ice cream, etc. but if you are worried about gaining weight don’t be because in the park you can easily walk up to 20,000 steps going from one place to another. Also, it would be a good idea to wear some comfortable slippers as the weather is unpredictable. When my family and I had gone one day the weather was scorching hot and the following day there was a heavy downpour. So slippers would be your sole mates. Well, you certainly would not get to see a ‘moonbow’, a rainbow during the night but the odds for seeing a rainbow would be equally scarce, owing to the uncertain weather.

Which leaf do you wanna be?

 If I were a leaf, I would be world-famous because I would be the only Beech leaf in the entire universe who would not only know how to talk but would also gain experience of the unknown.

My day would go like this- I would wake up early in the morning before sunrise and go lay in the mud to get my suntanning for at least 5 hours. While doing that, I would also try and learn different languages to impress others from all around the world. Then around 11, I would go take a nice shower preferably from a garden hose or fountain. Then I would go to the airport and sit in somebody’s bag and go wherever they go. That is why I don’t live in a house because I never stay in one place for more than a day or two. I think I would travel 50% of the world if I smartly attach myself to celebrity luggage.

I would travel the world, and see climates that no beech cousin of mine has ever experienced before: be with Nick Jonas on the India tour to endure the dry, sultry and barren weather and meet famous celebrities like the Bollywood stars - all for free too because who was going to notice the tiniest me on Nick’s bowtie? I could just sneak into anybody's backpack or collar and have the time of my life. The possibilities are endless. 

But the only gigantic problem would be that I could be killed easily due to my structure so I would need to be extra cautious. Also, many people would mistake me for flying objects sticking to garments as millions of my other twin brothers and sisters and I have sticky properties too. Who said traveling with a celebrity would be easy? It comes with its own platter of problems, some may include - lack of sunlight, water, soil, etc. 

Even though my wiser cousin, the oak leaf is a powerful symbol of strength, endurance, and eternity, I am happy signifying death as death is the new door to life. Despite the ash tree teasing me about her powers of longevity and endurance, I stand for the changes that arise through realization. Last but not the least, my nagging sister sycamore taunts me for her strength, protection, and divinity, I, however, seek revelation and increase my knowledge.

Do you see me?

 

With invisibility comes great power. If I have the power of becoming invisible whenever I want, I would practically be a ghost; I could pass through doors, walls, objects, and everything else you can imagine. While I am invisible, I would go rob a bank and become the richest person in the world. I would go and attend super confidential government meetings and sell their secrets for millions of rupees. I would be a criminal mastermind! 

Just because I have the power of becoming invisible doesn’t mean I would only use it to my benefit. I would help others too, but, I wouldn’t want them to know my secret so, I will have to be discreet about it, otherwise, they will suspect me of robbing the bank and I would want to be seen as a hero in their eyes. Sneaky right? 

I will have the power and freedom to do literally all I want. I can take free plane rides, holidays, know people’s secrets without them knowing that I know; not only that,  but I can also scare my enemies. I can easily become the world’s greatest spy because of my powers.  Invisibility is the most unpredictable thing in the world; much better than having super speed or tensile strength. Luckily, I can turn my invisibility on and off; if I were invisible forever, it wouldn’t be that great as no one would know I exist and that is kind of sad. Unluckily, all of this is not possible in real life, or it is and not many people know of it. After the coronavirus mishap, I feel anything is possible. For all, we know there are mermaids swimming somewhere in the ocean and we just haven’t discovered them yet as they are that good at hiding their superpowers. 

Secrecy is very hard. Personally, I am average at keeping secrets so if I ever become invisible, I would want to tell someone. I could also get caught as if I am doing something I am not supposed to do and someone accidentally drops powder on me, my silhouette would show and they would know I exist. So I would need to master the art of avoiding contact with the powder. Or should I show everyone my superpower and become famous? for that, it might be a little dangerous as people might try kidnaping me for it or some crazy scientist would want to do random tests on me to see how I am turning invisible. So the best thing to do would be to only tell someone I trust so they can help me dominate the world and be my partner in crime.