by Reilly Jaworski | Mar 19, 2021 | Archive
What if I told you I was writing the bulk of this article before I’ve even had breakfast, on a school day? Would you deem me a lunatic, tell me I should go to sleep and wake up at a humanly hour? I would understand if these were your initial reactions, as mornings are among the most universally deplorable concepts existing in modern day, and having to get up early in the morning is an even more detestable situation. Your morning probably looks something like this: you get up, you brush your teeth, you throw on some clothes, maybe acquire some time to eat a granola bar before booking it out the door. I know this is the most likely case, and I also know that it is the very reason why you object to the morning arising each day when your alarm goes off. When you don’t have time to do things that make you happy and set you up for an actually enjoyable day, you won’t actually enjoy your day.
Start by waking up just fifteen minutes earlier. Now, this deducted fifteen minutes of shut eye shouldn’t radically set you back energetically. Fifteen minutes, I find, lies right in the sweet spot of being able to get more done before your day starts while also not causing you to be too tired to function. However, if you’re going to bed at two in the morning, you can’t blame me for your lack of energy. Kindly go to bed at a reasonable hour that works with your schedule and set your alarm just fifteen minutes earlier than you typically would.
Now, what to do with these extra fifteen minutes. A fair question, of which I have a myriad of answers. Is there something you’re putting off? Should you read your book for English for a few minutes? Feel like exercising or going for a walk around the block? You could always try for eating an actual breakfast (it’s the most important meal of the day, you know) or even watching a few minutes of your favorite TV show to set the day right, and get you in a good mood.
There are other perks to getting up early that you may not think of in your pessimistic haze, some of which have some very emotionally beneficial impacts. Firstly, and my personal favorite part of the morning, is that you might be able to catch the sunrise. Frequent are the mornings in which I look out my window, my mood instantly brightening. The emotional effects of a colorful sky should by no means be underestimated. A more concrete benefit of waking up early is that it decreases your stress level by allowing time for a calm, well paced morning routine, leaving behind the need to rush around like someone who doesn’t wake up early. Lastly, it’s shown to improve your sleep, as you are able to get through all sleep cycles at night, thus, leading to more enjoyable rest as well as a greater amount of energy to dip into throughout the day.
Now that you’re educated on the benefits of waking up early, I encourage you to try it for a week. Just a week of waking up fifteen minutes earlier than usual is what I urge you to do. If after a week you see not even a sliver of improvement in any realm of your life, give it up and sleep in longer. Hopefully this trial run of earlier rising will get you practicing a new habit that pushes you closer to a mark of improvement in some aspect of your life.
by Reilly Jaworski | Mar 15, 2021 | Archive
If you’ve ever found yourself trapped in the midst of a homogeneous cycle in which every one of your days is indistinguishable from the last, you probably are pining for something new. However, you most likely also tell yourself that you don’t have time for something new. We all do it; claim that time is what controls the ranking of our days. What if I told you that there’s a way to do everything you want to do by using time to your advantage rather than thinking of it as an opponent?
First and foremost, as I’ve always said, time is a manmade fabrication. Not to get too philosophical but does time really even exist? Does it matter? Should we let a concoction of mankind control our happiness? I’m not telling you to stop showing up to your classes on time or to cut sleep out of your schedule, but I am saying that having “no time” is not an excuse for mediocrity. I understand that the workloads pile up from school and then there’s your job at the grocery store that takes up time and chores that you have to help out with, but, there’s also a life to be enjoyed and not a single moment should be construed as a triviality.
So, how do you come up with clever ways of doing what you want to do while also making time for things that you must do? There are a few steps, actually.
- To-Do list. This is my personal staple and is the ultimate backbone for ensuring that you make no excuses for not getting to what you want to get to. Write down a list of things, with threefold categorization. Firstly, scribble down (usually I use purple pen but whatever works for you is just as well) all of the things that must be done that very day. This for me is usually school assignments. Next, write in a different color all of the things that you want to do for yourself. This could be reading, watching a specific show, taking a nap, whatever you fancy, and whatever you feel would make your day worth your time. Thirdly, write down things that you want to do with and/or for people around you. This could be doing the dishes for your parents, helping your friend understand the homework assignment that they couldn’t figure out, or anything else that could benefit someone you care about. Then assign a little box next to each item on the comprehensive list, in order that you will be able to check it off at the end of the day.
- Timestamp. Here’s what you should do in order to make sure you get to everything on your list: record how long you are doing each activity so that you don’t lose track of time and end up spending an hour and a half on your chemistry homework. If it helps, write down desired times next to each item on your list so that you know precisely how long you want to do each one for. This will help you immensely with being both realistic and optimistic about your itinerary.
- Release the feeling of guilt. We’ve all felt guilty for taking a break between study sessions, feeling like we aren’t doing enough to approach our goals. However, guilt is a liar that misleads you into believing this. The truth is, the best thing you can do for yourself and for your future is to give yourself time to relax and absorb information before putting in more laborious effort. It’s actually proven that we learn and retain information better when we give ourselves the occasional hiatus from work. It might feel strange to take time for yourself and to rest, but it isn’t just nice to take a break, it’s vital.
So, in the midst of that familiar cycle of monotony, remember these steps and break out of it before you look back, unable to note any distinctions between the days.
by Kush Bansal | Mar 1, 2021 | News
On March 9, the day will arrive in which all Juniors will have to take the standardized test, which may or may not even matter in a few years: the ACT. We’ve all heard the stories about how to “crack the ACT” or how to “beat the system”, but in reality it’s just a test which people cram for in the preceding weeks and then take. Yet, we see SO many students freak out about the pressures about getting the best score for college, which is understandable. That being said, this year the ACT will be done on our Chromebooks. Why? I have no clue. But it can be advantageous for many as an online test can be easier to cruise through, however, just because it’s online doesn’t mean it won’t be challenging. So if you’re here for guidance, you’ve come to the right place. This is the breakdown of the ACT and what you should do to prepare yourself.
What is the ACT? The ACT is a standardized test, similar to what the SAT is, in which students test themselves to see if they have met the proficiency goals required for the colleges they want to go to. Typically, colleges in Wisconsin want scores anywhere from 20-30, however, more competitive schools like Ivy Leagues and schools like MIT need an ACT score of at least 34.
What does the ACT look like? There is the English test which takes 45 Minutes and has 75 Questions. Then there’s the Math test which takes 60 Minutes and has 60 Questions. Then, students get a 15 minutes break. After their break, there is the Reading test which 35 Minutes and has 40 Questions. At last, there is the Science test which takes 35 Minutes and has 40 Questions. Then, the final test is the Writing test which is 40 minutes and DOES NOT factor into you composite score. The English, Math, Reading, and Science tests are ALL multiple choice while the Writing test is a short perspective essay that you have to write.
How is the ACT test scored? The English, Math, Reading, and Science tests are all scored on a scale of 1-36. Then, your composite score is all four scores added up and divided by 4. So, if you get a 31 in English, a 30 in Math, a 26 in Reading, and a 28 on Science, your composite score would be 28.75, which would be rounded up to a 29. You also have an Writing test which is scored on a scale of 1-6 by TWO graders. the scores from both graders are then added up and you get your writing score. So if both graders give a score of 4 for your Writing test, then you get an 8 on the Writing test. The score from the Writing test is not counted in your composite score.
How should you prepare for the ACT? Study everyday. Take at least one practice test a day to help you practice the skills needed to do well on the ACT. Pay attention in class when your teacher goes over the ACT material, as it can be very helpful for your prep. Ask questions, reach out to other people for tips, and stay committed. Lastly, don’t panic. Relax and don’t let the stress of the ACT overcome you. It’s just a test. While it is important, it is also important that you don’t uproot your whole life for the ACT. You can always retake the ACT. Put forth your best effort on test day and you will be fine.
by Reilly Jaworski | Feb 26, 2021 | Archive
We are quickly approaching the depths of that widely anticipated time of the year when the lulls of winter appear inescapable. Annually, as we grow increasingly sickened of the winter weather, we start to lose the grasp of our New Year’s resolutions. I’m here to help you remember why you adopted these resolutions in the first place along with why and how you should go about sticking to them.
I should probably start by acknowledging the fact that many of you may not even have any resolutions. To those of you who aren’t taking those steps towards self-improvement, I truly encourage you to conjure a few ways to make your lives better. It can be something as simple as getting more sleep or exercise. A resolution doesn’t have to be rung in with the new year; you can change anything you want to about yourself and your life at any time. One of the greatest things about being an independent being is the freedom of choice and adaptation that accompanies it. When you think of a resolution, work to make it measurable. Specifying your goals will make it automatically easier to achieve them. For example, if your resolution is to drink more water, say you want to drink at least four glasses of water per day. If your resolution is to read more, say you want to read ten pages a day. This encourages you to take action and ensures that you will feel a greater sense of accomplishment.
After practicing your new lifestyle change for a certain amount of time, it’s natural and to be expected that you start to lose sight of it and ponder the prospect of giving it up. This circumstance is so easy to face and yet so easy to defeat. One of my resolutions for this year is to meditate daily. You can imagine my dismay on the numerous occasions when I approach the precipice of bed and realize I have forgotten to meditate. It’s really difficult to stick to certain things sometimes. However, what I’m about to tell you will immediately nullify your lack of motivation: Remember why you started. This is really an imperative step to the solution of your disinterest. When we remember why we do things, they will automatically become more enjoyable. Remember that the next time you are studying. What are you studying for? A certain job? College? Why did you initially want to go to bed earlier? Did you want to feel more alert? If you continue to pursue your goal with purpose hovering over you, I guarantee you won’t flirt with the idea of giving up again.
Resolutions evolve over time, and if you find yourself with a product that looks different than the original goal, that is completely okay. Sometimes, carrying on with a resolution is more about changing and growing as a person than it is about having a finished product. If your goal was to make your bed everyday and you did not accomplish this goal, please don’t see this as a manifestation of failure. Instead, think about how the unintended result changed you as an individual. Do you find you’re able to listen to yourself and understand yourself to a greater degree of efficacy? Do you have more motivation resulting from the times that you did make your bed in the morning? If the answer is yes to any question that you pose to yourself surrounding your goal, then you can be secure in the knowledge that you have succeeded at something. Revel in that feeling and remember it the next time you start rolling out plans for a new expedition.
Ultimately, we’re all just trying to be better than we were a second ago. Life is about changes of varying sizes. If there’s one thing I encourage you to take away from this is the fact that every step that you take to change is beneficial no matter how minute. Correspondingly, every resolution is valid and conducive to some form of success. Take the first step to the life you want by practicing one thing that can push you there.
by Reilly Jaworski | Feb 1, 2021 | Archive
Happy second semester! Cue the banners and confetti, we’re coming around the bend to a nervous breakdown. I mean, that’s what we always do. Breaking down is all just part of it, right? Well, traditionally, yes, but it shouldn’t be. Let’s take a look at each problem we have, and then put it into perspective, school oriented or not. If we do that, maybe we won’t have such a strong penchant for anxiety.
Pick a problem, preferably the biggest one you are currently pushing your way through. Now, look out a window and direct your attention upward. That’s the sky. What’s encouraging about that sky, is that it won’t topple over and cave in on itself if for some reason your qualms centered around your biggest problem turn out to be true. So, that’s a really good thing. No matter how big you think your problem could potentially be, it won’t be big enough to cause the disintegration of the sky. At least, I wouldn’t assume so. We should also acknowledge the simple fact that your problem will not turn out to be as big of an issue as you currently think it is. Every time you lose yourself in reveries of the future, good and bad, you are always lying to yourself. The truth is that nothing is what you think it will be. If you’re sitting here right now, bouncing your knee at the prospect of a presentation you have to give going terribly asunder, you can stop bouncing your knee and stop tapping your fingers on the nearest hard surface. It won’t be the fiasco you’re picturing and torturing yourself with. That being said, I am only telling you not to worry, I am not telling you to disregard the importance of preparation. It could still go poorly, it just probably won’t go as poorly as you’re anticipating. Study, practice, and prepare, but stop worrying so much. Additionally, preparing helps to ease the mind naturally. When you feel ready for something, you aren’t nervous about it. So, do your work, and try not to assume that everything is going to go wrong, because it won’t.
The next thing I want to touch on is a cliche. You know the old adage: Everything happens for a reason. How outdone. So outdone in fact, that those words have probably lost all meaning on you. However, this broken record is irrevocably accurate. One of the biggest concepts I believe in is fate. Life has multitudinous pathways, all of which have the potential to be trekked by you. Amongst the various pathways, is one that has been cultivated specifically for you. So, let’s say something goes wrong and your worst nightmare has come true. Scary? Probably. Necessary? Most definitely. If your worst nightmare comes true, then your worst nightmare was meant to come true. Loads of people don’t believe in fate, but I inquire, why not? If something goes wrong, don’t play the victim, it isn’t becoming. When something happens differently than the way you had it played out in your head, simply rise to the occasion. Accept the fact that it happened and that it happened for a reason. Now, try to pick a piece of goodness out of it and walk farther along that pathway of yours.
When we start to think about the vast universe, we view ourselves as tiny little specks, barely discernible among the stars and galaxies shining far brighter than us and spanning far wider. Inside of the tiny specks that we are, is where our problems reside. Please don’t feel the universe collapsing around you if your problem manifests. The universe isn’t collapsing.
