Kyiv, Ukraine. It is yet another Russian bombardment. My friend Nastya is awake and running down into the bomb shelter at 3 am. Again. In just a couple of hours, sleep-deprived, she will be sitting at the desk as if it’s normal day. Only 4 months ago she participated in an extremely competitive selection process which made the education financially feasible for her. During the two former years, in spite of ceaseless airstrike sirens and a constant anxiety, she had been studying – relentlessly. And her hopes paid off – she earned a scholarship to study in an Architectural college in Kyiv. Even so, there was a price to be paid – more intense airstrikes and even less security. Like this, without much sleep, and amidst this overwhelming chaos, she has completed 2 months of her studies. Nastya followed this path because she knew – this might be her only chance, a morbid one, but a chance for a better future. Her example is a constant reminder of how absurdly fortunate I am. What if a person like her had opportunities like me? In some disturbing sense, wars are necessary to cultivate people that are going to grit their teeth. Comfort kills. Struggling is just another word for being alive.
Yin & Yang
I never necessarily understood the term “opposites attract.” Like, what does that even mean? If two things have completely opposing characteristics, how on earth could they ever work together? Well, I’m confident in saying that I now understand the contradictory concept.
My roommate and I are literally the most opposite people on the planet. She is a night person, whereas I am a morning person (on the weekends, I usually wake up about four hours earlier than her). Her side of the room is messy a lot of the time, whereas I physically can’t function or think if mine is anything but perfect. She prefers to look at things logically, whereas I am an extremely emotional person. While we both get good grades, she is naturally very very smart so the effort she puts into school is about five times less than what I put in. She is quite the introvert, while I tend to be more extroverted. All considered, I think you get the point, that my roommate and I could not be more of different people. However, I don’t think I would trade her for anyone else in the world.
I think the term “opposites attract” stems from the conclusion that those with conflicting principles complement each other and help each other experience new perspectives. Analyzing your differences can also lead to making common connections of random similarities that weren’t originally apparent. For example, my roommate and I both share similar hobbies like playing both volleyball and piano. We also are both only children, and share a lot of the same food tastes. We also both sleep talk, except she does in Chinese, so she has an unfair advantage over me with that one. Anyway, coming to boarding school has made me realize the importance of finding people that can provide you with new outlooks on all aspects of life, as it will never be beneficial to stick only to what you know. My roommate and I have been rooming together for about two and a half years now, in our third school year, and we don’t plan on parting ways anytime soon. Well, that is if I can keep it together and not drop my metal water bottle onto the ground producing an ear-piercing crash at seven in the morning when she is trying to sleep in.
PC: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQwJAqFKX4YMYzOAhGsgMzUGbY4cHrJAhnexA&usqp=CAU
How My Hate For Black Licorice Ruined My Entire Evening
One fun fact about me is that I have never liked black licorice. It’s honestly just utterly repulsive. Ever since I was really young, I always had a deep-rooted hatred for everything about it. Don’t get me wrong, red licorice is amazing – a very fine snack. Nevertheless, my opinion on black licorice is that it is absolutely offensive. No person should ever be putting that substance in their mouth. Until that fateful night.
Adele and I like to work on our precalc homework together because doing so alone is basically the same thing as committing suicide. So last night we had just started to do our homework, and this is where the night went downhill. Adele, like a literal crazy person, pulls out a bag of black licorice and starts eating it. She offers me a piece, which was the most fatal moment of my life.
Me, being the naive and stupid person I sometimes am, actually thought that my long-standing disgust for such a horrible thing might actually go away with time. So, I accepted her offer, and it was the kickstart to the worst night of my life. It was still the most disgusting thing that has ever come in contact with my taste buds. I can’t even put it into words how much I hate it. I don’t even want to talk about it.
Anyway, the rest of my night was undoubtedly ruined. My precalc homework took me and Adele an hour and 45 minutes. It was the most awful thing I’ve ever done. I hate trig. But not as much as I hate black licorice. I genuinely believe that the fact it ever came in contact with my mouth is the sole reason for such an awful week. After I took about 5 years off of my life by completing my math, I was so unmotivated that I did absolutely nothing and laid in my bed for the next couple of hours, procrastinating all of my work. My entire mood was thrown off, and it is still a little affected, even a couple days after the incident.
If anyone reading this has one takeaway, I would suggest to never let black licorice within a three-feet radius of you. Also, drop out of precalc if you have the chance.
PC: https://www.furlongscandies.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Black-Kookaburra-Licorice-scaled.jpg
Weather
In my last blog, I wrote about clouds. That is my favorite weather story. In this post, I’m going to continue that and write about my dislike of rainy days. Of course, rain is an essential part of life, but I feel a little down when it rains. Some people may find the sound of rain soothing and cozy.
I dislike rainy days not only because of the overall atmosphere but also because of the bad memories I have.
In Japan, where I live, it is normal for it to rain, and we are usually prepared for it, whereas in California, it doesn’t rain as much and we are not as well equipped. Especially where I am now, even a little rain can cause flooding.
I have a bitter memory of a time when I came back to the U.S. from Japan and could not go back to school because it was raining. I had a lot of bad luck, my cell phone internet was not working, and the hotels nearby were full, so I had nowhere to go. Finally, my friends invited me to their house and I was able to survive this misfortune.
For me, rain is not my favorite weather, as I have some bitter memories of it. Rainy days are not my favorite, but perhaps they have their own beauty and charm. I am not saying that I dislike rain, but I hope that one day I will be able to appreciate its charm.
Santa Rosa Island
I just arrived back at school from our 3-day camping trip to Santa Rosa Island. It was my second time going to Santa Rosa, but this time was even better. The best part for me was that my best friend was on my trip, as well as my mum. We did a lot of hiking, which was a little difficult, but games and stories along the way made the journey easier. I feel like I got closer to a couple of my friends, which I am really happy about. I learned how to play so many card games, which was definitely a highlight of the trip. We also saw many whales and dolphins during both boat rides and saw the whales’ incredible breaching. I also really liked the fact that the camping trip was not too long, I don’t think I could go another day without showering. Overall, it was a beautiful trip, and I highly recommend that you visit Santa Rosa Island if you get the chance to.
pc:https://visitventuraca.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/35308159650_73711e9983_o-1.jpg
chem is not for me
I’ve always struggled with science but chemistry is extremely humbling. Last year I did really well in biology getting a 96% on my final and having a 93 in the class. I was very confident going into chemistry but I have yet to succeed in anything so far. I have failed every test or quiz and struggled badly every night on the homework. I have taken time to watch videos explaining the topics but I still need help understanding. Chemistry is a notoriously hard class and I believe I could do it but I truly can’t. I have a test on Monday and I plan on spending my weekend studying although I am certain that I am going to fail. Today I have a review session during class and we are taking a practice test I have a feeling I’m going to fail that as well. I hope this test goes well.
Starbucks
I don’t think that it is possible to understand my love for Starbucks unless you are just the same amount of psycho about it as I am. Getting Starbucks is so different compared to getting food or a drink from anywhere else. I have gotten so much of it over the years that it feels like a second home. It is so fast to order and its just so good. I understand if people over the age of forty don’t love it, but if you are around my age, you are literally insane if you don’t love Starbucks. You don’t need to be unique and say that you like a gross underground cafe just to be different. I will admit that there are some really disgusting Starbucks drinks but for the most part, they are so good. I’ve never gotten any food from there that I don’t like. If I buy food from anywhere else I feel like I’m spending money, but Starbucks feels like a tax. There is just no life for me without Starbucks in it.
when I leave
I know I’ve been writing alot about the end but it has been clouding my mind lately, and I need to do these anyway. So here I go.
I’m not ready and I never will be. Why does it all have to end? I hate how I didn’t enjoy my younger years more. I wish I would have. I don’t even remember the last time I went trick or treating, what was I even dressed as? These things are stuck in my head as I feel like I’m wasting time. Why do I have to be in school when I could be out in the world living.
Living. Why?
Why does it end? Why can’t I do what I want for the years I am here? Considering we only live once, why am I wasting it here? I should be across the world singing my heart out on a stage. I should be performing every single hour. Why do I want more? These questions will most likely never be answered or changed.
What am I going to do?
I’m scared.
I think we all are even if we can easily mask it. There’s always going to be that pit in my stomach whenever I think of the end. What happens? I don’t want to leave. I will miss my friends too much. What do they even really think of me? When I’m not near and they talk about me what do they say? What are they thinking about saying while reading this? I guess I shouldn’t waste time thinking about it but I can’t help myself. I mean they are my friends, right?
I’m going to miss everyone.
I don’t know why I’m scared. I mean I do, but why aren’t others? How do they live without the fear of leaving? Can they teach me? I guess not but I really do hope I move past this. Every time it happens, I just want it to end. I’ve been here before every feeling every word. Have I imagined it all? You’ll never know how freedom will feel if you never try to forget your past.
I just want to live and maybe I will, one day.
OVS changed my life
When I got into OVS it changed my life completely. I remember so clearly when I was crying in my room because of how awful school was and my mom called me downstairs and said she had found a new school I could apply for. I flipped my life around completely. I changed my mindset. I had to get my grades up and take the SSAT but I got in by a miracle. I was eating a grilled cheese and my mom came upstairs crying saying that I got in. Everything changed. I came to OVS and started getting excited to go to school every day. I learned how to make things make sense. I could sit in class and not beg my teacher to let me go home. I finally had friends who were going somewhere in life and setting a good example. It will forever be the day my life changed.
Photo credit: https://www.owlboardingschools.com/schools/ojai-valley/
Trends
After a long discussion in class today, I’ve decided to write my blog on trends. Personally, I am an extremely influenceable person. I buy most “trending” things and participate in many other “trends’ ‘. Trends are sometimes long-term and other times they only last a week. I have many old trend items that sit in the back of my closet collecting dust now. When VSCO was a trend I was very VSCO and I was very alt/indie when it was trending. Many of the clothes I wore during those times now sit in the back of my closet. I have been wanting money recently so I have been selling a lot of old clothes and buying clothes second hand at thrift stores and on depop. Trends truly do fascinate me, stores will be completely sold out for months and companies will create new lines just based on trends. The power social media has over what people buy and wear shocks me. One example of this is the well known green and navy brandy striped sweater. This sweater was extremely sought after and was very “trendy”, it was rare to find at in-person brandy locations and it was sold out online too. People who owned the sweater started selling it for much more on Depop and Poshmark and people spent way too much money on a simple striped sweater. Aerie also came out with a “dupe” for this sweater and it sold extremely well. To some it up trends fascinate me and the power of something being “trendy” also shocks me.
OVS Journalism Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.