We had another soccer game and we finally won!! We played Nordhoff JV and we won 8-0. It feels great to win and I really do think our team played well. Pretty much all the people who usually stay on the bench got some time in the game which they typically do. I played defense the whole time and the ball only went onto our side of the field probably less than 5 times. We have another game on Saturday against Cate, which we will most likely lose. If this is the only game we win all year at least it felt good. I like playing defense but midfield is my favorite. Wish the rest of my team luck against Cate this weekend because they might get demolished. I wish I could be there to help the team but I’m also excited for my horse show. I also think if I were to go I would definitely get hurt and it would just suck to go all the way to Carp on a Saturday just to lose. PC:Google
Hoodies are my absolute favorite piece of clothing. There’s something about their comfy, soft fabric and oversized fit that feels like a calming warm hug. Whether it’s a chilly school morning or a lazy weekend afternoon, hoodies are perfect for any time. I love their compatibility you can pair them with jeans or, workout clothes, or even use them as a comfy layer while relaxing at home. The front pocket is also super convenient for keeping my hands warm or carrying stuff like my phone or keys. Hoodies come in so many colors, designs, and materials, making it easy to have a different one for every color. No matter the season, a hoodie always makes me feel comfortable. I way rather feel comfortable than anything. Hoodies allow me to be both comfortable and cute. I probably own around 40 hoodies they are a staple in my closet and forever will be.
During the one week break, I will leave school early to fly to New York. This morning, I woke up at 6 in the morning to finish packing the rest of clothes. My ride was booked at 7 in the morning. I had to wake up early since I had to finish laundry. Anyways, the main reason I have come to New York is to study for the SAT, since I only got 1000 to 1100 in the PSAT right now. My goal is to be getting at least 1450 by the end of this intensive training program. I met my english tutor when I was in 1st grade. He taught me english until 6th grade. He has started a company just for helping students with the SAT. He invited me last summer to join this program for this week. It is an eight-day program and it will start tomorrow, Saturday 8:50 in the morning. There will be other 7 people joining. Hopefully all goes well and I can get a better score on the SAT. The schedule for the rest of the 8 days is… starting at 9 in the morning the classes start and they end at 6:30 at night. I will be going to the gym after too to stay in shape for the upcoming basketball tournament right after the break.
We had our second soccer game yesterday and we have another one today. Yesterday we played Foothill and today we are playing Beacon Hill. Foothill has like basically all club girls on it and we only lost 0-5 this time. And apparently, the last time Nordoff played them they lost like 12-0 or something so we’re making progress since our previous game which was 0-9. The team we are playing today should be an easier game but we are all pretty tired from yesterday’s game and we haven’t had any actual practice this week. there was one practice on Sunday but it was optional and I didn’t have a ride so I didn’t go. I have hope that we can score at least one goal today. I think if we use the same or at least a similar strategy as last game, where we start with a really good defense and just keep them off our side of the field maybe we can score. Anyway, wish us luck on our game hopefully we at least get a 0-0 tie.
My team has our first soccer game today, against Nordoff varsity. I think most of their varsity from last year graduated, so hopefully, we won’t get absolutely obliterated. I’m trying to keep an open mind, but I just don’t think we’re very united as a team yet. I’ll update you after the game…
Ok, so we had the game yesterday. I started in center back. Things did not go so well, we ended up losing I think 0-9. After half-time, the team did feel more unified though. Ava and Akyra were moved to the defense to protect the goal I was a striker and Delaney was center mid. We worked together pretty well and got a few shots on their goal. Unfortunately, none of them made it in. The team just needs to figure out how we work together. It always sucks losing but since it was our first game and it was agist Nordoff varsity I’m not surprised which takes the edge off of the loss a little bit. Hopefully, we will win at least one of our three games next week.
A while back, I reviewed all the books I did for required reading in high school, and nearly all of the books in the “almost masterpiece” tier were from Ms. Whipple’s classes. I don’t know how she keeps getting away with this, but I’m adding Merchant of Venice to this tier. (The most I will say about Heart of Darkness is that I put it in the “I respectfully tolerate” tier.)
Before I read Merchant of Venice I actually thought I would put it in the “respectfully tolerate” tier, as I thought it would have aged too poorly for me to be invested in. My only exposure to it was a Jewish youtuber I liked using the play as the ultimate example of a poorly aged classic, so I feared the only thing I would find in it would be garden variety antisemitism.
Though after reading it I suppose I know why we’re learning about it. It’s true, parts of the character Shylock, the main Jewish character in the play, and especially the way other characters treat him that make me cringe. People call Shylock a dog and Lancelet, the most “love to hate” character in the play, outright says he should hang for his religion. But once I read about Lancelet tricking his blind dad into thinking he’s dead, just for the kicks of it, I began to wonder if my disgust towards the characters is meant to be the point.
All of the Christian “heroes” have unsavory qualities, even outside of their antisemitism. Portia mocks the men who want to marry her because they are foreign. Bassanio is a gambler and wannabe gold digger. And what most surprised me was how Jessica, Shylock’s daughter, sells her dead mother’s ring to buy a monkey. As a Jewish convert to Christianity, the other characters act like she is her father’s moral superior, but her actions only make the rest of the cast’s moral standards suspect.
At this point, I can’t help but wonder if Shakespeare was on the better side of history, that he really try to write Shylock as the most sympathetic character in a sea of terrible people. He has some of the best lines, many of which sufficiently call out the injustice of his world, and his villainous actions can’t hold a candle to many of Shakespeare’s tragic heroes. My bread and butter are works where nearly everyone are equally terrible people, as it makes the halfway decent ones stand out all the more. So I can’t help but find that Merchant of Venice scratches my itch, so into the Unofficial Whipple Tier it goes. I don’t think it’s quite on the level of works like Invisible Man, which are stories that I think anyone can get something out of it. I still get that youtuber’s discomfort with Merchant of Venice, so I’m not making this messy story required reading for all of humanity. For all my low expectations I still think it needs an inventive production to bear stomaching for modern audiences.
With the changes in the basketball schedule we will be back playing in the Newbury Tournament. It will be a week long with 3 games on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The games are right after thanksgiving break. Which is why we should keep condition ourselves during the break. We entered quarter finals last year therefore I hope we can go to the finals this time, with the new coach and new systems. I believe we will be ready for the upcoming season with the more organized basketball program this year. These three games will be important for us since it can affect our stats for the rest of the season. If we start out the season with winning it can give the team more confidence in the games for the rest of the season. During practice recently we have been practicing running the plays that we have learned so far including two defensive plays and 3 offensive plays. the practices recently has been more fun finally since we started running scrimmages in practices instead of just drills and conditioning.
I am so excited for Spotify wrapped this year I have listened to a lot of new music. I don’t know what to expect because I have listened to so many genres. I’ve gone through phases where I on repeat listen to the same songs for months. My favorite part of Spotify wrapped is the playlist that is made with all the songs you listened to the most that year. My Spotify wrapped last year was like all Taylor Swift and I know there’s not gonna be much of that this year. I also love comparing my Spotify wrapped with my friends and seeing which songs we both have. Last year I was in the top 1 percent of Taylor Swift listeners and I have a feeling I will be in the top small percentage of Drake listeners this year. Anyway that’s all when my wrapped comes out I will probably write a blog about it so be excited.
I’m so sick of getting in trouble all the time for no real reason. There has not been one day this week that I haven’t been in trouble for something and I’m so sick of it. On Monday I got laps for being 1 minute late to turn in my phone for study hall. I also got laps for not checking out for Halloween night even though I was explicitly told that I didn’t have to and I let a dorm parent know I was leaving. Then I got laps when my alarm didn’t go off and I was late for breakfast. Why is someone there with a lap sheet every time I mess up? It’s not like I’m deliberately trying to break the rules or inconvenience the dorm staff. There should be a difference between making a mistake and knowing what is expected of you and ignoring it. I have never skipped class or been more than 2 minutes late, I’ve never set out to hurt anyone or myself, I always volunteer and don’t argue, and I’m where I’m supposed to be when I’m supposed to be there. I do well in school and fulfill my duty as a leader by helping others and setting a good example. It doesn’t make me want to keep that up when no matter how good I do I’m still punished. If I’m in trouble the one time I mess up where is my reward for all the times I do the right thing?
Remember that “All Things End:” Think about any past struggle you have gotten over. Are you in disbelief about the amount of heartache and time you’ve devoted to this? If so, then remember that this current time will likely pass the same, and your life will be as unaccustomed to this despair as you currently are with your past ones. If not, at least go listen to “All Things End” by Hozier because optimistic nihilism has never looked so good.
Immerse Yourself in Escapism: Escapism has a bad rap, but if things currently are going poorly, a little fantasy won’t hurt. Read a book, start a new show or binge an old one, just entertain yourself. Distracting yourself can even be “productive,” which is what CEOs use to describe commendable activities. If you have to do well in school or earn tips at your underappreciated minimum wage job, then you might as well motivate yourself.
Talk to Other People: As no feeling is completely original, it’s likely that there are people around you who share the same existential dread that you do. Vent all you want to this person, be validated by hearing your same sentiments repeated back at you and talk all you want about anything else as well. Being around others can also remind you that, if anything were to happen to those specifically like you, you and your friends can share the interest of fighting back.
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