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Growing Up: The Highs and the Lows

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By Upper-School Blogger Alyna Rei

I have been at Palm Valley since the 6th grade, and, throughout the years, up till now, I have mixed emotions for every year. Here is how I rate my middle and upper school years. 

6th grade:

Alyna stands beside her locker in 6th grade. Note the old Palm Valley uniform.

In my first year at Palm Valley, I  remember making my parents come with me inside on the first day of school to help me with my locker lock and to show me the way to my class. We had an advisory class in the morning, so my parents would see me off in my advisor Ms. Farley’s class. 

Throughout the year, I adjusted pretty well in school and had a small group of friends (which I was totally okay with). This group of friends was fine, but I feel now in that time I just needed people to hang out with. I was intimidated by pretty much everyone. 

My favorite memory was when my friends would decorate my locker when it was my birthday. I would keep those decorations up until the end of the year.

My least favorite memory was when I had to find my classes when I still wasn’t familiar with the campus and had to ask around.

Overall I give 6th grade a 7/10.

7th grade:

7th-grade Alyna on her way home from school

By my second year, I was adjusting well to school. Some of my friends from the previous year left the school, so  it was time to find new friends. I made a new friend group, which I was able to be comfortable with.

This was also the year where I had classes in the high school, so I had to see scary high school people. That was new to me. 

My favorite memory would be meeting new friends and people. I gained friends who had similar interests to mine.

My least favorite memory would be science class. Life Science wasn’t my strong subject. It was a subject I needed a lot of help with.

Overall I give 7th grade a 6/10.

8th grade:

My 8th grade year was cut short due to Covid, so that was upsetting. Again, some of my friends left the school, but it didn’t matter to me because I still had a good amount of friends. I don’t really remember the first part of online school, but I do remember it being confusing trying to figure out Google Meets.

My favorite memory was when I was able to be in the comfort of my own home and do school work. I felt like I could do work at my own pace.

My least favorite memory was leaving my friends and only having to see them through a screen. But, I was able to chat with them through the internet.

Overall I give 8th grade a 6.5/10.

9th grade:

Alyna celebrates her great-grandfather’s “drive-in” birthday during Covid.

9th grade is probably my least favorite year. I pretty much did the entire year online. I was scared of Covid and was also not willing to go back. It’s safe to say 2020 was  the year that took a big toll on me, so I would say I did not like this year at all.

My favorite memory would have to be staying in my house. Since I stayed home a lot, I was able to come up with new and different hobbies that I still carry on to this day. These would include reading and drawing.

My least favorite memory from 9th grade was changing my lifestyle to an existence online. I feel like 2020 is  why I’m so attached to the internet.

Overall I give 9th grade a 5/10.

10th grade:

10th grade redeemed almost everything in 9th grade. I went back to in-person school, and my grades and my education improved a lot. I met many friends and lost many friends, but, thankfully, I was able to learn true friendships. I made friends I envision will be my friends for a lifetime. They were friends in and out of school. 10th grade was what made me actually enjoy school and attending.

My favorite memory would be changing that year for the better by being more motivated and focused on my studies and extracurricular activities. I completely redeemed myself from 9th grade.

My least favorite memory was the end of the year. Even though this year was really good, I had really high expectations and always got a high honor roll. But, at the end of the year, I got just an honor roll (instead of “High” honors), and I remember being really disappointed in myself.

Overall I give 10th grade a 8/10.

11th grade/ my last year

Alyna returns to “High Honor Roll.”

This year was also one of my favorites. I did not love this year as much as I did  10th grade, but I would say this was the most exciting year. 

In November, my parents and I were joking about graduating early because my parents both graduated a year early. I also thought about graduating early because I want to go to med school and want to get a start on that. At first I thought about getting a GED, but instead I am taking another class to reach graduation requirements. So now, I am on the road to graduating this May 26th.

My favorite memory WILL be when I graduate. I am excited to start college and can’t wait for the future.

My least favorite memory WILL be leaving my friends. My friends have been so supportive of me, and I will miss them a lot.

Overall I give 11th grade a 7.5/10.

I can see how I changed through the years mentally and physically. I would say school here gets an 8/10. I am ready for college and can’t wait to see the new possibilities I will meet in the future.

What’s the Level of Coffee Addiction at PVS?

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By PVS student-blogger Louisa Richardson

The Blog Staff continues to plumb the depths of PVS’s relationship to coffee. Is it as simple as love-hate? Louisa sheds some light on our coffee-drinking habits, tastes, and associations.

Coffee is not something I have ever been allowed to have; however, apparently it is quite the controversial subject here at Palm Valley. Some people think that it is a great source of energy. Whereas others (Pip Watson) think of it as a “legalized drug.” Since I don’t drink coffee, I don’t have much opinion about it. The students and teachers at PVS do. Here’s what they had to say about America’s favorite morning drink.

Teacher Mr. Satterfield’s opinions on coffee: 

I think coffee, like most things, is healthy in moderation. There are people who have done great amounts of research on the subject who argue that coffee provides significant health benefits. There is also, I believe, a body of research (and common sense) that suggests too much coffee is unhealthy. Personally, I rarely drink coffee because I want the caffeine to work when I need it to, which is usually on a long drive. But most people I know well do drink it often, and only a few of them have what I would call a coffee problem.

Student Pip Watson’s one of two opinions on coffee:

While I cannot comment on the nutritional value of coffee, I do know it contains copious amounts of caffeine. Caffeine is an addictive, mind-altering drug which most people shrug off as something that provides energy.

Teacher Mr. Parsons comments on coffee:

Coffee is at the heart of many cultures, particularly in Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and it has been for centuries. Noteworthy individuals wrote poems and songs dedicated to the taste and effects of that little roasted bean. All around the world, coffee shops have sold this stimulating beverage to artists and their fans. These centers for creativity blossomed organically out of the thriving bean trade with South American and African nations. Famously Beethoven brewed his morning cup of Joe from exactly 60 beans, no more and no less. Many blame coffee for his often erratic and grumpy behavior. The downsides of coffee are not to be ignored. Drinking too much caffeine (the potent chemical that gives coffee its boost of energy) can make people irritable and can prevent a good night’s sleep. Folks can even become hooked on coffee; their entire mood depends on their next espresso. Let’s just hope it doesn’t arrive too latte (Dad joke intentional)!

Teacher Mr. Killeen’s thoughts:

On a scientific level, coffee has both benefits and issues when it comes to personal health. According to the Mayo Clinic, coffee may offer protection from Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, liver cancer, heart attack and stroke.  However it can also lead to an increase in blood pressure which can also be problematic for people. Just like anything you consume, moderation and listening to the signs your body is sending you is important to maintaining good health.

Staff member Ms. Greer talks about coffee:

I think coffee, actually caffeine in general, is addictive but it is something I really enjoy. I love a cup of hot coffee in the morning or an iced coffee on a summer afternoon.

Student Olivia Puetz (or Olie) says:

I like coffee, but not black coffee because it tastes too bitter. I like sweet coffee like frappuccinos and lattes.

Student Brooklyn Hatrack believes:

I’ll be for real – coffee is disgusting. It’s so bitter and the taste never gets out of your mouth. It also doesn’t even energize you. Also, the breath of a coffee drinker is VERY distinct. It’s icky.

So, as you can see when asking the question “What are your opinions on coffee?” I found that a surprisingly large number of people do not think coffee is a good thing. This can only be proving my mother right.  Despite Starbucks’ success, I am definitely starting to think that coffee may not be so great after all.  

Teacher Madlib Video

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An original video by Levi Kassinove and Luke Sonderman, Palm Valley Blog Productions

While other PVS Bloggers searched for videos that have impacted history, communities, movements, fashion, and individual growth–Levi and Luke decided the canon was incomplete. So, they got busy and added to the Video Canon of Cinematography, The Teacher Madlib video. (No teachers were harmed in the making of this video.)

This week on thebirdonfire.org, Levi and I decided to spice things up and create a video post instead of an article. This is The Teacher Madlib, where YOUR Palm Valley Teachers tell you an unscripted story. Enjoy!

Luke Sonderman, Co-Director

Chapter 5, page 246-247 of my life: The Levi Manifesto

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By Junior Novelist Levi Kassinove

Years ago, universities asked applicants to role play they’d written a novel of their life and to open up that hypothetical novel to p. 246 and to share it with the admissions committee. I asked the same of the Blog Staff. This is Levi’s p. 246.

Blog Advisor Zachik

This is a chapter from my teenage years.

…with a look of horror painted across their faces. I had realized at that point that anything was possible. Upon asking this utterly ridiculous request, there was a hint in the eyes of my peers that said yes. Yet another obsession had successfully scratched the itch in my brain that would otherwise leave me endlessly bored. Passion only ultimately leaves me hungry for more. 

That is why I am against the advancement of knowledge. 

A million billion years from now, when the last optimization for society has been implemented, when we have understood the last concept, and when we have found a cure for the last disease, only then will we realize that our quality of life hasn’t improved. Are things really any different now? Will they be different then? People want to live longer just so they can live longer. What then when we die? Is there really so much of a difference between living 50, 100, or 1000 years? No matter how much we “improve,” the hedonic treadmill will pull our happiness back to its baseline. 2000 years ago, if someone broke their leg, they would probably die or live pretty uncomfortably for a while, but they would adapt before they die. Nowadays, we get a cast and heal, and, still, we adapt all the same. Humans adapt to their situations as a coping mechanism. There is no such thing as improvement. Only the desire for advancement, which boils down to greed. Understanding the universe is for the sole purpose of understanding the universe. Science is an addiction, perhaps one that has short term and foreseeable benefits, but ultimately it becomes an addiction given enough time. I’d say enough time has passed for us to see that science will eventually lead to our doom.

Note: I didn’t start this in medias res because I’m pretentious; I did it to protect myself–from Indy. Here, I don’t have to reveal everything. At some point, depending on the life you choose, you get so paranoid that you end up destroying all of your work out of fear of not being accepted. And the constant jokes get annoying as well.

Levi Kassinove

People want knowledge because they want power, and people want power because they like having dominion. It is in our blood to strive for control. But, it is unfair. Inherently there are always people being controlled. The people in power believe that they can mold us to do anything. They think they can make us think any way. They think they can make us behave any way. But, we are not characterized by tabula rasa. Freedom is the essence of life. Animals, with their animalistic behavior, have total freedom over what they do. The people who want power think of humanity as beyond animals, and therefore beyond freedom. They think we are too civilized for freedom. We are not above animals. To be humble is to live in harmony. It is to be free. This was my request to my family. 

I wanted to contribute to the global effort to free ourselves from tyranny. I wanted to be Neo from The Matrix. And, that’s exactly what I did. During the birth of my obsession, people obviously got tired of it. They got tired of my inability to talk about something other than this. But, when they started to see results, they started to get interested. They started supporting me. They did not regret their decision to let me essentially…be free. My goal is not to grow so big in my personal effort that I single-handedly change the world. My goal is to plant the seeds, so that others may water them. 

Unpopular Opinion – Biden’s Got It Wrong Over Student Loan Debt

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A Think Piece By Junior Luke Sonderman or Luke Says

I’m going to start off the article by saying that I do not believe that people should have to spend their whole lives paying off student loans with ridiculous amounts of interest. But, is President Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness program a good solution to the problem? Absolutely not. Let me explain.

Forgiving current student loans may relieve financial stress off of current student debt holders, but there are many negative effects to the plan. 

Permanent Solution?

First of all, forgiving student loans is not a permanent solution. There are still millions of students taking on student loans in the United States every year. Instead of spending 400 billion on student-loan forgiveness, why doesn’t the government find ways to lower the cost of public college or spend the money on building new schools that will be more cost friendly? (forbes.com)

Inflation

In August, inflation was up 8.3% for 2022 (usinflationcalculator.com). The past two years have had record-breaking amounts of inflation in the U.S., especially due to government spending. Biden’s plan to circulate 400 billion more dollars into the US economy through student loan forgiveness will only increase inflation more (cnbc.com). 

Fairness

By awarding loan forgiveness to those who still are burdened by student loan debt, the government is not honoring the Americans who went through the same burdens and struggles, but fully paid off their debt in the past. If forgiveness is given, it should be given across the board to everyone who has had to pay student loans, no matter their circumstance. 

Free Education

At this point if student loan forgiveness is given to all people who carry or have carried student loans, then why not just make public post-secondary education free. Around 2% of taxes go to public schools (afterschoolalliance.org). Wouldn’t it make more sense to increase taxes and make college education free? 

Maybe my mind lives in a little idealistic world far off in wonderland, but Biden’s Forgiveness Plan really just seems like a short-term money spender to make people happy. It isn’t the long-term solution that we need in America.

Beat the Heat

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By Junior Indy Behr

In our quest to keep Firebirds healthy, we at thebirdonfire.org have discussed diet, eye care, and sleep habits. As the hottest months in the desert fade, we still experience 90-degree days. Indy has some tips for keeping cool.

It’s October, so it is measurably cooler. Most mornings now, I walk outside, and I am surprised by the cooler temperatures and the subtle breezes. “Is fall actually here?” I think to myself. But then, by noon, it ends up being 90 degrees. I tend to prefer cooler temperatures because if you’re cold, all you need is a sweater, some mittens, and perhaps some longer socks to get comfortable. However, when it’s hot, it is much harder to beat the heat. There are some ways to avoid overheating, however. Here are a few!

Stay Hydrated

Junior Audrey Guess keeps water close even when testing in English.

As some of you may know, sweating is designed to cool your body. If you are dehydrated, you will not sweat as much, and as a result, you will have trouble cooling down. Drink up. Room temperature or chilled–the objective is to keep water in your body. This is one of the best ways to cool down during excessive heat.

Sunscreen

When we are experiencing extreme heat, we are at a higher risk of sun damage, so sunscreen is a must. The added benefit of applying and reapplying spray sunscreens is a short-term cooling effect that is very nice when it’s very hot out.

Spend Your Mornings Outdoors

Though the afternoons are still very hot, the mornings have started to become mild and pleasant. As a result of this, I have been trying to spend more time outdoors in the morning to take advantage of these few hours of cooler temperatures. It has been hovering around the mid 70s in the mornings lately, and this is pretty much the only time to catch good temperatures while the sun is up. I already am somewhat of a morning person, so this is personally my favorite pick for beating the heat. This is definitely my favorite time to enjoy a cup of coffee in my backyard before heading to school.

So, now you know a few ways to stay cool in the afternoon until fall really kicks in. Stay hydrated; wear sunscreen; and take a walk in the morning while we’re still in these last few weeks of heat!

Eating Healthy

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In answering “How to Live a Healthy Life,” thebirdonfire.org staffers offer a few health hacks. Penny suggests we (sadly) put down the sour-cream-and-onion chips and pick up an apple or two.

By Penny Andreas, 7th grader

Fries, burgers, pizza, ice cream–these foods are so delicious, but there is one bad side to them….They are terrible for your health. Though they are tasty and hard to resist, it’s important to know what happens when you eat unhealthy foods. 

Healthy Diets

To be healthy, you don’t need to be skin-and-bone thin or be on a Keto diet. It just means getting the right nutrients for your body. Since bodies are constantly working, it really is important that you pay attention to what you eat. Harmful foods that have high sodium can give you intense headaches, migraines, acne, and more. Instead of eating junk all day, think of eating two or three servings of “growing food.” Growing food is literally things that have nutrients you need to survive–such as vitamins and minerals. 

Why is it Important to Eat Well?

Eating healthy is important because certain foods make natural “shields” to other diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Eating well also provides a good boost to life. Technically, you can live longer when healthy, and you also can be more active. Not only does eating healthy make you feel good physically, it also makes you feel good mentally. Your brain naturally releases happy hormones, but it can be quickly altered by junkie foods. 

Things to Eat

When I get home from school, most of the time I’m very hungry, and I reach for the chips and candy. Thanks to my mom, I know now that there are much better options to eat. For example, nuts and granola are way more nutritious than the good ol’ sour-cream-and-onion chips. For breakfast, yogurt, granola, and fruit are delicious AND nutritious. When you’re eating a sandwich for lunch, a good side is some fruit and popcorn. Popcorn is actually good for you, just minus the extra butter, salt, and additional candy. 

healthline.com

As you can see, eating healthy is a natural requirement of life, and it is important to watch what goes in your body. This doesn’t mean you have to be vegan or what not; it just means don’t eat junk food your whole life. An apple a day, really does keep the doctor away. 

If I Got Sucked into a Time Portal and Went to the Middle Ages

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When asked to illuminate a historical period, Levi opted to time travel back to the Middle Ages. His reasons are less . . . humanitarian in nature.

Blog Advisor Zachik

By Levi Kassinove

Some people want to go back in time to kill Hitler, others to their favorite time in history, but I think that the Middle Ages is the best time period to go to. Imagine how fun it’d be to mess with people who don’t know science. I would, however, need to take careful steps to avoid getting burned at the stake. 

Part 1: Bringing my Phone

There are many things to do with a phone in the Middle Ages, as long as it’s not directly shown to the people. If someone sees me on my phone, they will think that I can create moving pictures, and therefore burn me at the stake for witchcraft. The best thing that I can do is play ghost sounds and hide the phone underneath some hay or in my pocket as I walk through the streets at night. I could also trick them into thinking I’m an absolute genius by being omniscient, such as knowing when an eclipse would happen and being able to predict when some person of interest would get assassinated. Google is my friend during the Middle Ages. I will be a god. 

Note: I will bring a bag of portable chargers, and, since I have time travel technology, I will use an Einstein-Cell-Service-Time-Bridge that gives my phone wifi in the Middle Ages. 

guiaviajesvirtual.com

Part 2: Immortality

In my rampage of destroying all medieval logic (and modern logic), I will also cease to be affected by the common causes of illness. Water will not give me dysentery because I will boil it, nor will I do anything stupid like eat mercury or whatever they were doing back then. Certainly I would inspect the bread, as it could be infected with ergot, a fungus that can kill you and cause nightmarish hallucinations. I will also protect myself against wound infections by using high-alcohol beverages as antibiotics. I will outlive my peers and therefore be hailed as the immortal genius god emperor. I will need to feign illnesses so as to not raise suspicion, which I will do by coughing occasionally and talking about how bad my diarrhea was last night. 

Part 3: Inevitably Getting Burned at the Stake

Not only will I talk completely differently than everyone, but I will also behave much differently. One slip of “dude” and I’m on fire. Plus, I will probably forget to wash my noble’s sheep, which will result in a brutal execution (bustle.com).

Please help. (That’s me.)

allthatsinteresting.com

When is a Dictionary Not Just a Dictionary?

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. . . when Harliana Otto composes . . .

A Poem of Observation: “What was once there”

A dictionary rests on the table in front of me

Worn out by its years of life

The pages slowly growing yellow

As it waits for its final breathe

It is wrapped in the primary colors

Red, yellow, blue

Once vibrant colors now slowly fading

On a cover that cannot lie flat

The book lies on the table 

It is not moving nor looking to be

Its spine that’s creased beyond repair

Its edges starting to wear down

On its side lie the words of its previous owner

A green scribble barely visible,

I’ll never meet this person who belongs to this name

But though fading away it forever stains the pages

But it is gone now

It doesn’t rest on the table in front of me anymore