Alyna Rei Archives - the bird on fire

Growing Up: The Highs and the Lows

May 17, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

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:

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:

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

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.

Harli’s Senior Spotlight

May 11, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Alyna Rei

This week, the seniors are being showcased for their success in getting through high school. I interviewed longtime Firebird Harliana Otto and asked questions about her high school career.

Harli and her mother, Gina Otto, after Harli won this year’s Riverside County Poetry Out Loud competition

How would you describe yourself?: “I am ambitious. I like to think of myself as someone who takes on more than I can handle.”

What was your favorite memory in school?: “My favorite memory in school is Scarefest in 9th grade. We spent the night watching movies, playing board games, a 12 am game of glow-in-the-dark basketball, a 2 am game of tag, a 4 am game of twister, and falling asleep around 5 am.”

What was your least favorite memory in school? “My least favorite memory happened in 7th grade watching someone, who shall not be named, drink from the water fountain as the water turned from clear to brown.”

Are you excited to graduate? Nervous? Scared?: “I am excited to graduate. I feel like I am ready for this next chapter of my life. I am however nervous as well ’cause I am saying goodbye to my childhood and friends and the safety/comfort of my home.”

What are your plans for the future?: “My plans for the future… well, I don’t really got it figured out at the moment. All I know is that I am going to UCI in the fall and gonna continue the hobbies that I have.”

Where/what is your dream school?: “My favorite hobby is competing on my horse and I enjoy completing puzzles. It’s cringe but my dream school is somewhere in California where I can drive home, a place that will set me up well for future jobs, and where I can explore many interests with many opportunities. So according to that UCI fits into my dream school.”

How was your high school experience?: “My high school experience was good but stressful.”

Do you have a favorite subject? Why or why not?: “My favorite subject is science. I enjoy Chemistry and physics. I like being able to constantly be discovering more and more.”

What are you planning on majoring in?: “I will be majoring in Engineering. I am going into the School of Engineering undecided, with hopes of going into Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.”

Any advice for students right now?: “My advice to students is to never lose your sense of humor. It can get you through the toughest of times.”

Good luck, Harliana!

I love you, but that one thing you do . . .

April 19, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Taking inspiration from a Poets&Writers prompt, I asked our writers at The Bird on Fire to compose a poem about a specific detail or unexpected obsession of a loved one. Alyna and Penny had delightful, dark(?), and illuminating responses.
Blog Advisor Zachik

An “I-Love-You, But . . .” Poem by Upper-Schooler Alyna Rei

I love you but

I find it weird when you let a disgusting cockroach go out rather than “erasing it”

I love you but

I find it annoying when you cut me off when I’m talking

I love you but

I find it offensive when you don’t “save room for dessert”

I love you but

I find it rude when you make fun of me for being “shy”

I love you but

I find it upsetting when you make me uncomfortable

I love you but you are not it

Sister, a Poem by Middle-Schooler Penny Andreas

I Love you, but when you don’t shut my door after opening it i feel like slamming the door on you. I love you, but when you talk non-stop, I really want to put duct tape on your mouth.

I love you, but when you steal my clothes I feel the need to burn yours. I really love you, but when you make rambunctious noises at 5:30 AM, I am tempted to lock you outside 🙂

“What To Wear?”

April 4, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Upper-School Blogger Alyna Rei

Fashion has had many trends through the years. Some people prefer accessories. Some care about shoes. And some just don’t care what they put on their body. Many in school have different viewpoints about the apparel they wear. You can see through this survey that people have different ideas of style. I reached out to people who I felt cared about fashion and some who did not care as much. This way we can see people’s opinions.

I asked members of our Palm Valley community:

“What piece of apparel do you prefer to wear and why?

Is there a least favorite thing to wear?”

Personally, I like to put more effort in my shoes than regular clothing. The same goes for my family. I prefer to wear cool shoes (in my opinion) more than a cool outfit. I can wear a simple outfit and have nice shoes. My favorite shoes would be the brand “Converse”–which to many people is basic. The reason why I love “Converse” is because the shoes fit my feet and they go with every outfit I wear. My go-to outfit would be a pair of black flare leggings with a comfy sweater on top. On my feet, I wear “Converse” (obviously). I am aware that this outfit is for colder days, but this one is a favorite of mine.

The flare leggings aren’t obvious but I swear I am wearing them.

Ms. Maguire (teacher): “ Favorite apparel: I have many favorites! My favorite shoes are a pair of super-high platform clogs with a wood wedge (not clunky! It’s kind of narrow) that’s stained black. The tops are black, fur-lined suede. The fur shows along the edge, and it’s nice and soft. The suede is attached to the wood platform with brass tacks. They are snazzy and casual at the same time. These shoes elevate me quite a bit, and since I am height-challenged, I enjoy that. They are also surprisingly comfortable. The drawback is that I could possibly break my neck if I fall off them, so you will never see me wear them at school.

“I have a white hoodie that I really like even though it is not actually that white anymore. It’s very soft and warm, so I feel cozy in it. In the cold weather I change into it when I get home from school. The ends of the sleeves are not so tight that I cannot push them up my arm to wash my hands, and they are not so loose that wind blows up them when I walk the dog. The sweatshirt is big enough that it can accommodate layers underneath, but not so big that I’m swimming in it. It’s a Goldilocks sweatshirt.

“My least favorite apparel is this blouse that is attractive (to me), but soooo annoying. It’s dark gray with taupe polka dots on it. The problem is that the sleeves are bell sleeves. This means that I cannot push up the sleeves when I want to wash my hands, so the sleeves always end up getting wet. It drives me nuts because I wash my hands frequently. I go for months without wearing this blouse, and then I forget how much it bothers me. I see it and think, ‘That’s a cute blouse. I’ll wear it today.’ And then the annoyance begins and I remember why it was sitting in my closet unworn for so long. But it is attractive, so I can’t bring myself to donate it.

“Under no circumstances will I buy apparel that must be ironed. I have no time for that ridiculousness.”

Mr. Griffin (teacher): “My favorite piece of apparel are my t-shirts. I buy them specifically from one company – because they fit me well and the material is soft, feels especially good and cool and loose against my skin.”

Ms. Castellano (teacher):

Like to wear “Dresses.”

Doesn’t much like “Shorts.”

And, “Earrings should always be worn (:”

Ms. Zachik (teacher): “Favorite? Shoes, shirts, pants–all of them WHEN they are good fitting, comfortable, when they make me look good and feel good.

“Least Favorite? I don’t love glasses (sunglasses, reading, corrective). I don’t love nose slippage, headache-inducing pinches behind the ears, the reflective glare. I also dislike dressing alike. As one of three sisters, I’m still getting over all the times my mother dressed us as a matching trio.”

Jocelynn Montoya (12th grade): “My favorite piece of apparel is probably shoes or shirts because there are so many types of designs and colors to choose from. I wouldn’t say I have a least favorite apparel but something I would never wear are crocs. I hate them. I think they are really ugly, gross, stinky, etc. Especially if you don’t wear them with socks.”

Cole Robinson (11th grade): “I love a good amount of layers, usually a good sweater with something underneath. I really hate weird sunglasses (yk what im talking about) some are cool but a lot are ick. I don’t like wearing anything too revealing because it makes me uncomfortable :(“

Christina Lam (11th grade): “My favorite piece of apparel is a hoodie because they are very comfortable. My least favorite is shorts because I usually am cold so it’s not a good thing to wear.”

Indy Behr (11th grade): Says he likes his “glasses.”

You can see how some bring effort into dressing and some don’t. I personally don’t care what I wear on top, but I do put a little effort into what’s on my feet.

Feel free, in the comments, to share your go-to outfits along with those you wouldn’t be caught dead in.

Treats From The Philippines

March 28, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Upper-School Blogger Alyna Rei

I have never been to the Philippines before let alone out of the United States. But traveling there has always been on my bucket list. Along with traveling comes food and bakery goods. Note: I eat Filipino food on a daily basis. And, sometimes, it is cooked by my grandma–who is from the Philippines. But, Filipino baked goods overall are totally different from the day-to-day food served here in the U.S. I am writing this with an American perspective.

Puto

Before you yell at me for saying a bad word, Puto is a treat. It tastes like plain pancakes. Puto is basically a steamed rice cake. For me, I have always eaten Puto shaped in a muffin form, which is the most common shape for Puto.

Kutsinta (koo-chin-ta)

When I go to any Filipino store, I always search for their Kutsinta. Kutsinta is another steamed rice cake, but it’s a lot sweeter and gummier than Puto. Kutsinta tastes like brown sugar with a tapioca consistency.

Along with Puto, Kutsinta has the familiar “muffin” shape. Photo source: pinoycookingrecipes.com

Pandesal (pan-de-sal)

Pandesal is another one of my favorite Filipino treats. To other people, Pandesal looks just like regular bread rolls. But, I prefer Pandesal over any type of bread. Pandesal is more doughy and floury than other types of bread. If I do have Pandesal, then I typically have it with breakfast before school. You can even have Pandesal with other things: such as butter, peanut butter (I like the crunchy peanut butter with Pandesal), beef, and even on the side with your meal. There are also a lot of flavors to get. My favorite is the pandan. Pandan tastes like coconut with a hint of vanilla, which confuses me since the color is green.

The outside of Pandesal is crispy while the inside is soft and fluffy. Photo source: seriouseats.com

This is pandan-flavored Pandesal. I pair this up with butter to get a sweet and salty taste. Photo source: sugarampsprinkle.com

Mamon (ma-moan)

Mamon is Filipino sponge cake. Like Pandesal, there are many flavors: such as butter, ube, mocha, cheese, etc. My favorite is butter mamon since it’s common and easier to get. When I’m in a rush for school, I usually take mamon with me since it’s easy to eat. Mamon tastes sweet but airy.

*Red Ribbon* is my favorite brand of mamon. Photo source: TripAdvisor in Las Vegas

If you do wish to try these bakery goods, I would recommend actually going to a Filipino store as that is the closest you can get to the taste from the Philippines. The only stores I am familiar with are “Seafood City” and “ Island Pacific Market.” Mind you these stores are not in the Coachella Valley. The nearest Seafood City would be in Rancho Cucamonga, and the nearest Island Pacific Market is San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles. Out of all of these sweet treat options, I would recommend you try Pandesal. It may appear just like bread, but it tastes so much different.

If I Could Get Rid Of Something It Would Be…

March 8, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

These sharp blades of grass when wet and even dry made Alyna hate the outdoors.

By Junior Alyna Rei

I have always had a love-hate relationship with grass. I love to lie down on the SOFT grass and have a picnic. But, I also hate how wet sharp grass makes my legs really itchy. I’ve had a couple of incidents with grass in elementary school that makes me hate sharp-bladed wet grass. Here are some of my unpleasantries from elementary school regarding the green beneath our feet.

3rd grade

In 3rd grade, it was required to do P.E. Before the class started, the students would have to sit on dots that were lying on the grass so the teacher could come and take attendance (this would take around 15-20 minutes). You would think that this sounds normal, but I had P.E. in the morning. In the morning, the sprinklers would go off. Not only did my clothes get wet from the grass, when I was sent off running, the wet grass would rub on my legs and make them really itchy and red.

4th grade

Since I moved up a grade, I did not have to do P.E. in wet grass anymore. But I had to do P.E. with really dry and hot grass. Running around in 115 degree weather was not great at all. Dry and hot grass feels like thumb tacks grazing your legs every time you move. My old school was lazy with their landscape, so the grass was long enough to scratch your calves.

5th grade

There was no more torturous P.E. for me. But a grass incident happened during recess. I was on the field with my friends. We were jogging slowly and just talking. I don’t know why, but when we were running, one of my friends happened to knock me down on the grass. My face, arms, and legs were exposed to the hot and dry grass. She apologized, but the only thing that mattered during that moment was how itchy my body was. At the end of the day my arms and legs were red and me being sweaty on a hot day made it a lot worse.

During the summer, I try to avoid grass since the hot air and dry grass really make my body react badly. I swell, itch, and turn red. My best remedy to get rid of these horrible reactions in elementary school was to expose the affected area to cold air (I don’t know why, but it worked). I am here to say that the days of me running in the sharp blades of grass are over. If I have to walk on this type of grass, I try to walk through it quickly. But, I would happily walk over anything besides grass.

Learning to Live with a Cat

March 2, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Cats and dogs–not always the same, in fact, rarely the same. Alyna learns about cat life when Bao moves in.

By Alyna Rei

Throughout my 16 years of life, I have had four dogs, one bunny, and a variety of fish. I always thought I was a dog person rather than a cat person. I thought dogs were way cuter and friendlier. From age 10-14, I had two golden retrievers named Lucy and Ethal. Unfortunately, my family and I were too busy to take care of the dogs, so we gave them to a cousin of mine. Through the years, as I became more responsible, I asked to bring Lucy and Ethal back. Unfortunately, we couldn’t bring them back because they were already comfortable with my cousins, so my family left the topic of pets alone. Just this past November, however, my family decided to look for a pet again. We wanted a pet that wasn’t too challenging to take care of. We decided to adopt Bao, a cat.

November 25, 2022

It was my dad’s birthday when we got Bao. We were so excited to take her home that we already had the things that we needed–such as her collar, bed, food, litter box, etc.. We met Bao back in October. It was after school, and my dad found someone on Craigslist who was selling kittens. Bao actually had a black-and-white sister. We were planning on taking both since getting two pets is smarter than one so that the two can bond and keep each other busy. In the end, though, we just decided on Bao since she liked me when we met (and she was cuter). We couldn’t adopt Bao right away. Bao had to stay with her mother until she was at least two months old.

Why the name Bao

My parents and I discussed a lot of cat names. There were three original prospective names: Chai, Rue, and Sipon (See-Pawn). My mom wanted to name Bao Sipon, but I was skeptical since Sipon translates to “snot” in Tagalog (my mom thought it was funny). But, then, I came up with the name Bao. The name makes me think of a dumpling or a pouch, and that was what Bao resembled when I first met her. She was small like a pouch.

Life with Bao

At first, it was easy to take care of Bao while she was still getting used to us. Now, she is six months old, and, it turns out, she can be a chore. There are times when Bao is really calm and sleeps most of the day and night. But, then, she turns really hyper, and I mean really hyper. She runs around the house as if someone is chasing her. It may seem like it’s not a big deal, but, when she runs around the house, she can bump into things. She can knock down anything: pillows, water bottles, toilet paper rolls, or anything dangling.

However, in truth, it is actually a lot easier to take care of a cat than a dog. You don’t have to walk a cat; they clean themselves; and they are litter-box trained (at least Bao was when we got her).

Fun facts about Bao

Bao is a polydactyl cat. She has six toes in the front and five in the back. Apparently polydactyl cats are lucky and rare (halifaxvethospital.com).
She enjoys sunlight a lot and likes to nap near the sun in her cat tree. She sunbathes at least an hour a day.
Speaking of sun, she likes to watch the day out a window or an open door.
The name Bao means something precious/rare. Which is perfect, since her paws are rare.

*This is Bao in Vegas. She likes to look out any window.*

Rain + coffee shops = happiness

February 9, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

While most bloggers explored the literal coffee-drinking experience during our Coffee Theme Week, Alyna delved into a new corner of the coffee shop. She shares here a virtual cafe. For those of you missing your morning coffee-shop vibes, Alyna tells you have to access coffee-shop sounds any time of the day.

By Upper-School Blogger Alyna Rei

I hate studying or doing homework when it’s really quiet. If there is some noise in the room, then that is what keeps me from going into distracted deep thinking. Most days I listen to music on a playlist. But there are some days where I don’t even want to listen to music–even if there are no lyrics. Because of this, I decided to search around to see if there are other options.

I came across a website called www.imissmycafe.com. I found this website during lockdown when I had to study at home instead of going out. This website plays different sounds as if you were in an actual coffee shop. For example, there are sounds such as people talking, coffee machines, coffee cups, baristas, rain, etc. The best part about this is that you can control the volume on each sound. The reason why I like this website is because you don’t pay for anything, you can control what you hear, and it is easy to access.

My favorite combinations would be the sounds of preparing drinks, coffee cups, machinery, and rain, so I push those sounds a little louder. This website also comes with a playlist of songs that you can play while listening to sounds at a coffee shop. These songs are on the calmer side and have the aesthetic of a coffee shop. These aren’t my favorite songs, so I just open up Spotify and play my own songs. The way you can enter this soothing virtual coffee-shop website is by going on a browser and typing in www.imissmycafe.com. It will take you straight to the website.

So, please come in, and sit down to a cup of coffee in this virtual cafe, tailored just for you. 🙂

What Is Yellow To You?

January 10, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Upper-Schooler Alyna Rei

Starting off the new year and a new semester, the blog staff has opted to free itself from the dictatorial constraints of Ms. Zachik and choose its own themes. We begin the year with “Yellow” to kick off the new term.

Everyone has an opinion on the color yellow. Some people say they like it, some people say they are repulsed by it. Some are in the middle. What comes to mind when you hear the word yellow? Sunflowers? Happiness? Rubber ducks? Vomit?

For me, personally, the first thing that comes to my mind with the color yellow depends on the yellow. If it’s a lighter, almost blinding shade of yellow, I think of heat because of the desert or a warning sign just like what Christina Lam said. If the shade is softer and warmer, I think of a nice calming sunset. This shade brings me ease and has a more “home-like” feel.

I put this question to different people and was able to get a variety of answers.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word yellow?

Ms. Castellano (Teacher): “When I was younger I never thought about dreams and colors. At some point I had a dream about a yellow feather. It was the first time I remembered dreaming in color. Since then, yellow represents that flight feather I dreamed of long ago.”

Ms. Maguire (Teacher): “When I hear yellow I think of sunshine, warmth, and cheerfulness. I imagine sunflowers, daffodils, palo verde trees, daisies, and all the other yellow flowers that bring an undeniable burst of brightness into the world. I have a sunny yellow Le Creuset dutch oven that I adore; I just got a new tea kettle that is a rich golden hue, and I have kitchen towels in various shades of yellow. Yellow is great for everything except clothing; it makes me look green.”

Ms. Carter (Teacher): “The first thing that comes to my mind is a sign in my classroom that is yellow that says “Bienvenue a la classe de français.”

Mr. Satterfield (Teacher): “Yellow is a calm color in an uncalm world. Yellow is warm, but not hot. Yellow is comfortable. Sleepy, even. Bumblebees are yellow. Sunflowers. The Sun. Yellow is the color of the sky at sunrise or sunset when there are no clouds. Yellow is lemonade on a hot day, or the flames in a fireplace on a cold one. Yellow is the banana you eat and the snow you don’t. Yellow can’t be rushed, and you wouldn’t want to, anyway.”

Mr. Gil (Teacher): “Yellow” is a song by Coldplay. Everyone knows the yellow brick road even if you have not seen The Wizard of Oz. Looking down I thought of yellow shoes that I would never wear. Looking at the walls of my classroom, I see the dark yellow paint that one of my students really hates. Over by the clock there is a UC Berkeley flag that has a shade of yellow named California Gold. When I don’t have anything else to look at, I think about how yellow is not my favorite color. Keep up the good work with the blogs, I like reading them.”

Maya Karpaty (Senior): “When I think of yellow I think about bananas. Sometimes they’re good, sometimes they aren’t but I always seem to come back to get one when I’m hungry. I also was going to say something basic like “the sun,” but there’s a big debate that the six year old in me says I should color the sun at the corner of my paper orange. I don’t know. Also bees.”

Landon Elder (Junior): “When I hear the word yellow, the first thing I think of is a Rubber Duck. I think of a Rubber Duck when I think yellow because I like Rubber Ducks. They are squishy, cute, and I love ducks. . . . Rubber Ducks are great.”

Christina Lam (Junior): “The first thing that comes to mind when I hear yellow is nuclear waste. Yellow has been used in warning signs and to cause alertness. It’s used for its blinding hue in warning pavers which are the yellow bumpy things on sidewalks for people who can’t see well. Yellow has been associated with illness within history. It also just seems like the color anxiety would be.”

Cole Robinson (Junior): “When I think of the color yellow, it reminds me of any good times in my life. It is associated with most happy moments for me, although it escapes me on why. It could be because of how the many hues of yellow fill me with a sense of warmth and comfort.”

Abby Assefa (Sophomore): “When I hear yellow, I think of sunflowers and happiness. I feel that when you look at yellow it is an overall bright and positive color. Sunflowers also exude happiness because of their yellow color. Although yellow is not my favorite color, I always get a nice feeling when I see a yellow thing.”

Seeing the different responses shows me how we interpret this bright color. You can really see how much thought goes into people’s heads with the one simple question, What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word yellow? Even Fyodor Dostoevsky, Oscar Wilde, and Mary Shelley have something to say about yellow, right, Mr. Griffin?

Study with me–to music

December 16, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Upper-Schooler Alyna Rei

In my last post, I talked about studying for your exams. In one of my hacks of studying, I suggested that studying with music is recommended. Studying is one of the many things that take up my life. It’s not one of my favorite things so I try to make myself as comfortable as I can. That being said, listening to music helps me calm my mind down and helps me retain information. Here are some of my musical picks that aid me while studying.

Classical Music

Classical music is one of the many music genres that help me get in the zone. Since there are rarely any words, you can just focus on the music without getting distracted. Instrumental piano pieces are definitely a pick of mine. Any instrument that is on the calmer side or that complements the piano is also a favorite of mine. Pictured are my favorites at the moment.

Calm Music

I’m not really sure what genre of music these songs would be called. R&B? Ambient music? All I know is that these calm me down and put me into the zone of studying. Even though there are lyrics to these, the music and lyrics complement each other and don’t distract me. The lyrics are subtle and aren’t so “ in your face.” Here are some of my favorites.

Lo-Fi Music

I feel like Lo-Fi music is really meant for studying. It’s a lot different from classical music. It’s just calm electronic music with no lyrics. You can find a lot of these on YouTube. All you have to search is “study music” or Lo-Fi music and you can find some playlists–some that last up to ten hours long! The music gives off a cool and relaxing vibe that easily puts you at ease.

When I am studying or just doing homework, I tend to use calm music the most. But, if I feel like it, I branch out to these other genres as well. Try it; see if the studying improves. Come January, you have a whole new semester to get studying in.