the bird on fire

The Bird is the Word: Sophisticated Schoolyard Shenanigans

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How to study for your exams

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By Upper-School Alyna Rei

This December 12-16, Palm Valley Upper School takes its final semester exams. In order for you to pass the semester with a good grade, you have to study or at least prepare for these finals. These exams count 20% of the semester average. I wouldn’t say I do amazing in every test I take, but I do employ some helpful strategies. Over the years, these are some things that helped me keep my grades and my mind sane.

The before process

The before-the-exam process is just as important as taking the actual exam. Some things that I do “before” are:

  • Listen to calm music:

You won’t be focused enough if you listen to music that has words, is upbeat, and fast paced. I prefer to listen to calm classical music. If you feel that you can focus with words, then listen to calm music with slow words.

  • Take little breaks:

When I say a little break, I don’t mean an hour break going on electronics. You’re already on electronics, so adding more to your eyes will be bad. I recommend around 5-10 minutes. It’s also good to break your study time in 30 minute/1 hour increments. When you take your tiny break, try to do something not on electronics. Maybe read a book, take a walk, or rest your eyes.

  • Get a snack; make sure you’re well fed:

If you haven’t had a full meal, then get a snack that can last the entire study session. Or make sure you eat that meal beforehand. If you are on an empty stomach, then you will most likely be distracted by the fact that you are getting hungry.

Test day

Now is the most important time. Taking the test is not the end of the world, and you will eventually come out with a finished exam (or not). I also prepare for the test day itself, and these are the things that I do:

  • Make sure your mind is clear and clean

If your mind is crowded, then you will most likely be very distracted. This could make an impact on your performance. So, it’s best to be relaxed and calm during the exam to have successful results.

  • Be calm; chill out

You’re not going to die. It’s an exam. Chill out. Calm down; you only have one task to do and that’s to finish this test on a good note.

  • Don’t rush while taking the exam

If you did not study or you feel less prepared, then that’s not an excuse to zoom through the exam. If you are stuck on a question, then it is best to skip that question and come back when you’re done with the rest of the questions. If you can’t answer the question, then you should just take an educated guess.

The best part about the exams is that we have a two-week and one-day break ahead. So now you can relax.

My Favorite Comic: Maus by Art Spiegelman

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By Junior Alyna Rei

Student bloggers went in search of something comic that conveyed something profound. Alyna recalls the graphic novel set Maus that she read as a sophomore. She liked it.

I am not the biggest fan of reading history books or learning about history in general. Not that I hate history. I just don’t have the biggest interest in it. But, there is an exception. In my 10th-grade English class, I read Maus by Art Spiegelman. This story was split into two books, and I actually enjoyed reading both. Despite this story being pretty famous, it was actually voted to be banned by a school board in Tennessee (nytimes.com). 

The two books take place during the Holocaust. The Jews display as Mice, the Germans as Cats, Americans as dogs, and the Polish as pigs. 

The First Book, Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale – My Father Bleeds History

We start off with our main character, Vladek, who was a survivor of the Holocaust. Vladek is telling his experience of the Holocaust to his son, Artie (who is a depiction of Art Spiegelman himself). As well, we see the story of Vladek’s wife and Artie’s mother, Anja. We first experience their regular lives before the Holocaust began and then see a complete switch up over time. We go into the beginning part of Auschwitz at the conclusion of Book I and basically the onslaught of the Holocaust. In Book I, we don’t see the couple in the camps. Rather it’s a run down of the beginning tragedies of the Holocaust: such as people losing their jobs, their homes, their neighborhoods, their livelihoods, their lives, etc.

The Maus I book cover as it appears at Amazon.com

The Second Book, Maus II: A Survivor’s Pain – And Here My Troubles Began

The second book is set in the middle of the Holocaust. Vladek is trying to get to his wife, Anja, since the two are separated into different gender camps in Auschwitz. Art Spielgelman does drive us into the characters’ arrival at Auschwitz. This book gives us a more detailed presentation on how the Holocaust appeared through Vladek’s perspective. We see Vladek trying to survive in the camp, desperately working for sufficient food, clothing, shelter, and possible escape for Anja and himself. We still see contemporary scenes between Vladek and Artie, but we also do go back into the past.

Maus II as it appears on Amazon.com

My Opinion

I actually prefer the first book over the second. The first book gave me a good understanding of what the Holocaust was about after seeing Vladik’s developing story. You see the mice having a regular life, and then you see that life chipped away, and eventually lost. I feel that this graphic novel is a better book from which to learn about the Holocaust than to read a nonfiction book for students. When you read Maus, yes, it is a little graphic. We see graphic depictions of dead bodies. But, the book gives you a good understanding of what the Holocaust tragedy was rather than reading dry facts. You get to stand in the characters’ shoes.

This book had an effect on me more than the rest of the books I read in 10th grade as I was able to learn about the Holocaust more. I do recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the Holocaust because it gives you moving insight about the tragedy of the Holocaust while capitalizing on a compelling stereotype regarding cats and mice.

Photo Source: Tor.com

Does the Camera See Who We Really Are?

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By Junior Alyna Rei

Years ago, Stanford admissions asked freshman applicants to attach a significant photograph, then write about it. Generations of Stanford applicants attached photos of horses, grandfathers, fields of flowers, the contents of their desks. The PVS Blog Staff went on their own photo scavenger hunt in search of a compelling photograph. Once found, their task was to tell us the story behind the photo. Alyna found a photo that reveals, perhaps, “the real Alyna.”

I recently went through my camera roll on my phone and found this interesting photo of me. I was curious about the photo and asked my mom what I was doing. This photo was taken when I was about three. 

Apparently, it was another day of preschool for me, and I was acting like the normal toddler that did not want to leave the house. I’ve been told that I was screaming and crying, so my parents bribed me into quiet with a bag of Ruffles chips.

Alyna, not happy, on the way to preschool. Circa 2009

Then, my memory came back to me.  I remember I was feeling so betrayed. I had this annoyed feeling in my chest. When I was younger, usually I would be okay with going to places, but I guess this one day I was not having it. I made a fuss. Ironically, as soon as we hit the preschool, I remember I was actually fine. Maybe I just had a rough morning.

I’m not sure why this photo fascinates me so much. Maybe it’s because of the way my mom turned in her seat to take a photo of me. Or maybe it’s because of the way my mom dressed me (I hate those pants). But, this photo will always be a favorite of mine and be something I will always find funny. Today this is not usually how I act. Back then . . ., apparently, it was another story.

In the words of my mother, if you have a kid who is fussy or crying because of preschool, bribe them with food; make it a treat that they don’t usually get, like ice cream. That’s funny, too–my mom advocating bribery. 

Chapters: Teens and Their Phones

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By Junior Alyna Rei

When considering the chapters in her life, Alyna considers the impact of that electronic device attached to so many of our hands.

Every parent that has a kid going through an electronic middle-school faze knows this story. This chapter of a teenager’s life is defined by them evolving into their more teenage faze with electronics. In this chapter, we learn, phones control our lives.

Chapter 1: the start of the faze

This phase begins when we get our first phone. I got my first phone in 5th grade. I carpooled with different people,  so that I could keep in contact with my family, they gave me a phone. In the beginning, we teenagers only used our “phones” for purposes like playing games when we were bored or calling our parents when we really needed to. We used our phones, but they didn’t completely take over–yet.

Chapter 2: when it starts to take over

This is when teenagers enter middle school. There’s social media, and teens have friends they want to keep in touch with electronically. We start to really want to be on our phones all the time. We look at the screen non-stop. Our parents have the authority to take away our phones when they need to. At the start, we would tolerate our parents taking away our phones, but we were awful happy with parents giving them back.

Chapter 3: now there’s no way out

This can be during middle school, but I would say this happened to me in high school. At this point, we’re obsessed with our electronic devices and can’t live without them. All our basic doings and necessities can be done with an electronic device. So, if our parents take away our phones, then it’s the end of the world. If our phone is dead, then we NEED a charger to get the battery up asap.

Sadly, these are a few of the many chapters in teenagers’ lives that tend to stay with them as they grow up. We always say the world is changing, but I can already tell this isn’t the best way to go.

An Ick I’ve Had

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Alyna’s True Feelings for the Traditional PVS Poetry Recitation

At Palm Valley school, it is mandatory for grades 3rd to 12th to participate in the Poetry Recitation once a year. Basically what students have to do is memorize a poem, recite it in front of their classmates and  judges–who determine which students go on to the next round. The number of lines is different for each grade, but when you’re in high school, you most likely memorize at least 13-14 lines. This is usually the time of year where I want to disappear as I hate having to speak in front of people.

Why do I hate the Poetry Recitation so much?

It’s not about having to memorize lines as a grade, or about projecting my voice for once. It’s about reciting my poem in front of the class. I hate speaking in front of the class, whether it is a presentation or even just a few words added to a discussion. I tend to stutter or stammer over my words when I have to speak for a period of time to a group of people. I am okay with speaking in front of very few people, but with a huge group of people? No thanks. Other people have other opinions about the Poetry Recitation. They say that they hate the judging, or that they don’t like memorizing 14 lines, or that they dislike making eye contact with an audience. Some even say they like the Poetry Recitation and the opportunity to advance to the nationwide Poetry Out Loud competition (looking at you, Indy Behr).

For me, I hate being in front of the class. The class is usually silent when I recite, and I feel all eyes on me. I hate that. I feel like all the eyes are just studying me. 

Another solution?

I’m not saying that we should just not do the Poetry Recitation as I think it is a good way to have people practice enunciating words and expressing emotion. But, I feel that there can be one way we can switch it a little.

I’m fine with talking to judges, so talking to JUST judges would be nice. I remember seeing this in 9th grade when there would only be the student, the teacher, and the judges. That way, other students can focus on their poems–outside the competition room–without having to hear the person speaking.

I think that the Poetry Recitation is a nice way to get other students to practice speaking, but there is always going to be this tiny grudge in my chest that would always make me resent it. There should be options as to how to deliver a well-phrased poem.

An Opinion Penned by Junior Alyna Rei

Alyna’s Favorite Artist

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By Alyna Rei

The Blog Staff is highlighting local, familial, and world-renowned artists. Alyna shares with us her favorite painting–Vincent Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night.”

I’m not a person who is a big fan of paintings and other artwork. Mine is sort of a one-second appreciation, and then I would forget about the artwork. But, there is one painting that really stands out to me. I’m pretty sure everyone has heard of the “Starry Night” painting by Vincent Van Gogh. This painting is really popular to many people, and since it captivates me so much, I decided to write about it.

“The Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh

What is the history of “The Starry Night” painting?

The painting first started when Van Gogh was in a mental hospital getting treatment. He grew stronger, but, sadly, he had a relapse of instability. He fell into sadness and started having hallucinations and suicidal thoughts (vangoghgallery.com). As a result, the tone of his work changed. His use of the darker hues from the beginning of his work was reinstated, and Starry Night is a superb illustration of that change. The picture is dominated by blue, which melds the hills with the sky. The small settlement is depicted at the bottom of the painting in shades of brown, gray, and blue. The yellow and white of the stars and the moon stand out against the sky, attracting the eyes to the sky, even though each building is clearly highlighted in black. The buildings are one of the painting’s main focal points and one of the main draws.

Why do I like this painting so much?

I like this painting mostly because of the way it presents itself. The colors and the ambience match each other, which is what made me like this painting even more. For some reason, this painting reminds me of “Claire De Lune” by Claude Debussy. Both the song and the painting convey a calm peaceful night to me. Listening to the music and observing the painting, the atmosphere puts me at ease.

Where is this painting held?

This painting is being held in The Museum Of Modern Art in New York. This painting has been a permanent piece at the museum since 1941, and it is one of the most recognizable pieces in Western Art. 

I love this piece so much that I have a Lego set of The Starry Night. This piece doesn’t really look like the real painting, but it’s a pretty similar comparison–in the medium of Lego. 

This Lego set of The Starry Night was constructed by Alyna and now sits on her shelf in her room.

See With A Good Eye!

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As we closed out September, the Blog Staff examined health issues. Alyna plans on doing something in Ophthalmology when she gets older. The eyes fascinate her that much. She feels the eyes are very important in the human body and to our existence. 

By Junior Alyna Rei

Our eyes are what help us humans see everything in the world. The eyes help the brain tell what kind of objects or other artifacts we are looking at. If our other senses are disabled, our eyes can still help us see what can put us in danger. Since the eyes are so important in our everyday lives, I will give you some tips on how to keep our eyes healthy and ready to see the world.

Blogger Indy Behr volunteered his eyes for this post.

Wear sunglasses:

I do this every time I go outside when it is very sunny. I try to find sunglasses that will protect me from the harsh sun. UV (ultraviolet) radiation from the sun might harm your eyes if you don’t use the proper sunglasses. Your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration increases with excessive UV exposure. Ideally, your sunglasses should block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB radiation (webmd.com). Your eyes are better shielded from the sun by wraparound lenses. Be aware; when reducing glare while driving, polarized lenses–which are not always UV protectant–don’t always provide sufficient protection. 

Do not look at a screen for too long:

These days, looking at a screen is a very common habit. Even I fall into this habit often. When you look at a screen for too long, your eyes can strain, dry up, and can give you blurry vision. When I do look at a screen, I try to look away from the screen every 10 minutes for at least 30 seconds. You can also get glasses specifically for the screens. Some people use blue-light glasses. I have a pair. I feel the glasses lessen the effect of eye strain. The last thing that you can do if you’ve been staring at a screen for hours is blink a couple of times. If this doesn’t help, you can also use artificial tears, aka eye drops.

Go see your eye doctor:

It is always important to get a check up regularly  with your eye doctor. Since we do so much with our eyes, it’s essential our eyes get regular clean bills of health.

I don’t need to hear it

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In our Blog pursuit of sharing mastered and sought-after skills, Alyna spotlights a skill essential to every adolescent: How to Master Selective Hearing.

By Junior Alyna Rei

I am generally a silent person. I like to hear rather than talk. But, there are some times when I just choose to not listen to my surroundings. This is what I call selective hearing. For the people that don’t know, selective hearing is when a person only listens to the things that they feel  are important. In my case, I only listen to the things that I want to hear. 90% of the time, I actually listen to important topics, but when I can pass through and not listen to useless information, I tune my ears out of the conversation.

Why hear selectively?

This certain skill can be seen as rude and inconsiderate. I only do this when necessary. Would you listen to something that sounds boring and unnecessary? Probably not. For the people that do, I envy you. I have not the tolerance. Again, I only listen to the things that I know are important. But, when I hear a topic that doesn’t involve or interest me, my ears will naturally muffle whatever someone is saying.

How do you hear selectively?

I feel like this skill comes to a person naturally. I have never had to “learn” how to listen to things that I only needed to, but I did perfect the skill. The key to doing this involves finding something else to focus your attention on.

I also use headphones a lot. This is a big distraction to my ears. When I can, I put headphones on all the time. I know that is a bad habit for my poor ears, but, oh well.

Where can you hear selectively?

I use this skill when I need to. This can be anywhere: office, school, the car. It can even be in your own home. 

Here’s the process.

When I feel the need to tune out, I focus my brain on a memory, a fantasy, a song, a favorite image, or a Wordle. If I have the chance, I put on my headphones and focus on music, a podcast, or an audio book that excites me.

Keep in mind, I always show a straight face doing this. It’s important to not make a face that is obviously showing zero interest in a topic. That’s what makes a person know that I have no interest in what they are talking about. Note: I have heard that my straight face can be scary, so you may want to perfect your own resting faux interest face.

Here’s how it works: when a classmate is very loud for no reason, and I feel I don’t need to hear that person, I go into the zone of blocking everything out. Many people call this spacing out. When I space out, I look at a certain thing, such as something that is not moving. When I do this, my ears tend to block everything out. My face is rested and frozen. If I really want to block everything out, I put on my headphones (specifically noise canceling) and maybe put on music that has lyrics. When music has lyrics, I tend to focus on the lyrics, thus blocking out everything else. Spacing out and having selective hearing happens to be a habit now for me, but I call it a skill.

The face to use when performing selective hearing is just a straight relaxed face. Sort of like the 😐 emoji.

Take a trip to the Philippines!

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By Junior Alyna Rei

My family is from the Philippines. I have family members back in the Philippines and some in the States. There’s no specific place in the Philippines that my entire family is from as some of them are from different parts, but in this cultural article, I will be talking about my grandma from my mom’s side. She is from Apalit, Pampanga. I decided to interview her about her experience of living there. The following is our text interview.

Left to right: My dad, me, my mom, Josiah, and Lola–my grandma

Alyna- “What is the atmosphere like there in Pampanga?”

Lola- “The atmosphere in Pampanga 

… is nice, quiet, peaceful and relaxing. 

Living there in general….

Is easy and comfortable with housemaids to give a helping hand. 

Cost of living is affordable.”

Alyna- “What places are a must to visit when you go?”

Lola- “Places to visit in the Philippines: 

Baguio 

… the summer capital of the Philippines.

… the weather is cool all year round. 

Manila 

… the oldest city in the Philippines. 

Boracay

… white sand beaches 

Cebu

… where the founder of the Philippines, Ferdinand Magellan, first step his feet”

Alyna- “What foods are recommended to eat there?”

Lola- “Food: 

Roasted pig

Chicken adobo

Noodles (pansit)

Egg rolls”

Alyna- “How is Pampanga different than the rest of the Philippines?”

Lola- “Pampanga is the center of the most part of the Philippines and it’s known for its good food.”

Alyna- “When you came to the states, how was living in the US different from Pampanga?”

Lola- “… the weather there are only two seasons in the Philippines–the rainy season and the dry season 

… the living comfort – the United States is highly industrialized country while the Philippines is not.”

Alyna- “What is your most favorite part about Pampanga?”

Lola- “… the authentic foods 

… the big shopping malls.”

Alyna- “What is your least favorite part about Pampanga?”

Lola- “… too much rain 

… hot weather”

Alyna- “Are there any other places you recommend in the Philippines as a whole?”

Lola- “… Clark and Subic (former US and Naval bases)

… Baguio, a place for fresh flowers and vegetables, 

Mountainous views like rice terraces.”

Salamat lola!

(Thank you Grandma!)

My grandmother, Lola Francis, in her backyard in the Philippines

The Place I Would Like to See

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If Alyna could go anywhere back in history, she’d go to the opulent Titanic . . . , only to helicopter out before any iceberg appeared on the scene.

By Junior Alyna Rei

There are many places in the world I would like to see. The places I would love to visit are pretty well known. Something I would like to experience is the Titanic before it sinks. I want to see the atmosphere and the feeling of the biggest ship on water. Obviously, I’d rather not see or live through the end of the Titanic and the ship sinking. I’m basing what I envision of the Titanic off of the 1997 film. It was that lavish movie that  gave me the idea of writing this post.

Who do I want to see on the Titanic?

From the 1997 film of the Titanic, I would love to see Rose and Jack and how two opposites fall in love. (I am aware that they never existed). Another person I would love to meet is the captain. Hearing how the Titanic launched would be very fascinating to hear. Perhaps we could converse over a many-course dinner.

What would I like to see?

Just being on the ship would make me happy. One of the many things I would like to see are the two parties, the rich and the poor. I would like to experience both–whether that is a fancy dinner with royalty or an energetic dance party with hundreds of people, I would beg to see any of those scenes. Another iconic and popular setting I would love to see or rather stand on is the very front of the ship, the bow. I want to stand in that tiny space and see the dolphins and flowing water below me with the sunset in the distance.

Why the Titanic?

The Titanic was one of the most iconic creations on the planet. And to see how it was in the film makes me want to be there. I want to feel what the people felt boarding the ship. I want to taste the delicious food. I want to see the water and beautiful sunsets from the deck of this huge ship. 

Since the Titanic is not with us right now, or at least above water, other places I would like to see are the cool museums that honor the Titanic and have the coolest facts about the ship. Some of these museums are in Springfield, Belfast, Southampton, etc. I believe those museums are the closest I will be to the Titanic.