Author: samdlav

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by Samantha V '18

Reflecting on a Social Media-Free Month

From November 8th to December 8th, I decided to try a little social media experiment. I decided to cut myself off from all social media that I had to see what effect it would have on my grades and my daily life. The three main social media apps I used the most were Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. For the span of one month, I deleted all apps relating to social media from my phone and I was not allowed to use my computer to check anything either. Here is a summary of my experience and how this experiment affected my views on social media:

The app I missed the most was Snapchat. Prior to starting this experiment, I had been using Snapchat an awful lot and it was definitely a big distraction for me while doing homework. I would snap people constantly as a form of procrastination and it eventually led to me finishing my homework in the very early hours of the morning. Snapchat also kept me occupied at times when I should’ve been socializing or actually spending time with my friends and family. I would be constantly checking my phone rather than actually enjoying what was really around me. I definitely wanted to see how much my studying habits would change without Snapchat.

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by Samantha V '18

Terrorist Attacks in Paris: Is Anyone Safe?

Source: telegraph.co.uk
Source: telegraph.co.uk

On Friday, November 13, 2015, Paris, France was attacked in three separate areas, resulting in the death of 129 individuals. A series of three bombs exploded from around 9:20 P.M. to 9:55 P.M. outside the Stade de France, during a soccer match between France and Germany. The stadium was filled with thousands of people, including the president of France, Francois Hollande. He was evacuated immediately after the explosions occurred.

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by Samantha V '18

BSGE’s 2015 Soccer Season Wraps Up

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Soccer has become a large part of the BSGE environment. Whether you’re on the team or a die-hard fan, you’ve heard about BSGE’s soccer teams. This year, BSGE introduced its very own Girls’ Soccer Team. With the help of BSGE Staff and senior Isabelle Lee ’16, Ciara Keogh ’17 created the Girls’ Soccer Team for her personal project. Elected by their team and coach, Isabelle and Ciara became captains for the developmental team. With coaches John Ryding and Rajiv Mahajan, the team developed their skills and prepared for their first season. “The first game we lost 3-0 and we won our last game 3-1,” said Isabelle. “If that doesn’t show improvement, I don’t know what does. The players on the other team even told me how much we had improved as a team in the last minutes of the final game.” The development of the team’s skills may have increased due to increased amounts of practice, but it also could have increased due to the bonds that were created during practice. Maria Ryding ’18, a member of the Girls Soccer Team, felt that the team “impacted [her] life by being the most loving and wonderful team [she has] ever had.” When asked about how they think the season went, many of the team’s members were very impressed with their performance as a whole. Co-captain Ciara states, “It was our first season, and with everything considered, we did amazing. We worked together really well, and even though we lacked in skill—and some girls had never even kicked a ball before—I think we did amazing.” With a final record of 3-2, the team put a lot of effort, time, and dedication into practicing for each game.

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by Daleelah S '19 by Samantha V '18

Fall To-Do List!

Fall in Central Park (timeout.com)
Fall in Central Park (timeout.com)

Apple Picking

Apple picking is a wonderful way to kick off your fall season. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy nature and spend some time away from all the homework and technology. Getting to hang out with family and friends in a relaxing environment is a ton of fun and much healthier than sitting around at home on your couch with a jar of Nutella in one hand and a bag of popcorn in the other. Another positive side to apple picking is the benefits for those who have oral allergy syndrome. For people like that, eating the majority of fresh fruits makes your mouth swell and your throat itch. But when you eat fruit picked directly from the tree, you tend not to have an allergic reaction. Also, apple picking is a great way to support local orchards. By picking and purchasing fruit and other homemade items  from them, you are giving them the money that they need to keep running their farm/orchard. Plus, you now have your own personal supply of apples to be used for cooking, baking, or just biting right into.

Corn Maze/Hay Rides

Many farms that you would go to for apple picking also offer hayrides and corn mazes. For those who don’t know what a corn maze is: it’s basically a real-life maze in a field of corn. Everyone enters the maze at the same time, and your goal is to find your way out in the shortest amount of time. Some corn mazes have additional scary elements, like people who get dressed up and creep up behind you (others take place at nighttime, so your only source of light is a flashlight provided to you). Visiting a corn maze can actually build teamwork skills and is a great way to bond with friends!

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by Samantha V '18

Pope Francis: “The People’s Pope”

The Pope in NYC (PC: wsj.com)
The Pope in NYC (PC: wsj.com)

Pope Francis is considered one of the most humble and caring popes. From declining dinner with politicians so that he could have dinner with the homeless, to the acceptance he has displayed for people from all different walks of life, Pope Francis doesn’t fail to impress people with his acts of love and kindness. Quite recently, Pope Francis stopped his car so he could kiss and bless a young boy he saw who had cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a disorder that causes difficulty in muscle movement. The boy, his parents, and his siblings were some of the many who waited to see Pope Francis that day, and luckily enough, it was Pope Francis who spotted them. As soon as Pope Francis saw the boy in the wheelchair, he asked for his driver to stop the car, got out, kissed the boy on the forehead, and said a blessing for him. Pope Francis also shook his parents’ and siblings’ hands. Moments like these show that Pope Francis just wants happiness amongst all individuals simply because everyone deserves to be happy.

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