Category: by Samantha V ’18

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2016-2017 Archives BSGE by Samantha V '18 Features News students

Shhh…It’s the Day of Silence

The Day of Silence is an event that BSGE participates in annually. This year, on April 20, students will be given the choice to support the cause by either staying completely silent or by respecting those who are and by just supporting the cause. Both equally show one’s support for the LGBTQ community, so don’t think that someone who is supporting cares less than someone who is being silent. Nationally, the Day of Silence is on April 21, but this would coincide with Helping Hands’ Earth Day trip.

 

This year, the organization that the Day of Silence committee is planning to donate to is the Ali Forney Center. The Ali Forney Center is an area that provides a safe space for LGBTQ youth. They are provided with necessities such as food, medical attention, and shelter, if necessary. It helps young homeless members of the LGBTQ community feel safe and they are given the resources to feel comfortable expressing their sexuality.

 

Showing your support for the Day of Silence is very important because you are showing that you respect those who are forced to stay closeted and can’t express themselves because they are afraid of being judged for their sexuality. Even if you aren’t going completely silent, showing your support by wearing the support cards—that are handed out in the morning—is spreading the word and showing support.

 

A final note that should be made is that staying silent on the Day of Silence should be taken seriously. It is not a day to stay silent for the sake of not having to participate in class. Also, staying silent means no communication with any other person at all. This means no passing of notes, no texting, and no hand gestures. This goes against the purpose of staying silent and it should be used as a day of support, not joking around. At the end of the day, the silence is broken during a “Breaking of the Silence” ceremony where everyone can break the silence at together.

 

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2016-2017 Archives by Samantha V '18 Culture News World

What it is Like to Live in a Developing Country For Two Weeks

Two weeks in the Philippines. This may not seem like a lot of time for a vacation, but it was perfect for an eye-opening experience. While I was in the Philippines, I learned about how different the local lifestyle was from the my lifestyle in New York. There were many moments when I felt extremely grateful for how privileged I was, but there were also many times when I wished I could have these Filipino experiences everyday.

The first thing I noticed was how much traffic there was. While New York has its fair share of traffic, it is nothing compared to the never-ending traffic on the streets of the Philippines. Almost every hour seemed to be rush hour and it was almost impossible to get anywhere on time. Whether taking a car, a tricycle, or jeepney, commuting was definitely a struggle. Mass transportation such as trains weren’t used as often because they were inconvenient and inefficient. There were a limited number of stops and the trains didn’t reach many areas. This causes more people to drive, which in turn creates more traffic. From talking with family members, I learned that they were used to the traffic and it has become a part of their everyday life. They learned to always expect traffic, so they tend to leave a lot earlier just to get to work or school on time. A possible solution that was passed in 2003 was the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program, more commonly known as coding. Still used today, what the program does is that it restricts certain vehicles from using main roads at specific times based on the last digit of its license plate. Even with coding in use, traffic is still very prominent because of the lack of mass public transportation.

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2016-2017 Archives by Samantha V '18 Entertainment and Culture Music

Five Songs You Don’t Know But Should Listen To

State Champs- Perfect Score

State Champs is a pop punk band that has recently gained fame in the punk scene. Their most recent album, Around the World and Back, contains an upbeat track called Perfect Score. Perfect Score is the fifth track on the album and shows their more pop side. For someone who has never listened to State Champs, this is a great first song because it is a fitting representation of their style of music. Perfect Score is also very catchy and is a great song to listen to at any time.

Shane- Insecure

Having released a total of six songs, Shane is not well-known, but deserves a lot more recognition. His most “popular” song, Insecure, has a very upbeat tempo, but is still relaxing and soothing. Watching the music video for this  track is a great idea because it is definitely not your typical dance music video. The video depicts your typical love story, but with a lot more passion and dancing. You should listen to Insecure because even though it isn’t a new style of music, Shane’s voice transforms his songs into a soothing form of pop that makes you want to dance, but is also great for just sitting down and doing homework.

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2016-2017 Archives by Samantha V '18 Features students

The First Few Months of IB as a Junior

A few months into the school year, almost every single student at BSGE is drowning in work. With the new schedule’s 45-minute periods, the transition into the new school year is taking a lot longer than expected. For juniors, this transition is made more difficult because it is the first year in the IB Program.

The IB Diploma Program is meant to push students to work to the best of their ability. It prepares students for college by teaching them extensive academic and time management skills. Being a part of the IB Program means completion of the Theory of Knowledge course, an Extended Essay, a total of 100 Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) hours, and meeting specific grade requirements for IB exams. Not all students are IB candidates by the time they end junior year, and an even smaller number actually receive the IB Diploma the summer after senior year. Even though colleges cannot know whether or not a student will eventually get the IB Diploma when they apply,  merely taking the courses and going through such a rigorous process shows how hardworking a student is. The IB Program seems to be intimidating and stressful, but in the end it is all a matter of how the student manages their time.

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by Samantha V '18

Rocking Out for CAS!

The new CAS group project requirements have led many BSGE students to explore interesting ways of fulfilling the Creativity, Activity and/or Service requirement through teamwork. One such project is a rock band created by Jotham Kim ‘17 and seven other juniors. While you may not have heard of the band itself, you may have noticed signs for a Rock Band Club, which is linked to the CAS project. The club involves members of the CAS project teaching other interested students to play instruments and produce music. The eight juniors host their own practices and performances separately.

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by Samantha V '18

Six Things To Do Over the Summer Rather Than Binge-Watching Shows on Netflix

1) Free Summer Concerts

From May 20 to September 2, Good Morning America and the Today Show will be holding free summer concerts at least once a week. Both GMA and the Today Show will be holding their concerts every Friday, but the GMA ones will be in Central Park and the Today Show will be holding their concerts in Rockefeller Center. All concerts are open to the public, but some require you to reserve the free tickets. These concerts are a great way to boost your energy for the day and are just an inexpensive fun event to enjoy with friends and family. With performers such as Blink 182 and James Bay, you are sure to find an artist you’ll want to see. Afterwards, you could just relax in Central Park or walk around the city. For the lineup for GMA concerts, go to: http://www.centralpark.com/guide/activities/concerts/gma-concerts.html. For the lineup for the Today Show concerts, go to: http://cititour.com/NYC_Events/2016-NBC-Today-Show-Summer-Concert-Series/23434.

2) The Magnum Ice Cream Bar Shop

After going to a morning concert, you are sure to be in need of an energizing snack. The Magnum shop in Soho is definitely a tourist attraction, but that doesn’t mean it is any less of an attraction for us natives. Magnum is a company that creates ice cream bars and this shop is a place where you can customize these chocolate bars. For $7, you could get a fully customizable ice cream bar with up to three toppings. From dark chocolate chia seeds to rose petals, there is a wide variety of toppings and an infinite number of combinations. This is a great snack for a hot summer day and it is just a fun experience watching your beautiful creation come to life. For more about this ice cream shop, visit: http://www.amny.com/eat-and-drink/magnum-ice-cream-and-dipping-bar-pop-up-to-open-in-soho-1.11679050.

3) Bryant Park Film Festival

If you aren’t much of a concert-goer, then maybe you could go out for a movie instead. For the entire summer, HBO will be showing films in Bryant Park every Monday. The movies will be showing from 5:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. and are open to the public for free. Movies such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Omen will be showing all summer long. Grab a picnic blanket, some food, and a handful of friends and enjoy a nice movie on the lawn. This is a great way to just relax and enjoy New York City scenery and summer weather. For information about what movies will be showing, go to: http://www.bryantpark.org/plan-your-visit/filmfestival.html.

4) Alice’s Tea Cup

Speaking of movies, with the recent release of the movie, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Alice’s Tea Cup is a fun place to check out. With the original restaurant on the West Side and “Chapters” II and III on the East Side, Alice’s Tea Cup is easily accessible. The Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant makes every person revisit their childhood. Complete with Alice-themed decorations and pastries, this restaurant is perfect for fans of the books and movies. The restaurant offers amazing tea and overall is a great place to hang out and get lost in Wonderland. If you’re really feeling like a little kid, you could ask to wear one of their many fairy wings while at the restaurant—they’ll even sprinkle “fairy dust” on you! For more information about finding Wonderland, go to: http://alicesteacup.com.

5) I Survived the Room

An adrenaline-packed activity that is great for groups of friends, I Survived the Room is an intense game that is all about testing your limits. I Survived the Room has two rooms to choose from (and one open only on Fridays). A group of friends is placed in a chosen scenario from which they have an hour to escape. You must learn to work with your friends to find clues and solve riddles to escape the room, but if you fail to do so, then game over! The whole scenario feels real, especially with actors who play special roles. It is a bit scary, but definitely worth it because it is interesting to see how your group can work together to solve a hypothetical situation. For more information about how to book a room, go to: http://isurvivedtheroom.com.

6) Smorgasburg

Although a bit further away from the city, Smorgasburg in WIlliamsburg is definitely worth the trip. Every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., Smorgasburg is filled with vendors of food, vintage clothing, antiques, jewelry, and many other knick knacks that appeal to all types of people. Great weather, friendly vendors and a variety of handmade and vintage goods make this flea market a popular spot. Most of the vendors at Smorgasburg are running their own small businesses, and many love to chat with customers. Smorgasburg is also a great place to discover new foods because of all the unique twists put on everyday snacks. Concoctions like “Raindrop Cakes” and “Takumi Tacos” can all be found at Smorgasburg. For more information about the market and its vendors, go to: http://www.smorgasburg.com.

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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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by Hana M '18 by Samantha V '18

All Time Low Concert Experience; Tips and Tricks on How to Survive a Concert

All Time Low (Photo Credit: mtv.com)
All Time Low (Photo Credit: mtv.com)

On May 23rd we had the chance to go to an All Time Low Concert which also included several performances by Tonight Alive, Issues, and State Champs. The crowd was filled with people of all different ages, and all the dyed hair made it look extremely colorful. We were lucky enough for it to be a beautiful day out but with all the mosh pits, pushing and overall lack of personal space we found it hard to keep cool and not get dehydrated. Luckily, security guards took water bottles and poked holes in it creating a sprinkler/ water fountain for all of us fortunate enough to be towards the front. There were some moments we’d thought we would die, of thirst, of people trampling over us or even of excitement but in the end it was worth it! Coming to wait on line hours before was one of the most important things to getting a decent spot in the crowd, and a good view despite the height disadvantage. Waitin on line for hours isn’t such a drag as long as you’re with your friends and having fun. Being on line with hundreds of people with the same taste in music as you is also extremely fun and can lead to friendships so don’t be scared of interaction! Going to an All Time Low concert was definitely the experience of a lifetime. It was a learning experience for future concerts and above all, it was extremely fun! For individuals who are planning to go to similar concerts, read this article for tips and tricks for surviving the concert.

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