This weeks Photo Theme: Life

Why You Think Other People are Better Than You 

Written by: Jasleen Batth 11th

Ever catch yourself thinking that others are somehow better than you? It's a common mental trap we all stumble into, but let's shift our perspective and explore why you might believe others have an upper hand.

Firstly, it's essential to understand that everyone brings something unique to the table. Your friend's talent for math doesn't make your knack for art any less valuable. It's not about being better or worse; it's about embracing diverse strengths.

Secondly, recognizing the good in others is like holding up a mirror. It reflects back at you, nudging you to discover your own capabilities and areas where you can grow. It's not about feeling inferior; it's about learning from the strengths of those around you.

Lastly, life is a team sport. When we appreciate what others bring to the mix, we build a stronger, more supportive community. It's not a competition; it's a collaboration where each person's unique qualities contribute to the collective success.

So, instead of thinking others are better, let's focus on the richness that comes from everyone playing their part. Break that old habit of comparing yourself to others and start recognizing the beauty in our differences and realizing that each one of us adds something valuable to the high school experience.

School Update

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This Weeks Features!

What does ASG do?

Written by: Jane Doe ??

Our student government has been navigating the delicate balance of event planning, and it's fair to say that they've faced their share of challenges. Dances to pep rallies and festivals, while infrequent, showcase their dedication to injecting fun into the school year. It's not every day you witness the school's heart beating a little faster during these events.

However, the spirit weeks, on the other hand, are more of a 'Where's Waldo' situation. Blink, and you might miss it. The themes are chosen with a hint of spontaneity and participation. Where's the school spirit?!?

Since we've finally upgraded from C-Commons to the small gym, dances have managed to bring students together in a celebration of shared moments. Right? Wrong. I can't speak for everyone, but a room full of 40 people max, standing around with one poster to indicate the "theme" doesn't give the ideal high school dance we all have in mind. 

While there is an intended approach to bettering the school, there's an undeniable belief that ASG's weekly meetings are not putting much into effect. Nevertheless, let's appreciate our student government for the occasional sparks of joy they bring, even if the flame flickers now and then. Because if they don't , who will?

• Just a PSA, this article is satire, I love ASG 🩷

How Technology is revolutionizing the classroom dynamics

Written by: Aaron Dang 12th

From chromebooks to Yondr pouches, our school has seen the beneficial and controversial effects of technology and its continued advancement. The only question is: What’s changed since they’ve been implemented? It wasn’t until the late 1900s that computers were first implemented in the classroom, and soon after they were connected by the World Wide Web, yet in these “few” years, we’ve seen the reformation of traditional ways of teaching and learning that are more accessible, efficient, and affordable to schools and students.

Accessibility

The main appeal of the Internet is the ease with which information can be accessed. I find myself googling more than 10 times a day and going down rabbit holes of article after article. Our reliance on the Internet is exemplified by the 8.5 billion searches processed each day. Information is no longer being found in textbooks but rather through websites. Not only is it easier, but it also comes in variety, allowing it to be personalized for students to better understand topics. A classroom is not the only proper learning environment, but anywhere is, thanks to the portability of Chromebooks and the variety of education websites that can essentially function as tutors for students. This is the reason we are seeing more and more students self-study certain subjects, especially AP courses, to get ahead in learning.

However, the Internet equally contains a variety of distracting content: games, streaming sites, and social media. I won’t lie, every day I visit The New York Times to play their daily Wordle or Crossword, read manga online, and distract myself with browser games. However, that doesn’t stop me from finishing my schoolwork. Of course, not all students act that way; many abuse that freedom as a form of procrastination. The Internet’s accessibility promotes complacency and confidence that they can finish their work on time and are too distracted to think otherwise. However, the power of technology is to adapt to such changes. For instance, our school uses Hapara Highlights to monitor student activity, and they can also block websites deemed inappropriate. However, I see these efforts as ineffective as students still have access to other content, which is inherent to the expansiveness of the Internet. It also undermines our school's investment in Yondr pouches, which prohibit access to phones during school time, not including special circumstances. While I already don’t use my phone during school, many have priorities that will require their phones, such as important phone calls, but others find that it will reduce distractions. Since Yondr pouches are still fairly new, it will require more time and data to see the effects they have on students. However,  it brings up the next topic: efficiency.

Efficiency

Our addiction to our screens is caused by the constraint stream of information bombarded to our brain; these bursts of dopamine are usually more intense than when we learn, which causes us to be unfocused during school. While I’d like to say it’s a problem of self-control, technology has improved so much at doing these things that they are inadvertently harmful to students. The advancement of technology has created a classroom environment in which students are more likely to not listen to their teachers and more confident in slacking off.

Still, this may just be a minority in our student population, as technology can also efficiently relay information that supports our growth. Google Classroom, PowerSchool, and Illuminate are all tools that allow us to track our assignments and also see how well we do with them. This gives us feedback on how to improve, and generally speaking, many sites such as Khan Academy are vital resources in a classroom as they provide assignments that quickly communicate the outcome of our actions and greatly improve studying.

When speaking about efficiency, however, AI is a mainstream topic in today's world and in the classroom. Specifically, ChatGPT is a well-known chatbot. The reason it’s so popular is due to the massive database it was trained on, which allows it to respond effectively to questions and provide detailed answers. ChatGPT's used by students can offer potential enhancements to learning but can be overreliant upon and be used for an entire assignment. However, my experiences with ChatGPT have supported me in providing a structure for writing assignments, but overall, that’s all it’s meant to be. Achieving a balanced integration of AI into education requires acknowledging the risk of abuse.

Affordability

To end this article, it’s best to look into the prospective future of our school as technology improves. We’ve certainly come a long way from expensive, bulky computers to sleek devices. As technology improves, we may see devices becoming even more affordable, but they are often still costly. While many students may joke about the financial situation of our school, it’s vital that we invest properly in technology so that it will improve learning experiences for future generations. One of the most important problems that must be addressed is the gap in which communities may differ in access to technology, also known as the digital divide. Costs are often a large problem for certain rural communities, and while devices may become more affordable, there’s no telling what will happen as society exponentially grows toward a technological singularity.

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