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Personal essay (Draft)

When I look back into my past, one moment I would do anything to return to is my first scuba dive. Ever since I could read, I was always fascinated by the subject of the mystical marine world, being constantly amazed by the otherworldly aura given off by the life in our waters. Through the lens of marine encyclopedias, nature documentaries, and visits to the aquarium, I crafted a fantastical image of a wild blue ocean teeming with life. Unfortunately, this cerebral scenario of an aquatic utopia started to change as I witnessed the atrocities done to our oceans. From overfishing to oil spills, I became more and more aware of the intricate underwater ecosystems collapsing under the stress of human intervention and greed. I felt the ocean’s pain. In this period of bleak realization, I came to know someone who would inspire me to make a difference and help the aquatic environment I cared so much for. This figure was marine biologist, underwater photographer, and conservationist Jacques-Yve...
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Cows and Communism: My Take on Animal Farm

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     Cows and Communism: My Take on Animal Farm Animal Farm is a Short Story written in 1945. Authored by George Orwell, a writer famous for his dystopian novels such as the book  1984 , this tale is set around a group of animals in a small English farm who, against the odds, overthrow their 'tyrannical' farmer and use the farm for themselves, tilling and farming the land to make their own food. Despite its unlikely plot and comedic animals, this story aligns quite well with the Russian Revolution and the rise of Soviet Communism, making for an entertaining read.      The entertaining, comedic aspects of the tetrapod characters in Animal Farm are great relief from the dystopian vibes this book gives off. Everything from "Benjamin, the cynical donkey" (Orwell 1) to the egotistical pig Napoleon, each animal whim adds much-appreciated pops of color to the plot. For example, Napoleon, after drinking "Half a gallon" of beer, runs around the farm in a drunk...
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Both Sides of Covid Explained - Tim Park

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                                         The Story of Both Sides of Covid As you may know, over the past couple of years, Covid-19 has affected the entire planet. As a global pandemic, Covid shut down thousands of businesses, prevented human interaction, and raised many questions about the global healthcare system. Many people may see Covid as a terrible event, which it was, but there were numerous cons and a few unexpected beneficial outcomes that can be discussed. More specifically, how Covid had some positive outcomes, rather than only being known as a terrible and catastrophic event **As a possible trigger warning, I still think Covid was terrible and this blog is stating my opinion that there were outcomes from both sides, rather than one** Obviously, Covid was terrible and was a major weakness towards society. According to the CDC, there have been a total of 81,028,797 cases an...
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How Important Is It to Be Attractive in Our Society? - Leyla

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             Attractiveness is a societal construct that has evolved over time since humanity started to interact with the earth. In modern times we are closer to recognizing and defining some universally desired characteristics as conventionally attractive, expanding on the idea that people are physically attractive in a variety of ways. However, there is still a perpetuation about the singular attractive body reflected in media. The use of conventionally attractive people to portray an ideal lifestyle is constantly implemented in visual advertisements, such as for perfumes, clothing, nutritional products, and even medicine. People strive to be like models who symbolize the result of perfection, and it is what motivates them to engage in certain aspects of self care that not only affect themselves, but the people around them. Being attractive is unnecessarily important in our society.      The false narrative that continues to pres...
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My Vacation: Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Park - Isaak Kumar

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  My Vacation: Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Park     In my week-long trip to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, I was exposed to a plethora of new landscapes, plants, and animals that were drastically different from my original Midwest environment. From wandering herds of bison dotting the rolling hills to curious black bears searching for berries in dense huckleberry bushes, my vacation was truly one of a kind.           Part 1: Grand Teton National Park We spent around 3 days in Grand Teton National National Park, and it was probably the more scenic part of our vacation. Living in a quaint valley surrounded by two majestic mountain ranges, we had plenty of time to adsorb and marvel at the rustic scenery. Although we went on multiple hikes throughout our stay at the Tetons, our most memorable hike was the 7-mile trek to Inspiration Point, a lookout area situated on the cliffs of the Tetons, thousands of f...
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Firefly Lane: The Journey of Two Best Friends

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     Firefly Lane  By Ceyda Urcan (This review talks about later events in the book which may count as spoilers to some)  I haven’t read many novels so I can’t claim to be a master in the subject but Firefly Lane truly stuck with me. Firefly Lane  is a 2008 novel written by Kristen Hannah. The novel tells the story of Kate and Tully. The story is set in the summer of 1974 when eighth-grader Kate decides to officially accept the fact that she will always be an outcast at the bottom of the social ladder. That is until the popular, trendy, and endlessly cool Tallulah Hart moves on next door and claims she wants to be Kate’s friend. This is the start of a decades-long friendship.  Firefly Lane is a truly beautiful story between flawed characters. Kate supports Tully as her best friend but also can’t help feeling jealous. Tully stands out, Tully always catches everyone’s eyes while Kate is left in a shadow much too big to see over. However, she is able to ...
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They Both Die at the End Analysis - Leyla

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            They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera is a heart-wrenching novel about the contemplations surrounding the anticipation of death. The story centers around two troubled teens, Mateo and Rufus, who receive a phone call informing them that they will meet an untimely death in the next 24 hours. Their situation declaring them Deckers, they seek an opportunity to live the rest of their lives with personal fulfillment. Rufus is a foster kid struggling with facing the reality of his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Aimee, and Mateo is an introvert living alone with his father in critical condition, afraid to take risks but longing to discover a new side of himself. They match on Last Friends, an app for Deckers and Non-Deckers to chat and keep each other company while one or both have the burden of carrying knowledge of their own approaching demise. Rufus and Mateo instantly connect online and decide to embark on an adventure that will satisf...
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