#37 The best of 2020

Highlights of 2020 include the BLM movement, Among us, Tik Tok dances, and of course, the Covid-19 pandemic. The black lives matter movement is a movement formed in the United States dedicated to fighting racism towards black people. Among us became a popular game all of a sudden due to famous people on twitch playing, and because we were all home bored, everyone decided to hop on the trend. Everyone also started learning Tik Tok dances because they were bored at home, and Covid-19 is the cause for that.

#36 Thanksgiving Break

 The warm scent of freshly baked sweet potatoes and the toasty crunch of gooey marshmallows perfectly sum up my Thanksgiving break: warm and comforting. This Thanksgiving break, I got to spend time with my family and reflect back on what I am thankful for, as well as foster a dog in need. Due to Covid-19, my family and I stayed home this year and made our own food, whereas we would usually go to a friend's house. We had roasted chicken, sweet potatoes with marshmallow, homemade bread, and more. 2020 has been a rollercoaster, and during the break I reflected back and realized how lucky I am to have my family. All in all, Thanksgiving break was awesome and stress-free, and allowed me to realize what I'm thankful for.

#35 strange Thanksgiving dishes in each state

 I looked up frog eye salad from Colorado, and it turns out that they don't actually use real frog eye. It's a type of pasta topped with canned fruits, egg custard, and whipped topping. My family doesn't really have any special Thanksgiving foods, but my favorite food that my dad makes is sweet potato with toasted marshmallows on top. It's super good and it's my favorite Thanksgiving dish of all time. I'm perfectly fine with our thanksgiving meal, and don't think anything about it needs to be changed. Turkey, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes and gravy, etc. are really delicious in my opinion.

#34 Tales From the Teenage Cancel Culture

 Yar, Sanam and Engel Bromwich, Jonah "Tales from the Teenage Cancel Culture" The New York Times 2 November 2019 https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/style/cancel-culture.html

The first article really stood out to me, as the person who "cancelled" others did it because she felt that what they were doing was wrong. I think that it is totally reasonable for her to do so, because after all, the song they were listening to was sung by a person "known for being a pedophile" and many other things. As a black woman, it was really uncomfortable to her.

I have "cancelled" multiple people in my life, but not for very big situations. I think that it is ok for me to do, because if I'm not comfortable around them then I don't wanna talk and be with them. Most of the times though, I will give people a second chance.

#33 Pfizer’s Covid Vaccine: Things You Need to Know

 Zimmer, Carl and Thomas, Katie "Pfizer’s Covid Vaccine: Things You Need to Know"  The New York Times 10 November 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/pfizer-covid-19-vaccine?surface=home-discovery-vi-prg&fellback=false&req_id=590299614&algo=identity&imp_id=758991495&action=click&module=Science%20%20Technology&pgtype=Homepage

I feel hopeful about the news of the Covid-19 vaccine, because maybe things will go back to how they were before and I won't have to be cooped up in my house 24/7. What surprised me most about the vaccine is how fast it got produced, because I was expecting it to take longer and have a lot of problems needed to be fixed, but according to the article "The early analysis suggests the vaccine is 90 percent effective" (Zimmer). That is a really high number considering we've only been in quarantine for around six months and they have already produced this vaccine. Some potential issues of the vaccine may be that it could have side effects on the human or it may not be accessible to everyone.

#32 Where do we go from here?

 https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000007442400/biden-trump-presidential-election.html?smid=pl-share

As of November 9th, President Trump still hasn't conceded the election, and wants all the votes to be counted. I think that he should just accept that he had lost this election, because Joe Biden won it by a landslide. I think that many Trump supporters will be mad that he lost, and probably start protesting but eventually things will settle down and they will accept that former vice president Joe Biden is now their president.

I hope that the new administration will put COVID-19 first, because while there are many problems, coronavirus appears to be the most alarming due to the amount of deaths and a new lifestyle. I think that because Joe Biden got elected, more people will have their rights and the country will be more equal, and he will also do something about climate change.

#31 DOOMSCROLLING

 I do doomscroll, and I think that it has affected me a lot because I don't go outside that much anymore and do fun stuff. I go swimming from Monday-Thursday, but that's pretty much it. I sometimes go on a walk with my family on the weekends but that's mostly it. Something that I really enjoy doing to reduce my screen time and actually be involved with something is fostering dogs, but homework and other things have come in the way so I only do it sometimes. I think that doomscrolling is a pretty unhealthy habit that's super addicting, but I try my best to do other things.

#30 election reflection

 I think that the election is really important, as it determines the fate of our entire country. The election will really affect everyone in the US, and other countries too. I predict that Joe Biden will win, but things could change really you never know because things can happen. I'm worried mostly about women's rights, LGBTQ, BLM, abortion rights, COVID-19, and many other things, but at the moment mostly COVID-19. I hope that if Biden wins, then he could handle the situation much more professionally and with more care.

#29 Music’s Dirty Secret: Censorship Is Good Business

 Sisario, Ben "Music’s Dirty Secret: Censorship Is Good Business" The New York Times 27 October 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/arts/music/clean-versions-explicit-songs.html

I prefer the unedited version of a song, mainly because the edited version sounds weird and I'm fine with songs having bad words and other stuff because it's just a song. Even the article states that "A golden age of self-censorship followed, with profanities and violent lyrics often simply deleted — leaving hit songs dotted with brief silences, like holes. 'We used to call it Swiss cheese'"(Sisario). My parents don't really have any rules to what I listen to, mostly because I usually don't listen to songs with bad words and I listen to chill songs. I think that the parents should make decisions to what their kids listen to, but also give them a little freedom.

#28 Americans Surge to Polls: ‘I’m Going to Vote Like My Life Depends on It’

 Corasantiti, Nick and Saul, Stephanie "Americans Surge to Polls: ‘I’m Going to Vote Like My Life Depends on It’" The New York Times 31 October 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/31/us/politics/early-voting.html

When I am old enough, I will vote, and I will vote every four years. I think voting is important because according to the article, "public polls showed the two candidates engaged in a tight race... Mr. Trump over Hillary Clinton by five points"(Corasantiti). Although one vote may not make that huge of an impact, added up together will help a lot. Voting is a great way for your voice to be heard which is why I will vote. I think that so many people have voted in this election already because like me, they want their opinion to matter.

#27 Dialects

I think that the way you talk does say a lot about where you are from. I took the test, and I got California, so I think that it's pretty accurate. My parents are from Hong Kong, and I am from San Diego but I don't think I picked up much Hong Kong so I'm Californian. I would not want to change my dialect.

#26 After a seven month wait, this tourist got Machu Picchu all to himself

 May, Tiffany and Ueno, Hisako "After a Seventh Month wait, This Tourist got Machu Picchu all to Himself" The New York Times 13 October 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/world/americas/machu-picchu-japan-tourist-coronavirus.html

If I could have a world famous destination all to myself, I would choose Hong Kong, because that's where my family is from. Hong Kong is known for being very crowded, and having really high buildings because of this. There are so many fun places there like ocean park, Disneyland, and Victoria Harbour. One of my favorite places is a small island called Tai O, and they sell lots of yummy foods (mostly seafood). The buildings are on water, and we even spotted some dolphins there.

I prefer going on trips with my family, because that's a big part of the experience. Without them, I won't have money first of all, but they also make the trip exciting and always plan exciting things to do. My sister makes the plane rides bearable too.

#25 Nothing extraordinary

 Kim, Jennifer "Nothing Extraordinary" The New York Times 7 January 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/07/learning/personal-narrative-essay-winners.html#link-7257e973

I think the most powerful moment in Jennifer's story is when she comes to realization. She realizes that her mother cares so much for her and says that "Her clothes were tattered and old because she spent so much money buying me new ones. She looked so tired and ragged all the time because she was busy working to provide for me" (Kim). Jennifer was used to being ashamed of her mother for not being anything outstanding, but she realizes that it's because her mother would sacrifice it for her. She suddenly feels so grateful for her mother and ashamed of herself. It really is a powerful moment.

When Jenifer describes her shame by writing "I felt like I've been dropped into a cold lake" I feel that it very much resonates with me. Whenever I regret something I did or I feel ashamed I kinda feel shocked, like jumping into a cold pool.

#24 Return Looted Art to Former Colonies, Dutch Committee Tells Government

 Moses, Claire "Return Looted Art to Former Colonies, Dutch Committee Tells Government" The New York Times 9 October 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/09/arts/design/dutch-restitution-report.html

I believe that museums should have to return things that were stolen, looted, or taken with the threat of violence because honestly it's just logical that people shouldn't steal (unless they have to for some reason) and if they do, they should return it. In the article by the New York Times, it states that "The main principle remains the same: 'what was stolen should be returned' (Moses). There's no reason why a person should steal things just to keep in their museum, because it wasn't theirs to keep. They should at least ask first.

I think that if museums have looted art and artifacts in their collections, they should let everyone know. It's just like if a person were buying something, they would want to know  that where they got it from is a legit place and not a scam. Same with museums people want to know what they are looking at and learning about.

#23 Do You Care Who Sits on the Supreme Court? Should We Care?

 Nicole Daniels and Shannon Doyne, Michael Gonchar "Do You Care Who Sits on the Supreme Court? Should We Care?" The New York Times 14 October 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/14/learning/do-you-care-who-sits-on-the-supreme-court-should-we-care.html

I do not think about the supreme court at all if I'm being honest, and I don't really care either. I'm not familiar with any of the rulings, and maybe it does have a little bit of an affect on me, my friends, and my family's life, but overall I feel like my life is gonna be the same either way. In the article, it states that "The fight whether Judge Barrett belongs on the Supreme Court will underscore the country's deep divisions about gender roles, rights for L.G.B.T.Q. people, abortion, workplace issues, and health care"(Daniels). I believe that this statement is way too overexaggerated, because even if she does get chosen, people are still going to have the same beliefs as before and it won't make them change the way they feel. For example, people who are against LGBTQ are going to stay that way, and they won't change their mind.

#22 Everything I Know About Elite America I Learned From ‘Fresh Prince’ and ‘West Wing’

 Henderson, Rob "Everything I Know About Elite America I Learned From ‘Fresh Prince’ and ‘West Wing’" The New York Times 10 October 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/10/opinion/sunday/television-culture.html

Many times, TV will overexaggerate things which would never happen in reality. When I was younger, I wouldn't watch TV because I was scared to (I was scared of everything) or I just didn't care. The only things I used to watch when I was younger is Mickey mouse clubhouse, Dora the explorer, and oomie zoomies.I feel like the younger you are, the more you are vulnerable to be influenced by things, like TV. Now, I have Netflix and I can literally watch anything so I feel like I am more influenced. For example, Netflix makes high schoolers seem like they don't have to worry about homework, they just have to be cool and popular when that's not really the reality. 

I think that TV gets many things wrong. As stated above, high schoolers in movies always care about how they look, and don't have any homework. According to High School Musical, people break out to a song every five seconds, and you can group chat the entire school?? It really set my expectations high for high school, but no. High school is just like any other grade. They also promote many stereotypes such as Asians are the Nerdy kids, black people are good at sports, etc.

#21 Is the Electoral College a problem?

 Wegman, Jesse "Is the Electoral College a problem?' 7 October 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000007319217/electoral-college-abolish-eliminate.html?action=click&gtype=vhs&version=vhs-heading&module=vhs&region=title-area&cview=true&t=444

I think that that because the electoral college has elected a president who did not win the popular vote twice in the past 20 years, the system is broken. Even though it was only two out of five rounds, that still is a lot and something needs to change in order for it to be zero out of five.

I agree that the "winner takes all" system is undemocratic and unfair because even if a state wins by one vote, then the whole state will go to one president, which makes the ones that voted for the other president not count. Voting is supposed to be be about everyone getting a say in their country, and not being left out. The "winner takes all" system prevents that from happening.

#20 Are the presidential debates helpful to voters?

Nicole Daniels and Michael Gonchar, Are Presidential Debates Helpful to Voters? Or should they be Scrapped? The New York Times 7 October 2020

The original purpose of the presidential debates were to help voters decide who they wanted to vote for as the next president, but now "the debates have devolved into 'professional wrestling matches' that reward snappy combacks" (Daniels). Even though the debates nowadays are a mess, me and my family still watch them. I think that they are very entertaining and because I'm not old enough to vote, I just watch them for fun.

A poll from Monmouth University found that 74% of voters were going to watch the debate, and that only 3% of them thought they were likely to hear something that will change their vote. To be honest, I would've thought there would be less people. This is because, if I were allowed to vote, I would already have my heart set on one candidate, and the debate is just saying things I already know about them but in a more "trying to convince me" manner. Plus, the debates are so chaotic, and most of it is just yelling and roasting each other, and the moderator trying to settle everything down.

#19 The fattest bears in Alaska want your vote

Diaz, Johnny "The fattest bears in Alaska want your Vote" The New York Times 6 October 2020

 I voted for 747 because it looked the biggest and fattest. Even though number 32 looked super fat, 747 looked like it couldn't even move due to how fat it was. It's belly looked like it was touching the ground! I also think that gaining that much weight in such a short amount of time is incredible, because 747 used to look pretty skinny.

If I were at a local park such as Torrey Pines beach, I would definitely use this method to attract more people and raise interest. For example, people could vote what animal found in the ocean could be their "spirit animal" or they could do a competition for beach cleanup. People could then vote who wins and they could get a prize.

#18 if I could change one thing in the world

If I could change one thing in the world, I would actually get rid of backyard/irresponsible breeders, and puppy mills. I know there are a lot of other things in this world that could change, but I chose this because I think more people need to be aware. These backyard breeders only care about making profit from an animal, but don't actually care about its well-being. They typically don't receive proper care, and if nobody wants them then they will get euthanized. It's also very dangerous for a dog to overbreed. Dogs in puppy mills get locked in a cage 24/7, and are often very sick. These are still legal in most states. Many places sell their dogs from puppy mills such as pet stores, so when choosing a dog to adopt you need to make sure you get from preferably a rescue or shelter, but if not, a responsible breeder. Dog shelters don't always have space for dogs, so eventually, they will need to get rid of some of them. Overpopulation of dogs is a serious issue and needs to be addressed.

#17 How to deal with a friendship 'quiet season'

 Goldfarb, Anna "How to deal with a friendship 'quiet season'" The New York Times 9 September 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/24/smarter-living/friendship-breakup-coronavirus.html

I feel like I have gotten more distant with people who were sort of my friend, that I only ever really talk to in class and sometimes view their insta stories, but I've gotten closer to my close friends and in a way, found out who my actual friends were. Even though I lost some friends, I think that the friends I still have are always down to call and text, and I feel like they are enough, so I don't really feel sad or lonely. In the article about friendship, it states that "Unlike family relationships, friendships are completely voluntary,"(Goldfarb). I haven't really been having a tough time maintaining my friendships, because even though we can't see each other face to face, we will always still have a connection.

There are a lot of things I haven't been able to do with my friends. Me and my best friend Abby, used to go to the village after school everyday and save up money for a bag of Takis. Now, can't do that anymore. I used to go biking with a friend named Siena around lake Mirimar. A couple weeks ago, we wanted to go biking so we had to wear masks (not when we were actually biking) and stay apart. It wasn't the same as it used to be, but it was still fun. We also got to play with her dog!

#16 arguements

 Guiness, Harry "Learn to Argue more Productively" The New York Times 15 April  2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/smarter-living/learn-to-argue-productively.html

The article "Learn to Argue more Productively" states that "the emotions you feel when someone disagrees or challenges you on something reveal where your personal expectations don't line up with reality,"(Guiness). I think that this is true for me, because whenever I argue with someone, whether it be my sister, friend, or parents, I get mad when disagree. For example, whenever I ask my parents for a dog, they always say no. I don't think that my expectations were "unrealistic" but I should've probably just let them decide and not get mad.

A piece of advice in this article is "talk about disagreements when you're not having them,"(Guiness). I believe that this is a great piece of advice for healthier relationships, because people usually tend to get into arguments when they are in a bad mood. Talking through these disagreements could be a lot easier when everyone is in a good mood, and much easier to make a compromise. For example, when me and my sister were fostering dogs, we would always fight about who got to feed the medicine (we both always wanted to) but when we were in a better mood, we would sort things out, and maybe make a schedule. It was much less of a hassle that way.

#15 Rat that sniffs out land mines recieves award for bravery

Schaverien, Anna The New York Times "Rat That Sniffs Out Land Mines Receives Award for Bravery" 29 September 2020)

Magawa received a gold medal from the People's  Dispensary for sick animals which is "an honor usually given to civilians that recognizes acts of bravery and heroism,". He received this award because he helped sniff out TNT and saved many lives by doing so. Magawa challenges the common depictions of rats, because they are mainly seen as "creatures more commonly seen scuttling through sewers and the subway." Magawa is definitely deserving of this award. A human would probably get this award so why shouldn't a rat? To be honest, rats are more deserving because nothing is in it for them and yet Magawa still helped.

#14-photo

 My last picture was a picture of my sister drinking a cookies and creme milkshake from shake shack. We went to one Paseo over the weekend and wanted burgers. So we went to shake shack, got two burgers, and shared a milkshake. The milkshake was so good. It had little chunks of oreo in it and wasn't too too sweet. In the beginning, it was super thick so we had to mix it around until it got to the perfect consistency. This was after we went kayaking so we were super tired and hungry. We stayed away from the shops because there were more people there, and it was super relaxing with some mall music playing in the back.

#13 TIK TOK

 I use tik tok to watch any videos that pop up on my for you page. It's really a great way to relax, have fun, and waste time. I only post once in a while, but I mostly just watchc them for entertainment. Tik tok is actually a super useful app, contrary to popular belief. Many people think it's just dancing and people doing stupid stuff, but I actually learn a lot from it. For example, you leanr things you wouldn't be able to learn in school like survival tips to skin care hacks by professionals to camera tricks. There are all sorts of things to learn that nobody would have ever thought of. Tik tok definently does more good than harm, because even if there was a bad video, people would not hesitate to report it or call it out and it will get taken down.

I think it is unfair for the government to control our apps and what we have access to. There was nothing wrong with the tik tok app, but then the government suddenly want to ban it. We should have our freedom to go on what apps we want and not have the government banning it. The New York Times stated that "Like any social media platform, we should keep an eye on it. But that doesn’t mean this one app should be targeted." It's clear that tik tok hasn't done anything but president trump still want to ban it.

#12 Ruth Bader Ginsburg

 Ruth Bader Ginsburg worked her entire career fighting for women's rights and was the second woman to serve on the supreme court. She went to law school before she joined the supreme court, and won multiple arguments advocating for women's rights. Dahlia Lithwick writing in The Atlantic observed that “Today, more than ever, women starved for models of female influence, authenticity, dignity, and voice hold up an octogenarian justice as the embodiment of hope for an empowered future.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg has really changed the world and worked hard to fight for womens rights.

#11 Life on Venus? Astronomers see a signal in its clouds

 Venus was named after the Roman Goddess of beauty, a the planet itself is hundreds of degrees. The reason for this is because its clouds contain sulfuric acid. Scientists believe that Venus was once the most Earthlike than any other place in the universe. Scientists have overlooked Venus for life, because for decades, they have been investigating Mars, Europa, and Enceladus but have never thought about looking on Venus. Sarah Stewart a planetary scientist even said "Venus has been ignored by NASA for so long. It’s really a shame." 

This article hasn't necessarily convinced me that extraterrestrial life is out there, but I do believe that there is life out there somewhere. It may not be animals like the ones on earth, it could just be bacteria, but I believe there is something out there. It could be from as big as a planet to as small as bacteria.

#10 when you love, and loathe, watching the NFL 9/16

 There are many things that the coronavirus has affected and stop, and coming back to those things could be a challenge. If we were to ever return to school, it would be really challenging for me because I'm so used to learning at home. I usually wake up so late, because I don't need to worry about driving to school, eating my breakfast, and changing into regular clothes. I would also probably be very disorganized and get bad grades because of this. And as Mr. Streeter says "The return of a lost love comes with a risk," (NY Times). Whether it be school, or football, there will always be risks if you return.

If I were the commissioner of the NFL, I would cancel the season. Giving up a football season is much better than risking the players life. It is just football, and some people might say "football is my life" but if they really wanted more football they  should have the players be safe or there will be no life.

#9 How much do you know about Guatemala

Traveling to Hong Kong has definitely opened my eyes. My family and I go pretty often, around once every two years. Every time I go to Hong Kong, I feel like I've learned something new and tried something that I would never be able to in San Diego. Being in Hong Kong, there is a lot of pollution and people, unlike San Diego which is less crowded. The buildings are also much taller, and it's kinda scary. But the thing I feel like I've learned most is that not everybody is as lucky and fortunate as me. A house in Hong Kong could buy you two houses in America, because there is such limited space. Most people have to walk or take the bus to work everyday, because there is just not enough space for everyone to have cars. This is how traveling to Hong Kong really changed my perspective.

I think that learning about other places, you have a better understanding of why someone from that place does what they do. Understanding other places and cultures can shape you as a person, and make you a better communicator over all. For example, if I go to China I can learn from the way that they cook and speak, and it would make my life more interesting. You can also develop sympathy with others because you know where thay are coming from.

#8 how has 2020 challenged or changed you 9/11

 2020 has definitely changed and shaped many people. Personally, I haven't been affected too much, other than having to stay home being bored out of my mind. One thing that I have discovered a new interest for though, is dogs. I haven't thought very much about them, since I always had other things on mind, but being home for 24 hours a day can be really boring, so me and my friend started doing research about dogs, hoping I could have one as a pet. After an extensive amount of research, and lots of YouTube videos, I realized dogs are getting abandoned. My friend got her dog Snoopy, but I became interested in fostering. Lots of paperwork later, me and my family became foster parents! So far, we have fostered 8 puppies, and I'm really looking forward to fostering more.

The racial injustice protests was by far the most profound thing on the news this year for me. For many years, people of America have been working for racial equality and finally people of color have the same rights. Or do they? Apparently not, because racial injustice is still a thing, and it shocks me that people still think this way. I think that people shouldn't still have to be protesting for their rights, but it's the sad reality.

#7 california wildfires

 The fires that happened over the labor day weekend was probably more significant than any other one we had, due to the covid-19 pandemic. It would be so hard to have residents move out of their houses during the covid-19 pandemic because they are already scared of the virus getting them, and if they move someplace else it would be very hard for them to find a job so they could become unemployed. California's climate is relatively warm, and the lack of rainfall during the summer causes it to become very dry. According to the New York times, "Its vegetation then spends much of the summer slowly drying out... That vegetation then serves as kindling for fires." Climate change and fire-prone weather kind of links together, which could create even worse fires in the future, as long as there are people there to start it.

#6 how should we balance safety and urgency in covid-19 vaccine

 I am very concerned about my health and well-being because of covid-19. There could be someone affected when you first walk out of your house, and you wouldn't even know. Every time I go outside, I think that there is a chance that me or my family and friends could get infected and people can die. I think that a vaccine could be available sometime soon, whether it takes a month or ten years but eventually, there will be one. I think that drug companies are doing enough because there's a lot in it for them. With a lot of competition, their business will boom if they find a vaccine.

#5 Labor day weekend

 I spent most of my labor day indoors because I couldn't handle all the heat and I was scared of the smoke. Although my house doesn't have any AC, it is still way cooler outside and I took a really cold shower. I do miss summer vacation because now I have lots of homework and barely any time to watch tv :( As usual, I spent time with my family and foster dogs. This weekend, I had honey lavender ice cream from salt and straw, and pizza. It was a really great weekend overall.

#4 How will we remember the pandemic

 History books would probably recognize the coronavirus the same as they recognize the plague and other big diseases. I think that the books would talk about some deaths of important people, and how times were very uncertain and scary. People who make it out of the pandemic would probably be referred to as "survivors." In reality, if everyone just stayed home and wore face covering, life would be pretty normal, and people wouldn't get the disease. 5 artifacts that I would take to a museum include a face mask, toilet paper, my school notebook, my agenda, and the app, zoom/google meet.

#3 do childrens zip codes at birth determine their future?

 I think my neighbourhood has really affected how I am today. I live in a pretty nice neighborhood, lots of space and good schools, most people are on the wealthier side. I think that I am very privileged, and it would be really hard to move into another neighbourhood with fewer opportunities, and I would probably have to work ten times harder. I probably couldn't live in a polluted area, because my family is from Hong Kong, and I really don't like how the streets smell so bad and how it's harder to breath.

#2 "nobody likes snitching"

 I believe that student should report their peers if they are violating the social distancing rules. The main reason for this is that people's lives are on the line. I don't think that snitching is a good thing, like when someone tells on you for texting in class, but this is much more serious. A person's life could end just because they went to a party with their friends. I've seen many of my classmates engage in irresponsible situations. Many people at school post pictures on social media of them hanging out with their friends at the beach or at an event. This made me feel very mad and disappointed because California already has the most COVID cases, and people should really be trying to stop the spread. 

entry #1 looking ahead

 A short term goal I have for this english class is to be more organized and prepared for class or a test. A long term goal of mine is to hopefully write stronger and better essays. My ideal learning environment is a quiet place with a comfortable place to learn (like a beanbag chair), and a room that is not dark. I also need plenty of breaks and snacks. One thing that I'm excited for is seeing my friends again, and also meeting new people. The one thing I'm dreading is tests.