Vicology

     I honestly procrastinated writing this blog because I didn't know what I was going to write about, but then this weekend inspired me.         Homecoming weekend -- 2 days of pure fun, laughter, a little bit of stress, and dancing. Looking back at my list of core values I found one value that stood out to me. It was happiness. According to Meriam-Webster, it means the state of being happy. Then, this one question came to my mind: what makes people happy? The homecoming dance helped me answer that question. The mosh pit. A place where under and upper classman can dance, sing, scream, yell, and bust down without any care in the world. This is an expression of happiness.  LED put-put golf. A mini golf course where students will either try to actually play golf or just randomly hit and chase the ball down. This is another expression of happiness. The track. A 400-meter-long path where students can walk around, talk, laugh, and gossi...

      Narcissists harbor a strong sense of entitlement, self-glorifying fantasies, and a craving for admiration from others. Narcissists can be charismatic and charming, but are often self-absorbed, controlling, and insensitive. If one is even slightly ridiculed, they might be provoked into a fit of destructive rage and will seek revenge.      Both Dorian Gray and Lord Henry are strongly narcissistic; while Lord Henry’s narcissism is insightful and quite charming, Dorian’s narcissism is cold and detrimental. The latter’s self-absorption and blind self-love leads Sibyl to kill herself and Basil to be horrifically murdered. Dorian’s narcissistic personality causes him to be highly ambitious, confident, driven, and allows him to possess the ability to exploit people and situations to maximize advantage at that given time. On the other hand, Henry’s narcissistic personality causes him to be an expert at charming and manipulating others, and thus adept at buildi...

      The phrase “the best of both worlds” refers to an item or situation that offers the benefits of two contrasting situations, often disregarding any undesirable disadvantages. It implies that you are essentially getting a two-for-one deal. Double lives are commonly used to obtain this deceptive deal.      Psychologists claim that a large number of people are living in 2 separate worlds, captured in their own lies, shame, and guilt that eventually power them into behaviors that are way too different from their daily lives. These behaviors can damage careers, break families, and ruin the lives of many people. In the most appalling scenarios, these dual lives lead to criminal acts, violence, and sometimes even murder. It often separates an individual from reality and forces them to live a life of secrecy. The ideology behind double lives are both corruptive and destructive.      A well-known example would be the show Hannah Montana. Miley Cy...

  Acknowledgements 11 English AP was a rollercoaster of emotions. The stress of analyzing Puritan writings that still don’t really make sense, the anxiety of writing an in class essay in 40 minutes, and the joy of being surrounded by such kind and intelligent individuals. Everything that happened (good or bad) within the walls of Mrs. Parks and Mrs. Valentino’s classroom will forever hold a dear place in my heart. I believe the key ingredient to my growth recipe is Mrs. Valentino. I remember looking at a sample essay after my first ICE and saying “I could never be able to write this”. Maybe it was the advanced word choice or the sophisticated structure but I was terrified of the skill difference between my writing and the sample. But, unfortunately for me, Mrs. Valentino’s sharp hearing heard my small confession and urged me to get rid of such thoughts because “I was in this class for a reason”. That statement was what got me through this year. From getting constant 3s on in class ...

    To most, this is just an ordinary picture capturing a sweet moment between a grandpa and his adorable granddaughter. Although that is the scene portrayed in the picture, to me this moment holds a special place in my heart.      I was turning 2 and I don’t remember much but the addictive strawberry mochi cake is still engraved in my mind. Ever since I was little, I’ve been an avid mochi consumer. Whether it be mochi ice cream, mochi donuts, or regular rice cakes, you’ll never see me refuse this delectable treat. The white mochi flour around my mouth is a clear indication that I very much enjoyed eating this cake; although I would’ve appreciated it if someone wiped my mouth before taking this picture (what a great candid shot though :/). Not only am I savoring the cake but my grandpa is also indulging this delicious dessert. He was fairly old; his teeth not in the shape to consume hard solids. Fortunately, the mochi was soft enough for his aged teeth to eat an...

      Attending my first birthday party in America, my 6 year old self was appalled by the abundance of calories present on the food table. Greasy pizza, cheesy fires, oily chips, chocolatey desserts, cavity-inflicting drinks, and mountains of candy. Although that table was my childhood dream, I’m now realizing how detrimental it is to a person’s clean, healthy diet. I’ve learned that the unhealthy lifestyle of this country is the one-way ticket to obesity and the pivotal factor in many overweight Americans.       In contrast to the destructive diet of American birthdays, in Korean tradition, one’s birthday is celebrated with organically cooked food — made by the guardians — that provide a healthy yet flavorful and fulfilling meal and sometimes consist of dishes that take up to 5 days to prepare: a period of time where an American could order about 10 different fatty meals, 15 different sugary drinks, and consume about twice as many calories.    ...

      Do you remember back in 2012 when the song, “Gangnam Style” by Psy, took the Internet by storm? It inspired flash mobs, countless parody recreations, and was even featured on SNL. With it’s music video racking up more than 4.3 billion views, it remains one of the most influential K-Pop songs of all time. But behind the addictive dance and easy-to-follow lyrics, there’s an underlying criticism against Korea’s materialistic society.  Gangnam is Korea’s equivalent to America’s Beverley Hills. Although the city supposedly portrays wealth and economic respect, the song contradicts those claims and defines the opposite of the cosmopolitan, sophisticated lifestyle of Korea’s most wealthy district.        The music video opens up with Psy laying on a “beach” but the camera soon pans out to find him chilling in a sandy playground — with children swinging on swings and climbing up jungle gyms in the background. From the start, he makes fun of people ...