5. Spaghetti 2025

     As the school year begins to come to an end, the way in which we reflect on the year, including the words we use to describe our experiences, shifts. Suddenly, all of the bothersome homework assignments and exams become memories and stories to be told, rather than a burden. These stories will continue to be told as we age, as a means of reconnecting with our younger selves and reminiscing the past.   It is interesting how we think so fondly of those memories, despite being overwhelmed with it all in the actual moment. All-nighter study sessions, rushing to meet deadlines, embarrassing moments, all suddenly become nostalgic as we reflect on our past. Once the actual feelings of pressure and stress subside, we are able to look back and make light of our experiences—creating shared stories and memories.    Language is the key component in this evolution, as the way in which we discuss the past ultimately affects how we remember it. The stressful lon...

 I originally did not plan on studying for the AP Computer Science Principles test, as I know how to code and it is supposedly really easy. However, I realized that I should probably review the non-programming topics as well because I don't really know a lot of how that works. While looking up how computers work, I came upon this article  about how computer memories work.  link First, I think there are some interesting parallels between this and the human brain. Contrary to what I originally thought, memory mostly stores data used on current processes rather than long term data which is in the storage. It’s similar to human short-term memory, like when I do mental math and just store expressions in my head temporarily. So primary memory is the main memory that the computer uses to do things like storing data, programs, and more while the computer is doing operations. It is also sometimes called semiconductor memory because it's made using a lot of them. The first typ...

Looking back on the year I realize that time truly does fly. I remember the late nights staying up annotations, the numerous blog posts shared and exchanged, and the times spent breaking my hand doing timed writes all feel like faint memories in the distance. At the beginning of every year, I wait as the next summer break arrives, and at the moment time feels as though it has stopped and plans to never unpause, but as summer arrives it feels as though time has slipped right out of my hands. It is no doubt that this class has pushed me far past what I believed I was capable of, I feel accomplished being able to come out on the other side. While at times I lost motivation to push further, I believe that the rigor has challenged my abilities as a writer. At times I wonder if these challenges are just a trial run for more hardship down the line, this feeling can be scary in the moment, and even scarier when you don’t make it to the other side, however, as I grow I realize you win some batt...

There are times when I look at a question on a test and I know the answer is on the top right-hand corner of the third page of my notes, highlighted in a pastel purple.  I also know that I considered it important enough that I told myself repeatedly to make sure that I had the concept memorized prior to taking the test. Does that necessarily mean I remember any part of what it said? No. Not really. In fact, whenever I need the information the most, the actual content of the text magically disappears from my mind. But its location in my notes, somewhat infuriatingly, remains forever emblazoned in my memory, taunting me as it lingers just beyond my grasp. And that is what visual-spatial memory happens to be: “the ability to recall...locations” ( Kulman ). Or, as I prefer to think about it, the ability to conveniently forget the actual content in lieu of the very useful knowledge regarding where you can go to look for that vital piece of information after the test is over.  As an...

One day, I'll revisit these blogs—come back and read them, not under a deadline or for a grade, but simply to remember. I'll be older, maybe in college, or even further along, scrolling through the words I once wrote. Maybe I'll laugh at how certain I sounded, or maybe not. Maybe I'll think about my junior year, about AP English Language, about who I was when I typed these blogs before 10:00 pm on the day these blogs were due.  I don't expect to remember every sentence or every prompt but I do think I will remember this feeling. The same feeling I feel right now, writing this blog. Of learning how to say what I want to say, of relating to other's blogs and thinking, Wait, I know what they are talking about! I'll remember how writing sometimes felt easy and other times felt like dragging sentences out of nowhere. My mind full of ideas one instance, but the other blank.  Some blogs I'll barely remember writing. Others will bring back entire memory I had fo...

Today, after 8 months of deliberation, overcoming challenges, upskilling myself, and staying disciplined with my work and time, I was finally able to overcome the largest academic challenge I undertook in the 2024-25 school year: AP Language and Composition. However, my journey to get here began far before I decided to enroll in this class, starting all the way back when I learnt my ABCs in India. It is difficult to exactly encapsulate what separates the education systems in the US and India, but I think the most noticeable difference that has stood out to me would be the variance in autonomy. In India, education is quite comparable to spoon-feeding, where you have a set path that you are pushed along by your teachers, whereas in the US you get a lot more autonomy in what classes and activities you decide to take. It’s a shock when you have to make those many decisions by yourself, but it is something that makes learning in the US far more enjoyable—especially in English classes. Learn...