Definition of Team

Well, it has been a while since I've posted and I just felt inspired to write. First off, I hope everyone is doing well after being hit by Hurricane Sandy. Sandy is the first hurricane I’ve experienced and honestly, I didn't expect it to be this bad. (I don’t consider last year’s hurricane tropical storm Irene a hurricane.) Over 8 million people lost power and many homes were destructed. My heart goes out to those that have been affected by this natural disaster and I pray that all the destruction will be attended as soon as possible.

I don’t really know what my main point of this post is, but let’s see where this goes. Over the summer, I joined a church volleyball team and not only did I get stronger physically, but I also grew a lot mentally. Being a part of this team made me realize that team means family. You look out for one another, you all share the same passion for a particular sport, and you advance with one another.

In the gym, we practiced and practiced. There was little to no room for socializing. We had to make the best of our time to quench that thirst to play. That’s the sole reason why we joined in the first place. That family bond in the team only came with it as a bonus. At the end of the day, it wasn't skill that mattered. It was enjoying the moment with the team. I don’t know where I’m headed at this point, but I’m gonna keep on writing.

One day after practice, I was walking back to church with my team. I sat down at the table lost in my own thoughts. I couldn't figure out why this team was so successful compared to my school team. I knew it wasn't only because this team excelled in skills and had many wonderful coaches. I started to think about how family-like this team felt. The insiders, the teasing, all of the fun everyone had—it was so obvious that one didn't even need eyes to see it. The fact that this team didn't lack in communication was also a plus. Communication is essential to anything that involves 2 or more people.

So why couldn't my school team be just as successful? I’m sure the fault doesn't just lie in the fact that every year, skilled players leave the team as seniors. I've actually learned quite a lot from my evaluation on my season.

•         No matter how angry or frustrated you may be from a loss, you don’t ever have the right to take it out on your teammates. They’re a part of the team and they wanted the win as much as you did.
•         However, if you are on a team but you aren't willingly devoting yourself to the sport, you should really escort yourself out. No one forces you to stay and it’s not doing any party any good. You might not feel the need to improve, but your teammates might. It isn't fair to your teammates that are working hard every day just to get better.
•         Talk. Your team is just about as good as done if there’s no communication. Trust me on that one.
•         Encourage your teammates when they need that spiritual and mental boost. It helps more than you think it does.
•         A team is only as strong as its weakest player.
•         Accept your teammates and learn to bond with them. You’ll be playing with them for a while, so you might as well maintain a good relationship with them. Don’t pounce on every one of their flaws. Either work at it or accept it.

By Yei Ling M. 

**Personal note from writer: I originally began this post wanting to talk about how any team is a family but I ended up noting the mistakes my school team made. This is such a bad post but I didn't regret writing this.

Read More

It's October!

 Time to Make Goals for ourselves-

September is officially over which means October is here!!!  I'm excited for Halloween this year and the lovely three day weekend.  October also means that there are not as many days off so we will not be having as many days off.  As bad as it may seem it is also exciting because Septembers make it so difficult to get used to the school year.  With days off every other week, some find it difficult to get adjusted to school and all the work.  Octobers represent the first month with very little days off but don't let it get the best of you!  It may be tiring but it is also nice to finally get into the flow of things.  

So each month I am going to write my goal for the month and what I want to accomplish, you guys should do the same.  Making goals is a fun way to keep active and it feels good to be able to say you completed what you wanted to.  If you have an interesting goal or would like to share what your goal for October is then post a comment.  It would be really interesting to see all the different types of goals people have!!  I will also be posting my quote of the week.  

My goal for this month is to complete everything that needs to be done for my college applications and not completely stress myself out about everything that is going on.  

This weeks quote is from the great Walt Disney "All our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them."  So go live out your dreams and stay focused in school.

Brittany W. (Grade 12)

Read More

Tips for the New School Year

A new school year is just like New Year's Eve/Day, it may not be as fun but we can still make changes in our life! This year make plans to stay organized and no matter how much work we may get don't forget to find time to do the things that we enjoy.

Some tips for the school year:

-use your school planner (and if its too small find another) to write down everything that needs to be done, like homework, appointments, games, birthdays etc. to help you stay organized. It also feels good when you are able to check off something when it is completed.

-Keep your backpack organized and the notes in your folders/binders together.

-FOR SENIORS: This is the most stressful time. It is helpful to have a college notebook to write down anything that needs to be done for each college you are applying to. Also, keep a folder for any handouts that the college office hands out and anything that we may need to print.

-Be aware of deadlines given by both the college office and the colleges you are applying to and make sure everything is ready.

-Reread everything you write and make sure to stay on top of your applications.

-Make sure you are signed up for any SAT/ACT tests and don't forget to put the code of our school which is 333803

But most importantly, enjoy the school year. It is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives and we are the one's who shall write it. Reach for the stars and never stop believing in your dreams.

-Brittany Waldren

Read More

Baruch has a reputation of being rigorous and hard on it's students, that's probably been the case since forever. Although we are a small school, we pride ourselves off of community and high standards. Transitioning into Baruch's standards is no easy task but it can definitely be done. The number one thing that everyone has to remember and all seniors will warn you about is procrastinating. I personally have a habit of finishing everything early but even I fall into the habit of pushing work off to the side. It's going to be a long school year and staying organized helps you stay on top of things. Hit up Staples and those colorful paperclips and cute binder clips will sure motivate you to use them.

Have a wonderful year everyone. High school only lasts so long and although it can be quite difficult to manage sometimes, we'll never get these four years back so mind as well make the best of it.

Read More

First day of School feedback/experiences

"The first day back was actually fun, my schedule is awesome and I was happy to see all my friends. I can't believe I'm a senior! Time sure does fly. I'm looking forward to Senioritis and all the other cool things seniors have." -Brittany W.


"The first two days of school were good, normal days for me. The one thing that got me though, were the lockers. I got my locker on the first day to find it open. When I closed it, I could not open it again, ever. This is due to the re-painting of the lockers. As those of us from last year remember the lockers were yellow. But it seems they were re-painted this summer, and either no one left it open to air for whatever reason because I know i was not the only student at our school to deal with this issue. This should get fixed, it had better." 
                  -Oscar O.

Read More