6. Schnitzel 2025

       Have you ever wondered why certain words or lessons are easier to remember than others or why some lessons may be stuck in your head while others disappear as soon as you hear them? The relationship between both language and memory is vital in how we are able to learn and process information. This is especially highlighted in classes that teach a new language or recall historical events. The way we process information and store it is closely connected to how we use and process languages.  Language isn’t just tied to communication it also shapes our thinking process and speed. Studies have shown that bilingual individuals have much stronger memories since switching between languages usually enhances your brain’s flexibility. And in turn this makes it easier for them to memorize/remember things.  Techniques teachers use help us process information more effectively such as associating a specific word with an event like mnemonic . Also techniques like r...

Overthinking is a dangerous ability. As you can probably infer from that interesting fact, I tend to overthink too much. This ranges from practices to regular assignments that I should not have to think about too much. There’s always times where I feel like I am right, and the future would tell me that I would have been if I had stuck with my original option. I remember when I had my first driving lesson with my instructor, and I kept misjudging the distance on how far to stop from the limit line. I originally thought I controlled my slowing speed well, which it would have been good, except I overthought about the distance to the line and went over it.  Overthinking can be useful though; in this case, because it results in success rather than failure, it is commonly covered up by being known as a good adjustment, being at the right place and right time, or being well prepared for that situation. Unfortunately for me, I rarely have enough luck to consistently succeed by overthinking...

There is something about nostalgia that gets you when you least expect it. You hear a random song in the distance, a fragrance that floats in the air, or someone says something you haven’t heard in a long time, and then, all of a sudden, you’re not here anymore—you’re in the past, reliving a moment that you thought you’d lost. Whether it’s a word, a scent, or a memory, it’s strange the way something so small can sweep you up, the way one word can open a doorway to the past. Language is memory’s keeper. The words that we use, the slang we grew up with, the inside jokes we swore we’d never forget—each one is a thread that connects us to something in the past, something that no longer exists. But, we hold onto them, because in a way, they hold onto us. Sometimes, we use an old expression without realizing why, only to feel the weight of a memory settle in our chest. Some words are personal, linked to moments only we remember. Your middle school nickname that your best friend at the time...

“History is written by the victors.” - Winston Churchill Ever since President Trump’s second presidential administration, there have been many new policies and changes to old ones. Along with that, I have seen many articles expressing distress for the importance of certain policies to encourage people to understand and be against the changes. President Trump has publicly claimed that he will stop funding the Department of Education as it supports “diversity, equity and inclusion in educational practices.” Notably, President Trump has "clos[ed] key Department of Education offices and firing half of its workforce" which results in putting "millions of students' education and civil rights at risk."   There are multiple reasons why many experts are concerned about the changes to education in America.  The disassembly of the Department of Education makes the opportunity for equal access to education at risk. Schools help remove racial and economic disparity in educat...

David Koresh, my Person of American Significance. Image source: Financial Times You might have noticed my face turning a little red after my POAS presentation this Monday; I was embarrassed. I genuinely thought my performance was awkward and that my memory lapses were too obvious. But my tablemates and friends quickly reassured me that I did well, which I was grateful for, but didn’t truly believe. I think it’s because I don’t notice how I deliver my speeches. When I’m presenting, I switch into a different mindset where I cut out filler words, enunciate things for emphasis, and use hand gestures. It happens near automatically now through a phenomenon called implicit memory ---a type of long-term memory that causes us to unconsciously recall behavior or skills, typically through repeating these habits in the past. Since delivery has become second nature, I only focus on the content of what I’m speaking about—which I’ll admit was lackluster and cut out important information I wanted to ...

“I wish that you would stay in my memories… But you showed up today just to ruin things…” (From Conan Gray’s “ Memories ”) Memories are cruel. It feels like the best days of your life, you can never seem to recall. You think and ponder and hunt down any detail which can recreate that exact moment, but they elude you. On the other hand, the worst moments of your life linger. They linger long even after the moment is gone, haunting you for minutes, hours, days, weeks, years . Eventually, you feel you have reached a ceasefire with these memories. Convinced you have moved on, time has done its work, but then you walk into a room and a scent or sound or touch lingers a little too long, and suddenly, you are back in the moment you thought you’d left behind.  From fake friends to corrupt role models, the way someone can take up space in your head when you want nothing more than to forget them is agonizing. The pain is honestly the strangest sort, is it not? Remembering and even missing so...

You die with your heart, not your mind. Death is declared when your heart stops beating, not when your brain stops functioning. It’s not confirmed to be exactly a “seven-minute window,” but there’s a common belief that after being declared dead, brains still function for around seven minutes.  So yes, literally, you die with your heart and not your mind. Source: Pinterest Brain activity in areas that deal with dreams and alternate states of consciousness rapidly increase after death. Many believe that in these final few moments, a person relives their entire life. The day you were born to the day you leave, experienced in a matter of minutes. There’s the chilling theory that you may be experiencing those final minutes right now; you see all of your life flashing before you, with the same emotional vulnerability and sense of wonder—or lack thereof, depending on the person. Make those memories count—make sure the moments that truly matter stay in your brain and your heart forever. M...

  One book that I really want to read is " There is no Antimemetics Division " by qtnm. This novel was the brainchild of the SCP Foundation ; for all of my enlightened readers, the SCP Foundation is a hypothetical organization that helps catalog monsters and hellspawns from their universe. Then they try to “contain” these monsters, which may or may not lead to an untimely amount of deaths. I have not really read the genre of horror, so I will enjoy the book, but the main problem is that this will be released to the wider public in November. The premise of the book spawned from the concept of Antimemes, which in the author’s words are “ an idea with self-censoring properties; an idea which, by its intrinsic nature, discourages or prevents people from spreading it. ” My favorite subsection would be a modified version of “ Your Last First Day. ” It begins with Marion Wheeler working on her first day at the Site-41 she is quite stressed and after a tough period of paperwork she f...

Storytelling has always been an important part of human culture for thousands of years, storytelling shapes the way we remember and interpret the world around us. These stories are told to us in the form of written narratives, modern media, or simply stories influenced by our memories. One reason storytelling is so powerful is because it creates emotional connections, adding details and emotions that weren’t necessarily present in the moment but surfaced afterwards, usually influenced by our perception of the world as well as our personal experiences. Another reason it holds so much power is because when we are told a story we don’t perceive it the same way they do, we take in the story through a different lens, we visualize scenes, experience emotions and relate the story to our own lives. Historically, storytelling also helps to preserve memories. Such as in indigenous communities that pass down history, values and traditions through words and stories .  In modern society, storyt...

  Money holds an abundance of power in today’s world. It is the main means through which we are able to exchange goods, fuel the economy and it is also a major factor in choosing the quality of life for individuals. Money has the potential to shape our lives in profound ways. However, this money comes with both pros and cons.  On one hand, money provides freedom. It can open doors to education , healthcare, and resources that have the potential to improve lives for the better. Especially in careers where one is an entrepreneur, money is a tool that is able to help turn ideas into reality which fuels innovation and economic progress. It also enables governments to invest in services and programs that can serve to benefit entire populations.  This being stated, money also wields a darker side. It can create inequality which fuels divisions between the wealthy and the poor by determining class. In fact, the Great Gatsby was a wonderful example of how money can divide us rath...