Hallow' There 2022

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Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year at Etiwanda High School.

We are excited to wake up our classroom blog and can't wait to share new, original pieces written by our very own brilliant and talented students.

This is how it works:

Each month a new collection of submissions post on the blog.  As a student in the class, your job is to read all the submissions for that month.  Choose your favorites, at least three, and write comments on the pieces.  

Our blog is a safe space for us.  Comments are to be helpful, insightful, reflective, positive, loving and supportive.  You can leave your comments directly here on the blog.  You need to sign in using a personal gmail account.  Do not use cell phones or mobile devices to submit your comments as they will not post.  Please write your comments on a laptop, Chromebook or desktop computer.

You may also leave your comments on Canvas on the Monthly Blog Discussion Board.

When you are a monthly featured writer you do not have to leave comments for your fellow monthly writers.  You may if you wish.  Instead check out your page and read the comments that post.

And don't forget, this is a class assignment worth a grade. So, you want to make sure to participate.

All right, let's get started!!

This month we have eleven submissions.  Take your time and read ALL of them.  Choose at least three in which you want to leave the writer some feedback.  Some things to think about:

1.  Why have you selected the piece?

2. What do you find fascinating, interesting or cool about the piece?

3.  Are you able to make connections to the piece?  Explain.

4.  Has the piece brought you new insight or inspiration?

Comments are due Thursday, November 3.

Have fun with this activity.  The Blog allows your artistic and creative side to shine!

If you have questions, see me during class or send me an email or text.

Happy Haunting and Commenting :)

All my love,

Mrs. Solano 

Soul's Windows--Meghan

 

Eyes: commonly known as the two sphere shaped organs behind the eyelids that living

organisms use to see. Appearance so simplistic and common to the normal human being that its

deeper meaning is often overlooked. Eyes are the entrance to the soul. A doorway so mysterious

and intricate, others tend to forget to take a moment and encode what there is beyond its surface.

“There is more to this than meets the eye”(Collins), even when it comes to a literal sense of the

eyes you meet.

Much of what we appear to be on the outside is how we hope for others to perceive

ourselves. We tend to be perfect figures with miniscule dashes of personality we find difficult to

conceal despite our efforts. In spite of our cracks revealing reality, especially with those who

have gained our trust, our raw selves are tucked away so trickily, even oneself may find difficult

to solve. Every living creature has a difference in their eyes, both literally and emotionally. From

eye shape, eyelid structure, eye bag stiffness, and the numerous colors splashed around our

pupils, it gives a background of who we are as a person. “Eye color is determined by variations

in a person’s genes” (National Library of Medicine). This tiny detail displays a whole

background of ancestry and where their family once came from. Culture cherished by many in

the past was hand created and viewed by eyes similar to those now. The sturdiness and position

of eyelids speak more than words allow, demonstrating life’s complexities overpowering one’s

ability to have a moment of rest. Splashes of dark red packed onto the eyelid with a shimmer of

gold and a thin, complex wing lining the eye expresses artistry that will hopefully go to notice.

The differing sizes of pupils reveals tranquility or tension that can only be discovered from

beyond. Taking a small moment to appreciate the eye structure of one discloses the start of who

they are.

Eye contact, an action of looking into the eyes of another. With mixed feelings of hating

the idea while others feel respected and appreciated, taking a moment to do so deepens our

understanding of individuals. As you look into the eyes of a mother, overworked by high

expectations in the office and a continuous need to help her children, you can see the devotion to

all she does, no matter the laborious cost. The light blue eyes of the old man, similar to the color

of a slightly cloudy sky on a warm, spring day, convey his cherishment of his last remaining days

with his wife. Unless pausing for a moment, none of this would have been noticed otherwise.

“Research finds that a direct gaze is associated with confidence, interest, and attraction”

(Psychology Today). If time is not being taken, not a single understanding of what one

desperately needs to convey, but can not verbally say will ever be heard. Not a single connection

of understanding what they believed only they would understand can occur. Not a single feeling

of being valued after years of consistently being shoved to the side and ignored by those who

you thought had their best interest in you will become of it. Patience is key. In order to feel

acknowledged and an authentic connection to those surrounding, a moment of genuine eye

contact is necessary. Not only does it leave others feeling cherished, but we are able to see what

they are hiding within.

What could be the human body’s most mysterious, truthful, authentic piece can in reality

be the most revealing to the soul. Deep down, stories, difficulties, feelings both emotionally and

physically are present, but buried for the right individuals to discover. A simplistic pathway to an

unbreakable bond takes a moment of forbearance, trust, and staying open minded to understand

what others do not outwardly release. Being aware of the surrounding environment proves in the

end to educate your mind more than focusing on your personal stressors. Others not only teach

us about themselves, but about the world in which we did not know beforehand. In order to

survive in our most content state, valuing others is crucial. Therefore, those spherical organs that

help living organisms to see, may mean more than what you realize from first glance.

Sources:

Collins. "There's More to This than Meets the Eye." Collins,

www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/theres-more-to-this-than-meets-the-eye. Accessed 19 Oct. 2022.

National Library of Medicine. Genetics. MedlinePlus, medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/traits/eyecolor/.

Accessed 4 Oct. 2022.

Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, 25 Sept. 2021,

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-clarity/202109/the-subtle-dance-eye-contact-in-conversation#:~:text=Resear

ch%20finds%20that%20direct%20gaze,be%20a%20sign%20of%20trustworthiness. Accessed 4 Oct. 2022

Wisdom--Naomi

 

The conversations surrounding wisdom and intellect seem to fluctuate from “wisdom is

far more valuable than intelligence” to questions like “how can one exist without the other.” As I

grow older it is increasingly obvious that wisdom is the superior trait. As the brilliant Albert

Einstein said, “Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.”

While he does define wisdom’s attainment, Einstein's definition straddles the answer of “how

can one exist without the other” when considering wisdom and intelligence. In my own

experiences, I have learned that wisdom does not come with education but with time. It is

possible that Einstein intended to infer this same idea when he mentions the “lifelong attempt”

however he leaves the question up for interpretation. The quality of wisdom is added on with

age, each year and experience refines the individual. It is the compounding quality that gives

wisdom its superior quality over intelligence.

Wisdom is a trait that is valued and frequently utilized throughout literature and media.

This is due to the obvious value of wisdom, while not every individual is delegated the same

amount of wisdom, no individual will live without encountering it. In order to expand and grow

your perception you must first seek out those who know more than you, this means that wisdom

can only be granted through experience or impartation. As it is often said, experience is the best

teacher be it yours or that of another. Part of the beauty of this idea is that if you seek wisdom,

you will find it and if you do not eventually it will find you regardless. It is impossible to pass

through this life without coming in contact with a piece of knowledge that will be held with you.

The trade of this knowledge occurs so frequently throughout parenting, mentoring, coaching,

teaching and is something that is not given through basic education. The movement of

knowledge needs human connection and communication.

There is obviously a lot to be said about the value and attainment of wisdom but how can

one define it explicitly? It is a discernment that comes ingrained in pieces of knowledge and

experiences. In order to strengthen this discernment, one must agree to remain teachable. Every

individual who desires to become wise must be malleable to the experiences of life that face us

all. This discernment eventually becomes protection against the adversities of life. For the

travesties that are destined to occur in life, wisdom can act as lighthouses in the storm. Wisdom

is a powerful force that is not simply obtained but it can act as protection and a guide throughout

life.

As I have aged, I have learned to value the wisdom that is presented to me. A common

misconception is that only our elders are wise, and while they may have had the time to develop

their knowledge, wisdom can be presented by peers and those younger than you as well.

Remaining teachable is the most important step to achieving wisdom.

The Reality of the Unfortunate--Sky

 

In our world today, there are people who are more fortunate than others. I learned this as I

was growing up. Every time I see a person on the streets or people who are in need of help, I

always think about what I can do to help the less fortunate and how I can contribute to better my

community. I was able to find an answer once I joined a community service program, called

Police Explorers (I request that you keep this as private as possible because I need to keep a low

profile for being in the program due to safety reasons). Throughout my time in the program, I

have experienced so much and became more involved with our society. Out of all the memories

that I have made with the program, there were two events that really stood out to me the most.

The first event took place back in around Winter of 2020. During this event, other

explorers, the Fontana Police department, and I came together to make a little girl’s day. The

young girl was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer and she had a goal to become a police

officer. Everything was extremely difficult during that time as COVID-19 had shut down

everything. Despite the odds, we were determined to help this girl fulfill her dreams.We brought

out one of our SWAT team vehicles, police cars and motorcycles, and even our K-9 unit. The

officers allowed the girl to ride in the police car and motorcycles and play around with them.

They also showed her how to turn on the lights and sirens from their vehicles. The other

explorers and I worked together to prepare her gifts from the department. We gave her stickers, a

bag, police patch, notepad, and other police-related goodies. The K-9 unit came out and gave

everyone a demonstration on how the dogs are trained and even example scenarios where the

dogs are utilized to catch criminals. Towards the end of the event, we all took a group photo as a

last piece of memory to give to the girl. She was such a sweet and kind person, and I really felt

bad for her because she did not deserve what she was going through. I will never forget the joy

and smile that the girl had at the end of the party. This meant so much to me knowing that

everyone was able to do so much for this little girl through this one event.

The second event took place in around early Spring of 2021. Myself and a few other

explorers collaborated with a church organization so that we can help out the homeless people.

At the start of the event, we gave the homeless resources like new clothes, free food, and a free

haircut. As more and more homeless came in to receive their resources, I was able to talk to

some of them. They told me their stories about the backgrounds that they came from and the

hardships that they had to go through in life. The more stories that I heard, the more I felt

sympathetic for these people. Some of them were greatly impacted by COVID. They lost their

jobs during the pandemic and were not able to find another job. They lost their homes because

they were not able to make any money. There was another story where the person came from a

poor background and wasn’t able to maintain financial stability to the point where he lost his

home. Despite the tragic stories, I was happy that there were organizations and events just like

this one where people dedicated their time to help less fortunate communities and citizens.

Through my experiences in and outside of the Police Explorers program, I gained a lot of

understanding about the difference between the fortunate and the unfortunate. From these two

events, to see people struggling and from listening to their depressing stories, they have filled me

with the determination to help as many people as I possibly can. If you see someone who is in

need, I encourage you to do your best to help them out. Make yourself available for the less

fortunate. Whether you give a dollar to the homeless or make donations to the poor, any little

contribution will help in such a big way. For the fortunate people, all I can say is appreciate and

be grateful for what you have and for the less fortunate people, keep fighting the hard fight and

you are not alone.

Patience is Virtue--Andrew

 

Cross Country and Track and Field are what I would like to consider one of the hardest

sports someone can do. The physical aspect of running as fast as you can, for as long as you can

can be quite the challenge, but what I believe to be an even harder challenge is handling the sport

mentally. With that in mind, this narrative takes place during my junior year, 2021 heading into

my Track and Field season. With my Cross Country season just finishing, I was filled with the

feeling of excitement and optimism for what was to come, and the times that I would be running

for my events. The team and I would be consistently training over the next few weeks following

winter break and had one of our first meets coming up known as the Ontario Relays. Only a

select few qualified for this race, and although I was not the fastest on the team, I had shown

significant improvement and strong discipline as I would make every practice that I could on

weekdays, weekends, in the morning or afternoon. Now matter what, I was putting in 100%

effort into my training. This was enough for my coaches to acknowledge my efforts and

surprisingly I was able to qualify for this notorious track and field invitational race.

So by this time it is around late February and the race is finally here! This is it I thought

to myself, the moment where all of my training and hard work pay off. Now, with my event being

just moments away I lined up on the track and got ready to run the 800 meter (this is equivalent

to ½ mile). Since it was a relay race I would have to wait for my teammate to hand me the baton

as I was the second person running out of four members for this particular event. The gun goes

off and my teammate is off to the races. Now all I do is patiently wait for them to complete their

two laps around the track and then it would be my time to shine. As my teammate approaches

me, I slowly start running and transfer the baton from my left to right hand, just as I had

practiced many times before in preparation. Within seconds I went from experiencing

nervousness as the anticipation had built up, to experiencing excitement and determination as I

was seeing how fast I could possibly run trying to support my team, and help us score.

As my turn was coming to an end, now my next teammate was up to receive the baton

from me. I made a final push in the last stretch of the 800 meter race and successfully handed my

teammate the baton, and as fast as I had the spotlight on me, was as fast as my time in the

spotlight had ended and the light now shined on my teammate. As I proceeded to walk off of the

track, one of my coaches told me the time that I had run and although it was not the greatest

time, nor was it what I had hoped for, my team and I currently sat in 3rd place and hoped to

clinch the spot as we would secure a podium spot in an event that was highly competitive filled

with great teams from various cities. With my final teammate currently running his part, my

fellow teammates and I were cheering for him as loud as we could hoping that we were able to

secure good enough scoring placement for our school. Finally, the race had ended and to the

looks of it we had gotten 3rd place and were all happily celebrating as we would be receiving

medals for this accomplishment. This event not only provided me with a great memory but also

provided a chance for my team and I to get closer as one, as we had officially started off our

Track and Field season, and boy were we off to a great start!

Following that race, it only motivated me more to continue to train and to trust the

process of it all. With many more meets to come I thought to myself, this is going to be a great

season not only for me but for my team. So now some time had passed and it was mid-March

with one of our next few track meets coming up. So, like always the team and I went to do our

mile warmup right before our practice run had began, but as I was running with my teammates

one of them accidentally bumped into another runner, causing for the person directly in front of

me to abruptly stop, which caused me to stop but in doing so I had rolled my ankle. Right away I

had felt the pain and discomfort and had to stop running for the moment. I just brushed it off

though telling myself the feeling will go away and that it means nothing. I continued to run that

day in practice as well as the rest of the week and once the weekend had come it was time for

another race. This time I would be running the 1600 meter (this is equivalent to 1 mile) and the

3200 meter (this is equivalent to 2 miles) which wasn’t anything new to me so I was ready for

the challenge. My first race was up and I had run a new personal best, but wasn’t the happiest

with my time. Nonetheless the two mile would be up and I had to switch my focus to that race.

The time had come and I was now up to run 8 laps around a track which would be an ultimate

test of endurance, strength, and having a strong mentality. In this event, I had also run a new

personal best and was happy for myself but also relieved that I had finished racing in all my

events and I could go home and rest.

After some much needed sleep that night I had woken up feeling refreshed, but as soon as

I went to get off of my bed and my feet hit the ground, the pain of my ankle instantly came back

and had transferred to my left foot. I immediately started limping and had to take the day off

from running. After a couple of hours of resting and doing little to no physical activity I told

myself that I would only feel this way for a little bit, but tomorrow or the next day I would feel

back to normal. The next week came along but the pain and discomfort was still there. I had to

take my practices easy but couldn’t participate in the effective training that would help me

continue to improve as the season progressed. Due to this, I sadly did not qualify for any more

invitational track meets and would only be participating in league meets for our school. Although

this made me feel sad and unmotivated, at least I would be able to still race as it would only be a

matter of time until my injury healed…or so I presumed. The nagging pain and discomforting

feeling in my left foot had been lingering for what now had been two weeks and the next race

was approaching. Looking back at the situation now, it probably would have been beneficial to

sit this race out as it would have provided time for my foot to fully heal, but at the time my only

priority was still being able to race and do the best with my little training that I now had to rely

on.

Obviously, this did not work in my favor as my times were slower than I had wanted

them to be, but yet I still participated in every league meet that season, but with the same result

of my times decreasing or at least not improving for the moment. The injury now had lasted

about a month and at this point all I could do was sit out of practices completely and watch my

teammates run feeling discouraged and the worse that I had been feeling since joining the sport.

With the month of May now approaching so was the end of track season as one final race

remained. I couldn’t finish my season on a bad note. I thought to myself, I have to compete one

last time. This is what I exactly did, as I hopped on the team bus for the last time that year with

my team and had to desperately hope for the best as I was now only running about 2-3 times a

week at an easy pace. For one last time I would be participating in a track meet as a junior in the

1600 and 800 meter race. But, sadly I did not have a fairytale ending as my last race resulted in

me running my slowest times that season. Feeling at an all time low I was disappointed, angry,

sad, but ultimately in disbelief as I had started this season with such high hopes being able to

compete in the exclusive Ontario Relays invitational, to now running my worst times yet

questioning if I should even continue with this sport.

Nevertheless the season had officially ended and now I completely took time off from

running or doing any physical activity for that matter. I waited, and waited, and waited, for my

injury to go away and finally after 33 days of not running at all, my left foot had finally healed

and I, once again, was able to go back to running again. At this point it was towards the end of

May and school was coming to an end during this time I took the time to personally reflect on

this experience as a whole and what had come from it. Now that I was able to run again the

passion I had for this sport had finally returned and with it,I had learned a valuable lesson.

Although it may seem tough, it may seem unfair, and at times it can feel detrimental no matter

how tough times can get, it always does get better. I was in such a state of despair just waiting to

feel better and even though it seemed like an eternity for my injury to heal, in the end everything

did work itself out. So I conclude with this, whenever you feel like quitting or find yourself in a

situation that doesn't necessarily treat you right, as long as you persevere and hold on to any

hope and faith you have, it will get better and things will work itself out.

How to--Kevin

 

I have been using a computer for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories included me

playing on my parent's computer until they pried me away. Once the lockdown occurred during my

freshman year, I went back to that lifestyle but this time for work. The majority of my time was spent in

front of a computer typing my notes down for most of my classes instead of writing them by hand. As I

was working to write an essay that was due in an hour as everyone in my house was asleep, I was unable

to focus due to the keyboard being too loud and preventing me from focusing on the topic. When I

brought this up to my brother, he told me about how he picked up a hobby from his friend on building

keyboards. He brought home a Blade60 DZ 60 RGB keyboard that his friend built and let me try it out.

The sound was the opposite of what I currently owned and exactly what I was looking for. A quiet

keyboard that not only sounded smooth but was visually pleasing. After two years and 5 keyboards later, I

am showing the instructions on how to build the first custom keyboard I built if you suffered from a similar

problem.

Tools Needed:

- A Keycap puller

Why? This is needed because if a keycap is put on wrong, it will make pulling the keycap out of the

keyboard significantly easier than using your hand.

- A Switch Puller

Why? A switch puller is absolutely necessary to take out switches efficiently and without the fear of

damaging the switch.

- A Mini screwdriver kit

Why? A mini screwdriver kit will be needed as there are tiny screws we will need to screw into place to

hold the insides of the keyboard to the keyboard’s case.

Items needed to be assembled:

- Bright Pearl Black BLADE60 DZ60RGB V2 case or Lucid Nightmare Purple Case BLADE60

DZ60RGB V2 case

- A brass 60% keyboard plate

- 70 Novelkey Cream Switches

- Cherry Screw In Stabilizers Sets

- A 3 mm bottom foam

- Stealth Keycap Set - Kraken Keycaps

Detailed Step by Step Process

1. Take out the Cherry Screw In Stabilizer Sets

2. Attach the metal bars to each stabilizer by putting the stabilizer housing in one hand and the wire

in the other, have the stabilizer housing endpoint down and the edge with the gap face toward the

wire. The wire should be inserted into the topmost hole and turned 90% until a click is felt setting

the stabilizer housing in place.

3. Repeat this process to the other end and make sure the stabilizers are both facing the correct

direction such as on the left side of the picture.

4. The next step is to install the stabilizers into the PCB by sticking the holes of the stabilizers into

the PCB in groups of four. These holes should be in the spacebar, left shift, right shift, enter, and

backspace. Once these are in the holes, carefully turn the PCB upside down and screw them into

place with the small Phillips head screws. Be careful to not tighten the screws too tightly or they’ll

break.

5. After these are attached, you will put the brass plate on top of the PCB to fit with the stabilizers.

6. Once the brass plate is fitted on top of the keyboard, you will need to put the key switches into

each of the holes in the pc. It’s important to be careful during this step as if a metal piece is bent

while fitting the key switches into the PCB, the switch might not work properly unless bent back

into place. The key switches will have two metal prongs on the underside of each switch. These

metal prongs will need to be pushed into the metal holes in the PCB for each key slot while

remaining on top of the brass plate. There should be an audible click and a snap as each switch

fits into each hole.

7. After fitting the switches into the PCB, you need to put the PCB into the bright pearl black case.

The plug in the top left of the PCB should fit into the hole leading outside of the case and the 5

holes in the PCB should line up with the 5 holes inside the case. Once the holes are lined up, the

5 holes should be screwed into the keyboard case from above the brass using small Phillips head

screws.

8. After the PCB is screwed into the keyboard case, the final step is adding the keycaps to the

switches. Apply each key cap to each switch. There should be an audible click when the key cap

snaps into the switch. Place each keycap on the proper switch of a 60% keyboard similar to the

picture below.

9. Plug in the keyboard to your pc and confirm that every switch works. (If it doesn’t, then use the

keycap puller to take out the keycap, then use the switch puller to remove the switch that isn’t

working and replace it with a new one.)

10. Repeat step 9 until every switch works

11. Enjoy your new smooth-sounding keyboard!