Bellinzona, Switzerland ~ Sept. 2020

 

Going Paperless in College

While preparing to go to college, I knew I wanted to cut out as much paper as possible. I've never been particularly good at keeping papers organized (I have disorganized, overflowing folders to prove it), and I've always felt overwhelmed by the vast array of notes and handouts in my possession at a given time. Because college allows for a bit more flexibility in this area, I decided to completely eliminate paper notebooks from my back to school shopping. Instead, I invested in the iPad Pro (11 inches, 2018 version) and the Apple Pencil, as I wanted digital notes but learn better with handwritten ones.

I should preface this by saying that 1) I am a leftie, so going digital meant no longer enduring the struggle of writing in a traditional binder or notebook and 2) I do still use an expanding folder to keep track of some handouts and assignments because not every professor is paperless.

For note-taking, I use the GoodNotes 5 app. There's been a constant debate online between this app and Notability, but I found that I prefer the traditional notebook style of GoodNotes. Notes are organized into notebooks rather than dividers, and the vast array of templates as well as the page-turning feature give the feel of regular note-taking. However, the biggest drawback is the lack of a recording function, which Notability does have. There are a number of really great videos that delve into the differences between the two apps, and I'll link a few below.

What I love most about digital note-taking is the freedom to change notes after they have been written. Text and handwriting can be moved around, pictures can be added, and colors and size can be changed with the tap of a button. This is especially helpful when adding to notes or messing with the look of them. For my classes that follow a more traditional lecture form, this makes it easy to go back and add details I may have missed during class. Most often, I add arrows and little doodles to go along with the content. In other classes, such as my Foundations in Media Arts Production course, the ability to add pictures is a huge help when no actual notes are given.

Handouts and readings can also be imported into GoodNotes and added directly to notebooks or to folders. In my college writing class, which consists primarily of online readings, GoodNotes allows me to annotate texts while keeping them in one place. It's a HUGE help when the professor goes back and forth between different documents, especially since GoodNotes creates tabs similar to that of a web browser.

Outside of note-taking, I do most of my planning within GoodNotes as well. I use both the calendar template and schedule template to input assignments and keep track of important dates. Larger assignments are written in all caps, and every event is color-coded. While this is a bit more extreme, it helps me to stay organized and see everything at a glance. The best part of digital notes, and bullet journals in general, is that they are adaptable to every person.

A few cool things to note about the GoodNotes app is that it isn't limited to schoolwork. I've imported screenplays to read, created notebooks for different writing projects I have in mind, and created various quick notes for different tasks I have to complete. If you're not the most creative person, there are free templates out there, as well as ones that cost money but have linked dividers and other cool features. GoodNotes also has sheet music templates for musicians and a variety of note-taking papers including narrow-ruled, wide-ruled, Cornell, and gridded.

If you're like me and you appreciate the feel of a pen or pencil on paper, it may seem unnatural to write on a screen. It isn't a huge adjustment, but writing on the iPad (or any tablet) can at first feel uncomfortable. Although not completely necessary, I purchased the PaperLike screen protector, which adds a bit of friction to give the illusion of writing on paper. The difference is a slight one, and the protector does diminish the retina display with a bit of noise (particularly on white screens), but the noise is easily ignored and the protector combats fingerprints incredibly well. There is also currently a Paperlike 2 in production, which promises to eliminate this noise with nanodots and can be found here on Kickstarter.

Overall, I am so glad I went paperless. My work is far more manageable, and everything is in one place without any risk of losing papers or wrinkling them. The biggest consideration is undoubtedly price, as the iPad Pro isn't cheap. However, newer iPad models such as the new iPad Mini and iPad Air are now compatible with the Apple Pencil, and they tend to be less expensive than the Pro. I also took advantage of Apple's education pricing to receive a significant amount off my purchase. And while digital note-taking isn't for everyone, I certainly recommend it.

YouTube Videos:

Side by Side Comparison  **full disclosure this video shows an older version of GoodNotes, and features such as the ability to search handwriting have significantly improved**

Feature Comparison

Taking Breaks and Starting College

A little over a year ago, I decided I was going to use this blog to post my creative writing assignments and other articles. Then, life happened.

Life has a way of catching up to you. By the end of my junior year of high school, I was burnt out. This blog disappeared from my mind completely and I prepared for senior year. When senior year began, I found myself even busier than before...taking six AP courses, acting in both the school play and school musical, working 15 hours a week at my local Target, applying to college, sitting on my regional school committee, coordinating my school's speech and debate team as captain...needless to say, I was overwhelmed.

Of course, everything has a way of working out. I graduated at the top of my class and decided to attend Emerson College in Boston, MA. I continued working at Target through the summer and went to the beach as much as possible. I did what every adult told me to do––make the most of your summer before college.

If anything, this blog became something to reminisce about, a little project I began in high school, a place where I shouted my thoughts into the internet's void in the hopes that someone would find them and choose to listen. Even as I write this, there's a good chance no one will see it. This blog may be consigned to oblivion, a place for personal reflection that remains just that––personal.

BUT, if anyone is listening, I'm going to reorganize. I'm beginning college as a Visual and Media Arts major, looking to concentrate in screenwriting. I'm excited to explore Boston, a city I've lived near for most of my life but never truly explored. I'm embracing this next chapter of my life, holding onto the hope that if I shout these thoughts into the void, that someone will stumble upon them and choose to listen.

(If someone does happen to be here and you're listening, don't be afraid to reach out. I would love to connect with other writers and students, continue to share my experiences, and share my writing.)

Op/Ed––Ending the "too soon" mentality in the wake of school shootings

This article was originally published in The Falcon.

Walk into any high school and you’ll undoubtedly find a number of stressed students. Victims to the competitive demands of college admissions, teenagers face mounting expectations. Get good grades. Volunteer. Get involved in as many clubs as possible. Take upper-level classes. Step into leadership positions.

The requests swirl around us constantly. But now, with the epidemic of school shootings raging through the country, we find ourselves with yet another expectation: Don’t become the victim of a school shooting.

For a group of kids already facing increasing pressures and stress, the prospect of being shot while at school should not be another worry. Still, it’s hard to avoid. Coming home from school, we often discover headlines on our Twitter feeds and televisions––videos of teenagers just like us crying and discussing their lost classmates, people across the country sharing their anger, their frustrations about the state of gun control in the United States.

But on Capitol Hill, congressmen argue it’s too soon for talk of common sense gun laws. “It’s time for prayers,” they assure Americans. They make television appearances, decrying the senseless violence facing our country’s children. Then, they forget.

They let the issue fade into the wind, disappear from our Twitter feeds, and leave the headlines––until the next one happens. The cycle repeats again and again, allowing politicians to evade the problem completely with their high NRA ratings clasped close to their hearts.

The Columbine shooting happened 6,983 days ago, Virginia Tech happened 4,061 days ago, Sandy Hook happened 1,992 days ago––and still there has been no national change. Instead, politicians take advantage of recent school shootings, the one in Santa Fe having happened only 12 days ago, to continue their “too soon” mentality.

With the added distractions of the current administration, the headlines slip away with little discussion. But for the teenagers still listening to active shooter presentations, still opening their phones to more devastation, still waiting for change, the issue is not going away.

No, it is not too soon to talk about common sense gun reform. In fact, for the number of students and teachers who have died at the hands of an active shooter, it is much too late.

The Crayon –– A Sestina

The following poem is one I wrote for my Creative Writing class. We were tasked with writing a sestina, which involves finding six random words and following a specific form.

Why NaNoWriMo Is A Must Do For Writers

NaNoWriMo is in 22 days!! I can't put into words how excited and nervous I am.

For those who don’t know, NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, occurs every November. It consists of writing 50,000 words in one month (just about 1,667 words per day). NaNoWriMo is an amazing experience! I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a challenging,  fun, supportive writing community with amazing resources! Here are a few tips for making the month successful:

1. Lock up your inner editor: NaNoWriMo has this thing about locking up your inner editor. It’s SO true. We are always our biggest critics, so this one’s a biggie. I’m guilty of this, myself. But, and I hate to say it, you will get nowhere if you don’t allow yourself to write crap first.
2. Time management: Manage your time!! A lot goes on in life, and it can be hard to even get time to sleep. For me, I’m in all honors classes as well as an AP, and the workload can be extensive, so finding time to write can be very difficult. In order to win NaNoWriMo, it’s important you set aside time to write.
3. Prepare: Even if you’re a complete pantser, it’s best to at least prepare a little bit. Otherwise, it’s going to be really hard to get the ball rolling when you hit arguably the most difficult part-the middle.
4. Bribe yourself: It’s best to have some sort of motivation for times when it requires a little more effort to get that next chapter written. Some people
5. Do what you need to do to keep writing: Whether it’s bribing yourself like above, or sitting in a certain room in the house, do what you need to do to get yourself to write. I use my m&m jar and music. I use Spotify whenever I write or do homework; it keeps me going. I’ve even found that music has become a pivotal part of my writing process- I’ve begun to designate certain songs for certain scenes in my book. Find what works for you.
6. Have fun: No matter what happens, have fun! You’re writing for a reason; that you love to write. It’s going to be super frustrating at times, and you just have to remember that you’re doing this because it’s what you love to do. 

First off, NaNoWriMo has a ton of awesome sponsor offers exclusively for NaNoWriMo participants. I’ve already taken advantage of the Ulysses sponsor offer, and it’s great amazing.

Fifty-thousand words is roughly the length of a short novel. It may seem like an unreachable feat, but at only 1,667 words a day, it’s quite manageable. That doesn’t even include the innumerable amount of support. NaNoWriMo isn’t just an experience, it’s a community. From NaNo prep to “what do I do now,” you have support every step of the way.

If you opt-in to give your zip code, there are multiple opportunities for local write-ins. I wasn’t able to attend one last year because I was always busy, but I’m hoping to make it to one this year!

Along with local events, NaNo has an immense social media presence. They have multiple accounts, including one for word sprints. They are incredible about being active and reaching out to the community.

The world needs your novel.

The world needs your novel. This is a central theme during NaNoWriMo. The world needs your novel. And your novel needs you to write it. Through transitive property (who thought we’d be using math in English?!?), the world needs you to write your novel.

If you're interested in participating in NaNoWriMo, click here.

DIY Coloring Page Binder Covers

It's that time of here. Everyone's going back to school and soon we'll be surrounded by crunchy leaves and pumpkin spice.

While it's really fun to shop for school supplies and purchase new clothing, school itself can be very stressful. If you've read my prior post, you know that I have a newfound love for coloring books. They are great for stress relief, making them perfect for the school year.

Plus, they're great for after you've finished tests or assignments!

I decided to combine my love of coloring with my love of school supplies to create binder covers with coloring pages. You can find templates on the internet for this sort of thing, but this is a way to make it your own.

Materials

-Printer (with copy function)

-Computer

-Coloring book (optional)

-Binder(s) (w/ pocket front)

Steps

1. Pick out your coloring page. You can print them out from a website if you'd like, but I used my printer to make a copy of pages from my Disney coloring book. If you're copying, you may need to trim the sides of the picture as sometimes the binding of the book casts a shadow. I left the shadow for one of mine because I liked the effect, but for the other one I cut it off.

2. Estimate the size of your heading. Because we are printing on normal 8x11 paper, chances are it won't cover the entire binder. To solve this, simply place a second piece of blank paper underneath to extend the length. Don't worry if there's a blank white strip, this will be the place for the heading. 

3. In a blank document, type the name of the class into a text box. Then, rotate the box so it's 90º. Once you do this, you can move it to the left or right of the page (depending on where you put your blank strip). The size of the text will depend on the thickness of your strip.  

Because both pages are white,
 it's hard to see where one stops
and the other starts

4. Print out the page with your heading and slip the paper underneath your coloring page, replacing the blank page you used as a guide. It should now be the length of the binder.

5. Slip pages underneath the clear front pocket of your binder (if you haven't done so already).

And here's the finished product:

I went with a Disney theme, but you can do whatever you'd like. I also found fonts that matched the photo. The font on the AP Bio binder is bold Lithos Pro (a font used in Animal Kingdom), and the Latin binder is Waltograph. 

The best part about these is that you can color them throughout the year or change them if you get bored. 

Happy Back to School! ✏️