By: Alex Martinez

Birds are fascinating animals; there are many different types of birds, including parrots, budgerigars (budgies), owls, finches, blue jays, and many others.

Budgies are a very unique type of bird. Budgies, or budgerigars, are small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrots. Naturally, the species is green and yellow with black, scalloped markings on the nape, back, and wings.

What is it like to have one of these types of birds as pets? More specifically budgies. Budgies are gentle and docile birds. Budgies are native to Australia’s forest, grassland, and shrub-land habitats, where they roam in flocks and forage for food. These cute little parrots make wonderful companions and are typically docile and simple to train, especially if acquired at a young age.

Budgies are big on brains and personality. Many have been taught to whistle tunes and talk, and are just as intelligent as some larger bird species. A properly trained and tamed Budgie can even imitate human speech.

Having budgies in pairs is recommended to keep each other company but they may not bond as much or well with the owner. Budgies are fun pets as they’re very curious animals and the smallest things you do catch their attention.

Keeping budgies as pets can be very messy and they can be very loud. Taking care of budgies isn’t necessarily that hard, but their food and water needs to be changed many times a day because it could get dirty quite a lot. Not changing and cleaning their food and water constantly could affect their health as they are sensitive little creatures.

It is good for budgies to be out of their cage every once in a while because, like many other pets, they need exercise to stay healthy. Budgies are good at hiding their illnesses, and it’s sometimes hard to notice when they’re sick and asking for help. However, keeping budgies in a safe environment will lead them to be happier and more energetic.

Budgies are wonderful pets and would never fail to lighten up your day with their cheerful chirps. These amazing little creatures will most definitely keep you entertained, as they’re fun and intelligent animals.

By: Jefferson Palma

*Note: This article contains the thoughts and opinions of the author and should not be used in place of medical advice

Meditating is a quick way to reduce stress on a busy day or when you’re tense, worried, and anxious. It’s a reset button on your mind and it could improve your day using such a little amount of time.

It doesn’t need any specific equipment or anything at all, and you can do it basically anywhere: in the bus, in a train, or when you’re in class and the teacher is late. It’s simple, quick, and effective.

Meditation is a complementary medicine that can relieve the mind and help it be relaxed at a deeper level. It could alleviate symptoms from specific medical conditions especially the ones that could worsen from stress.

Some researchers argue that there’s no conclusion to draw about the health benefits, but there’s some scientific evidence that supports the health benefits of meditating.

There are endless types of meditations that you could try but I’ll provide 3 examples to start off.

Yoga is a common practice used for thousands of years. It involves physical movement, breathing exercises, and concentration to calm the mind and body. It can build up flexibility, strength, endurance, and physical well-being.

Another good one is mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation flourishes your natural curiosity about the work of your brain. It helps reduce all the running thoughts crammed into your brain by approaching your moments as momentous and being more mindful by living in the present.

Mantra meditation will be the last example. Mantra meditation is when you repeat a word or a phrase repetitively in your head. Although it requires more focus, it can reduce wandering thoughts and increase more focus.

The earliest documents of meditation can go as far back as 1500 BC in India. It is a practice that ancient people and modern people have been using. There are a variety of mediation techniques that you can find best for yourself and endless ways of exploring it.

By: Sophie Johnson

Last weekend I spent countless hours on the lake and did so many fun activities. Some of these include: tubing, scuba diving, fishing and more.

The first activity that I love to do on a lake is tubing. Tubing is one of the most thrilling and exciting activities and makes for a great adrenaline rush. Up at the lake I went to, I went on two different kinds of tubes.

We have a hot dog tube that looks like a hot dog on a bun and you sit three people in a row one in front of the other. This tube is significantly harder to stay on than the other one I rode because when the boat turns, everyone has to lean the opposite direction. I rate this tubing experience a 8/10.

The next tube was a seated one that holds up to 5 people. I only rode it with 3 people at one time. This one felt slightly safer and was more like a couch on water. I rate this tube a 10/10 because it can go very fast and is less painful if you fall off.

Another fun and exciting activity to do on a lake is fishing. The fishing that I did was not very successful because no fish were biting, but it is still a cool skill to learn and do when you are on a lake.

The last activity is scuba diving. I enjoy scuba diving because you never know what you will find at the bottom of a lake. Sometimes the water can get a little murky and gross, but that can just add to the challenge of finding anything.

These activities are just a few of the things that I like to do on the water during the spring and the summer, but they make that time on the beach so much more enjoyable.

By: Bijou Kruszka

Picture this: you’re a student in journalism class. Your article pitch for the week is due, and you have no idea what to write. You stare at the Schoology submission spot, but not a single idea pops into your head. So, you turn to your classmates, and ask them what you should write about. One of them replies “Write an article about writer’s block.” And, while it was intended as a joke, you have literally nothing else, so you go with it. So, here we are. Please enjoy my tips for dealing with writer’s block.

#1: Ask people for prompts

As alluded to in my intro, sometimes the best way to deal with writer’s block is to ask others for ideas. Often writer’s block will come because you’re limited to your own brain. By confiding with others, you can open yourself up to a variety of ideas, many you would have never once thought of. Often, people may be very vague or specific, which allows for a lot of creative range as well.

For example, one time a friend told me to write a short story ending with the word “grape-tastic,” and no other criteria. I ended up writing a strangely tragic story about a poor grape farmer, barely able to feed his two children. I never would have gotten there without “grape-tastic.” Needless to say, asking others for prompts is often a great way to inspire you. Just make sure that if you use their idea, you thank them. (Thank you to Trump Vang for the article idea).

#2: Look for ideas on the internet

The internet is a vast resource for all sorts of things, and writing is certainly no exception. There are countless social media accounts dedicated to posting prompts, which can also lead you to a community of writers. There are also plenty of online generators for all sorts of ideas. There are some that generate ideas for plots, characters, settings, and so much more. You can even ask ChatGPT for ideas, though you should never use it to create original writing.

#3: Read other people’s writing

Sometimes, one of the best ways to help your own writing is to invest yourself in other people’s writing. You can encounter new stories, which can freshen your perspective. You can notice stylistic and narrative choices that inspire you to change the way you’ve been writing.

More importantly, you will never improve if you keep doing the same thing over and over again. By reading the work of others, you can rework your current perspective and improve facets of your writing you didn’t even know needed improving.

#4: Take breaks and do other things

This will seem counterintuitive, but the absolute best way to deal with writer’s block is to stop writing. Forcing yourself to stare at a blank sheet of paper or blinking cursor for hours will only frustrate you and encourage you to stop writing. What you need to do is set your pencil down, stand up, and go do something else. Go on a walk, have fun with friends, play a game, watch a show, do anything.

The only way someone can be inspired is if they do things that inspire them. Maybe on a walk, you’ll encounter a beautiful flower that inspires you to write poetry. Maybe you watch the news, and get inspired to write an article about some injustices you witness. No matter what inspires you, you’re never going to find it staring at an empty void. So, go experience life. Then, come back and write about it.

By: Greta Johnson

Summer jobs are an important part of making money as a teenager. Most people in high school get a job for the summer to make money to spend and save.

If you are 14 or 15 you cannot work past 7:30PM, but if you’re 16 or older you’re free to work as late as you like.

Jobs in fast food and food service are easier to get and will hire you for the summer. Usual pay is minimum wage or about 11 to 15 dollars an hour. Some jobs in food service you will also receive tips that depend on the restaurant, but tips can range from 2-20 extra dollars per hour.

If you don’t want to work a traditional job or are too busy to get one, another good option is yard work. Many people don’t like to mow or weed wack or garden and will pay a good amount of money to you if you do it for them. It’s a good side hustle, or summer job, and it doesn’t take up a ton of your time. Self employed jobs like this are great for teenagers or younger people because it’s hard to find work at a younger age, lots of businesses won’t hire you if you’re under 16. With jobs like yard work, mowing and babysitting, all you have to do is make an agreement with whoever you’re doing the work for in regards to pay. This cuts out the issue of labor laws and getting hired.

The first challenge with getting a job is actually getting hired. Most of the time there’s at least a couple candidates and when you’re younger, companies and businesses are less likely to hire you. This is where a resumé would come in. A resumé is usually a paper about your information, skills, experience and previous employment. A résumé is important to the hiring process because it shows your possible employer that you are serious about getting this job.

By: Yumna Abajebel

Starting your own company could benefit you in many different ways. You could control your own lifestyle and work at your own pace.

You’ll still have to do work, but it’s on your own time and terms. Mainly you don’t have to answer to anyone or be stressed over deadlines.

Starting up at first may seem a little difficult but it’s worth it after the company is up and running.

Business owners have the option of selecting whichever passion and dream they wish to pursue. Before they might have not been able to do that due to having to support family or it wasn’t financially stable.

People like being their own boss; for some they might have been working in corporations for 10-20 years. Business owners have the luxury of being independent and having flexibility with their schedule.

If you decide that you want to work with other people, it could be people you’re comfortable with, which is beneficial for you and your company in the long run.

Running your own business isn’t easy financially or mentally. If you work alone that means you would have to be the salesperson, accountant, customer service representative, and marketer all as one person, which can be very difficult at times.

Starting your business has its pros and cons which you should think about. But should consider the benefits.