New Yolk Times: On Productivity +++

Hey! I'd like to water down things a bit with a New Yolk Times post, where I express some food for thought. A special anime review will be coming your way very soon, but for now let's talk about something serious. So today marks the start of Holy Week (sort of), and that also means the start of summer vacation for the rest of us (unless you go to my University). And whenever vacation hits, a majority of the human population struggles with one thing: and that is productivity.

School Lessons As Told By Your Fandoms

Hi! Sorry if it's been a while. School is around the corner, so things are starting to get busy around here. Speaking of which, I'm sure most of you are starting high school or college for the first time, or you just dread the idea of school. Well, whether you like it or not, education is very important. In short, yes, we need to go to school because it will eventually produce some good benefits. And if you think about it closely, most fandoms contain very educated characters and most of these happen to be characters we love. So why not make them examples or icons of education? Here are five important school survival tips that I learned from five different fandoms.

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1.) Annabeth Chase/Hermione Granger- "Knowledge is power"
Although they come from two different book series, I think it's safe to put them on the same category. Hermione and Annabeth taught me you definitely get something if you spend a little more time with your homework. And they don't just learn things, they apply what they studied in every situation, The fact that they are eager to learn something new, already makes them the badass female characters. That's why Harry or Percy depend on them a lot, because let's face it; they aren't the most studious type. I'm not saying you have to be studious like them, but they taught me to embrace learning as much as I can because I'm definitely gonna need what I store in my brain.

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2.) Felicity Smoak- "Education can give you a future"
For those have seen her filler arc in Arrow Season 3, we all eventually understood why Felicity became who she is. Not only that, she made it clear that she thought she wouldn't amount to anything. One thing's for sure, though; she didn't want to end up like her mom. Although her aspirations made her have disagreements with her mom along the way, but one thing I've always admired about Felicity, is that she is able to make a goal for herself. And to make things even better, she made that goal happen. I guess she taught me that spending your afternoons understanding complicated math equations is definitely worth your time. In other words, education will definitely guarantee you a future. It doesn't matter if your course or your future career path is not technical as hers, but rest assured all your hard work in school will produce something great in the end. So try looking at that homework again and put your mind to it like she did.

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3.) Katniss Everdeen- "Learning is not a privilege, it's a necessity"
I know, I picked the most generic and possibly overrated YA character of all time. But even if the Hunger Games never had much info about the way they handle their education system, Katniss Everdeen still proved to everyone that she's smarter than you think. Unlike the other tributes, nobody in her district gave her tips on how to win the Hunger Games. Nobody taught her how to fight or even survive. She learned that all by herself. She didn't really need a school to teach her how to hunt down some meat. If you're one of those people who thinks school is not at all that important, try to think twice. School is kind of important, at least for me, because it has taught me many things that are not even academic-related.

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4.) Barry Allen- "Never stop pursuing"
Barry is one of those characters who would never give up or who would never stop believing in something. Barry has always believed in the impossible and he actually became the impossible. Basically, that very attribute is something that we're going to need in our daily lives, especially in school. No matter how stressful your week seems to be, believe that you can make it. If you think graduating is impossible, pursue it and it will hit you in a flash.

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5.) Mako- "Don't make school take over your life"
Yeah, she seems like a very unfitting choice, since she barely showed much promise in her schooling. But guess what, it doesn't really matter to her. She certainly does one thing that I honestly think every student should do, which is spending time with her family. In my high school days, joining family outings or even spending time with friends was a luxury for me because I had so much school work to do. Furthermore, I wanted to maintain really good grades and I am one of those students who seriously needed to drill their brains into studying. And it really frustrated me at the time, because I wanted to be one of those people who would just take a glance on their notes and understand things in an instant. But no, I'm not that kind of student and hard work is essential for me if I want to succeed. But during high school, I took my studies way too seriously to the point I would have moments where I snapped into a mad frenzy (and me being stressed is not a pretty sight, by the way!). Because of that, I wasn't able to spend that much time with family. As for my friends, I get to see them everyday, but there where many times I would miss outings with them too. And I learned that it's not healthy because I knew I wasn't going to be stuck in school until I die (and I do not intend to let that happen). So what I'm saying that it's okay to take a break. It's okay to set a time where you can just goof off with your loved ones, because that's important too. And yes, too much of school will most likely kill you. Trust me, I know.

And that's it! Hope you guys are going to look at school in a much more brighter perspective now (in spite of the bullies, perhaps). Work hard, relax, and don't forget to smile! Till the next post~

Fangirl Ego: Things Fangirl Students Should Never Do!

It is normal to fangirl urges when you become a student. I mean, as young (foolish) folks, students need some inspiration or entertainment while subjects and deadlines try to mess up their minds. Trust me, I've been there. I know the feeling when a book I read is much more exciting than the book report (but don't get me wrong, I enjoyed many reading assignments back in my day). Even if the "Fangirl Ego" (which I would like to call) seems like a very powerful entity that somehow controls every inch of your body and free will, that doesn't mean there are no limitations. Of course there are, and as humans we need to put extra effort into stopping our fandoms from completely ruining our lives. Yes, it is not the intention of the Doctor to ruin your life. The only person who gets in our way is us; our Fangirl Ego. The question is, how do we stop it?

Now these steps do not guarantee success. Consider them as suggestions that you may attempt to do. Always remember that fighting the Fangirl Ego is never easy.

1.) Never personalize your school stuff!
It may seem like the most fun part to look forward to when you prepare for school, but believe me...it will ruin your life. If all your stuff has the face of Tom Hiddleston, then kiss your concentration goodbye! Also, school materials don't last forever. You end up throwing them away or they deteriorate on their own and at their own time. So it is pretty much a waste of cut-out magazines and effort, as well as money. No offense. If you must personalize your school things, I suggest to stick to minimal fandom references (such as a logo) and make all the color schemes and design show your personality. But if you must have something to stare at while you need some motivation in studying, then a a few photos inside your binder won't hurt. Actually, make that one.

2.) Never touch anything fandom-related during busy periods!
When you have an exam or a pile of major projects to finish...then put away those series and books. I'm sorry, but the only way to get rid of Fangirl Ego (even if it is just for a very short while) is to keep that girl in the closet alongside all your guilty pleasures. I know a lot of people who nearly did not graduate because of fandoms. Yes, those situations exist, especially if you're the type who lacks self-control. If you do need a substance of some self-control pill, then I suggest to consider keeping them away for a short period. Then once all your responsibilities are dealt with, then you can binge watch or read to your heart's content.

3.) Never expect everyone to understand you!
Each fandom contains a whole new set of extensive vocabulary. Eventually you will adapt it and only 1 out of 10 people will be able to comprehend what you are trying to say. You can't expect the muggles to keep up with your thang.

4.) Never assume that conversion is easy!
Everyone has their own different tastes, and chances of you having similar interests (or fandoms, in our case) with the classmate next to you is one in a million. However, it is not bad to share to them what you like. But you cannot expect them to have an interest, right away. Converting a fellow person into a certain fandom is a hit or miss; either they like it or they don't. It would seem exciting when someone develops a liking to your all-time favorite shows, but you can't expect something like this to happen all the time. Unless, you are really persuasive.

5.) Never hide your fandoms from anyone!
Come as you are. The third tip may imply that you should not reveal your fandoms to class, but that is not the case. In fact, let anyone know what you like. Do not shame your fandoms, because it looks weird to other mundanes. Let them judge! It will not kill you! Back in high school, I would initially hide my obsession for anime from basically, everyone. I did that because I wanted to look pleasing and hopefully, appealing.  However, that gave me a hard time to look for friends I can totally relate to. When I brought out my interests, then bam! I got new friends just like that. So don't keep them in the dark. Never keep your fandoms to yourself. It's more fun and exciting with a good friend who can understand all your feels.

Till the next post~

How to Fangirl and Live Your Life

Most of us would develop our love for certain fandoms at an early age, and we end up blaming books, TV series, video games, and many other medium for this kind of feeling. But at the same time, we end up loving them. Having your very own fandom is like being in a love-hate relationship, only we experience it a tenfold (and if not, probably more. May God forbid). Loving your fandoms, that's not a problem. But making it a top priority? Now that's an issue that we cannot easily avoid, especially when the story of the Supernatural Brothers seems a hundred times more interesting than yours.

I'm sure you know where I am going with this; just like screwed-up relationships we see on drama series, fandoms have the tendency to ruin our lives. And we can turn everything backwards all we want, but we know that we give those fandoms the power to rule our lives. We just tend to deny it, most of the time. We give so much love and attention to this Television series and the next thing you know, you end up watching four seasons in less than three days. Not only that, you get slapped by the realization that you got other "important" things to do like schoolwork or actual work, or saving your relationship from drowning (but then it becomes too late, because your girlfriend/boyfriend sees what a total bum you are). I guess that fundamental question is, can we really focus on our fandoms and reality at the same time?

The answer is yes. Believe it or not, you can have your Hogwarts Life and your Career Life at the same time. It's just a matter of balancing your time. I know that is easier said than done, but there are plenty of healthy ways to do so without trying to put too much focus into one thing. And this is based on my experience. My life  story may not be exactly the same as yours, but I guess it is something you can learn from.

Distribute your priorities, equallyNow this is the first and most difficult step, and don't say you don't know why. Dividing your time for life and your fandoms...? That's not easy! If you're one of those people who keep saying, "One More Episode" then I wish you luck as you take on this step. Give each of your priorities the same weight. Don't give this thing more importance than the other, or else you will go mad. I'm sure I am not the only who has experienced such turmoil. There is nothing wrong in planning out how many hours or days you want to dedicate yourself to something. It does not automatically make you a control freak, I'm sure. Besides, it is a whole lot better to plan ahead rather than pressuring yourself to do something last minute. As much as it is difficult to do, don't give all your attention to your fandoms. Do not give all your attention to certain aspects of your life, either. Get a planner of your own and pan out all the things you have to do and want to do. At least, that's what I did. Call me a nerd for saying this, but having a planner is a total life saver.

Fandom as an inspiration
I'll admit. There were many times I would prefer to bury my head into an nonexistent, fictitious, fantastic world rather than burying it into my textbooks. I just get really annoyed by the fact that reading about Shadowhunters and Demigods are much more interesting than figuring out the puzzling (and unnerving) sorcery called Trigonometry. Admit it, you underwent this, too. But what really would fascinate me aside from the stories, are the characters themselves. People like Hermione Granger, Annabeth Chase, and Tessa Gray....they impressed me. From that, that feeling turned into admiration. Then I aspired to become a very diverse, independent, and headstrong individual. So in a way, my fandoms became apart of my life in such a way that they served as inspiration for the way I live my life and how I deliver myself. And it turned out really good. You could say I have books to thank for my very own character development.

Go beyond Fandoms and explore Life
Afterwards, I decided to step out my comfort zone and become acquainted with the real world. Now how did I incorporate my fandoms, you ask? Well, let's face one fact here; we can learn a lot of things from our fandoms and if you dig a little deeper, we realize how much of these discoveries can still be applied in real life. So the first thing to do is close that book or turn off that television or computer (but certainly not now, You gotta read till the end before you can do so), and look at real life in such a way you see your fandoms. Real life can be an adventure and all you have to do is look. The next thing you know, you met the Edward Cullen of your life or you're in the place where they shot the scenes of  Lord of the Rings, living your own Hobbit-like journey. Basically, life is just as interesting as your fandoms. So try to look at your school, work, or family in a completely different angle. Along the way, you will learn and try new things, and sometimes they end up twice as exciting as the book you are currently reading because you are actually doing it.

And there you have it. This is how I dealt with my fandom addiction before it could get any worse. Like I said, this is just how I dealt with it, so you don't necessarily have to do everything I did. In the end, it is your choice on how you want to live your life. But if you had a different way of dealing fandom addiction, then feel free to share your story on the comments below! Till the next post~

College Vs. High School

Yes. I am still alive! Anyway, the reason why I haven't been updating much is because I've been contemplating on what I should post. Blogging is definitely something I would like to do for the rest of my life and I was hoping this would be a good place to start. On another note, UPCAT (University of the Philippnes College Admission Test) is coming up very soon, and a lot of students would kill just to get in. During the weekend, a lot of my friends who intend to apply for UP are now experiencing UPCAT jitters. I understand perfectly, because I've taken the exam and I know how intense it can be.

I suddenly remembered the days when I was in the middle of trying to find a college for myself. Admittedly, I only applied for three colleges and I only got accepted into one. Yes, applying for colleges can be stressful, since it will coincide with your current school work. If you are a high school student and you are currently reading this, then I'm sure you already have an idea on what you are going to read. I will be sharing the difference between High School and College life, and it will obviously be based on my experiences. However, if you are currently in college or already a graduate, then I guess maybe you can relate to the experience that I am about to share. 

Believe it or not, the adjustment I had to go through was pretty dramatic. I came from a high school that always had strict rules and high standards. My college does the same things, but not always. I guess you will understand what I mean as you read on.

School Shopping

Personally, I love shopping for school. It's been one of the many things I always look forward to whenever school is fast approaching. When I was in elementary, I would buy new things every single year. However, as I grew up, I would end up buying the things I ran out of and I would sometimes recycle what I already had (e.g. notebooks, pens). But when I became a college student, I was honestly not sure of what to buy aside from a yellow pad. I kept buying whatever I thought I needed for my classes, but at the very end I realized that I didn't really need a lot of things. All I needed was a notebook and a pen. That's it. 

As for your textbooks,  it depends on your professors or classes. If your professor requires you to get a specific kind of book or reading (instead of books, you are mostly given readings, which are supposed to expand your mind on the subject or topic, and they are usually photocopied versions from various books that your professors used), then you really need it. However, if they tell you that it isn't required, then you don't have to stress yourself to get a book. Sometimes listening to your professor and taking down notes are enough. But if you really think you need a book for your class, then you always have the option to buy or rent or maybe even borrow. 

Study Habits

I think your study habits will dramatically change. Yes, college can be chill but the term responsibility will have more emphasis once you are a college student. If you are a studious type, then good for you. But if you aren't, brace yourself to eat up your free time just to prepare for your subjects. In my high school, we used to follow a uniformed standard. But when I entered college, each subject had different standards and expectations. The challenges are to meet each and everyone of them. This is where you will have to master the skill of adjusting. 

Friends and Social Life

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For me, college was where my social skills were truly put to the test. In high school, it was easy to recognized who to hang out with because I was either batchmates or classmates with my friends. I also saw them everyday. But now, I don't. It feels lonely to not see them as often as I could, but I managed to live with it. I am not saying making friends in college will be difficult. It was pretty easy for me, in fact. I actually gained more friends in college than I ever had in high school. However, I still haven't gotten the chance to officially hang out with any of them yet, because I have different friends or acquaintances every semester. But no worries, I have really close friends among my coursemates. 

Also, "dramas" happen rarely in college, compared to high school. Getting along with my classmates in college seemed easier for me compared to high school. I guess when you're in high school, it is natural for us to feel the need for a sense of belonging. But once you leave high school, you've already learned from your mistakes and you would apply them in college. Sure, there will still be a little space for you to develop yourself in college, but you already have an idea on how to interact and deal with people. I don't know if that's true for others, but not once have I experienced or witnessed a feud in college. Which is great, because you have a lot of other things to worry about in college. 

So far, this is all I can share because I still have a far way to go. For those who are going to take UPCAT or any other college entrance exam then may God bless you all and remember to always hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and to expect nothing. Also, admit your nervousness because it will definitely help you calm down during the exam day. 

I hope you enjoyed reading and I will try my very best to update again soon! 

note: some photos are from my instagram