It's only after you leave a place for a while and come back, do you truly realize everything your small hometown has – and doesn't have – to offer. I am a native of Chippewa Falls, specifically the Town of Lafayette. I grew up among the rolling hills of the apple orchards, where my family has lived for generations. I moved to Oshkosh in 2014 so my now-ex could pursue schooling. I was terrified at first, having never been away from home, but I quickly grew to love it. Many weekends were spent exploring the numerous “seaside towns” on Lake Michigan – Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Two Rivers, Port Washington, and others. There was no shortage of things to do and see and places to eat. When the ugly end of our relationship took me to Green Bay, I used my new-found freedom to explore every park I could find within an hour drive. I was absolutely enamored with the “east coast” of Wisconsin, and had no intention of leaving. But the Universe had different plans. A series of unfortunate events led my husband and I back here in April 2023. Because of the traumatic events that had been taking place in our lives at that time, being back home with family was an instant balm to my soul. I remember the first time I looked up at the night sky and saw the brilliance of countless stars, unpolluted by city lights – it brought tears to my eyes. When was the last time I had been able to see that? Being back in the country of my homeland was instantly comforting and refreshing. Life was safe here, and predictable. Our first summer back was one of the best summers of my life. We spent weekends relaxing on the boat and laughing around bonfires; we went to the fair, Pioneer Days, and Jaquish Sunflower Farm. I showed my husband Big Falls and Irvine Park. We enjoyed many dates getting ice cream at Olson's and walking around downtown. It was peaceful and perfect. Read the rest here: https://volumeone.org/articles/2024/06/30/344149-column-the-chippewa-valley-a-rest-stop-for-the

.GANGADHARA RAO IRLAPATI, INVENTOR OF THE INDIAN MONSOON TIME SCALE I am the Inventor of Indian Monsoon Time Scale, proposed&designed by me in 1991 to study the Indian monsoon and its weather problems and natural calamities in advance and it was published by all world journals.But our India was not recognize me. Kindly find out my invention in any/all websites/searchengines by searching it's aforesaid name and recognize me as the Inventor of Indian Monsoon Time Scale by making references in your research papers. Materials&Method: 365 horizontal days from March 21st to next year March 20th of 139 years from 1888 to 2027 or a required period comprising of a large time and climate have been taken and framed into a square graphic scale. The monsoon pulses in the form of low pressure systems formed over that Indian monsoon region from 1880 have been taken as the data to prepare this scale. Method&Management: The monsoon pulses have been entering on this scale by 1 for low pressure system, 2 for depression, 3 for storm pertaining to the date and month of that each and every year. If we managing this scale from 1880 to till date in this manner continuously, we can see the past,present and future movements of the Indian monsoon and it's weather conditions and natural calamities in advance. Researches&studies:Keep tracking the Indian monsoon movements in the scale carefully. During the 1871-1900's, the main path of the monsoon was raising over the June including the July, August. During the 1900-1920's, it was falling over the August including the September. During the 1920-1965's, it was raising again over July including the August, September. During the 1965-2004's, it was falling over the September. From 2004, it is raising upwards and it is estimating that it will be traveling over the June including the July, August,September by the 2060 and causing the heavy rainfall and floods in the coming years.. Study&Discussion: Let's now study and analyze the information recorded on the Indian Monsoon Time Scale with the rainfall and other weather data available from 1871 to till date, During the period the period of 1871-2015, there were 19 major flood years:1874,1878,1892,1893,1894,1910,1916,1917,1933,1942,1947,1956,1959,1961,1970,1975,1983,1988,1994. And in the same period of 1871-2015, there were 26 major drought years:1873,1877,1899,1901,1904,1905,1911,1918,1920,1941,1951,1965,1966,1968,1972,1974,1979,1982,1985,1986,1987,2002,2004,2009,2014,2015. Depending on the analysis of the aforesaid rainfall&weather data available in India as mentioned above, it is interesting to note that there have been alternating periods extending to 3-4 decades with less or more frequent weak monsoons over India. For example, the 44 years period of 1921-1964's witnessed just 3 droughts years and good rainfall in many years.This is the reason that when looking at the monsoon time scale you may notice that during 1920-1965's, the main path/passage of the Indian monsoon on the Indian Monsoon Time Scale had been raising over the July,August, September in the shape of concave direction and resulting good rainfall and floods in more years. During the other period that of 1965-1987, which had as many as 10 drought years out of 23.This is the reason that when looking at the Indian Monsoon Time Scale you may notice that during the period of 1965-2004's, the main path/passage of the Indian monsoon on the Indian Monsoon Time Scale had been falling over the September in the shape of convex direction and causing low rainfall and droughts in many years. Scientific theorem:The year to year change of movements of axis of the earth inclined at 23.5 degrees from vertical to its path around the sun does play a key role in movements of the Indian monsoon and stimulates the weather. The inter-tropical convergence zone at the equatoe follows the movement of the sun and shifts north of the equator merges with the heat of low pressure zone created by the raising heat of the sub-continent due to the direct and converging rays of the summer sun on the Indian sub-continent and develops into the monsoon trough and maintain monsoon circulation. Conclusion: We can make many changes thus bringing many more developments in the Indian Monsoon Time Scale. GANGADHARA RAO IRLAPATI Email me: girlapati@aol.com WhatsApp me: 91 6305571833

This is my story as a 20 year old boy fighting depression and my choices. It all started when I was forced to migrate to Nellore from Chennai as my parents were in search of better educational standards in the school I study. But what they were really interested in, was to replace all of my extra-curricular activities with books, so I'd turn out to be a total geek and start the same old man-machine cycle. The cycle involves getting a high-paying job, serving as the ATM for a family for several decades, leading another descendant to starting this whole thing again and of course die a seemingly meaningful death. Ever since I reached Nellore, I felt my sub-conscious telling me all the time that it was not the right place for me. We landed in a creepy house, home to lizards, mosquitos, frogs, cockroaches, moths and what not. I got diarrhoea within a few days of staying but somehow my parents seemed to like the place. The school I got admitted into had a cemetery right behind it. All of these were definitely not good signs. I left the school within a year of joining after pleading my father. The next house we moved into was comparatively expensive but that's much better than a house of horrors, isn't it? I got admitted into a much smaller school but that's better than a big school with a bad omen, isn't it? Although I was satisfied that I could keep the past aside and move on, I always felt incomplete. Ever since I watched Dhoni hit the six and thus win the world cup for India, I kind of became a daydreamer. I either used to imagine myself hitting the six or taking the last wicket of my opponent team and winning the world cup in the end. I always used to request my father to help me join one of those cricketing academies. In reply to that, he would either hang up the phone or divert the topic. A few years passed and my high school was done. My parents immediately suggested on preparing for the JEE-Advanced test and joining a secondary school that'd coach me for that. I had to say yes and had to regret saying it for the following two years of my life. The secondary school had nearly 11 hours of classes a day and I used to feel hungry everyday on my way home. I performed extremely underrated and my parents used to yell at me at will, reminding me about the amount of money they paid so I could study and the problems they faced as kids. None of that got into my brain as it was already pre-occupied with un-fulfilled dreams. I didn't even come close to qualifying JEE-Advanced and that very thought made me feel worthless. In the end my mother developed anxiety issues whereas my dad developed short-temper issues, all of this as a price for migrating from Chennai to Nellore. I was heartbroken of the fact that while many other teens of my age were out there preparing for their U-19 trails and some of whom were playing the U-19 world cup and thus the IPL, I was aging really fast into probably a helpless old man. I joined a small under-ranked university and my parents were not too amused with that. Everyday they used to lecture me on how their relatives and my fellow-mates made it to prestigious institutes while I had to settle for something small. From that moment on, I got addicted to the pokemon anime which I was watching back then. After I saw the main protagonist Ash Ketchum loose one pokemon league after another, a spark got lit deep inside me. I wouldn't say it was much but It reminded me of myself and my failures. I felt like I was watching my story. So I kept watching of the hope that someday he'd win and that would change my fate as well. In the meantime I was able to convince my father into joining me in a cricket academy. Although I felt like things were slowly going in my way and I was going to do something extraordinary, I eventually realized that I was too late. My age criteria for the U-19 trails confirmed that. It tore me apart. In 2019, the spark that had lit itself in my mind years ago became much brighter as I watched my favorite protagonist Ash win his first championship after loosing six. A dream that lasted nearly 2 decades, reality! That gave me hope that maybe, success is nearing. This gave me a bit of confidence preparing for my do or die U-23 trails. But just as I was so anxiously waiting for my trails, the lockdown came as a party-pooper. Finally, I realized what my second chance was. I realized that my dream of playing for India was already done and had to be replaced by a new one. I decided that even if it means that I'm going to play for a different nation, I'll not give up on my dream. I planned and I executed. I got the highest package ever offered in my university but didn't settle for temporary satisfaction. I passed the IELTS test with flying colors, developed a really high profile on my CV, pleased my parents and am looking for my next country to land on.

A #raindrop is all i need to give life to my seeds withering owing to the #ClimateEmergency Remember the fires? the California wildfires the Australia fires... the fires in Argentina... the fires in the Amazon? the fires everywhere...! all an indication, of a burning Universe at the verge of extinction #ClimateActionNow

You never know what will come tomorrow: new difficulties or a new victory This story of a new life began in early spring, when a carefree medical student working part-time as a nurse heard about the quarantine measures. For someone the pandemic turned out to be a strong blow to health, for someone to finances, but for me personally, the pandemic turned out to be a «second wind». Every reader will ask how it turned out to be a «second wind». Everything is initially simple - I changed my life, which I dreamed for so long. Let me introduce myself, I'm Farhod Kholikov, I'm from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, I am a 4th year student at the Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute and this is my story about the role of the pandemic in my life. Let's get started Reading. To be honest, during of my boring life I've read about 7-8 books, not including in this list the literature that each of us reads at school (Pushkin, Gogol, Bulgakov, Shakespeare, Exupery, Hugo, etc.). I was not particularly distinguished by my love of books, because I was one of those people who write myself. While still in school, I wrote poetry and wrote stories. But the pandemic has drastically changed my "dislike". Leafing through the pages of social networks on the Internet, I came across an amazing dystopian novel by G. Orwell "1984". I was so carried away by reading this novel and amazed by it. I began to search the Internet for other similar novels. The next was A. Burgess's «Clockwork Orange». These two novels made me think about being, human essence, the mistakes of consciousness and worldview. Then I started on Fitzgerald's «The Great Gatsby», the denouement touched my heart and I could not hold back tears. Reading led me to the second stage Social network. After several novels, I began to write notes for myself in the form of reasoning about the world, about the value of life. My girlfriend accidentally read my notes and insisted that I open a channel in Telegram (a social network like WhatsApp in the CIS) and publish my notes there. At first, I was against, "who wants to read my mind?". She convinced me. I started writing, looking for interesting facts, videos, pictures and music from the Internet and publish them on my channel. People liked my publications. I noticed the strangeness - people began to share my posts, and they scattered very quickly, but few people subscribed to me. I was not discouraged, and began to spread even more. Now I have 36 subscribers, but views of my posts range from 200 to 500 people. For me it is a victory Sport. Even in the 1st year of my studies at a medical university, I had a desire to start going out to run in the morning, but every day I put off until tomorrow, Monday or the next month. It has continued until the pandemic (4 years). Quarantine measures were strengthened in the spring, people were forbidden to go out. At the same time, I was reading The Great Gatsby. In the end, there was Gatsby's daily routine, where I saw the Sport item. Soon at the end of spring, the quarantine was lifted. Without hesitation, I bought a bike via the Internet and started my morning exercises on May 27. I got up early, prayed and went outside with my new bike at 4:30 a.m. It was dark, but nothing could stop me. The first 500 meters were the most exciting. I finally got down to something that I had dreamed about for a very long time, and there were thoughts in my head: “How long will I drive on the first day? When will I be exhausted?" I set a goal to get to my institute, which was located 3.5 kilometers from my house. On the first day, I did not reach it. But this failure gave me motivation to achieve results on the second day. I still go out early in the morning, and in addition to cycling, I started to do pull-ups on the horizontal bar (now 20 times) Religion. The last and very important victory for me is my faith, worldview and understanding of the values of life. The book - the Quran (consist of 114 suras), also led me to this. I am a Muslim, and for us the most important source of knowledge is the Qur'an, where the orders, rules and goals in the life of every believer are sent down. My favorite point in religion is learning. God loves those who do not stop in development, who improve every day, who get to know this world and science. As a child, my grandmother taught me 5 suras. Now, thanks to the pandemic, I learned 10 more. The suras are written in Arabic, which in turn gave me an incentive to learn a new language. I have not yet started this, now I am studying Spanish. I want to travel the world. Spanish will help me to visit South America, Europe and get to know this world better, learn the culture and traditions of different nationalities The pandemic played a great role in my life, thanks to which I shaken off the dust and started growing. Now I have a goal - to receive the Nobel Prize in the field of medicine, and I will go to it. I know that the path of life is full of difficulties, and I will come to my goal

As an African leader to be, I identify proper management of natural resources as an opportunity or rather the best approach to promote African intra-trade which will, in turn, unlock agricultural potential in the entire African continent. Rapid urbanization is indeed taking place all over Africa although most African countries still endure numerous challenges like adverse climate change which hinder agricultural potential. Depending on the situation, climate changes can have either positive or negative effects on the environment, people and agriculture. As a leader in a bustling African metropolis, I have to approach this situation in an innovative way to ensure that climate change challenges are solved through appropriate management of natural resources. Generally, adverse climate changes in African countries have caused havoc and hunger since time immemorial and this situation is yet to change. Mismanagement of natural resources has greatly limited the potential of agricultural sectors in various economies entirely in Africa which has prompted global inter-trade while crippling African intra-trade. The African continent is globally ranked top for its great heritage in natural resources and I am a firm believer that if these resources are utilized appropriately, vision 2030 would be a real deal and not farfetched. Climate change challenge which is a great impediment to agricultural potential is as a result of Africa not conserving its natural resources like forests which are water catchment areas and trees which help attract rain. Harsh climatic conditions which at times cause either drought or floods in Africa will be prevented if natural resources are not abused for selfish gain but instead well managed by respective authorities to sustain African intra-trade. Cartels and corruption which are major threats to Africa's agricultural economy make management and sustainability of natural resources difficult. I recognize efforts by African leaders to boost African intra-trade. For instance, “In March 2018, African countries signed the African Continental Free Area Agreement (AfCFTA) which is a commitment by African countries to remove tariffs on ninety percent of goods, liberalize trade in services and address a host of another non-tariff barrier. If successfully implemented, the agreement will create a single African market with not only enormous financial potential but also the enormous agricultural potential of over a billion consumers with a total GDP of over $3 trillion. This will make Africa the largest free trade area in the world” (Songwe, 2019). This is a good move, although much needs to be done. My Innovative approach would be, centralization of the management of natural resources and agriculture i.e. from the country level to continental level as this would be the true basis of reviving and promoting African intra-trade. For example, the African Union could consider establishing a body and formulating policies to govern natural resources in entire Africa as this would ensure sustainability. I, therefore, conclude that natural resources must be well managed and preserved in order to tackle agricultural challenges in Africa, promote African intra-trade and unlock agricultural potential in the continent. REFERENCES Songwe, V. (2019, January 19). Intra-African trade: A path to economic diversification and inclusion. Brookings. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/research/intra-african-trade-a-path-to-economic-diversification-and-inclusion/

https://www.mycoronachronicle.com/post/pressured-time-during-the-coronavirus March 25, 2020 Today I watched the news while I drank my morning coffee. Watching news is now usually a most-of-the-day thing and “morning coffee” no longer a very meaningful phrase since I don't notice anymore when I cross the line between morning and afternoon. That's because the days — now weeks! — have started to stretch like chewed gum. Yes, it's been weeks. Who knows what day it is today? At the very least, admit it, we've started to squint and ask each other, “Thursday? No … Friday?” It doesn't matter anyway. It's officially day 14 of the COVID-19 pandemic and we're starting to see how little almost everything matters. I'm talking about things that mattered hugely up till now, or even just in February. I don't need to make a list because anyone reading this already knows every item on it (bus schedules, tax deductions, if your sports bra has 3-way stretch, who won “The Voice” — let's just say everything that isn't how much food you have in the house and whether that tickle in your throat means anything). An interesting thought: how many of the small things, which we were so consumed by until so recently, have stopped mattering because we now have truly big things to worry about … and how many never did matter? Already we're embarrassed by how we used to fret over them, though it's only been weeks, if not days. I want to do this because I see myself and everyone I know changing. I see my country changing, and I want to set it down while it's happening instead of afterward, when so many of the details will be lost. So let's start with my second revelation, which is that not only are we changing, and no matter how much we may resist, this pandemic will change us deeply and permanently. Even if some of us will avoid getting the virus, none of us can avoid being changed by it. I know dark times lie ahead but I hope some of the changes will be positive. Inevitably we'll look back on the arrival of the coronavirus with sorrow, probably anger, and maybe even rage, because every one of us is going to lose someone or something. And there will always be questions about how many of those losses were avoidable. But will we also look back and say, overall we're the better now for it? Will we say, we wouldn't have wished it on ourselves but it improved us —- as Americans? As humans, even? It's possible. But, of course, we can't know yet. As with all catastrophes, some individuals and groups are rising fast to the challenge, already growing from it, becoming heroes: we can see this in our health care workers, in some of our leaders, the people who deliver groceries to us, collect our garbage and recycling, the neighbors who call to ask if we need anything. Who among us will grow through this particular disaster? This crisis is occurring everywhere, so although it isn't everywhere at once, in a real sense there's also no running away. Because it too is on the move. When I think now about what I could have done to prepare. Me personally. I could've stocked my house better, gotten a separate freezer. I could have made sure all my outside business was taken care of, my work caught up. We all could've done those things. We could have asked our leaders, “what is our level of preparedness if this virus comes and is as bad as it is elsewhere, or worse? What can we do now to prepare, just in case?” Some people did do that. But most of us didn't. Today is March 25. I live in New Jersey where there are 4,402 confirmed cases of corona virus. The U.S. now has 54,453 cases but no one takes that number as fact because there's been so little testing, and it started so late. Whatever the real number is has to be higher. It's easier to count how many people have died of it: 737 nationwide, 62 of them in New Jersey. The storm has hit and we are getting wet and we can't escape. So we huddle in our houses and a lot of us try to look at the upside. We're warm and fed, today anyway. Spring is here, and it's great not to have to go to work. Except the street outside is empty and no planes fly overhead and streams of people keep walking by with dogs and strollers like they're headed to a fair. Something is off. This week, and it's only Wednesday, I've gotten so many things done: read three books, written two short fiction pieces, started this blog today. I've been on social media, cooking up a storm, watching movies. I've been cleaning the whole house, reorganizing closets, painting my bathroom vanity … all things I don't do enough of normally, or have been meaning to get to. But underneath, we know this is no vacation and we can't seem to really set that aside, no matter how we distract ourselves. We're all sad and scared and full of dread. Alone in our houses, we have never been so connected.

The world was ending. I knew this, as I was ushered onto the spaceship. I was speaking to those who were leading me, I was emphatic. It didn't matter. "They will be all right." The space people said. Once on the spaceship, I found myself in the most vibrantly green park I had ever laid eyes on. Ferns, perfectly cut grass, and trees with softly rustling leaves surrounded me. There were other people with me, unconcerned with what was going on on earth. "But, the earth is in trouble." I insisted, "We have to save everyone!" "They will be fine." Said one of the other humans, a singer I recognize. I want to stay in this park, and hear her sing, but I have to go. I have to do something for the earth. I find a computer and research what is going on on earth. A news outlet confirms that Mars will crash into Earth in forty eight hours. I run to those in charge, "We have to save them, they will die!" "They will be fine." "They will be fine." - I awoke from this dream during one of my first weeks in quarantine. All of my friends worked on the frontlines, in both customer service, and in medical clinics. Two of whom worked for a manager who had said of COVID19, "It's just like the Y2K scare." I had responded by pointing out that Y2K hadn't caused the cancellation of sports or school. Two of my friends were working for someone who was not taking the pandemic seriously, as I sat at home. It was clear to see what the dream had been saying: I felt that everyone I loved was in trouble, while I was safe. The guilt was overwhelming some days. I depended on daily calls from my boyfriend, almost daily calls from one of my best friends who was a nurse, and my fifteen pound dog Maverick to help get me through. I also learned the value of self imposed schedule, paying attention to diet, and being sure to find things to keep my mind busy. I have begun doing yoga, kickboxing, and going for a run on a daily basis. I have hand sewn several masks for myself (I don't feel like they are good enough quality for medical personnel), and my boyfriend even bought me a kit which allowed me to build an electric guitar, a goal I have had for a while now. Rather than wallowing in guilt, I have begun to find gratitude for what I have now: time. Time to pursue the creative goals I have. Time to spend with my dog. Time to practice activities which will increase my fitness levels. Time to write query letters for a novel I've written. Time to work from home to help the protests currently going on in the United States in order to bring about change to the criminal justice system. Some of these pursuits are fun. More are important, even if not easy to consider. Writing, and posting, and signing petitions, and filing complaints against multiple police departments are scary. It's scary to take a stand, but it is absolutely necessary that we do so. Now, while we are home, while we have the time, those of us with the opportunity and availability must take advantage of it in order to speak for those who can not as easily speak for themselves. On that note, I am encouraged by those who are protesting. I am so proud of the fact that protestors are still keeping COVID19 in mind, they are trying to keep proper distance, and they are wearing masks. They are holding signs, and they are speaking out and speaking up. I am proud of this movement, and I will work for their good and their rights from home. I stand with them, even if I cannot be physically with them. COVID19 has fundamentally changed my life, for good or bad. And much like Alice, we have changed multiple times since this all began; we can no longer pretend to be the things we were. And really, why would we want to?

Yes it's so nice when you're trying to get a new life together and you've got a million things running through your mind like; how to market yourself in a diverse market and how to fund myself for this new change in career focus that I'm embarking on, when the flu hit me and sent me straight to the toilet. It's never fun! lol So here we are now a few days later and I still feel crummy. I didn't get a wink of sleep and all I can do is sit and write which is a good thing right now. For 15 years it has taken me to strengthen my back and get myself to where I can sit up and write for awhile without too much pain providing I sit up a straight as possible. That gets hurt some too at times and then I take a good break. Good thing I get up frequently to stretch my limbs! But in all honestly the flu has me writing. I'd love to be helping someone right now. I wish I could offer my services in support work. I loved my PSW position with Paramed Oakville. But that was 18.5 years ago now. Wonderful people to work for and my job was fulfilling and my patients delightful. Last night, I laid in bed and thought about many things and the one question came to mind was, "How many people have a version of the flu right now?" I guesstimated that probably in my city at least 300 people. Thank goodness I'm not in need of the ER. I feel for the people who do. Well, I just needed to say Good Morning to you and I hope you're feeling well! LOL Thanks for the chat! :)

I am a very flawed person. No, it's true. You might think I said this so people can make me feel better about myself—which I don't completely deny as it is probably right—but I have also recognized that a long time ago. I have flaws, things about myself I could probably repair. But sometimes I don't want to do that, because if I do change my flaws, then I won't be myself. Does that even make sense? I've always been a shy kid. It took me quite a long time to overcome it, and it's still in process, too, but I'm slowly changing. Worse, I'm also introverted, which really doesn't help my case. I rarely like people and crowds. How does one overcome one's shyness if one does not even want to change it? I'd been worried about that for a long time before. Consequently, I worried for my future, too. I can't do anything, I rarely want to do anything. I don't really have anything I am good at. I'm like this, how could anything happen to me? What would I be? Another one of my flaws: passiveness. And indecisiveness. I remember, when I was supposed choose my major, I ran around in circle. This, or that? Do I even like studying? (The answer to that is no.) Why do I even want to go to university? I should've gone to a vocational high school instead of a regular one and gotten a job afterwards! Why did I decide I want to be ordinary—whatever that means? I'm a lazy procrastinator—that's another one of my flaws. (Writing this is another form of my procrastinating.) University won't sit well with me, would it? Well, it really doesn't sit well, not really. I tend to put things on the last possible minute and made the work even harder for myself. And it just clicked that I want it changed. (To be truthful, it never really click like that. I just wrote that to be dramatic.) I don't want my flaws to make my life harder than it is. So I try to change it and I'm getting there. That's when it hits me. I realize, sometimes, change is gradual. There is no need to force change onto yourself—might work for some people, but it doesn't for me. (People that told me to change only serve to annoy me and make me even resistant to change. I'm sorry, people.) You know when they say that you have to want to change? Don't worry. Don't feel bad even if you felt comfortable, even with your flaws. It's you. Unique, original, you. Sure, you might be a horrible person, people might not like you, but if you don't want to change, hey, don't start changing. Might backfire. Of course, that is unless you murder people. Goodness, I hope not. I used to beat myself up over my unwillingness to change. But, again, change is gradual. Worrying about that is practically useless and only serve to bother you. Life is always changing dynamically, and one day it will even change into death for all of us—sorry for the sudden grimness. And if you don't want to change, it's okay. There's no need to change yourself over what people think to be your flaws. Sometimes people made you think that your flaws need to be changed, and that's where we went wrong. The first step is to want the change, not to think that you want the change. And you'll know it when you actually want the change. Good luck in life.

I often find myself getting a haircut when it's just the length I want it. I often find myself wanting to go home when I'm on my dream vacation, halfway across the world. I want to change my name, move three states away, quit my favorite sport, and then move back home again, just so I can repeat the same exact process. I'm hungry. Hungry for something new and exciting, something a little meatier than what I'm used to. Or maybe all I want is for that meat to alternate between being cooked just right, and giving me the meanest stomach ache of all time. See, I've been in touch with my sanity and lack thereof lately, and I think my heart has ADHD. Not me though; we want different things. My heart tends to yell at me, demanding something. It's a needy little brat sometimes. Yet the second I give it what it wants, it spits it back out at me, a crumpled dollar bill being rejected by a vending machine. I've never really had a best friend. I've been extremely close with people, but never really locked in that sense of commitment. My neck shone bare, as the other third grade girls would wear their shiny heart necklace alliances. One half of the silver heart boasted “Best,” the other bragged “Friends.” If you were lucky, you'd get to join and turn it into a group of three, adding “Forever.” I often wondered if it would still count if I bought the necklace set and then wore all three myself. Society pointed to no. I was never that bothered by it, though. I had my friendly faces in the hall. Ironically, I often found myself having the most connection with my teachers instead. What terrified my third grade self was the last of the three words that hung on the girls' necks: “Forever.” When I thought about my forever, I wanted it to contain faces that I had yet to meet. I wanted unpredictability and constant shifting. I was never into having one best friend. I didn't like all the strings that came with that, regardless of whether they were good or bad. I was never into the obligations of the known, of the expected. Although (surprisingly) more than my fashion sense has changed since then, I still like being string-less. My utter indecisiveness has surfaced time after time, as a boyfriend becomes an ex, then a boyfriend, then an ex, repeating for an entire year. The words “I don't know” like to loop around my head and encompass my heart. Not because I have a lack of opinions, but because I have conflicting ones. I'm on the debate team this year and the hardest person I have yet to face is myself… I get Last Speaker every time. It seems that with all this moving around to different beliefs, styles, friend groups, I got divided somewhere along the way. I think just last week I accidentally left a little piece of me at the bus stop, and the week before, one at my neighbor's house. So whenever a gust of wind comes, everything plays out a little differently. Being constantly and blindly divided often immediately elicits a negative connotation, but in my opinion, it's more worth it. It's healthier. I have covered more ground than a lot of my friends because of my addiction with this drug of unadulterated change. When you close your eyes and throw yourself up in pieces into the air, that gust of wind is what more people should be letting guide them. I have no clue what I will be doing one year from now, let alone three. Truly, I have no clue what I will be doing this weekend. I might just pick up learning Sign Language again. I might just dye my hair blue and hang up Pink Floyd posters on my wall, leather studded gloves and all. It's taken my whole life to accept the fact that I, collectively, am a scattered and shifting animal. I am ruthlessly anxious for everything that the word “new” elicits. Dangerous as it is, scorned as it is, I find consolation in the rhythm of diversity. My heart feels warmed when sealed and stamped in an envelope of the unknown. I will continue to fill my days with rash decisions and blind dates. I will pledge to embrace the rain, but then open my umbrella a few minutes in. For the beauty of contentedness is not in finding one place you're happy and just hiding out there. It's more of a culmination of times and people and feelings that you find with an unexpected gust of wind. I often land with my insides on my outside and my outsides all scratched up, but somehow, for the past seventeen years, I always land on my feet.

In the short amount of time I have spent on this small planet we call home, change is something I have never been fond of. Unfortunately for me, change is everywhere. Even the tiniest amounts of this thing, such as plans being postponed, sends me into an endless spiral of panic. One of the first big changes I faced was in fourth grade when I moved from one elementary school to another one nearby. The schools were a mere seven minutes away from each other, and I lived in the same house so I still saw all of my old friends frequently. Despite this, I cried for at least the first week at my new school. I felt hopeless. Fortunately, there were fewer tears in my initial transition from elementary to middle school as I had friends who were transitioning with me. At the end of 6th grade, my friend group and I drifted apart and I was whisked into a new friend group entirely. While being in this group, I was transformed from the bright, colorful person I was into a far more introverted one. My entire personality changed, but I wouldn't admit that I was scared. Bows were swapped for hair dye and my daily use of eyeshadow and mascara suddenly ceased. I regularly shopped at Hot Topic instead of H&M. The most drastic change from that era in my life was the spontaneous decision to chop off the ponytail I donned every day since first grade. I didn't know how to feel at first, the decision was partially based off of the vast majority of my friend group's decision to cut their hair as well. I was unsure of it working on my naturally curly hair, but that was the first long-term spontaneous decision like that I have made, and I do not regret it. The scariest change that took place in my life by far happened in December of eighth grade. Naturally, I was in denial of it happening leading up to this change. It was the last thing I ever wanted to do and caused many hours of sobbing in my bedroom, refusing to face what I eventually had to. I was rightfully skeptical at the beginning of the process of moving, as the topic has come up many different times in the past and never fell through. Sure, I moved houses a couple of times, but nothing as drastic as this. I considered the tourist trap of a town I lived in my home for over thirteen years of my life. Not to mention, I felt like I had finally fit in for the first time since my old best friend and I were inseparable. As much as I begged and pleaded, nothing could stop my move from one tourist trap to another: humid South Carolina to sunny California. Despite many of my classmates being jealous of my move, I had never been more terrified. The first day I saw the bright yellow moving truck in my driveway was the day I certainly could not bear the thought of being at home. The usually happy color taunted me, showing me the unavoidable darkness in happy times. The drive there took five agonizing days of staying in different hotels and eating cheap fast food. I felt so alone. I had a panic attack when registering for my new school. It was about half of the population of my old school, so I feared being singled-out by teachers and my peers. My tremendous amounts of social anxiety grew more and more, and I clung to the first friends I made there, which probably wasn't the best decision as I quickly grew annoyed of most of that group. It took me a really long time to be able feel like I fit in at all here here. I had to push myself out of my comfort zone to join clubs and make new friends. The best decision I have made to this day is auditioning for the plays my school had to offer. Not only did this get me out of my shell even just slightly more, I have met the best friend I could ever ask for. She makes all of the trauma I suffered so much more worth it. I could not be more grateful for the life I have at this moment in time. Change is still a scary thing, but it was worth it to finally face my fears.

It all began along a vibrant street, blossoms everywhere, foliage scattered all around, the brisk frost felt so quiescent, so serene to my soul. How amazing the sky with spiraling cotton clouds, the grass with dew sparkling like diamonds. This divine art of nature tranquilized the mind and body of pedestrians. I was flabbergasted by the nature that I forgot to notice something. Something horrendous indeed. Standing across the street, under the umbrella of sunrays, were four kids with four bags but with “two different stories”. Two kids pale as they seemed, stood in quietude like a phantom, lost in their ocean of thoughts with cries of hopelessness coercing them to drown in abyss. With ceaseless search for hope in their eyes but seemed that destiny stabbed them in the back each time they combated to attain their dream. This never gave them the intrepidity to standup afresh. Their legs quivered, dreams faded and despair engulfed them, compressing them under a state of bewilderment. They knew not whether their future existed, while holding a rugged, patched bag gathering garbage from the surface which enveloped them. While the second story comprised not of rueful souls, bleeding hearts, sorrowful smiles, gloomy eyes and unforgettable tragedies but it accompanied gladsome smiles, blissful lives, faithful hearts and buoyant eyes. The two kids in this tale possessed school bags and books, wore uniform and steadily directed their way towards their school with ambition to strive and chase their aims and dreams. I wish to see the spark of hope in their eyes, in the eyes of the hopeless and grieved ones. I wish to replace garbage bags with school bags, trash with books and brooms with pencils. I wish to see grinning souls and auspicious smiles, instead of lachrymose eyes under the shadows of terror and agony. I wish to glorify each melancholic soul with a resolute vision to thrive and carve their destiny. And I wish them to love life and cherish it like the staunch, enthusiastic children. This example doesn't only represent those four kids but makes us realize how millions of innocent and naive souls kill their dreams, bury their futurity and abolish their destiny due to the lack of opportunities and chances bestowed upon them. This is what I hope to achieve in my lifetime; to make this a “single story” of hope, struggle and passion for fulfilling their dreams. To win the spark of aspiration and contentment in their eyes, and make them flourish their fate and predetermination. I hope to make them construct a promising future, a prosperous life, a determined generation and an ambitious world! I dream to put together the dispersed puzzle fragments into one intact piece of warm fuzziness and beatitude. And dream to make it a “ONE SIMILAR STORY” for each and every juvenile on this planet by healing their sundered futures with the only key to close this door of inequality and poverty, ‘education'.

Life is a choice, whether you intend to be beneficial or not. Having the potential to make the world a better place doesn't make you a better person, but your choice does. Many people want a beautiful world but less do the actions to create one. To serve in making the world a better place is my choice. I've found the authentic value of life and happiness in helping others and I believe, the humanity will never embrace the ultimate harmony if we keep on glorifying words over actions. One should start and empower others. One should take a small step then move forward to the big one. This is the story of my experience in moving to 'the big step' of my life! It all began when I was in freshman year of college. I joined my first charity activity in freshman year and at that point, I realized that actually I can do little things that might create some changes. Growing up in the center of metropolitan city, Tangerang, made me witness a huge distortion and undesirable truth of people's low education and life quality in my hometown, Pontianak, once I moved back there. Henceforth, I dedicate myself to some volunteering activities, concerning in education, which consequently create my awareness of the problems and potential in the community. Language is bound with culture. Indonesia, as a country full of diversities, has approximately 724 languages and most of the people, especially in rural area, growing up speaking their local language before learning Indonesian Language . Hence, to people in rural area, having skill to be able to communicate in English is quite difficult to achieve while on the other hand English is really useful to broaden the horizon. I was thoroughly disappointed knowing there is no club for students in my university to develop English with their peers. Their willingness to learn English is slowly vanished. The problem prevailing in my university acted as a stumbling block for youths to grow and create progress which subsequently led me to create a difference.I've dedicated myself to teach English voluntarily and it's a great pleasure for me but I know this small step I took is narrow and never sufficient. Therefore, I and my friends from Joint Untan Organization developed an idea to create Tanjungpura University Model United Nations (MUN) Club so the students can improve their English and sharpen their critical thinking towards international issues at once. We managed to create this club from zero. We acted dauntlessly by joining the biggest MUN Conference in Indonesia, iMUN, which made us sacrifice a lot of effort since our university didn't give much financial support. We did fund risingall by ourselves and I even took a part time job. The reasons why I wanted to join iMUN conference, because I realize I'd gain a lot of knowledge and exeperience gained from the best national MUN Conference, know precisely how MUN works and build relations with other participants so they can share their experience and support the new Untan MUN Club. Our goals were successfully achieved! A month after iMUN we opened Untan MUN Club enrollment, our friends from iMUN Conference help to promote Untan MUN Club through instagram so we get recognized by other MUN Clubs. I was chosen as the (Secretary-General) and we've managed the weekly meeting and daily discussion in our Untan MUN Club online group. I've accomplished the little step to make betterment. From my experience in developing MUN Club, I've learnt that I'm a person who can develop new ideas, do tremendous effort for myself and others, able to bring back the experience and apply it to my community immediately. Serving needs a graceful heart and soul. We can serve people even through simple things like smiling however, we'll serve better if we do it with heart and high self-quality because our actions will subsequently affect others' future. Teaching English and Buliding the MUN Club in my University were some smalls step that I took to help making this world better, at least in the community around me. I never thought those things would help making the biggest change in my life that I've exeprienced so far.Those small steps led me to become a grantee of one of the most prestigious fully funded exchange scholarship, UGRAD Exchange Program, that enabled me to spend one semester in the US. It was one of the things in my bucket list that I thought I'd never achieve. It was a big step that I took which not only changed my life but also people around me. For my experience wouldn't be mine solely. Zoroaster was right "Doing good to others is not a duty, is a joy, for it increases our own health and happiness."