You should always be your number-one priority. 

It took me a long time to realize that, regardless of what has happened in my life, I am my only constant. It might not be the happiest idea but it is pragmatic. That being said, self-care is essential. 

STRESS

Stress might as well be a prerequisite for high school; it comes with the territory. Discovering what does and doesn’t work for you will get you one step closer to serenity. It’s all about balance. 

“Me time” is crucial. It is important for mental stability and emotional independence. Personal time will grant you that balance needed to gain control over your own life. Listening to music, reading a good book, having a spa day or watching your favorite movies are all good ways of spending time with yourself. Whatever it might be, as long as you could sit alone and enjoy yourself. 

“I read, I meditate, I go to the gym, I spend time with my family honestly, anything that makes me feel balanced,” said senior Clementina Daboin. 

NEGATIVITY 

In this day and age, negativity hinders most people from being authentic. Contemporary society has an uncanny obsession with comparison. An unobtainable idea of perfection is embedded in the minds of most. Having the “perfect” life has consumed most teenagers and this leads to absurd personal expectations. These ideas are ultimately spread through social media. 

While totally separating yourself from online society is out of the question, you should allow yourself to take a break. Take the time you usually spend scrolling through Tik-Tok or watching snapchat stories to do something you enjoy. 

“It’s important to take care of yourself. ‘Me time’ is so nice. Spa days, meditating, journaling, it’s all very beneficial. Treat yourself,” said senior Federica Murzi. 

There is a stigma around unfollowing, blocking and removing people from social media: It’s “immature.” The reality is that it’s there for a reason. If something is affecting you negatively, remove it. While it might be more difficult to remove the negative in real life, it takes two seconds and a few taps of a screen to do it online. It can only benefit you to remove what has a negative impact on your life. 

REFLECT

Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? 

It is necessary to figure out who and what makes you happy, where and when you feel joy, why you feel that way, and how to make it last. The inverse is also key. 

Take your time to figure out what works for you but always remember that it is for you. You should be at the top of your priorities.

“Amor Al Hueso”

By Savannah Carricarte

Senior Savannah Carricarte describes what her art piece, Amor al Hueso, means to her. She shares her real, raw feelings and how they are reflected through her art. 

“This piece represents love to the core of what it is: frightening and beautiful. For me love has been something that always ends in pain. I never had a representation of love, or at least what I thought love should look like.”

“Vulnerability has been a large struggle of mine that I have yet to overcome. Being open about my life, my story and finding the balance of sharing my struggles and not letting them define who I am.”

“Love is something that scares me, it scares me because loving someone allows that person to have you, to strip you to the bone and the possibility of them leaving you as so many in my life have. I imagine pure love to be as if you share a heart, accepting someone for who they are, and seeing all they can be. ”