Burnt Out

As junior Iris Bailey plans out her week, she takes note of all of her upcoming quizzes and tests. Some weeks, multiple tests or quizzes occur in different classes at the same time. With the long hours of studying, these are the times that Bailey begins to lose motivation. Like Bailey, it is easy for many students to lose motivation and for frustration and procrastination to take over. This negative reaction to the onset of more and more school work is known as academic burnout. Here’s how to stop it. By Rachel Shultz, Print Editor

Sophomore Janelle Macler is another of the many students who struggle with academic burnout. “After a couple months of school, it’s just more of the same things and the fresh excitement of the new year wears off,” Macler said. According to a poll on the Harbinger’s Instagram, burnout is hitting students especially hard this year, with the new combination of online and in person classes. “A lot is expected of you,” Michelle Gambs, psychotherapist and parenting coach, said. “It is my belief that the expectations of teenagers are extreme in 2020, without a pandemic, much less with one.” With each day bringing unexpected challenges for both students and teachers, the workload seems different than previous years. “Generally, in the spring I would feel burnt out, but due to Covid I think it started much earlier than normal and I already feel a lack of motivation,” Sydney Taylor, sophomore said. “With the academic pressure it’s hard to maintain the high level of motivation expected.” It can be difficult knowing that breaks seem far away. “In September, the school work is harder and more time-consuming than the work in August, so it is less fun and interesting to do,” Bailey said. “It’s also hard to stay motivated in the middle of September when fall break is so far away.” When school work piles up, students may find themselves sacrificing free time for more enjoyable activities. “I think the pressures that [you all] are under are pretty extreme,” Gambs said. “What you don’t see ahead of you is what college will be like. It won’t be eight classes a day, followed by practice for a few hours, followed by homework until 11 o’clock. It won’t be like that.” While burnout is a challenge for most students at some point, there are ways to encourage motivation. “I take a step back and look at what I’ve dealt with this year or the last so far,” senior Sam Clayton said. “Knowing I’ve made it through worse, it tends to put what’s in front of me into perspective.” Making sure to stay social and make time for friends can also increase motivation. “To motivate myself, I talk to my friends and family and reduce distractions so I can focus,” Macler said. Setting aside specific time to do other hobbies can help students regain motivation. “I stay organized and try to look forward

to upcoming breaks,” Taylor said. “I also try and give By the Statistics from the Center for Disease Control, PEW Research Center, Challenge Success, the American Psychological Association, and New myself time to York University do other things to help reset my mind and Numbers motivate myself again.” Gambs agrees that it is important 78% of teens 35% 61% of teens are under to take time don’t get of students do nothing to a lot of pressure to throughout the enough sleep manage their stress get good grades day to do the activities that you enjoy. “If you like to go fishing, go fishing. If you like to go running, go running,” 75% of high schoolers describe themselves as often or always stressed by school work 5.8 out of Gambs said. “It’s a balance of work and play. It’s not just avoiding work.” When feel66% of students are worried about being accepted into college 48% of students do 3 or more hours of homework every night 10 is the average stress score of a teen ing burnt out, it can be easy account,” Gambs said. “There needs to be for students to brush off assignments and things put in if you expect things to come procrastinate on completing the work. out.” “When you’re at the place of making a Activities such as breathing exercises and decision, I would encourage you to think meditation can help students calm down and through how you feel with each alternative,” recenter themselves to find new motivation. Gambs said. “How will I feel if I go with A? “Breathing in and out three times out of How will I feel if I go with B? Be honest with your nose will calm the sympathetic nervous yourself, and feel that instead of run from it. system,” Gambs said. “If you breathe in and Take a minute to just ask yourself that quesout through your mouth, it will activate the tion, and be in those feelings, because they’re sympathetic nervous system, and it’s fight or instructive.” flight.” If motivation is harder to come by, set Especially with the new challenges of this goals, and reward meeting them. school year, staying motivated and engaged in “To motivate myself, I try to think about school is important. how good and proud of myself I will feel at “The whole world is in a crisis right now, the end of the school year if I work hard,” but when you’re in a crisis, its paramount to Bailey said. take care of yourself,” Gambs said. Sometimes, I treat myself by getting a special Students who keep a positive mentality meal out or a new piece of clothing if I work and give themselves the breaks they need hard.” are well on their way to beating academic Gambs has coined the term “exquisite burnout. care” to describe the way one should treat “It’s doing whatever those kind things oneself. This includes being kind and gentle are for yourself that you enjoy, if you expect to yourself, sleeping well, and eating healthy yourself to perform and give out,” Gambs food. said. “Be kind to yourself in the words that “Think of it like a gas tank or a bank you say in your head.”

A Q & with Wassif Ali

By Jake Young, Guest Reporter Q: What is it exactly that you do with your music?

A: I work with samples. I’ll go to YouTube or something, and I’ll look for stuff that, hasn’t really been heard before, or it’s just really obscure. I’ll take that and put that in my software. I’ll to make it into something that is quite different from the original piece. And then I’ll just add whatever I think needs to be added, whether it be drums or a baseline or extra random things on top that I think might sound good, regardless of what instrument it is.

Q: What type of music do you make?

A: I would say, when I started out, it was more, I guess hip hop influenced. Definitely a lot of lo fi hip hop, influenced, that was the type of stuff I was making. I was like 13 or 14. But now it’s a lot more like electronic I would say. It’s more like ambient music.

Q: When did you make your first beat?

A: I’ve been messing around with recording software since I was nine or 10, but they weren’t really just songs they were more like a recording experiments. I would just record myself. I would take my laptop and using the really bad built in microphone, I would record myself banging on weird things. And then I just put it into Audacity or something. It wouldn’t sound good, but I just thought it was fun to record this thing and then put this effect on it and then layer them all together.

Q: Who or what inspired you to start making music?

A: So before I started making beats I had I listened to a lot of 90s rock music if I’m being honest, a lot of Boomer music, and then I got into Radiohead when I was 11 or 12. And that kind of, opened my mind up to different types of music that weren’t just rock music. It wasn’t just guitar, drums, bass, vocals. They made music with rock elements, but they also brought in various electronics and a bunch of weird instruments. I really liked that. And then that kind of inspired me to start looking for more electronic or hip hop influenced artists.

Q: How often do you make music?

A: I try to make something once a day, regardless if it’ll go on a project of mine, I’ll just try to make something.

Q: What new experiences have you

had that you wouldn’t have had if you didn’t start making music?

Photo provided by Wassif Ali

Hip Hop,” which was I think two years ago at this point. They have a YouTube channel and they also run a little blog. I submitted one of my EP’s for one segment that they had and then I got put on their blog. And I was on a couple radio shows, which is kind of trippy.

Q: How long does the whole process take you?

A: Sometimes it will be an hour, sometimes it will be a week. It just really depends on the song. If it’s really simple or I’m really inspired that day, it is a really fast process. If I get in that flow state where I knock ideas out really fast, it’ll be within a couple hours. Sometimes the song is really complicated or I’m just not feeling it that day. It could take a really long time to finish the song. One of the tracks of my upcoming album took me I think 10 months to finish.

Follow Wassif on: Twitter & Instagram @abstrctprjxns Spotify & Apple Music @Abstract Projections Soundcloud & Bandcamp @abstrctprjxns

Halloween & By Mary Demarco, Opinion Editor Quarantine

Halloween might not look the same as it has in previous years. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, the regular traditions leading up to Halloween may have to be post-poned for another year or changed in order to stay safe. Here are a few options instead.

Pumpkin Patches and Apple Orchards

To stay safe, it might not be the best idea to go to crowded pumpkin carving contests. See who in your friend group or family pumpkin patches or apple orchards this year. can make the best jack-o-lantern. If they aren’t immediate family, “Usually I go to the apple orchard, going to pick out pumpkins share pictures of your pumpkins and vote on who’s pumpkin is the and carving them is something I also enjoy,” sophomore Lexi best. You could also indulge in caramel apples and apple cider to Podgers said. make up for the lack of apple orchard visits. Instead, buy pumpkins from local markets or stores and have

Haunted Houses

Physically you might not be able to go to haunted houses and experience jump scares this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get the same feeling from something else. Scary movies are a great substitute. “The Shining”, “Poltergeist”, “Frankenstein”, and “IT” are all classic horror movies. If you’re looking for more cheerful Halloween movies, some

Trick or Treating

Halloween revolves around trick or treating, so what will we do this year? Trick or treating may not be an option this year but, organized trunk or treating with a few neighbors may be an option. Trunk or treating is where a small group of people get together like they would if they were for trick or treaters and then open up the trunk of their car for a few people to trick or treat. People who

Candy and Treats

Something that won’t change due to COVID-19 are the Halloween treats. We all need some decadence in our lives so don’t feel bad about if you need to go out and buy Halloween candy at the grocery store! This is a time where most people take the opportunity to eat as much chocolate and sweets as possible. One idea you could try is Rice Krispy Treats. These are very fun because you can shape them! recommendations are “Hocus Pocus”, “The Nightmare before Christmas”, “Ghostbusters”, “The Addams Family”, “Beetlejuice”, and “Halloween Town.” “I’m probably just going to wear my pajamas, eat my candy, and watch Harry Potter all night,” sophomore Maddie Dohm said.

decide to trick or treat, could incorporate masks into their costumes by dressing as ninjas or doctors, for instance. You could also try and decorate your masks to go along with your costumes. “I think people will leave out candy and there will be more superhero costumes or costumes that incorporate masks,” sophomore

Jasmine McKinnon said. You could turn them into ghosts and add icing eyes. Just imagine baking these treats with fun Halloween music in the background and a glass of apple cider. We also can’t forget about a classic mug of hot chocolate. This delicious drink could honestly be made any time you want but during Halloween, they’re for sure a staple.

Averie Clark and Reagan Daugherty, sophomores in costume. “I love Halloween because you get to dress up with your friends and have a great time,” Clark said. photo provided by Averie Clark Grace Noble, sophomore posing with decoration. “My plans are to chill at home with my family and watch Halloween movies, or to go to a social distanced party with friends,” Noble said. photo provided by Grace Noble Kendyl Eber, sophomore shopping for her 2020 Halloween costume, “I’m going to be sleeping and watching movies this Halloween,” Eber said. photo provided by Kendyl Eber.