Category: Junior Literary

Hello everyone, and welcome back to my blog! This week we’ll be talking about some of my favorite characters in Death Note and why they are my favorites. If you know me or have seen all the posters and manga in my room/dorm, you’d know how obsessed I am with this anime. Let me give you a little background on how much I love it. If I’m counting correctly, I have about 4 Death Note shirts, custom Death Note air force ones, 4 posters on my wall, two paintings, all 13 volumes of the manga, a massive manga wall I made myself, L and Light nendoroids, an actual Death Note (prop), seven pictures set up around my literary station, I have listened to the musical MANY times, and I have re-watched the whole anime at least nine times. My friend Elizabeth is also making me custom Death Note jeans which I am SUPER excited for. Anyways, let’s get to the characters!

SPOILERS AHEAD

5. Ryuk

Ryuk is the monster-looking guy with the heart earring in the photo. Specifically, Ryuk is a Shinigami, known as a god of death within this series. The actual death note used by Light was initially Ryuk’s. By purposefully dropping the book into the human realm is the start of the whole plot. After Light takes claim over the book, Ryuk is confined to a radius around Light. He makes it clear that he is only here for entertainment and will not do anything to help Light, nor will he do anything to purposefully hurt Light. I like his character because of how goofy he is. This dude does handstands for apples… I mean, that’s pretty funky.

4. Misa Amane

Misa is one of the most popular and most hated characters. In the storyline, she serves as an accomplice to Light’s reign as Kira. She also has a death note of her own, which means she has a Shinigami too. Her name is Rem, and she was going to be on this list, but Ryuk just beat her. Anyways, Misa seems pretty dumb on the outside and lets her love for Light cloud her logical thinking and individuality. This sets up great moments for her when she actually does things that are smart and help Light in the long run. She is very devoted and funny to watch on screen. I also really like the choice of clothing they choose for her.

3. Mello (Mihael Keehl)

This chocolate chomper is the counterpart for Near and one of the replacements for L. My favorite part about Mello is the part of L that he represents. He is impulsive and loves his sweets. Like L, he is absolutely brilliant and isn’t afraid to do risky things. On the other hand, he lacks the patience and deeper understanding of different ways to do things. The creator also very much did Mello well with his character design. He is literally so cool and even made a Shinigami AFRAID of him. He also rides a motorcycle which automatically gives him cool points in my perspective.

2. L  (L Lawliet)

The greatest detective to ever live, L is the second-most main character in the series and shares the same IQ as our leading character, Light. L is the counterpart to Light. Though they are counterparts, L is on the side of the justice system and works as a detective to chase down and prosecute Kira (Light). My favorite thing about L is how funky he is and how deep his character actually is. Most watchers think he’s somewhat weird but definitely brilliant. They also assume that everything he says is true and that he’s a good guy because he’s on the police’s side. This is entirely wrong, and that’s why I love him so much. We only ever get to hear what he is honestly thinking maybe twice in the entire show. Everything else is articulated to further his progress in the case. He is incredibly manipulative, but most watchers are distracted by Light’s openness about his manipulation that they entirely miss L’s manipulation. You thought he was trying to catch Kira for justice? Oh no… this is a game of pride for him. The ICP even says in the beginning that L only takes on cases he has a personal interest in. Throughout the entire show, we never once see him sweat. Even in the intense tennis match with Light, he never sweats a drop. This exhibits how wonderfully L conducts himself to project the image he wants. His complex character is one of my ALL-TIME favorites. I could go on, but I will save you the time.

1. Light Yagami (Kira)

This pen-slinging maniac is none other than “The God of the New World” himself. Light Yagami is our main character in the series. He is the son of the police chief Soichiro Yagami. Like L’s character, there is a lot of symbolism, development, and depth in Light. As watchers and readers, we get to dive deep into his psychology and really know what’s going through his head, unlike L. Also, unlike L, he lets his genuine emotions show, and sometimes they overwhelm him. My favorite part of watching Light is how easily he can maneuver around dangerous obstacles brought about by the “good” guys. He can develop detailed plans and execute them efficiently if he is doing them by himself. Light’s biggest downfall was deciding to bring on people to help his cause. I think the writers did a fantastic job with this show and Light.

 

Thank you all for reading this week. I hope you enjoyed and stay tuned for next week’s blog! <3

I believe I have come across an unbelievably important discovery. If only I could figure out what that is. For months now, I’ve felt like I was on the brink of a massive discovery of some kind. I think I’ve finally figured out what it is. Well, except I still have no idea what it’s called.

Make no sense? Good! If it made sense then it wouldn’t be a massive discovery (unless it’s physics but that’s nothing new unless it’s quantum physics because everything about that is new). Honestly, it’s been a bit since I’ve written an absolute mess of a blog. So, naturally, here’s a huge mess of a blog.

I’ve recently watched Demon Slayer. It was pretty good. I’ve also been playing Minecraft again, which is fantastic. I want to skip school and go home early this week, specifically on Wednesday afternoon, because a game that I’ve been waiting three or four years for is finally releasing on Thursday. It’s called ‘Elden Ring’, and was produced by the same company that made Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro (among other fantastic games). It’s their first truly open world game and I’m extremely excited for it. Sadly, not going to be able to do that, since I have to ‘strive for academic success’. I literally write. This does not actually require school. 

I feel as though I’ve been restricted to a genre. I have to write insanity. I have to write mental illness. The only things I feel are ever worth presenting are the things I write about those topics. I never share anything I really write for me. It’s so different from everything else, and I’m not sure how it would be received. Yes, I enjoy writing about mental illness, but it’s such a consuming thing to write about. Once you become “known” for it, you can’t write anything else. I want to show off what I’m actually proud of, but I feel as if it won’t be enjoyed. It’s ridiculous. The product of work I’ve done for myself cannot be presented because I believe I might be the only one who likes it. That’s the point! I write those for me! They’re mine! It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks so long as I enjoy them!

But, even then. I guess, to some extent, it comes down to a fear of being known. Nobody knows who I really am. It is all a culmination of a million lies that I’ve told so that people like me. I can’t even use my real voice because nobody would be able to hear it. I’m not allowed to be me because “I” am invisible. So, I’m doing something weird now. I’m writing something with the intention that it is bad. I’m writing trash. It’s meant to be trash. It’s just a bunch of dumb jokes that I thought would be funny that I’ve loosely tied to a barely comprehensible plot. I know it’s bad, but it’s me. It’s all over the place, quick paced, and seems to lead nowhere in particular. 

I’ve tried so hard to entertain others that I had forgotten to take the time to actually be myself. I had become so consumed by other people that I had become someone I wasn’t, and done things I have been less than proud of.

I want to share an image with you, if you’re still even reading. Do you know what a red spider lily is? They’re my favorite flower. Now, make them a light sky blue. It’s snowing, and there’s a white fog. It’s not really freezing, it just feels cool. This place is my escape. It’s not much, but it’s mine. It’s inspired by a few of my favorite songs. Though I won’t share those yet.

So. We’ve made it this far. We’re almost to the end of the school year. Summer is really just right around the corner, even if it doesn’t seem or feel like it. I’ll be graduating next year, regardless of what school I end up graduating from. 

I’ve been compared to air, wind, and even fire several times throughout my life. I’ve always understood why they thought that. They can only see the air I’ve taken from others, the wind that I stole. I even took fire. What am I really, then? If I am not these, then what am I?

I am ice. I am cold. This isn’t a bad thing. It’s me. I don’t rely on people. I don’t require social interaction. I could easily live with next to no actual direct human interaction and I would be perfectly fine. 

But that which I’ve taken cannot be like that. The wind and air must move, and the fire must burn. So, I think I’d like to return that which I’ve taken. I’d like to keep myself to the ice. 

Not many people are born as a natural wallflower. People seem to trust me with a lot of things quickly. I never forget the moment someone comes to me for help. Every time, every problem. Every fear, hope, and sorrow. Even every joy. But, I’m immature. I forget that my actions have consequences, I act without thinking. I hurt people.

I’m not good with people. I never know what to do. I never follow my own sense. I can’t care about someone without hurting them. No matter how much I want to, I always end up hurting them. 

If I had a time machine, I know exactly what I would do differently, and what I would keep the same. But, that’s not possible. All I can do is make sure I learn from my mistakes. Apologizing is pointless if I don’t. 

So, now I’m here. I’ve come to a ‘beginning’.

My brother and I have always loved watching this show. Whenever I feel sad or things seem overwhelming, I turn to this show for it’s corny and hilarious jokes. It’s become my comfort show since moving into my dorm at MSA. And as of recent, I can’t go a day without watching an episode. Welp, let me introduce you to my favorite characters.

#5 Jessica Day

There are a number of reasons why the “main character” of this show is has this low ranking. I would’ve put her lower, but her corny jokes really balance the dynamic of the show. There are times where she doesn’t make the best decisions. One thing I do like about her though is the way personality doesn’t really change. She’s so nice and caring to everyone she meets and softens the hearts of the people around her. The best way I can describe her is a diluted Jules from, “Euphoria”.

#4 Nick Miller

A.K.A the bum of all bums. Nick is kind of a pessimistic and doesn’t really see the light of the world. He sees the world through the lens of a old, grumpy grandpa and I really love that about him. He’s incredibly lazy, but finds new innovative ways to be lazy. I also love that he’s the complete opposite of Jess or “Jessica”. Spoilers, but I really loved the season from where they were dating. Nick has a lovable and stomach curling humor. I would rank him higher, but I hate his aesthetic. Like if he were a real character that I knew irl, I’m pretty sure we would either hate each other, or be each other’s downfall.

#3 Coach

I’m kind of on the fence about this one. Well for one, Coach’s whole thing is surrounded around toxic masculinity. When he first enters the show he’s incredibly misogynistic towards Jess, because of a bad break up that he gets out of. I know that doesn’t justify any of that, but his character development is something I really appreciated throughout the series. He becomes more sensitive and in touch with the women around him. He learns that attraction isn’t everything and builds healthy platonic relationships with some of the women in the show. He’s hard working and eventually has a great personality. Although, the way he sometimes treats Winston makes me angry. I’d still pick him over Nick any day.

#2 Winston Bishop

One of the best characters from the show. He’s understanding, funny, weird, and checks all the marks when it comes to having a great personality. I’m going to use this opportunity to talk about a big nuance in this show. Before coach comes into the picture Winston is there. Up until that point Winston has been very intellectual and opinionated about topics that would come up in their dynamic. Everybody loved Winston and how he would give them great advice and care for them. However, when another black person got added to the show they made Winston the comic relief, or the laughing stock of the show. Nobody respects him anymore and they always make the things he likes or is passionate about seem stupid. Winston deserves better and he deserves to leave the apartment they all share.

#1 Schmidt

The fact that he keeps blowing up on Tiktok should tell you how funny this character is. I really love his sarcasm and how dimensional his character is. He grew up plus size and it really helped to understand why his personality in the show.  I really like that he’s a “ladies man” who is obsessed with being organized and clean. I love he uses his wit and charm as a amour against the world because of the way he grew up. My favorite thing about this character is his relationship with Cece and Jess. Cece is another character in the show who is Jess’s childhood/best friend. He fell in love with her and when he realized that it was like his entire personality hit a 280. There are many episodes of him making fun of Jess, but I really appreciate the episodes where he is just there for her. They have the best most underrated relationship in the show.

When mentioned, most people think of awareness in the political/social sense, but what I am going to write about today is awareness in relation to the human condition. How we, as people, express awareness is something so important not only in close relationships and life, but also in how our actions reflect that awareness onto others. 

When I think about what I want people describe me as, I often think the word aware is what I strive for. Not only in the sense of being aware of other people’s feelings and emotions, but also in the way I take in my surroundings. I hope that I am aware of where I am and the importance of what I am doing. I hope I take into account the people around me, and the different ways they may view the world. 

Awareness to me isn’t just having the knowledge of a certain topic, it is taking that knowledge and applying it to your daily interactions. Awareness is having an open conversation and accepting when you have done wrong. Awareness is sharing the knowledge you have learned and hoping that others wish to be mindful too.  

As a human, I want to constantly expand the way I think of things, and I want to apply everything I have learned and continue to learn to the way I live to be a better friend and human to people around me.

 

Over the course of the year, I have changed massively as a creator. I’ve gone from a desire to represent the concept of insanity in everything I ever write, to a identity-craving maniac who never knows who they are, and now someone who wants to simply create something for the sake of it being. It’s  been a long journey. My personal favorite piece of mine from my first “era” is The Room With The Clock. As for my second, which was riddled with poetry, I do not believe that there is anything that I could genuinely consider my best. As a writer, it was my lowest overall point, a time where greatly lacked inspiration in a meaningful form. Now, I’m excited to announce that for my current status, I have begun a project that I have dubbed “Comet”. 

I won’t be revealing any of the details about it, beyond what inspired it. It takes inspiration from Undertale, Deltarune, and Omori. These are games that I believe hold some of the best storytelling as of yet. Likewise, I will withhold from giving any details about these games either. If you’re interested in them you should play them yourself or find a good playthrough of them. 

Honestly, I believe that I am going into a phase where I can truly be proud of what I create. Though it will come with struggles, such as figuring out how to apply an updated writing style to different fields of writing, I greatly look forward to the future.

That’s all for now! I hope you all look forward to my eventual completion of the first part of Comet, which I’ve dubbed “The Home Arc”. Thanks for reading!

i’m stressed. it’s no secret- you can see it in the bags under my eyes, the extra pounds on my hips, and the playlist that gets repeated at least 12 times a day. i’m stressed; but shockingly, i’m not here to simply complain about it. i want to take the opportunity during this nightmarish time to think of the little things i do throughout the day to help me cope.

1. pray. talking to God throughout the day is one of the only things that keeps me sane at this moment in time.
2. music. listening to it, playing guitar, singing, reciting song lyrics in my head, whatever it may be. music keeps me grounded and gives me a unique, much-needed peace.
3. tv. rewatching my favorite shows has long been one of my most helpful coping mechanisms, and i’ve recently started some new shows that i like a lot and help me get through the day. (cough, oitnb and bates motel, cough)
4. movies. it’s pretty sad that media makes up like 80% of this list, but ultimately, i want to be truthful. and the truth is, movies help me with my anxiety and stress. always have. and there is certainly no exception to that rule during this… troubling time.
5. family. talking to my family is one of the most important things i can do, especially when i’m not doing super well. they mean everything, and they’re always there to remind me that the world is bigger than the deadlines i’m quickly approaching and the science teacher who’s out to get me.

anyway,  these are just some things that are keeping me afloat right now. here’s to getting my assignments and laundry done and going home this weekend. ’til next week!

please, enjoy this random picture of kyle maclachlan that pretty much represents my mental state 🙂

So, its no secret that burnout is an issue among the artistic community, but particularly among literary artists. Burnout, coupled with or even in the form of writer’s block, can be a crippling combination to a writer. Sometimes, it just seems that no matter how many deadlines scream at you, or how many ideas float through your head, or how much time you spend staring at that blinking cursor, the words just won’t come. 

It is for this dilemma that I recommend the solution of passion projects. Now, at first, it may seem counterproductive and even wholly unrealistic to consider pursuing the very artform that is frustrating you as a solution, but hear me out. It can be an absolutely liberating experience to write simply to write. 

I mean no deadlines, no prompts, no assignments, no clear story goal in mind, no planning. Just writing for the joy of the action, for the telling of the story, even if you don’t know what the story is. It doesn’t even have to be a certain structure of writing; passion projects, in the way that I refer to them, often come off as short stories or flash fictions, but they can be anything from poetry to play scripts. Write what you want because, for once, that is the goal. 

I, personally, have accomplished a couple notable passion projects in recent days. If you know me well, you’ve likely heard about my recent experience with the brick wall that is writer’s block. In typical fashion, directly in the prime of deadlines and assignments is when the brick wall chose to manifest. I spent an entire weekend in a cold stop, having just completely run out of words literally mid-sentence while working on my play script. And it didn’t even stop there. I took a break from writing the play script and trying to work of assignments for Practicum; nothing. Tried writing a poem for someone; not a line. Tried my hand at an article for my freelancing job; I could scarcely summon a topic to pitch my editor. 

But later that weekend, when the sun was set and my anxiety had burned out for the night, I looked at the page and found hope blinking back at me in that cursor. From there, it was simply a matter of not waking my roommate as I typed with renewed vigor. I’m still not back fully: my playscript, my practicum assignments, and my freelancing article are all only partially completed. But I now have two short stories of thousands of words that I am more proud of than anything. 

And that means that I have hope again. 

So, I implore you, consider the passion project the next time deadlines weigh you down or assignments ice you out. You may just find a voluntary short story/poem/play script to be nothing short of lifesaving. 

Sincerely, someone who’s finding a tentatively renewed passion. 

Hi everyone, it’s been a while since my last blog post, BUT I promise that I have not forgotten about this. As you all know it is currently February which means that it is Black History Month! We should all use this month to enjoy and appreciate all aspects of black culture. With that being said there is a black history production this Thursday at 7:00 that we worked very hard on, and it would be amazing if you all could join and watch. Your presence is all we need, and your ears are all you need in order to hear our voices and the message that we are trying to get across. It will be a very beautiful production, so tell your friends to come and watch as well. I hope to see you all there.

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!