Tiffany(Yunhua) Zhu, 11/2/20, PD 8, Day C

Tiffany Zhu
Period 8
12/2/2020
Day C
Modern Mythology 2021

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

Ever since the submission of the early decision and early action applications, it was a struggle to get back into the mood of working. I told myself I would take a week break from college applications after those deadlines, but the break turned into a month. The month of November was full of joy and relaxation, the majority of my time was spent with my friends on a Discord call or playing games with them till very late at night. Knowing that I had deadlines coming up, I made an effort to create work sessions with my friends or by myself, but naturally, these sessions became a session of games. This had led to me doing many of my classwork and homework last minute leaving no time for college applications. With the Macaulay Honors deadline around the corner, I began to regret my actions. However, being constantly surrounded by technology did not help either. The temptation to click on the apps Tik Tok, Youtube, or any sort of distraction to keep me from doing work was strong. This was not the only struggle. Quarantine has caused me to lose weight, but I was eating a lot more than I had before. To be cautious, I went to the doctors and took a blood test. The results were that came back were normal. Already being at an unhealthy weight, losing more caused me to be wary. A reason could be that I lost water weight or simply because I was not exercising. Recently, I’ve been trying to procrastinate less by removing distractions and lessen my time on a Discord call. For my weight, I have been try to workout once again to gain some muscle weight and eating more white meat.

How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

I have been using a bullet journal since the beginning of my high school career, but it wasn’t till recently where I began to use it more frequently to keep track of my habits and work. In the past, sometimes I would skip a month of bullet journaling simply because I did not think it would make a big deal. Quarantine has made me realize that my bullet journal is an essential part of my organization. I began to keep track of what needs to be done and my habits. The feel of checking off a box and seeing a fully colored calendar gives me a feeling of accomplishment. It encourages me to keep a routine such as working out and skin care. To get rid of distractions, I would put my phone in the living room to avoid looking at it. Now I tend to work alone to maximize my productivity or work with friends that do not distracting each other to keep each other in check. Recently, I have been sleeping earlier, which increased my mood and has contributed to my productivity. Trying to get into the habit of being productive has had a positive effect on my mental and social wellbeing. 

How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

Seeing my classmates being so ahead in the college process has caused me more stress. This stress leads to procrastination. One of my favorite ways to procrastinate is watching other people study on Youtube. Watching these videos has always given me a burst of energy to study since they made it seem enjoyable and calming. In a way, it relieves stress and allows me to realize that I can go at my own pace. Sometimes I forget that I have my family and friends to support me. Knowing that I am not alone in this process, I’ve stopped comparing myself to others. Sometimes our surroundings can have both positive and negative effects, but as long as you figure out a solution to fight those negative effects. You’ll begin to see the world differently and positively.