History of Ballet!

Apr17
Image from Canva

Image from Canva

In this blog post I will be talking all about ballet!

Ballet was founded during the Italian Renaissance period and was deeply supported by King Louis XIV. In fact, King Louis XIV even performed ballets himself! King Louis XIV founded the first official ballet school in 1661.

No matter where you go in the world, ballet terminology will always remain in French, this makes it easier for ballet dancers to communicate all around the world which technically makes ballet a universal language not just by expression but words too!

Ballet is not just gliding and jumping around a stage; ballet is also a way to tell a story! Many iconic ballet pieces such as The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake tell such a powerful story without uttering a single word. These ballets (The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake) were choreographed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and are still performed today!

Ballet might look easy from a distance but actually takes a lot of strength and practice! In other words ballet is just as much of a sport as it is an art. Ballerinas/ Ballerinos practice difficult moves like turns, jumps, and even dancing on their toes using pointe shoes. All of this takes a lot of patience and dedication even if it just looks pretty on stage.

Now, let’s talk about costumes. Costumes are one of the most exciting parts about watching a ballet. Costumes can really help show personalities and can help explain what’s going on during the performance.

Have you ever done ballet or any other kind of dance?

Comment down below!

Tree Planting at Hillside Park!

Mar6

Photo Taken by my Teacher

On Friday, February 20th, 2026, the sixth graders at my school planted 35 trees at Hillside Park in Durham, North Carolina, as a part of community service. We planted trees because they are an important part of our community as they prevent soil erosion, take CO2 and turn it into oxygen, and regulate the water cycle!

In order to plant the trees, we had to:

  1. Find a spot to plant a tree!
  2. We had to use our shovels to make a pretty big outline of the bucket the tree was in.
  3. We had to dig the hole deep enough into the ground for the tree to fit into.
  4. We took the tree roots out of the bucket.
  5. We had to loosen the roots! (Fun Fact: If you don’t loosen the roots when planting the tree, the roots stay in the same place and when they grow they start choking themselves eventually killing them😔!)
  6. We put the loosened tree roots into the soil.
  7. We covered the roots with the dug out soil.
  8. Finally, we put a donut of mulch around the buried tree roots!🍩

Originally John Sprunt Hill donated the land for Hillside Park to the city. Later, the land was turned into the first high school in Durham that accepted black students. Before that, black students in Durham only had education up until 8th grade! That’s crazy!

Anyways, with Spring coming up, we need to beat the heat! So, next time you’re standing under some shade, maybe look up and be thankful for that great big tree you’re standing under and remember what a big part it plays in nature and your life!

Sleigh All Day!!!

Feb9

Image from Canva

From icy mornings outside to cozy evenings by the fire. Snow days are the perfect time to bundle up, have fun, and sleigh all day.

In this blog post, I will be talking about how to make your day a little better on a snow day.

When the weather outside is frightful, find your own way to make it delightful! Whether your idea of fun is jumping on your couch and reading a book, scrolling, or having fun with friends, you can always find a way to be happy on a snowy day. In other words, sleighing all day isn’t about being busy; it’s about making your own day better.

For example, you could call your friends, build a snowman, bake something, spend time with family, or create a playlist. Just have fun and be happy.

Reminder: These are just ideas, you do you!

So bundle up, and for the rest of the season, just remember to stay warm, be safe, and sleigh all day!

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

Jan28

Image from Canva

Do you like rom-coms? How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days is a MUST watch! It has a funny, dramatic, chaotic,  enemies-to-lovers vibe. This movie is about Andie Anderson (played by Kate Hudson) and Benjamin Berry (played by Matthew McConaughey), who enter two opposite bets that make a hilarious movie.

Andie is a magazine writer who starts a new column called “How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days” that basically tells people what not to do in a relationship. Andie decides to do some original research and tries to make someone dump her by using the best-known cliché mistakes women make.

On the other hand, Ben is an advertising executive and makes a bet with a rival company. The bet is that Ben can make any woman fall in love with him in 10 days. He makes the bet to explain that he understands women in order to win a diamond-selling campaign.

These two people pick each other for this bet, of course.

This is where the real fun of the movie begins. Both Andie and Ben are committed to their bets. Andie goes into full-on chaos mode: she begins acting clingy, planning their future, redecorating his apartment, etc. Meanwhile, Ben is just trying to stay sane with all that Andie is doing; he acts patient and devoted, even though you can clearly see him losing his mind as the movie progresses. This is the peak of the rom-com era.

Will they find out about each other’s bets, or live in oblivion for the next 10 days? This movie kept me on my toes the minute Andi and Ben met each other. I got so deep into this movie that I even forgot it was a movie.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5/5 definitely! I will totally rewatch this movie in the near future!

Would you stay with somebody if you found out they were with you for a bet? Or would you be understanding?

Comment down below!

Education Funding in North Carolina

Jan27

Image from Canva

In this blog, I will be talking about underfunded schools in the greater North Carolina and how you can help!

Many schools in North Carolina don’t get enough money to support their students and teachers. In fact, North Carolina is ranked 48th in school funding compared to other states. This means schools here get much less money than they should. On average, we are about $5,000 behind the national amount spent per student. Because of this, students don’t always have the supplies they need, and teachers often have to buy classroom materials with their own money.

This is a big problem because students are the future. When schools are underfunded, it makes learning harder and puts extra stress on teachers. Some classrooms don’t have enough books, paper, or technology, which makes it difficult for students to succeed. Teachers already work very hard, and they shouldn’t have to spend their own money just to help their students learn.

To help with this issue, we are working on a project to raise awareness and support underfunded schools. We plan to organize a school supplies drive to collect items for teachers and students. We also want to share helpful websites like DonorsChoose.org, where people can donate directly to classrooms in their community.

We know we can’t fix everything, but we believe even small actions can make a difference. By raising awareness and helping provide supplies, we hope to support teachers and give students better tools to learn. Together, we can help make schools a better place for everyone.

The Summer of Broken Rules

Dec10

Image from Sora

The Summer of Broken Rules

Author: K. L. Walther

Genre: Young Adult

What would you do if your family’s summer vacation suddenly turned into a giant strategy game? In The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther, a normal trip to Martha’s Vineyard becomes a week full of surprises, sneaking around, and intense competition. This book made me think about how traditions can bring people together, even when life feels messy.

The story follows Meredith Fox, who is returning to the island after losing her sister the year before. Her whole family is gathering for a big wedding, but the real event everyone is excited about is Assassin. In this family-wide game, each person has a target and has to “eliminate” them with a water gun. As the game goes on, Meredith starts teaming up with new friends and trying to outsmart the other players. The mix of strategy, teamwork, and surprises helps her feel connected again after a tough year.

My favorite part of the book is the game itself. The sneak attacks, alliances, and unexpected twists kept things exciting. I also liked how Meredith learns to enjoy herself again and be part of the family fun. The story shows that healing can happen through laughter, competition, and moments when people support each other without making a big deal about it.

I would recommend The Summer of Broken Rules to readers who like realistic fiction, family stories, and books with adventure, not the fantasy kind, but the kind that happens when everyone gets way too into a game. If you like stories with teamwork, humor, and personal growth, this is a great choice.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars; fun, thoughtful, and full of summer excitement!

Have you read The Summer of Broken Rules? Would you survive the Assassin game? Comment down below!