General Interest

How Music Influences People in Many Ways 

By: Derrick Kao

Music is something many human beings love and enjoy in their lives. People often listen to music with headphones on, on the radio, in the gym, or at concerts! Music has affected many people’s lives and society culturally, emotionally, and morally through generations. At Bayside High School, students and staff shared their perspectives on how music influences them in many ways.

Music influences people’s emotions in a positive way. People enjoy listening to music, while having a healthy mindset. According to the British Association for Music Therapy, music can help people in need of interactive and social needs. It mentioned, “Aiming to help mental health patients address issues they can’t address through traditional therapy, music therapy relies on a sensory stimulation to provoke a positive response to certain situations.” The attempt to help patients with mental health issues may not entirely rely on traditional therapy, but instead, music therapy is more effective through sensory stimulation.

Similarly, there are people in Bayside High School who listen to music to adjust their mindset. For example, Mr. Briankha, a teacher in the Music and Art Department, said, “Music is such a big influence on me. It changes my mood, and the first thing I do when I walk in is put on some music, which sets up my vibe.” Since Briankha teaches music and art in Bayside High School, he incorporates what he teaches into his own emotions. In a similar fashion, Bayside High School sophomore Ryden Gunnerson said, “I listen to music everyday when I study, workout, or on the train. I listen to music to get myself in the zone and do what I have to do.” 

Beyond personal enjoyment, others have mixed feelings towards music. Different genres and rhythms can bring out differences depending on what feelings a song is trying to convey. According to the article, “The Psychology of Music: How Different Genres Affect Mood and Emotions”, written by Indigo Music, jazz music emphasizes the mood in a more emotional and chill vibe, which impacts mental states. It stated, “Jazz has been found to enhance mood and creativity, providing a sense of freedom and spontaneity. The genre’s ability to convey deep emotions through instrumental solos and dynamic shifts makes it a powerful tool for emotional exploration and expression.” The genre’s compound rhythms can bring a sense of passion, from nostalgia to delight and happiness. Jazz is not just a style first brought up in the 20th century, but it’s also a tool for emotional expression.

Some people can relate to it personally.  There are students who listen to certain genres to make them feel better. Bayside High School junior Rose Lundenberg said, “R&B music helps me reduce stress and when I’m overthinking too much.” This shows that mood may depend on the genre one listens to, and change the way a person feels. Another student, High School sophomore Abiud Sean Kothapally said, “Music has been part of my life for a long time. Ever since I was little, everything I did was music.  When I annoy my parents, it’s music while I’m singing and playing instruments. Music has given me opportunities, such as playing music in church, and it has been a part of me forever!” Not only does he listen to music, but he also performs it, making it essential to his life. 

Music plays an important role in many people’s lives. Whether it helps them calm their emotions, it’s clear that music has a powerful influence on individuals. As seen through the experiences of students and staff at Bayside High School, music is more than just sound; it’s a key to connection, and self-expression! 

New Year New Me : Tips on Maintaining New Year's Resolutions

By: Dylan Uludag 

New year, new me. Right? New Year's resolutions are a timeless way of starting the year off in a positive way, with new goals and changes that are meant to act as a fresh restart to one’s life. However, these resolutions are easier said than done, and many people often struggle to achieve the ones they have set for themselves.

Research has found that only a small percentage of people complete their New Year’s Resolutions. According to “Research Shows Only 9% of Americans Achieve Their New Year’s Resolution,” written by Paige Gilmar on KX News, a study by the Fisher College of Business revealed that “23% of people quit their resolutions by the first week, and 43% quit by the end of January. The study goes on to say that only 9% of people actually achieve their New Year’s goal.” With findings showing that only nine out of a hundred people go on to complete their goal, there must be an underlying reason for the lack of achievement and commitment. 

One reason why people often quit their New Year’s resolution is because their goal is not specific enough. Some classic examples are to lose weight, get fit, or to eat healthier. While these are goals, they are too broad without any real way of tracking progress or defining success. Due to these factors, people often let go of these goals with no direction. 

A more efficient and effective way to achieve goals would be using SMART goals, which stand for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound. According to “New Year’s Resolution Mistakes to Avoid” written by Colin Butler on BreatheStrong CF, he advises, “For instance, instead of a vague goal like wanting to move more, set the goal to walk for 30 minutes every day or set a step goal for the day instead.” 

This demonstrates the difference made by setting SMART goals compared to broad ones. While moving more sounds like a good resolution, it becomes confusing when it comes time to actually work towards it. Move how much? How often? Instead, a goal like walking 30 minutes every day is easier to approach and implement, and easier to achieve.

Another way to make New Year’s resolutions more achievable is by limiting yourself. Wait, what? Yes, limit yourself. Limit yourself to one or two resolutions, which may make them easier to achieve. Trying to tackle multiple resolutions may be too challenging, and could lead to the completion of none of them. 

According to “7 Tips to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution”, an article written by Cultivating Health in the University of California - Davis Health, “Pick one, maybe two things you’d like to focus on and go all in. This sets you up to achieve specific goals instead of feeling like a failure for hitting none of them.” It is as simple as it sounds. Just pick one or two main resolutions to really focus on instead of having multiple. In turn, you’ll likely see better progress or results as you can put all your energy into them.

While New Year’s resolutions may be challenging, they can become achievable with one or two SMART goals. By implementing SMART into your resolutions and focusing on one or two of them, New Year’s Resolutions may become easier to work towards.

From Science Fiction to Reality: How Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Becoming Part of Our Lives 

By: Jasmine Zheng

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become increasingly more popular today in the digital age with the new technology invented. Science fiction influences our imagination for how AI can affect us. There have been films in which the AI has commonly been depicted as an evil force that threatens human existence such as the calculating machines in 2001: The Space Odyssey. This raises the question of ethics: should AI machines be trusted with human-like intelligence and how far should we go with AI?

On the other hand, AI is portrayed as a benefit to society in the works of Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot which depicts AI in a positive view where robots follow strict rules to protect humans. These scientific films make us wonder how AI could impact the world. Now it is no longer just in books and movies but in our lives, shaping how we live and work. 

AI has become a tool we use in our day to day lives. For example, smart assistants like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Google Assistant have been used by millions of people worldwide and some of the functions include tasks like setting reminders, controlling smart home devices, or just answering any questions that we have. AI also plays a role in creating personalized examples, such as recommending products on ecommerce stores as well as tailoring what we see on social media based on our preferences. AI has also been used in the workforce industry. In healthcare, AI tools have been used to diagnose diseases, analyze medical images, and even predict patient outcomes. These are just a few of the different ways AI has been used in the world today. 

Vedant Jaggi, a sophomore at Bayside High School says, “I believe AI is beneficial to the future. AI could help humans in many different ways such as brainstorming ideas, making jobs easier, and even giving advice about your personal wellbeing.”

In addition, Matthew Dong, also a sophomore at the school, sees AI in a positive way saying, "AI is used by the military for high grade weaponry and it hasn't killed us yet, so I think it's pretty good."

Others, however, have mixed feelings about AI. Bayside High School junior Sophia Ouyang says, “The intersection of two of my interests, AI and art, fascinates and unsettles me at the same time. From taking a glimpse of a computer generated image and comparing to a hand drawn artwork that one spends countless hours on, AI is really changing the game.”

 Although AI may depict perfect strokes, what truly matters is what the illustration conveys. AI could never surpass the sincerity, truth and progress behind one’s own artwork.

Similarly, Bayside High School sophomore Celina Zheng is skeptical about AI. She says, “AI might make things more efficient, but I'm concerned about how much control we're handing over to machines, and whether we'll still have jobs or even our privacy in the future."

While the future of AI is unknown, there are predictions for what the future of AI will look like. According to  the article, “As AI Spreads, Experts Predict the Best and Worst Changes In Digital Life by 2035” by Janna Anderson and Lee Rainie, experts anticipate a “striking improvement”  in healthcare and education meanwhile fear massive unemployment, and the spread of misinformation. 

AI is no longer just a fantasy but an integral part of our lives. As the technology continues to evolve it can provide exciting new possibilities as well as create serious challenges. One thing we know for sure: AI is here to stay and its impact is going to keep growing. 

The Influence of Social Media on Student Life 

By: Justin Li

Social media plays a big role in student life, allowing users to communicate, share information, and create content. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat help students stay connected and learn. However, while it offers benefits like quick access to information and peer interaction, it also has downsides, such as distractions, procrastination, cyberbullying, and negative effects on mental health.

Social media impacts the brain by increasing anxiety and triggering Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). Many students find it addictive because likes and comments create a reward cycle, releasing dopamine and encouraging continuous scrolling through the app that they are using.

According to the Cleveland Clinic article, “FOMO Is Real: How the Fear of Missing Out Affects Your Health”, Dr. Amy Sullivan explains, “With the advancement of social media, people are feeling like they can’t escape FOMO. We have access to everything 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” This constant access makes it hard for students to avoid FOMO, leading to anxiety and negatively impacting their mental health.

According to the Child Mind Institute article, "Social Media and Self-Doubt", writer Rae Jacobson quotes Dr. Emanuele. “If they’re struggling… or suffering from low self-esteem, they’re more likely to interpret images of peers having fun as confirmation that they’re doing badly compared to their friends.” This shows that social media can pressure teens to appear perfect, leading to stress and low self-esteem.  

Bayside High School student Claudia Targonski says, “Social media distracts me from my work, and fills gaps of not wanting to do anything throughout my day.” This shows that social media is often used to pass time rather than for productive activities, leading to procrastination and poor time management.

However, Bayside High School Junior Tanaiya Guerrero shares a different view, saying, “Social media makes me learn certain things about myself, like how I perceive people and things such as what I like and don’t like without actually being there.” This suggests that while social media has downsides, it can also help students explore their interests and understand themselves better.

Since excessive social media use can negatively affect students’ mental health, it’s important to find ways to limit its impact. Many students recognize the need to manage their screen time to reduce anxiety and maintain a healthier balance.

Bayside High School Junior Ashton Fang says, “I limit screen time, delete apps, and turn off notifications, but I cannot seem to effectively curb the use of social media. Thus, I chose to instead use my discipline because currently it's the most effective technique for me.”  This shows that self-discipline works best for controlling social media when things like screen time limits and app deletions don’t help.

Similarly, Bayside High School Junior Bernice Dai states that, “A strategy I use to limit the time from social media is trying to find something to do or just go outside for a walk. I find creative ways to cure my boredom: by painting, hiking or spending time with my family.”  This shows that trying to find something offline, like hobbies or activities, can help reduce social media use and create a healthier balance between screen time and real-life experiences.

Social media has pros and cons. It helps students learn and connect, but can also be distracting and affect mental health. The key is balance—setting limits and taking breaks. As technology grows, using social media wisely keeps students focused, healthy, and connected.

Paper VS. Computer - The Benefits and Detriments of Both

By: Tazrian Taimur

As time has progressed, we have transitioned ourselves from writing on paper to doing everything digitally. These changes have affected the entire world. Paper has been around since 200 B.C., and the earliest computer was created in 1946.

To go more in depth with the origin of paper, it was made in Lei Yang, China, by a Chinese court official. According to the American Forest & Paper Association, “The History of Paper”, the process included mixing hemp, mulberry bark, and rags, with water. Then it was mushed up, pressed flat, and laid out in the sun to dry. After 800 years, news went around Europe about the invention of paper. Soon paper mills were made and goods such as books were sold. 

A famous invention was the Gutenberg printing press. According to the BBC, “How the invention of paper changed the world” by Tim Harford, Gutenberg was able to make mass copies and get ink on the papers. Up until the mid 19th century, trees were used to create paper. 

The invention of computers was initially purposed for calculations, but as time went on, the purposes of a computer had increased and slowly started to replace the need for paper. 

With the transition to computers, work became more efficient, allowing people from different countries to collaborate and share ideas. From Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, “Research: Technology Is Changing How Companies Do Business” by Sarah Magnus-Sharpe, the article expressed how technology advances communication and creates a shift in the flow of production. With paper, it would have taken more time for the information to be sent, but technology allows information to be shared more efficiently. Although technology is becoming more advanced, it can take away several job opportunities. 

With the transition of using paper to technology, there are other things that are impacted other than efficiency with work and communication. One of them is the impact on the environment. From Rutgers University, “From Paper to Digital - Helping the Earth Breathe Easier” by Adrian Cameron and Kenia Montijo, due to paper being made out of trees, the large use of paper makes climate change worse. By using less paper products and opting for electronic replacements, it can help with the problem that paper production causes. 

Bayside students and teachers have their own perspectives and opinions on the use of technology and paper. Mrs. Boccuzza, a Bayside High School English teacher expressed, “I like the ease that technology and computers allow for in lesson planning, document creation, and collection of student work. However, I feel that paper format helps me to gauge my students' understanding of concepts in real time without the use of AI support.” 

Andrew Tung, a Bayside High School junior, shared, “Computers are useful in certain classes and have proven helpful but they also allow for easy distraction. Paper is better because it focuses more on skills used in the real world, the computers will make you lazy.” 

Mr. Wong, Bayside High School Public Speaking teacher, elaborates, “I think there are good and bad qualities. When you write things on paper, they stick better. There is something about writing on paper that allows students to retain information. Online allows for easy revision and more accessibility. A major problem with using digital is using laptops versus phones. Phones make formatting difficult. It’s always better to use personal computers and laptops for professional matters. Plus, students should be familiar with the apps provided like Google sheets and Google docs.” 

Bayside High School senior, Nadia Bakhtari, says, “Although digital learning is convenient for teachers and students, I think that it infringes on students’ personal time. Before using digital tools, students could go home and use their textbooks to complete the assignments given to them in class and then shut their books. Now, teachers post work even after school hours and students are expected to check their emails and Google Classroom very often. This takes away that idea of shutting your books and putting your homework away. I think that digital learning blurs the line between time at home and time at school and definitely contributes to students’ excessive screen time. Even with this in mind, I’m not entirely sure that the negatives outweigh the positives since students can take steps to solve those issues themselves—there can be arguments in favor of either opinion.”  These responses convey the idea that both paper and computers both have their own pros and cons.

Paper and computers both have their own advantages and disadvantages. The evolution of the change has taken time but has been a major change. Some people may still prefer paper for memorization while others enjoy the efficiency of using computers. 

Real Editing in Life: Genetic Engineering

By: Tasnia Zaman

Envision a future where genetic issues are no longer existent, foods are pest free without harmful chemicals, and scientists can rewrite DNA with one’s request and simple programming. This future is closer than ever before, thanks to genetic engineering technologies like CRISPR, ZFNs, and TALENs. Though these advancements offer incredible possibilities, they also raise serious ethical questions that need reliable answers before anything goes downhill. All of this may have you wondering, “Should we set limits to how far scientists can go in altering genes, and if so what should they be?”

To explore these questions, the basics of genetic engineering, and controversies surrounding it will have to be broken down. This idea brings hope, but they also question ethics, and irreversible consequences. To add some perspective, Bayside High School students and staff have shared their thoughts on genetic engineering, whether they’d take on the risk(s) and, if they believe restrictions should be in place. By examining science and the stance people have taken on it, we can better understand the balance between an advanced future and our own responsibility.

Opinions on genetic engineering at Bayside High School are mixed. Some students see it as a way to eliminate hereditary diseases. “If we can prevent suffering, why wouldn’t we?” Others worry about unforeseen health risks, believing modifications could create new problems. When asked, Bayside High School sophomores Edward Oh and Dimitri Angelidakis responded with an opposition to genetic engineering for their future families, claiming the risks outweigh the benefits. Science teacher Mr. Ban acknowledges promising data about this topic but argues designer babies are unethical. He and others oppose altering traits like “eye color, height, or hair color.” These perspectives highlight the importance of balancing innovation with ethical responsibility and how society should manage genetic tampering.

Genetic modification is seen in many fields beyond medicine. One being in the agricultural sector. In India it has been used to address nutritional deficiencies, with Golden Rice being a key example. This rice was engineered to produce vitamin A, to combat widespread deficiencies in developing countries. Scientists achieved this by inserting genes from corn and soil bacterium into rice seeds. Concerns about its environmental impact, and power given to biotech companies still remain. Gene-editing tools like CRISPR have been employed to improve crop traits as well. Chinese scientists have used CRISPR to increase the sugar content of tomatoes by 30% without increasing their size according to Nidhi Subbaraman in her writing named "It’s a Gene-Edited Tomato, and It’s Sweet" for the Wall Street Journal. These applications show the impact of genetic engineering in a positive light since it satisfies people without affecting produce too much.

Medically, gene therapy offers potential cures for genetic disorders by correcting defective genes. For example, recombinant human insulin which is produced by inserting the human insulin gene into bacteria for treating diabetes. Despite the positives produced by genetic modifications, opinions on it vary in real life, especially among the student population. When it comes to its application in humans, Bayside High School Sophomore, Jasmeet Kaur believes that while genetic engineering has benefits, strict limits should be set to prioritize safety and prevent unintended consequences for future generations. She argues that alterations should not extend to reproductive cells to ensure modifications are not inherited, stating, "I don’t think that it is ethical to modify genes in your future kid to fix genetic diseases because it’s still dangerous." On the other hand, Ana Cordoves-Diaz, another Bayside High School Sophomore acknowledges the potential of genetic modification but remains cautious, suggesting it should only be used in life-threatening cases. She states, "Unless it’s something crucial to save a child’s life, then it shouldn’t be done due to the risks involved." Their perspectives reflect the broader debate on balancing medical advancements with ethical responsibility, having one side show strong opposition while the other with more of a lighter opposition. 

In conclusion, genetic engineering holds the power to transform medicine and improve lives, but its ethical and safety concerns cannot be ignored. Being able to balance between innovation and caution is the best thing that can be done, ensuring science advances without compromising people's ethical values. As perspectives remain divided, ongoing discussions and responsible applications continue shape the future of genetic engineering.