mental-health – Strings of Thought

The Hearth of Friendship

The journey of high school can be an extremely stressful one, making it very important to have people around you to relieve that stress. People you can rely on, talk to, and joke with. The pressure of high school will weed out those true friends who will stick with you through anything. These friends provide emotional support, help you grow, and enrich your daily life with fun and joyful moments.

My friends are my anchors that keep me steady, no matter how rough the storm gets. More than just a support system, they fulfill the fundamental human need to belong, providing a safe space where I am accepted. They help me feel like I belong and are always ready to help me whenever I need it. I remember feeling on the verge of tears after a harsh comment from a teacher. Just as I was about to cry, my friends surrounded me, pulling me into a collective embrace. It was an unspoken understanding, like they instinctively knew a hug was the only comfort I needed in that exact moment. This single act made me reaffirm why I love my friends so much. It doesn’t matter that we get into silly arguments, because they are always there for me when I need them.

Another thing that I really appreciate about my friends is that they never hesitate to offer their opinion. They are always ready to provide new perspectives without worrying about what others might think, and they challenge me to become a better and more confident person without even realizing it. Moments like these make me think about how friendships affect us beyond just the emotional side, and how these small interactions actually impact me. Strong friendships make a real difference in your mental health. The simple act of connecting with friends can trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, which helps calm the stress response and improve mood. This support system provides essential emotional needs like a sense of belonging and purpose, and encourages better lifestyle habits, whether that be regular exercise or avoiding risky behaviors. I’ve felt this in my own life — being around them genuinely makes me feel calmer and happier.

Lastly, good friends are experts at making your day better with just a sentence. Whether it’s getting mad at the person you currently dislike, cracking a joke because you are sad about something, or just a simple “How are you?” True friends can always make your day more enjoyable by just being there for you, whenever you need them. From the outside, these interactions may seem small, but good friends recognize that these tiny acts of kindness and presence often mean the most when you are having a bad day.

In general, having trusted friends, whether that be in high school or your everyday life, can help you in so many ways. Companions like these will never let you feel down for too long or let you have a bad day on your own. They will support you, help you grow, and at the same time fill your life with a bunch of fun and joyful moments. If you want to start being a good person in life, start by being a good friend. I am glad I found mine.

Echoes of Aletheia

What Happened

This week has been one of the most stressful and nerve-wracking weeks of my life, and it’s not even because of the workload. Some backstory: I worked on this one essay for four days, and I ended up getting a zero on it because it was flagged for AI. My teacher’s and the website’s case: too much copy-pasting.

And she wasn’t wrong; there was a lot of copy-pasting, but it wasn’t from AI. Our middle school teachers used to tell us that as a precaution, whenever you do a big assignment, put it through AI detection websites to check if it shows up as AI or not. Just in case, you know. I did this exact thing with this essay, but I copied and pasted it into the AI checker and pasted the same thing back onto my essay, which I shouldn’t have done. In my version history, it may have shown up as a “large copy-paste,” causing the website to look at it as AI, even though it wasn’t.

Another thing that happened was that I was using a grammar checker to check for spelling and grammar errors. But somewhere in the middle, it started suggesting rewrites to advertise a ‘pro’ plan. I stupidly accepted them without checking what they said, and that’s what made my essay show up as both copy-pasting and AI.

What I Think About It

In the end, all my work showed up as a lot of AI, and my teacher is not ready to believe me that I did not use it because the website has so much evidence against me. It honestly felt horrible to see days of work dismissed as a zero so quickly. I understand why my teacher reacted that way — from her perspective, it looks clear-cut. But what I think is that these websites cannot be blindly trusted, which is what my teacher might be doing. If you put one essay through 10 different AI checkers, it can range anywhere from 0% to 100%, which just proves how varying and inaccurate they can be.

What I Learned

The main lesson I learned from this is not to touch AI or even think about it, even in the form of grammar checks. If I want to do a grammar check, I can use the feature built into Google Docs, not any external website or extension. Also, I am definitely not going to even touch my Ctrl C and Ctrl V keys during any of these assignments. Another thing I learned is that the websites that teachers use for these types of essays do very thorough checks of everything, including version history, similarity to other students, plagiarism from websites, and AI language.

I know why this happened, and it was partially my fault, but I feel very helpless and frustrated, because it was a misunderstanding and complete stupidity on my part. Because everything looked so clear from my teacher’s side, she decided to give me a zero on this assignment, which has impacted my grade a lot.

On the positive side, it is good that this happened in my freshman year. If I have a low grade in this semester and a high grade in other semesters of English, then it will show up as movement, not a random bad grade in the middle of nowhere. I’m glad this happened now, when I can learn from it, rather than later when it could’ve mattered more. If anything, I hope other students can learn from this and avoid making the same mistake that I did 😊.

Navigating the Labyrinth: High School Survival Tips (Part 2)

In this post, I’d like to continue the tips I started last time. As I wrote last time, having a good strategy is key to surviving the challenges of high school without burning yourself out. Here are some more tips that I’ve learned so far.

5. Learn your teachers’ styles.

One of the first things you’ll notice in high school is that no two teachers are the same. Some are super detail-oriented, some love group projects, and some pile on homework like it’s their favorite hobby. Learning your teachers’ styles is important because it helps you adapt. You’ll know how to manage your time and how much effort each class will take. For example, if one teacher nitpicks every little detail and another cares more about creativity, you can split your energy wisely. Spend extra time polishing the work for the detail-focused teacher, and for the creative teacher, focus more on brainstorming good ideas before you even start the assignment. That way, you’re playing to each teacher’s expectations without burning yourself out.

6. Learn When to Say No

Another tip I learned quickly is the importance of saying no. In high school, it feels like everyone is asking you to join something—clubs, sports, projects, even last-minute hangouts. At first, it can feel like you have to say yes to everything or else you’ll miss out, but the truth is, you can’t do it all. It’s okay to take a step back and think about what you actually want to do. For example, joining six clubs might sound like a great idea during the first week, but by the time the meetings and events start piling up, you’ll feel like you’re drowning in commitments. When that happens, not only do you lose your free time, but you also don’t enjoy any of the things you signed up for in the first place. Saying no doesn’t make you lazy—it shows you know your limits and value your time. And when you choose fewer things, you can actually give them your full effort and enjoy them more.

7. Pick Activities You Actually Like

College applications. They’re a huge part of high school, and sometimes it feels like everything we do is just for that. Because of that, a lot of people end up joining activities only because they think they’ll “look good.” But honestly, every counselor and article I’ve seen says the same thing: passion is way more important. If you actually enjoy something, you’ll do better at it, and people will notice. For example, if you love writing, the school newspaper will be so much more fun (and impressive) than forcing yourself into debate just because it sounds good. When you don’t like what you’re doing, it just feels like work. But when you do, it actually feels exciting and worth it.

8. Celebrate the small wins and strive for your best

Last tip: high school gets overwhelming fast if all you ever focus on are the “big goals” like a perfect GPA, varsity, or getting into your dream college. Those things matter, sure, but if you only chase them, you’ll feel like you’re never doing enough. That’s why it helps to set smaller goals that keep you motivated along the way. It could be finishing a group project on time, studying for a tough test, or even just getting enough sleep during a busy week. Those little wins add up and give you the push to keep going. And remember—doing your best doesn’t mean being perfect, it means creating something you can actually be proud of.

At the end of the day, high school isn’t about being perfect—it’s about finding what works for you, managing your time, and making choices that keep you motivated and happy.

Navigating the Labyrinth: High School Survival Tips

High school can sometimes feel like a never-ending obstacle course, and having the right strategy makes all the difference. That’s why I decided to share some tips I’ve learned in just one month.

Do Your Work on Time

This may seem obvious, but you won’t believe how many students procrastinate. At first, it might feel fine: “I’ll do it later, I have two weeks.” But then more assignments pile up, and that one task slowly sinks to the bottom until you suddenly remember it the night before it’s due—and end up staying up until 1 AM to finish it. As you can probably guess, that completely ruins the next day, especially if you aren’t used to staying up late.

Instead, do your work on time and save your sanity. If you have free class time, don’t play video games—use it to finish homework instead. Another tip: use a planner to map out assignments and deadlines. Having a clear plan prevents that “What do I have to do again?” panic and helps you stay on top of things.

Eat and Sleep Well

Another obvious tip, but seriously important. Many students these days (me and my friends included 😅) sleep at 1:30 and wake up at 5 for last-minute studying or making sure everything is perfect. It might feel productive at the moment, but it catches up to you fast. Your brain gets foggy, focus disappears, and the grade you’re chasing might not even improve. Research shows teens need 8–10 hours of sleep a night—no wonder we feel like zombies without it.

Sleep isn’t the only factor—what you eat matters too. In high school, you’re constantly running between classes, sports, clubs, and other activities. Your body needs fuel, and without it, energy crashes, focus fades, and even your favorite subjects start feeling like chores. Staying healthy keeps your brain sharp so you can actually do your best, instead of just surviving.

Choose Your Friends Wisely

This one is huge, and I learned it quickly. Pick people you connect with—friends you can really talk to and rely on. They affect your mood, motivation, and habits. Some should push you to do your best, while others pull you out of the “everyone-is-racing” mindset. A mix of friends who make you laugh, calm you down, and challenge you a little is perfect.

Sometimes a small, supportive group is better than a big, chaotic one. And don’t be afraid to step back from friendships that drain your energy. The right friends make high school less stressful and more fun—it’s as simple as that.

High school is hectic, but a little planning, healthy habits, and a strong support system go a long way. Start with these tips, and you’ll feel more in control of the chaos than you might expect. Also, more tips coming soon 😉.

The Curse of Sisyphus

We have all heard the story of Sisyphus: the mortal cursed to push a boulder up a mountain, only for it to roll back down as soon as it reached the top. Sometimes, this is exactly what high school feels like. Just like Sisyphus, we are tasked with an impossible goal: being perfect. Perfect grades, perfect activities, a flawless transcript—the list never ends. While it’s important to do well, perfection is a stretch.

The pressure to be perfect comes from every direction—grades, extracurriculars, parents, peers, and even ourselves. We’re always comparing test scores and silently competing to see who can get the best grades. Sometimes, it even feels like a contest to see who can survive on the least amount of sleep. Somewhere along the way, it starts to feel as if you aren’t the best, you aren’t enough. That’s the hidden reality behind the polished surface of high school life.

It’s an endless cycle of achievements. You study for a test and do well, but instead of relief, you feel pressure to do even better next time. Then it starts all over again. Like Sisyphus, the moment you reach the top, the boulder rolls back down, leaving you exhausted but expected to keep pushing.

I’ve definitely put that pressure on myself, too. In science class once, I earned some extra credit. The teacher said there wouldn’t be any other chances, so I became obsessed with turning in perfect assignments. I spent hours making sure every detail was right. When I eventually lost one point on an assignment, my grade dropped to 100%, and instead of feeling proud, I was disappointed. Most people would’ve been thrilled just to have that grade at all.

Chasing perfection like this comes at a cost. We lose sight of what really matters: the joy of learning, pride in small achievements, and even the fun in group projects and hobbies. Stress and burnout pile up. Even subjects we enjoy start to feel like chores. No matter how hard we push, expectations roll back down the hill, leaving us tired and unsatisfied.

There is another side, though. When we focus on doing our best in a balanced way, striving for excellence can feel natural rather than exhausting. Spending time on assignments can actually help us understand the material better, prepare for tests, and build confidence in what we can do. It also teaches discipline, time management, and attention to detail.

The challenge is knowing when to stop. Going too far can quickly lead to stress and burnout. The key is figuring out what really matters, recognizing when an assignment deserves full effort, and when it’s okay to settle for “good enough.” This mindset makes bigger projects and tests feel less intimidating and reminds us that excellence isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, giving your best, and learning from your mistakes.

Even when the pressure feels endless, it doesn’t have to control us. Like Sisyphus, we can’t stop the boulder from rolling entirely, but we can choose how we push it—finding balance, celebrating small wins, and remembering why we’re here: to learn, grow, and enjoy the journey, even when the boulder keeps rolling back.

Pandora’s Phone

Just like Pandora’s box, our phones hold both gifts and challenges. In high school and life, knowing how to navigate them is key.

Phones have practically become the symbol of our generation. If you ask someone to describe teens, chances are they’ll say: moody, changing, and glued to their phones.

Honestly, fair enough. We are the first generation to grow up with phones, and with that come big benefits and some major setbacks.

Phones make school life easier: instant communication, quick access to information, last-minute class updates, and organizing group projects fast. But as helpful as they are, they can also be incredibly distracting, especially when time is tight.

Apps like Instagram and TikTok are designed to keep us scrolling. Seeing everyone’s perfectly curated lives can make it easy to compare ourselves and feel like we are not enough. In high school, where everyone is trying to fit in, that pressure can feel even heavier. So much happens online, from group chats to drama, that face-to-face conversations can start to feel awkward and stressful.

On a bigger scale, overusing phones can affect mental and physical health, causing anxiety, sleep problems, and shorter attention spans. They can lower productivity, create social isolation, and even lead to privacy and safety concerns.

And, this isn’t just something I’ve read about, I’ve seen it happen around me, and sometimes I fall into the same trap. In previous years, I’ve watched classmates skip class, ignore instructions, or waste valuable learning time just to check their phones. Maybe to post a dance, text friends, or play a game.

I’ve also been guilty myself. Many times when I don’t feel like starting a task, I just open YouTube and start scrolling, even though I know I’m not using my time well. Eventually, I get back to my task, but that time is gone forever.

Phones are not all bad, and they are definitely not going anywhere. But finding balance, knowing when they help us and when they hurt us, is becoming more important than ever. At the end of the day, phones are just tools. How we use them can make our lives easier or a lot more complicated.