1. Lions 2024

 Understanding Memory: How Our Brains Store and Recall Information      Memory is an amazing and complex part of our brains. It's the process that allows us to store and recall information. Without memory, we wouldn't be able to learn new things, remember important events, or even recognize familiar faces. Let's dive into how memory works and the different types of memory we have.     There are several types of memory, but we'll focus on three main ones: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Sensory memory is the shortest type, lasting only a few seconds. It’s like a quick snapshot of what we see, hear, or touch. For example, when you see a lightning flash, your sensory memory holds onto that image for a brief moment. Short-term memory, also known as working memory, holds information for a short period, usually about 20-30 seconds. It’s limited in capacity, meaning it can only hold a few pieces of information at once. Think of it as your ...

Tim O'Brien's book,  The Things They Carried , weaves personal narratives of war, love, loss, and everything in between, exploring how sharing these stories can profoundly influence our memories. Much like the characters in O'Brien's book, we too carry our own stories, each one shaping our understanding of the past and shaping our future. I wanted to discuss the power of personal narratives and their lasting impact on memory. Research suggests that recounting personal experiences can not only solidify memories but also alter them over time. It's as if each time we recall a memory, we're rewriting the story, adding new details, and reshaping the narrative to fit our current beliefs and perspectives. As someone who loves storytelling and cherishes the memories I've collected over the years, this idea both fascinates and concerns me. It's incredible to think that our memories are so malleable, and are capable of evolving and adapting to new circumstances. B...

Time's Tapestry      Time is such a funny concept to think about. When you don’t think about it, you rarely notice its presence; however, if you take the time to sit down and reflect on what you were doing this time of last year, you’ll realize how much has actually changed in your life, how far you've come, or even how some things have remained surprisingly constant.      It feels like it was just yesterday when my friends and I were celebrating Christmas at Enchant San Jose in December, when we were riding the ferris wheel at Alameda County Fair in July, or when we were celebrating the last day of sophomore year in June. Without realizing it, junior year is coming to a close, and soon, the entirety of high school will be over.      When I don't pay attention and just allow time to pass, it always sneaks by unnoticed . However, when I take the time to really sit down and think about it, it is utterly unbelievable to realize that over five wh...

In many of his writings, American author Tim O’ Brien reflected on the topic of storytelling and how it relates to memory . He claimed that the memories of one day replace memories from the previous day, and the specifics of the past fade away. Only the most abnormal, most extreme situations that we tell stories about will earn a rank within our long-term memories. I remember when my car broke down. That deep-blue Acura SUV, older than I was at the time, had shaped my childhood. In that car, I visited Lake Tahoe for the very first time (and discovered my favorite vacation spot). In that car, I explored San Francisco, driving on the majestic Golden Gate Bridge and through SF’s bustling downtown. In that car, I picked up my dog Miko for the first time and took him home. When I was only around ten years old, that car went on its very last drive. My family and I were driving to Livermore, and on the way, we came to a stop at a red light. The light turned green, and I heard the engine pick ...

  I am sure that many of us, almost all of us, had a friend group from elementary school or from a young age that was thought to be inseparable no matter what. From the beginning of starting school, I quickly became friends with some people and thought that these friendships would last for a long time. For example, I had a good friend since kindergarten, and we had switched the same schools coincidentally. Then, in fourth grade, both of us became friends with three other students and had formed a friend group. Everything was great and we had all remained friends up until 6th grade when one of our friends left Fremont. During 7th grade is when our group started to fall apart further. One of my friends left Fremont half-way into 7th grade, and I even started to stop hanging out with them and started finding new friends. Then, the pandemic hit, and I lost almost all contact with my old friend group.  After in-person school resumed in 9th grade, I started to notice my old frie...

          Scrolling through Google Photos to find pictures for my latest APENG assignment collage, I stopped as I looked at the next 50-75 photos. Slowly scrolling, as I looked over the photos, I felt a soft smile form on my face.            December 26, 2023, to January 5, 2024 - the best winter break ever - spent in the most serene place ever - Italy.            Almost instantly, I was transported back to that time. The scent of my 10 mL bottle (which was gifted to me - well actually my mom - since I’m too broke to buy it myself) of Versace Bright Crystal perfume, which I used every day of my vacation in Italy, filled the air. I couldn’t help but feel as if I had stepped off that Lufthansa flight from San Francisco International Airport onto the refreshing soil of Milan once again.              Suddenly, all of those memories came rushing bac...

The two weeks of AP testing have descended upon us, with many people studying hard in an attempt to score 5s. I’m also trying to study for my exams and I’ve realized how hard it is for me to find a good study strategy. I have four APs I need to study for, and, although that definitely isn’t as many as some other students, it’s still a lot for me to handle. I had the idea to hit two birds with one stone by writing this blog about ways to better memorize the concepts we will be tested on while learning better studying techniques for myself as well. I did some research and found strategies that I had heard of before and ones that were wholly new to me. I already knew that spaced-out studying was much better than cramming to move information from our short-term memory to our long-term memory. However, that’s easier said than done. It is often so hard for me to focus on completing an assignment that, by bedtime, I found that I completed literally nothing, leading to the inevitable cramming ...

Every day, you likely consume some form of news media. In the past, this likely meant watching the evening news. Now, it often takes a different shape: Tiktoks, Twitter posts, and online platforms are all used by media companies to expand their reach.  Recently, I have noticed that the Washington Post has published Tiktoks explaining the news in a comedic and honestly very clear way. It is interesting to see how news companies are changing their approaches to match the interests of their younger audience. In this way, news groups are able to stay prominent with younger audiences, even if their more traditional means of disseminating information are slowly fading away.  This change ensures that the media will have a strong influence on Americans of all generations. This means that it will continue to influence our memories of all facets of our society, politics, sports, popular figures, historical events, and much more. The way that the media covers an event plays a pivotal ro...

The memories that remain today are equivalent to a person’s conception of their life. Although much of it is lost, biased, and even fabricated, we are tethered to these little snapshots of life. The happiest memories serve as motivation and a source of optimism, but it is often the memories of pain that we dwell on. It can be mundane, like embarrassment from misspelling an easy word at an elementary school spelling bee, or serious, such as grief following the passing of a loved one. People can easily be completely engrossed in these moments, searching for some sort of justification or preventive action. The pain can either heal or scar, and I seek to discuss how people deal with negative memories. First, we need to understand why these moments hold so much attention. Despite their primary purpose, memories are not accurate. The emotions of those times are ingrained in us, and by dwelling on them, we replay and allow them to grow. In retrospect, people will target specific details and f...

    Memory is a force of nature that is taken into large account in our existence. It shapes our views or perceptions, our identities, and takes us deep into our past. It is remarkable attribute of the human mind, having the ability to recollect the past. We can use this tool to preserve desired moments, emotions, and experiences long after they have slipped from our minds. Even though it is quite complex, memory remains one of the most vital phenomena to understand in great detail.     At its core, memory is the brain's function to encode, store, and retrieve information. It is pretty straighforward yet many think of it as very complex with a labyring of intricacies. Our memories are not static but instead dynamic constructs, having the possibility to transmute and even be fabricated! Our memories undergo serveral changes throughout our lives as we change our belief system, biases, and emotions.     The mind is facinating for the ability to be very selecti...

Taste of Time      My childhood can be just about summed up by three distinct flavors: the "toastiness" of Frosted S’mores Pop-Tarts, the sweetness of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and the tanginess of Skittles. Though it's been ages since I've had those nostalgic treats, I still remember how I used to gobble them down. I would always break off the edges of the Pop-Tarts to get to the good stuff faster, pick out all the purple and red Skittles, and leave behind a bit of the Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the bowl so that the milk could be sugary.      After reflecting, I realized that what made these foods so special to me was not just because of their tastes; it was because of the experience. Without realizing it, each bite I took was a solidification of my childhood, creating a world filled with wonder and innocence inside my head, where the biggest worry was whether there were enough purple Skittles in the bag. Those moments of simple pleasure unknowingly became ingr...

When was the last time you turned on the TV and thought “I’ll just watch whatever is on right now” or even said to yourself “my favorite show is finally on?” Well, for me, those thoughts remain memories as the era of live and cable TV is coming to an end. I am someone who really enjoys dramatic TV shows with several episodes and seasons, but I started to realize how many of us moved away from live television and focused on streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, and more. I thought it was crazy how I used to watch TV shows on cable and have to wait a week or two for the next new episode, until recently.  One of my favorite shows that is originally from The CW, All American, first aired live in October 2018 and has been renewed for a sixth season. I had watched seasons one through five on Netflix and did not even realize that it was actually a show from a local TV channel. I had gotten so used to streaming services that the concept of cable TV simply slippe...

           (Image Credit: Dreams | Spirizia )           “Tell us about your interest in chemistry. What area(s) of chemistry do you find most interesting, and why?” The screen on my 15.7 inch Lenovo IdeaPad had been displaying these two questions for the last two hours, and yet, the page below was still blank.            I couldn’t comprehend why the page was still left blank. I had written multiple essays like this for previous internships and summer programs I had applied. So why was it taking me so long to write the same thing?             I gradually started typing: “My interest in chemistry stemmed from a spectroscopy lesson in . . . It’s such a universal study that impacts all different fields. . . I want to be a part of the journey of developing new nanomaterials using chemical synth-” I stopped. I thought for a moment. I thought for another ...

Sure, many Americans know what a national landmark is. Most will probably be able to name a couple—Angel Island is one in the Bay Area. But only a few will be able to recognize and identify the specific reasons why a national landmark becomes a national landmark: the history and sentiments that are trapped within the walls of a landmark that our country has decided to honor as a National Historic Landmark. These landmarks also have a significant importance in the memories they create and preserve for many Americans. For example, Angel Island represents memories of immigration to the United States. And while the last group of immigrants passed through Angel Island in 1940, the memories of the place will last for generations. By preserving these places and landmarks and safeguarding them from destruction and future development, the government is playing a pivotal role in preserving the memories for generations to come.  But also, by preserving these landmarks, we are also reminded of...

  Why do things sometimes seem better in the past than when they are re-explored in the present? I can remember so many times when I was disappointed upon rediscovering something I really enjoyed when I was younger. Rewatching Barbie’s Thumbelina last week brought back so many memories. I was a big fan of the movie when I was younger and was excited to rediscover it. Even though I knew my expectations would be higher for the rewatch, since the movie came out in the early 2000s, the animation style and character designs were much rougher than the smooth animations of today’s movies. It was a bit hard for me to get used to the difference and it was hard for the movie to contend with my expectations for a good movie today. Despite the average experience, I still see the movie in a good light. Similarly, reading some of the old stories I wrote made me feel embarrassed that I ever thought the plot was good. However, after a while, I would always crave a reread, expecting to enjoy it tho...

Does Mr. Monopoly wear a monocle? Does Mickey Mouse wear suspenders? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, you have experienced the Mandela Effect—neither of those characters actually wear those items. The term originated in 2009 when researchers noticed that people commonly claimed that Nelson Mandela had died in prison in the 1980s, even though he was actually still alive. Since then, more examples of mass mis-remembrance have been occurring, whether they are misconceptions over the clothes a cartoon character wears or over a popular line delivered in a hit movie. Remember that scene in Star Wars where Darth Vader says, “Luke, I am your father”? You shouldn’t, because he never actually said that—Darth Vader actually said “No, I am your father.” Yet, most people familiar with the Star Wars franchise would insist that Vader began his statement with Luke’s name. Defined as a “popularized phenomenon in which a group of people collectively misremember facts, events, or other...

The Mozart Effect was first popularized in the early 1990s and gained widespread attention due to a study suggesting that listening to Mozart's music could temporarily improve spatial-temporal reasoning skills. The notion that music can influence cognitive abilities persists, prompting further research into this phenomenon's mechanisms. More recent studies have focused on the role of music in memory recall, particularly for information that holds emotional significance or personal meaning. Music has been found to evoke strong emotional responses, which can enhance memory encoding and retrieval processes. For example, listening to a song associated with a significant life event may trigger vivid memories of that experience, highlighting the powerful connection between music and autobiographical memory. Furthermore, music has been shown to enhance the focus and attention of young children, making it a valuable tool in educational settings. Research suggests that incorporating mus...