Algebra, first developed and written in the 9th century by Muhammed ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi in The Concise Book of Calculation by Restoring and Balancing, is a type of mathematics describing a series of unknown variables, typically “x” and “y,” with “y” being the dependent variable. Along with mathematics, writing goes back to at least the Babylonian Empire and originated with cuneiform. Algebra can represent graphs and, in turn, real-life situations, such as (but certainly not

The pinch behind my scapula transcends, infecting my shoulder, climbing up my neck, and settling in my ear bones, where a post-apocalyptic and dystopian playlist regulates my brain. I’ve been busy. It’s been a month since I’ve sat for hours at my desk, reaching my right arm forward and hunching over. It’s difficult to sit and write for more than one hour, but I’ve written 500 words so far. Adjusting my red pajamas riddled with white poke-a-dots and pulling at the neck of my u

The turquoise night sky is torn apart as it flies, while its wings leave behind a shimmering dust that gently rains down upon the pinkish dunes towering over the Zentrati Desert on planet Iria. With a beak and talons that shine a glossy metallic gold, cream colored scales, and a snowy, feathered head donned with fiercely curled ram horns, the creature owns the heavens with angel-like grace. No one knows how long the beast, referred to as the Thunderer, has been alive. Some sa

There’s this unspoken expectation that if you’re doing well, you must be okay. If you have a 4.0, you must have it together. If you’re involved in theatre, you must love the spotlight. If people come to you with their problems, you must be strong enough to carry them. If you’re smiling, you must be happy. Somewhere along the way, I built a life where I became “the strong one,” the dependable one, the one who shows up, the one who performs well, the one who keeps the grades hi

Why? Growing your own produce can be rewarding and provide certainty in what is in your produce. It also gives you something to dedicate your time to that has a tangible reward. Plants to Start With A good beginner plant is potato; it will sprout in nearly any environment and is quite hardy. Another is herbs like oregano and mint, which are notoriously hard to kill. Do be warned, never plant them outside of a pot because they will grow out of control. If You Have No Space Sma

Emily:  To me, critical thinking is engaging in a pattern of thought that creates original inferences from preexisting material; if I have at least two variables (such as a scaleless dragon and a frog without vocal cords), then I should be able to find some sort of connection between the two by solely using my own mind instead of just looking up possible answers on the internet. Additionally, critical thinking makes each person unique because when a group of people is asked t