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Word of the Day: loquacious

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Word of the Day: loquacious

The word loquacious has appeared in 30 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Sept. 29 in “Why Is Every Young Person in America Watching ‘The Sopranos’?” by Willy Staley:

… What is, for me, one of the show’s most memorable scenes has no dialogue at all. Tony and his crew have just returned from a business trip to Italy, during which they were delighted with the Old Country but also confronted with the degree of their alienation from their own heritage. They’re off the plane, and in a car traveling through Essex County. As the camera pans by the detritus of their disenchanted world — overpasses, warehouses — Tony, Paulie and Christopher are seeing their home with fresh eyes, and maybe wondering if their ancestors made a bad trade or if, somewhere along the line, something has gone horribly wrong. But we don’t know: For once, these arrogant, stupid and loquacious men are completely silent.

Can you correctly use the word loquacious in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how loquacious can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try one of our monthly vocabulary challenges.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

Vocabulary in Context: Starry Skies

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Vocabulary in Context: Starry Skies

Armed with those statistics, I found myself again looking skyward last October, this time lying face up on a long stone slab at Arches National Park in Utah. Surrounded by strangers, I was trying to locate the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters, and our nearest spiral galaxy, Andromeda. My first trip in two years since the pandemic required a destination that felt new and otherworldly. As it turns out that is Utah with its biblical terrain and preternatural cobalt sky, a sky that also happens to be with stars at night.

Do You Like Spending Time Alone?

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Do You Like Spending Time Alone?

You’re about to read an article titled “You Can Learn to Love Being Alone.” Before you start reading, think about that statement. First, do you already love being alone? If you don’t, do you think it’s possible to learn to love it or at least to enjoy it more?

In the article, Holly Burns writes about positive ways to use solitude, including deciding what you want to accomplish by spending time on your own:

You might assume it’s just introverts who benefit from solitude, but research is mixed on whether they are actually more skilled at being alone, Dr. Thomas said. In her view, “anyone, with any personality, can enjoy it — with one caveat: if they know how to use it well.”

That means deciding what you want from your time, whether it’s processing a tough situation, tapping into creativity or just enjoying five cumulative minutes without someone under five asking you for something.

Without a goal “we’re just going to be throwing spaghetti at the wall, and that can elicit a false sense of failure, like ‘Oh, I’m just not good at being alone,’” said Gina Moffa, a grief and trauma psychotherapist in New York City.

Solitude can have a calming effect on our minds and bodies, which may be off-putting to people who usually equate happiness with feeling energized, Dr. Thomas said. They often just feel bored or restless.

The key to dispelling the discomfort is to replace it with something enjoyable. If you don’t know where to start, “think of something you like doing in general, and then try doing it by yourself,” Ms. Moffa said.

And no, doom scrolling Twitter doesn’t count as healthy solitude. In a 2020 study, Dr. Thomas followed 69 participants for a week, concluding that they were more emotionally satisfied with their solitude when they were truly alone, without their phones, than when they were alone but still on their phones.

“If you want to connect with yourself or feel calm or creative, is scrolling social media going to get you what you need?” she said. Most of the time, the answer is no.

The article also includes suggestions to prevent you from feeling lonely in solitude:

Checking in with a friend can still be part of your solitude ritual, Ms. Moffa said. In fact, “having the space to do that while we’re in this place of solitude can make the communication deeper and the connection more authentic, because we’re without the many layers of distractions around us.”

You can also do a solitary activity but share it communally. Ms. Moffa is part of a group chat with friends who text each other their Wordle scores every day. “We all do this thing quietly on our own, but it becomes something that connects us when we share it,” she said.

Solitude can also involve silence, which has been found to lower stress, improve sleep and help decision-making in some people. But without structure, it can feel intimidating, said Eloise Skinner, who spent a year training as a monk in a modern monastic community.

Students, read the entire article and then tell us:

  • How much solitude seems to be the right amount for you over the course of an average week? Is that amount what you typically get? Do you wish you had more time alone? Less?

  • When have you experienced meaningful solitude and benefited from it? Why do you think that time by yourself was positive? What lessons did you learn about spending time alone in general?

  • Where and how do you find peace? Is it in time spent alone or with others? If you were to share advice about what works best for you, how would you put it into words?

  • Have you ever participated in remote learning? Does any advice in the article resonate with you about your experience and the methods your teachers or parents have employed to keep you from feeling isolated?

  • The author talks about the importance of distinguishing solitude from loneliness. How would you describe the difference between them? Does wanting to avoid loneliness ever prevent you from seeking solitude?

  • The article points out that being alone while scrolling on your phone doesn’t count as “healthy solitude.” What do you think about that? When you’re alone, do you ever make a point to stay away from your phone?

  • How do you think your life might change if you sought significantly more time alone? Why?

Want more writing prompts? You can find all of our questions in our Student Opinion column. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

PERFECTIONISM, A PLUS OR MINUS

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PERFECTIONISM, A PLUS OR MINUS

Have you ever heard the old saying, “Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well?” Your definition of ‘well’ in this phrase determines whether or not you are a perfectionist. Perfectionism derives from the word “Perfect,” which denotes a state of excellence, completeness, and flawlessness. A perfectionist is someone who strives for excellence, completeness, and flawlessness and works tirelessly to achieve perfection at any cost.

“Perfectionism in psychology is a broad personality style characterized by a person’s concern with striving for flawlessness and perfection and is accompanied by critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others’ evaluations”- Wikipedia

Perfectionism may sound good or bad depending on how you define it; there are certainly some benefits and drawbacks to being a perfectionist. The motivation for wanting to be perfect will undoubtedly play a role in determining this as well.

Several studies have been conducted to determine whether perfectionism is good or bad. Some researchers have concluded that perfectionism can be either normal or neurotic, with the normal being the good perfectionism and the neurotic being the opposite.

Others have classified perfectionism into positive and negative perfectionism; in this case, positive perfectionism corresponds to normal perfectionism, while the negative corresponds to neurotic perfectionism. There have been additional findings of perfectionism, and some researchers believe it is dangerous. Some even believe that perfectionism can lead to depression and other mental health problems, and they have evidence to support this claim. The challenge I have about the school of thought that perfectionism in itself is dangerous is likened to “throwing the baby away with the bathwater”. The fact that perfectionism has both positive and negative aspects does not imply that being a perfectionist is bad. There is always a positive and negative side to every personality style.

Perfectionism can be considered a plus if you possess the following characteristics:

  1. You are a goal achiever who can distinguish between realistic and unrealistic goals.
  2. You have a problem-solving mindset and the ability to focus on it while reasoning.
  3. You give your all in what you do and know when to call it quits without remorse.
  4. You don’t beat yourself up after giving it your all and it doesn’t work.
  5. When you fail, you don’t stay on the ground for long, wallowing in self-pity and regret; instead, you get up and learn from your mistake.
  6. You are able to reduce procrastination as a result of failure fear.
  7. You can plan and make decisions.
  8. You are not afraid to ask for help, even if you don’t know what you’re doing.

On the other hand, if you have the following characteristics, you have an unhealthy perfectionism, which is a detriment.

  1. You are driven by a fear of failure.
  2. You go to great lengths to avoid criticism.
  3. When you fail to meet your goal, you become stressed and depressed.
  4. You are more concerned with achieving the goal than with the process of achieving the goal.
  5. You procrastinate frequently because you are afraid of failing.
  6. You dislike being corrected and adopting a defensive posture.
  7. You believe you are inadequate.
  8. You have a strong conviction that anything worth doing must be done flawlessly, thereby setting unattainable standards for yourself and others.
  9. You are unable to compliment yourself or others on your efforts toward achieving a goal.
  10. You overthink to the point of missing opportunities.
  11. You are afraid to make a decision because you are afraid of being wrong.

Perfectionism can be a plus or a minus; it is a plus when the pros outnumber the cons and a minus when the cons outnumber the pros.

If you are a perfectionist and the pros outnumber the cons, you will need to make a change in order to fall into the positive perfectionism group; if the cons outnumber the pros, you will need to work on yourself in order to become a better Perfectionist.

To summarize, no one can be perfect; there is always room for improvement at all stages of life. In everything you do, you will make mistakes, fail in some areas, and have shortcomings; however, there will also be good times when you win: this is what makes life interesting. The best thing you can do for yourself is to learn from your mistakes and those of others, to take lessons from your failures, and to keep learning; after all, learning never stops, and failure is part of the learning process.

When you stop learning, you start dying.

Perfectionism is not a cause; it is simply a personality trait with benefits and drawbacks.

Some people become perfectionists as a result of their upbringing and training, as well as the high expectations of their parents and society. The good news is that everyone has the ability to learn, unlearn, and learn again. There are also changes or adjustments to a personality type that occur as a result of environmental and age changes.

Because perfectionism has both positive and negative aspects, it is safe to say that no one, not even the perfectionist, is perfect.

Sources 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfectionism_(psychology)

Things That Are Worth Doing Are Worth Doing Poorly (forbes.com)

Is Perfectionism Healthy? Recognize the Benefits & Drawbacks (samhealth.org)

YOUR TEMPERAMENT AND YOUR CAREER

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YOUR TEMPERAMENT AND YOUR CAREER

Have you ever wished you could be as outspoken, confident, and flexible as someone else?

You can’t just be like the person you admire, no matter how hard you try; you lack the qualities, which can be frustrating! Why do you behave the way you do rather than the way the other person behaves? Temperament, the answer isn’t so far-fetched!

What is Temperament?

“Your temperament is your basic nature, especially as it is shown in the way that you react to situations or to other people.”– Collins Dictionary

Temperament is a collection of traits (distinguishing Characteristics) that distinguishes a person; it controls how you think, interact, and work; these traits are inborn and vary from person to person. Even within a family, you may notice differences in behavior among the children, including twins.

According to Hippocrates’ Humorism concepts, there are four primary temperaments. Humorism is a fluid that is thought to be present in the human body. It is thought that different people have different amounts of fluids and that the most dominant type of fluid present in an individual defines the person’s temperament. These fluids are blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm, with blood representing the Sanguine Temperament, yellow bile representing the Choleric Temperament, phlegm representing the Phlegmatic Temperament, and black bile representing the Melancholic Temperament.

Although there have been more recent studies disputing these claims and more, some believe that a person can have more than one temperament type, while others believe that some other behaviors can be learned, the idea of the four temperaments remains the foundation of temperament research.

The Four primary Temperament types are;

1. Sanguine – They are the most versatile of all temperament types, being extroverts who are dynamic, talkative, playful, impulsive, sociable, versatile, competitive, and hyperactive. They can be found in any field and are usually the life of the party. With the Sanguine temperament type, there is never a dull moment.

They are forgetful and disorganized as a result of their hyperactive nature.

Sanguine can work in any field, but because of their impulsive and optimistic nature, they excel in politics, customer service, the music and entertainment industry, sports and business public relations, and marketing.

2. Choleric – This temperament type is not very common; they are extroverts but are not talkative; they are ambitious, optimistic, domineering, independent, controlling, inspiring, passionate, strong willed, energetic, aggressive, risk taker, impulsive, result driven, goal getters. They have creative minds, are excellent planners, and have strong leadership abilities. They are sometimes thought to be rude and self-centered. They are set in their ways and have a short temper. The security system, law, engineering, business, and statistics are the best career paths for the Choleric temperament.

3. Phlegmatic – This temperament trait is associated with the introverted personality trait. They are usually quiet people who don’t mind letting others tell them what to do or make decisions for them; they are loyal, kind, level-headed, observant, curious, gentle, productive, empathetic, and obedient. They cultivate devoted friends and family members. They make excellent team players. Office assistants, psychologists, caregivers, nurses, social service workers, teachers, and other professions that require a phlegmatic temperament will thrive.

4. Melancholic – This is yet another temperament type with an introverted personality trait. Melancholics are meticulous, analytical, thoughtful, independent, diligent, committed, tactful, intuitive, accurate, and creative, preferring to work alone or in small groups. They are also excellent problem solvers. They will excel in areas such as research, accounting, social work, and the arts and sciences.

On many occasions, a person will exhibit more than one temperament type. There is always a temperament type that manifests after an incident, whether it is a good or bad incident, especially if it is a life-changing incident. For example, a once quiet, shy, and dreamy melancholic lady who married, had children, and in the process of training the children, becomes a talkative; this does not make her less melancholic, but she has just discovered she has some Sanguine temperament as a secondary temperament.

Another example is the successful, easy-going, never-a-dull-moment, active Sanguine Temperament guy who suffers a large loss in his business and is forced to sit back and re-plan and analyze. The latter section demonstrates his secondary melancholy temperament.

I recall being shy and reserved in senior high school, and I realized I belonged to the Melancholic temperament type. One of my teachers noticed this as well and decided to nominate me for Assembly prefect. Every day, I was supposed to stand in front of the assembly and make a public announcement. I never thought I’d be able to do that, but because I was forced to, after a while, I was able to see this other side of myself that I never knew existed, the secondary Sanguine temperament.

A change of environment can also help bring out the secondary temperament you didn’t know you had.

Sources 

https://www.cleverism.com/temperament-type-can-influence-career/

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/temperament/4-most-common-temperament-types/

Coursera’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine

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Coursera’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine

By Jeff Maggioncalda, Coursera CEO

We are devastated and outraged by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We stand with Ukraine and our ultimate concern is for the safety of the people in that region. Coursera believes learning is the source of human progress and we are committed to ensuring learners everywhere have access to the highest quality education. However, we will not support the financial or reputational benefit of Russian instructors or institutions on Coursera while this tragedy is taking place, nor will we look to profit from doing business in the region amid this humanitarian crisis. As a result we are suspending all business in Russia. 

We are taking the following action in regards to business in Russia: 

  • We are suspending all content from Russian university and industry partners including courses, Specializations, and degrees. Content from Russian partners will no longer be discoverable or available on Coursera’s platform for new enrollments. 
  • We are halting further business with Russian institutions across Coursera for Business, Coursera for Government, and Coursera for Campus.   
  • We believe access to education is a human right. As such, Coursera will remain available in all regions where there is not a government sanction. However, we are suspending the ability for learners in Russia to enroll in paid course experiences and we will not be collecting payment from any learners or institutions in Russia.

We are supporting learners in Ukraine in the following ways: 

  • We are partnering with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine to offer Coursera for Campus for free to all Ukrainian higher education institutions and their students. Universities and colleges in Ukraine can sign up to provide all of their enrolled students with access to more than 5,200 courses and 2,200 Guided Projects from Coursera’s top university and industry partners. Enroll your institute here. 
  • Our Coursera for Refugees program is available for free to nonprofits around the world including those actively working to support Ukrainian refugees such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Rescue Committee. To learn more about how to sign up, visit refugees.coursera.org. 
  • For individuals coming to the Coursera platform, most courses are free to audit and learners who demonstrate financial need can receive financial aid or a scholarship waiver through Coursera. To apply, click the “Financial Aid available” link on the course description page. 

Impacted learners and institutions should expect to see these changes reflected starting today. To learn more about the growing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, enroll for free in University of Michigan’s Russian Invasion of Ukraine Teach-Out on Coursera, which covers the history of conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the impact of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, and what you can do to support people on the ground.

Munifa Is An IT Professional Who’s Inspiring Other Women to Pursue Their Dream Careers in Tech

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Munifa Is An IT Professional Who’s Inspiring Other Women to Pursue Their Dream Careers in Tech

Meet Munifa! She’s a passionate STEM learner who’s living her dream of working in the IT industry. She’s grateful for the support she’s received along her journey, and she’s excited to inspire other women to pursue their dreams of building rewarding technology careers.

Hi, my name is Munifa. I started learning on Coursera to build my technical skills and develop positive thinking and stronger time management skills. I’ve taken many courses on Coursera, but the Google IT Support Professional Certificate program was a game-changer for me. 

Society teaches women that we can’t succeed in STEM fields—that these spaces are for men only. But working in the IT industry has always been my dream. With Coursera—and the amazing support of my fiancé and family—I was able to break through and become a customer support and troubleshooting specialist.

My new goal is to start networking for personal and career development. I set a goal to attend three networking events quarterly to connect with old colleagues and meet new people. In the future, I want to start an organization that teaches people about the technology around them and how to utilize it for personal and professional growth.

Learning on Coursera has made an enormous impact on my life. Aside from achieving my dream of working in IT, it taught me how to manage my time more efficiently and study effectively. I’ve experienced and learned a lot of new things throughout my journey, but my favorite is learning how to troubleshoot. I’ve been applying the new skills and knowledge I’ve gained from all my courses to my work and it’s helped me be a better IT professional.

I think the biggest pressure youth face today is believing in themselves. Know that you are unique—that’s what makes you beautiful. Stop comparing your journey to others. You are the leader of your life. Your voice is powerful. I believed in myself, and that’s why I’m standing here today. For the women who are hesitant to start their tech career—you belong. Prove to society (and yourself!) that you can achieve and succeed in any field.

Let It Go: The Benefits of Mind Wandering

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Let It Go: The Benefits of Mind Wandering

How did participants do on the UUT task? The UUT measures creative problem solving by comparing participants responses to each other in order to determine how many unique the participants came up with relative to each other. In this experiment researchers calculated whether participants came up with more unique uses after the incubation period relative to their baseline at the beginning. Researchers found that participants who completed the Undemanding task had the greatest improvement in UUT compared to the other tasks. In other words, participants who were given a task that encouraged mind wandering were able to come up with more unique uses for items than in other conditions – including the Rest condition (1). It should be noted that this improvement was only in the repeated items, supporting the idea that mind wandering allowed participants to mull over and think more creatively about problems that were already on their mind (as opposed to improving some general capacity for problem solving).

What I find really interesting about this study is that the Undemanding condition led to more creative problem solving, and more mind-wandering, than the Rest condition. When given the opportunity to sit quietly with no additional task, participants did not think much about the unusual uses task they were given at the beginning of the experiment. I don’t know what they thought about instead, but presumably it was about stuff that was totally non-related to the experiment. On the other hand, when they were given a very simple task in the Undemanding condition, they reported much higher levels of mind wandering and thinking about the previous task. This led to more unique ideas about how to use the objects.

It is incredibly important that we be able to focus and ignore distracting thoughts when we need to. However, this research highlights the importance of being able to unfocus, to let our mind wander, when we need to as well. To let go of some of the tight control we strive to have over our attention. Going for a walk or a bike ride, playing a simple game, even doing chores like folding laundry, or doing a simple task like taking a shower may all provide much needed time to encourage our mind to wander.

Film Club: ‘Trayvon Martin Is Still Making America Confront Its Original Sin’

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Film Club: ‘Trayvon Martin Is Still Making America Confront Its Original Sin’

2. After watching, think about these questions:

  • What questions do you still have?

  • What connections can you make between this film and your own life or experience? Why? Does this film remind you of anything else you’ve read or seen? If so, how and why?

3. An additional challenge | Respond to the essential question at the top of this post: How did the tragic killing of the Trayvon Martin 10 years ago awaken a civil rights movement?

4. Next, join the conversation by clicking on the comment button and posting in the box that opens on the right. (Students 13 and older are invited to comment, although teachers of younger students are welcome to post what their students have to say.)

5. After you have posted, try reading back to see what others have said, then respond to someone else by posting another comment. Use the “Reply” button or the @ symbol to address that student directly.

6. To learn more, read “Trayvon Martin Is Still Making America Confront Its Original Sin.” Charles M. Blow, a Times Opinion columnist, writes:

“One of the most important things that came out of this tragedy was the activation of an entire new generation of civil rights leaders.” That was part of what President Barack Obama told The Times when we asked him what the killing of Trayvon Martin, 10 years ago Saturday, meant for the United States, the movement for civil rights and for him personally.

On Feb. 26, 2012, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman, spotted Martin in a hoodie walking through a gated townhouse community not far from Orlando.

Suspicious, Zimmerman called 911 and followed Martin. Dispatch told him, “We don’t need you to do that.” There was an encounter between the two before Zimmerman shot Martin in the chest at close range.

Martin was just 17 years old, a boy, and he was where he was supposed to be.

He was unarmed. He was carrying Skittles and a can of iced tea.

There was something about the killing of this particular boy that set it apart from all other killings of Black people, that struck a chord in Black America, that awakened a generation.

Jesse Jackson once called the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Chicago boy brutally murdered in Mississippi, the Big Bang of the civil rights movement. In the same way, the killing of Trayvon Martin was the Big Bang of the new civil rights movement, Black Lives Matter.

Want more student-friendly videos? Visit our Film Club column.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

What Students Are Saying About Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

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What Students Are Saying About Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

I feel disappointed that countries who claim to value progression are still using century-old tactics for gaining power and control over independent states. It shows that agreements between countries for peace and civil discussion do not take value over a leader’s own wants and desires, no matter how many disagree with them. This also makes me appreciate American systems such as checks and balances, because even when we had a president instated who currently praises Putin for his decision, he would have never been able to execute such an order on his sole will alone.

— Gilana E., Valley Stream North High School

I can’t stress this enough, Putin is to blame for the Ukraine crisis, not the Russian people. In fact, many Russians don’t support this war, many protesters have been detained for “disloyalty to the state.” The sad part is that, knowing the horrors subjects dissidents to, these brave protesters will probably never see the light of another day.

Don’t blame ethnic Russians for it, either, because that crosses the line into flat out racism. Putin is a dictator, meaning the populace and military have no say in his decisions. Sadly, America has made this mistake before, detaining those of Japanese descent after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 7, 1941. The people responsible for this act were emperor Hirohito and Prime Minister Hideki Tojo. The US, which prides itself on its tolerance, was still predisposed to blame the attack on Japanese society as a whole. And after WW2, Americans hated Germans for the horrible crimes of Hitler and the Nazis. But Germans aren’t all anti-semitic Nazis. I myself am half German. Blaming Russians for Putin’s actions is similarly wrong. I have Russian friends who have expressed outright contempt for Vladimir Putin. Does it really make sense to blame an ethnic group for something one of its members did? Would it make sense to label today’s Southerners as slaveholders when said practice is illegal, or as racists when many of them aren’t? No. So do not discriminate against the citizens of Russia and ethnic Russians for Putin’s abhorrent actions.

— Devin, Elkhorrn North High School, Omaha, NE

Honestly these past few days ever since this happened I’ve been feeling ill to my stomach. The idea that Russia is currently in a war with Ukraine because Russia sees Ukraine as a threat is horrible. Hundreds if not thousands are losing their lives everyday. People are losing friends, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers.

This brings me back to two things I’ve read recently in class regarding the “Other”. The first thing is how we react to each other. There are three options, we either isolate ourselves from them, go to war with them, or they could receive them with open arms and try to understand them. In this case Russia declared war on Ukraine and now thousands have to lose their lives over a war that’s going to hold no meaning in the future. The thing is people fail to see both sides of the perspective. Obviously Russia is in fear due to the idea that Ukraine might join NATO. They fear that everyone is out to get them. They fear the extinction of their country. That’s the thing about human nature, we fear everyone that is different to us. We choose to wipe out those who oppose us before they wipe us out first. It’s a sad reality but wars will always be fought as long as there is a different ideology.

— Demarcus, Block 1 Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC

I know that most people will tell you that the reason we learn history is so that we do not repeat the same mistakes but this is a prime example of a mistake that is being repeated. I think sometimes it takes a slap in the face for us to realize why we are trying to prevent these mistakes. My generation has never seen anything like this so up close and personal. I think we will be more willing to work in the future to avoid a recurrence of the same issues because we are seeing the devastation that follows.

— Kylie, Block 2, Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC

_________

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine comes one of the most important questions our nation has been faced with in decades. Do we support the sovereignty of a country we have no obligation to defend, or do we allow one of our greatest rivals aggressively take over their neighbor without protest? With lives on the line and the distant but ever looming threat of nuclear war, the wrong answer to this question could spell disaster for our nation and the world. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, and thus the United States are not required to provide the European nation any assistance whatsoever. There is no clause saying we have to engage in the conflict and further antagonize and increase already high tensions with Russia. But if we sit by, idly observing an unprovoked and wholly unnecessary invasion of a free and independent nation, we are not the shining beacon of the modern world we claim to be. Democracy is under attack, and to be true to our tenets as a nation, we must push back against the tyranny that threatens the Ukrainian people with all we have.

— Boris, Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn, IL

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