By: Ellie Lemberger

Thump, thump my heartbeat pounded into my throat and I could feel its rising rate. My trusty steed Apollo flinched as if he could feel the anxiety rising in my body. Mounted riders were steadying outside the arena gates awaiting the release of the equine adrenaline that would soon receive its applause reward. 

Gates flung, each rider bolted into the arena as plumes of dust rose from the pounding of galloping hooves. Cheers erupted as each rider waved and took their place in line at the end of the arena. I am nervous and my mind is racing with thoughts of my costume I painstakingly stitched together and I am hoping it will hold in all my anxieties and fears. In my mind, I masterfully pull off the toe-drag trick without a hitch but my wild thoughts can remember the last trick I fudged. One-by-one rider and horse are announced and are soon spiriting around the arena performing well-practiced tricks. My horse danced anxiously awaiting his chance to sprint and exhaust his pent-up energy. I secretly think he likes the exhilarating and erupting cheers like a child upon hearing the familiar chime of an approaching ice cream truck.  Suddenly, my name is called, I froze like a barn mouse spied by a cat and desperately gripped my reins to gather my composure before urging Apollo out of line. I flew around the corner as Apollo loped quickly, thrusting my foot deep into my stirrup. The audience roared as I gripped my saddle horn as if my life depended on it and twisted my body onto the side of my horse. I could feel his sweat as my body bounced and dangled against his. White-knuckled I tighten my hold as we neared completion. Apollo, nostrils flared, gives a forced exhale as he rides back to his place knowing his resting spot. 

I conclude another successful trick by knowing that as a riding team together we successfully evade all anxieties and take with us a sense of pairing that can only come from years of riding together. I give Apollo a congratulatory pat as we exit the arena and take with us the serotonin of the day. I wonder if my equine companion gets the same type of serotonin I do when I perform.

By: Ellie Lemberger

Snap, snap, I snapped the last buckle on my ski boots and climbed into a crayon yellow school bus that reeked of old tennis shoes. Silverton Mountain, the ultimate backcountry skiers paradise beckoned those willing to take its risks. My dad and ornery siblings were all glancing at their phones seemingly unfazed by the loss of warmth as the bus neared the looming mountainside.  Determined to not let fear overtake me, I climbed out of the bus and placed my skis into my backpack, and started to inch my way up the hill. “Do we really have to hike up there,” I said as my weakness was revealed. Dad, hiding his disappointment, chuckling as he continued on. Pinching and biting into my calves I garnered the strength I would need to finish the day and forged on despite my boots. I shed my jacket and continued up the steep hill re-adjusting the backpack and skis which by this point felt more like a bag of bricks than needed equipment. Brick-laden I carefully chose my footing making sure to avoid a misstep that would hurl me back down toward the shrinking crayon bus below. My lungs heaved like a train engine as I forced my tired legs to continue moving one after the other. Eventually summiting,  I finally managed to take control over my ragged breaths and started to mentally prepare myself for the challenge ahead. I took a moment to appreciate the steep snow below untouched and glistening in the sun's golden light. I released my backpack and skis and gave a knowing smile to my dad who responded with a smile and approving nod. Good things come to those who hustle.

By Ellie Lemberger

January 21st, 2020, I anxiously stared at the television along with the rest of my family. We sat in silence as we listened to the news reporter speak about the Coronavirus and how the United States has issued a national emergency. I brushed the news of the coronavirus off my shoulder, “how bad could this really be?” I thought. Surely, the Coronavirus could be no worse than the flu. However, my opinion of the Coronavirus was soon changed. Slowly, every day I watched things get worse along with the rest of the world. First, grocery stores ran out of essentials like toilet paper. Then, schools shut down and my classes were pushed online. In just a couple of weeks, the life I knew was unrecognizable, I felt as if my world had been turned upside down as I sat confined to my home. I patiently waited for the news of the coronavirus to be over, but it never happened. Coronavirus, that word to me means missed opportunities. This virus had taken my life and flipped it upside down, I felt powerless as my grades slipped, social events like prom were canceled, and college visits were not happening. “No fair,” I thought to myself over and over as months passed by with no good news. The Coronavirus has taken a lot from the rest of the world and myself, but I believe that the Coronavirus has also brought blessings too. For an entire year, I was so focused on the opportunities the virus stole from me, like a grade-schooler who missed the bus I was at a loss for what to do. Forced to go deeper than the viral fear, I found my passion for art, forged new cherished friendships, and learned to look at the good still left in life.  I have come to appreciate that perspective is everything. Our world will always have its challenges but I learned I can see the roses in the weeds. How have has the virus changed your perspective? 

TED talk link:
https://www.ted.com/talks/daphne_bavelier_your_brain_on_video_games/transcript?langage=en

Word Count: 155

After listening to my first source, I have begun to wonder what other impacts our quarantine habits have had on our body's health. In Walker's TED talk he informed his audience that most of our dreams are happen later in the morning when we choose to sleep in longer. Much to my surprise, I was also informed that “dreaming helps us deal with emotional trauma” (Walker). Further adding to his argument, a new common sleeping habit among individuals has impacted them for the better. Overall, my first research source has added to my understanding of the effects the pandemic has had on behavior. It has led me to wonder what other effects our quarantine habits still have today?

Questions:
Has the pandemic had an impact on your sleep schedule? If so, was the impact positive or negative?

Word Count: 282
Time Spent: 35 min

Source

Walker, Matt. “4 Ways the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed the Way We Sleep.” Matt Walker: 4 Ways the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed the Way We Sleep TED Talk, https://www.ted.com/talks/matt_walker_4_ways_the_covid_19_pandemic_changed_the_way_we_sleep. 

After reading the source, I can make several connections with the author. Lockdown has changed my personality in many aspects, before lockdown I was very outgoing and could not stand to be at home every day. However, much like the author says “Although catching up with my kind and brilliant friends still uplifts my mood, I now seek peace in solitude,” I now enjoy my time alone too. Overall, this research has further added to my understanding that the pandemic has had a large enough impact to permanently change an individual's personality.

Do you think the pandemic has the power to permanently change someone's personality? Has the lockdown affected your personality?

Word Count: 248

Time Spent: 30 min

Source

Magazine, by: Good. “How Lockdown Changed My Personality.” Good Magazine, 18 Mar. 2021, https://goodmagazine.co.nz/how-lockdown-changed-my-personality/. 

 After reading this source, I am surprised that personality traits rarely change. This article was much different than the last article I responded to, where the author shared how she felt her personality drastically changed. Additionally, reading this felt very formal as the author-backed all of his claims up with evidence from research and studies. Jarrett says “many months of changes to our routines may have led to changes in our behavior that will stick long after the pandemic has finished” (Jarrett).  Overall, I feel this article and Jarretts insights greatly helped my understanding of my question and has informed me that personality traits generally don’t change but behaviors do. 

When you reflect on your personality, do you feel it changed much? Do you agree with Jarrett's claim that personalities stay fixed for the most Part?

Jarrett, Christian. “How Lockdown May Have Changed Your Personality.” BBC Future, BBC, 28 July 2020, https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200728-how-lockdown-may-have-changed-your-personality. 

Word Count: 289
Time Spent: 36 min

C.R.A.P

Research Review:

Lateral Reading:

 After reading this article my first impressions are I feel like this post is very credible. The authors backed up all of their claims that the lockdown most likely permanently changed the way that people behave with evidence and research studies from credible sources. They state “Nearly every human on the planet has been forced to modify their habits to adjust to the pandemic, creating an opportunity for long-term change” (PNAS). I was surprised to hear that the cause of behavioral changes resulted from shifts in our habits and how small adjustments in our habits can have long-term effects.

How did your habits change during lockdown? Do you still have some of these habits?

The Potential Stickiness of Pandemic-Induced. PNAS. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2106499118. 

Word Count: 204
Time Spent: 32 min

Questions

Do you think our behaviors can be compared to habits?

Do you agree with the author that habits are easier replaced than changed?

Examples of Cross-Pollination:

How to Cross-Pollinate:

Types of primary research/ field work

Below is an APA citation of one of my sources:

Salon, D. S., & Conway, M. W. C. (2021, May 17). The potential stickiness of pandemic-induced behavior changes in the United States. The Potential Stickiness of Pandemic-Induced Behavior Changes in the United States. Retrieved April 3, 2022, from https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2106499118

2. What is one of the steps to finding your Throughline?
   -One of the first steps to finding your throughline is to figure out as much as you can about your audience.

3. What elements must a Throughline contain?
  -A throughline must contain a short intriguing statement connecting to your topic.
4. List two quotes or examples that stick out to you. 

5. According to Anderson, what should a Throughline be?

   -A throughline should be a short impactful statement that connects all of your elements together.

6. How is a Throughline different than a "topic"?

   -I think a throughline is much more short and sweet than a topic, but it's still impactful.

7. Take what you know and have heard about thesis statements and compare the two. Is a throughline the same as a thesis? How is different?

   -Througlines and thesis are very similar, they both give brief statements about what you're going to talk about. However, I believe a throughline is much briefer than a thesis statement and holds power in the words not said.

8. What are the components of the "right way" to write a TED Talk?

9. What is the difference between an issue and an idea?

   -Issues deal with ethics and someone's morals, whereas, ideas should inspire curiosity.

10. What comes after you have your Throughline?

 -After your throughline then comes to the elements connected to your topic.

                                         Work Cited

Anderson, Chris. TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking.  First Mariner, 2017.