From the Jazz Age to Modern Struggles

Welcome back! It's that time again, where I open the door to my world and talk about life updates. From braces to school to partying in 1920s style, it's been super fun, so let's jump right in!

About Me

Let me start by saying I don't have braces - yet. My appointment got moved to this Wednesday, so I only got one more week of freedom. I know it will be weird having braces as a legal adult, but my smile will last for the rest of my life so, in retrospection, it doesn't really matter!

Besides a huge permanent change in appearance, I donned on a new costume this weekend-a flapper girl. Inspired by a reread of Great Gatsby, I feel into a small rabbit hole looking into the 1920s, but more on that later.

In the midst of all this excitement, work has been serving up its fair share of stress. But hey, sometimes you've just gotta embrace the chaos and find humor in the mayhem.

ISM

Regarding class, our research speeches are fastly approaching. As an ISM II student I won't be the one presenting, but rather the grader! I and Afreen (the ISM II student from Business Symposium) will be grading our small groups presentations for class. The students need to speak for 8-10 minutes and present all the work they've done thus far in class, and their plans for their Original Work Project.

Speaking of Original Work, I submitted my proposal, however, I'm still debating if it's the right direction. Since my mentor is back in the office after a medical break I plan on having a chat with him to hear his thoughts and help me gain some clarity.

School

This past week has been somewhat uneventful, and only now am I beginning to realize why--this week is shaping up to be a whirlwind. I had a calculus test today, as well as a statistics quiz that's been keeping me on my toes. My American Government class and World Literature both have research drafts due this weekend as well!

As if that weren't enough, I've got plenty of Physics work to keep me busy. On top of all this, I'm beginning a new website for a local activist organization I've co-founded and planning an hour-long presentation for a financial workshop I'm hosting to help DECA competitors at my school.

Oh, and speaking of big moments, the SAT is coming up this weekend - my last chance to get the score I'm hoping for. And regarding college apps, I'm in the midst of rewriting my main essay and drafting supplementals to take to the Collin Writing Center.

The 1920s feminist revolution

Beyond the excitement of my life, I've been diving into a captivating world of history and feminism. This past Saturday I hosted a Halloween party dressed up as a flapper girl.

The 1920s, often called the Roaring Twenties, were a time of huge social change and newfound freedoms. It was during this decade that the iconic figure of the "flapper" emerged. Those young and independent women challenged traditional gender roles with bobbed hair, shorter dresses, and a love for dancing and jazz - scandals all around.

The rise in flapper girls symbolized a break from the constraints of the past, and they reflected a bold spirit of rebellion and a desire for personal freedom. This was in part of the rise of feminism in the 1920s, as women fought for their right to vote, access to birth control, and greater societal independence.

I'm honestly interested to see how these upcoming days will fair between braces, school, and college applications. As always thank you for reading, and until next week,

- Samantha Stein