Monthly Archives: April 2023

“What is your reaction to a potential ban of TikTok in the United States? Are lawmakers’ concerns about the app warranted, in your opinion? How do you think a ban might affect you?”

My reaction was to think to myself that it wouldn’t be the worst thing ever, if anything it’ll serve as good to the community deeming how much social media already impacts the lives of those that use it. I think lawmakers are warranted about their concerns, they’re just doing their jobs and ensuring the safety, data, and privacy of the users of TikTok. I think a ban might affect me in a good way for sure because I feel I waste too much time on it already. There are times that I would open up the app when I’m supposed to actually be working and being productive and hours would fly by while I’m on it and then I just end up not being as productive as I would hope.

“What concerns, if any, do you have about TikTok? Why do these things worry you?”

Well i think a privacy concern is always going to be present, with many apps i feel the same, that my privacy isn’t always really prioritized by the company as much as they say. Another concern is how much adult content is being literally broadcasted to kids under 18 without the guidelines doing anything of it until drastic measures are taken and many people have to report or something drastic just for them to do their job and keep their guidelines true. This concerns me because TikTok was meant to be a kids app, an app to watch funny videos or dance to songs, sort of like a more modern Musically, but its gotten to a point where there’s so much nonsense all over the app now that it makes you wonder if these kids are being swayed to do things they shouldn’t, or if they’re seeing things they shouldn’t be.

One of my favorite local hangout spots is a diner in Brooklyn called Bridgeview. This place is the definition of “feels like home”. I discovered this gem when I was around 14 years old. I was a theatre kid and after our final performance we had this tradition of going to dinner as a cast. The original diner we had always gone to closed and we found this one. That is my first memory in that diner. I am now almost 19 and have become a regular as I’ve grown. My best friend and I go there quite often, it’s our comfort place. We can sit and talk and talk and talk for hours at those booths as I order my chocolate chip pancakes and she, a cheeseburger as well as the occasional waffle fries we share. Bridgeview was the first place our other friend Danny hung out with us for the first time, and although he is away at college now, we still go with him anytime he’s home. My mom, dad, brother and I have all gone there for breakfast a couple times, had dinner with my aunt there and I have even gone on a date at the diner. It’s a staple to my teenage years, sitting amongst the same, but much older people each time I go. The dinner is only fully packed on Saturday mornings, there you will find families out to breakfast. However, the other 6 days out of the week are filled with seniors sipping their coffee and reading the newspapers they have out front.

What is your reaction to the article? What aspects of the dining experience at Sarapes are most appealing to you? Which images or quotes stood out most? Would you ever want to dine at Sarapes?

Just reading this article made me want to take the drive and eat at Sarapes. The pictures made it feel so homey and welcoming. The inside seems to look like an at home kitchen which adds to it, along with the genuine smiles. My favorite picture is the one where a man and women are dancing in what seems to be the middle of the restaurant as well as singing karaoke.

Adrian Martinez Chavez, the photographer whose grandparents started the restaurant, said, “Knowing that my family has provided food for the community for so long and people depend on it and love it, it is so special to me.” How do local restaurants, or food in general, bring your community together?

Local restaurants can be a staple to both big and small towns/cities. There are usually regulars who go often and get to know each other as well as the staff. These places assist residents in forming connections.

If you were asked by The Times to write an article about your favorite local hangout, what would be your headline? What photographs would you include? Whom would you interview?

If The Times asked me to write an article about Bridgeview Diner, the headline would be “A Bay Ridge Gem”, I would include pictures of the old couples sitting in their booths, the hostess who is always there to greet you, the bar stools by the cornbread and the families who go there for birthdays. I would interview the regulars who always sit at the same booths, the girl working the register to pay your bill, the hostess, and the families that go there.

In my own opinion, the place where I find my Peace and quiet itself must be quiet and peaceful. Whenever I felt nervous or tired of work, I would always go down to the Belt Parkway, walk all the way down slowly, and listen to the sound of waves. Can’t express how much I love to close my eyes feeling the wind blow on my face.

Other than walking down Belt Parkway, going to the nearest park and sitting on a bench under the shade was also my way of finding peace and quiet. I often get myself something to drink and walk to the nearest park. Personally, the best place is somewhere away from the crowd so that I can completely quit myself down and relax.

I think school employees deserve more respect and pay. Looking back at my last year in high school and college, I realize how different it is. Many students don’t follow the rules and are usually rude to staff there, it is because of this that I think they deserve a higher pay. I went to one of the biggest schools around here and that meant there were many fights and the security guards usually said the pay wasn’t worth all the trouble. Additionally, it is shown that students learn more when teachers have a higher paid. I remember one of my teachers once told me she usually gets 4-5 hours of sleep because of all the assignments she had to grade and exams make. In my opinion, their hard work and stress should be recognized because without them students wouldn’t be able to learn.

What is your favorite Spring Memory? What do you feel, taste, hear, and see? 

Whenever spring is here, I suddenly remember those times during my middle school years. I can feel the nice breeze pass by me as I walked towards the area. I can hear those birds chirping everywhere I go. Every Friday, I would go to the park with my friends after school. I feel the warm sun light as I would run around playing with my friends. Whenever I feel the spring weather, I automatically think about those days.

What is special about this memory? 

I wasn’t busy as I am now. Nor were my friends. All we simply did was play at the park or simply just talk with eachother as we laid down on the grass. I can feel my younger self whenever I feel that Spring weather. All those fun moments are suddenly flashed upon me. I miss those days a lot. And I am glad to still be friends with them till this day. We may not see eachother constantly as we once used to, but we get to enjoy our time together every chance we get to see each other.

Since I was in middle school, I had always wanted to try skydiving. I think skydiving would be a special experience to have and it would be fun. But when I tell people that I want to do skydiving, everyone would be like it is too dangerous. Not many people agreed with me. They didn’t want to do this so-called “dangerous activity”. Maybe I am a person that seeks for thrill, but many people around me are more into calm activities. To be honest, I like calm activities too. But, I like to experience different things in my lifetime. 

If I can, I really want to go skydiving with my friends. It would be a memorable moment that I might not forget for the rest of my life. Going alone is kind of lonely and scary. But with friends, I would be more brave and would have more fun when I am with similar people. People just need to be crazy sometimes in life. Life is long, seeing from my age right now, but it is also short. So, I want to do things before the time is up. Life is limited, so why not try new things and enjoy it.