When many students get home, the last thing that they want to do is work on homework. I like to call this “bring school home with you” or “bring your job home”, which is something I don’t prefer doing. It’s even more of a struggle when you’re exhausted once you get home, and the only thing you want to do is take a nap. Let’s face it, who wants to spend more time on projects and studying for tests that you’ve already spent the last six hours working on? Although homework and preparing for tests is important and must be done to further practice and secure content, I have found a solution that has helped me balance my school and personal life for the past few years at Beaver Local.

Almost every day we follow a certain schedule and routine. For me, this is key during after school hours so I can have some time to relax, eat a snack, listen to music, catch up on the news, and maybe even get a few paragraphs of my novel in progress written. Usually, I tend to enjoy my downtime first before I embark on tonight’s homework assignment. Once I’ve had a break and I have done some of the things that I wanted to do, I find myself more motivated and refreshed, and there is a boost in my mood when I am able to take some time to myself.

Personally, I believe that creating time management is a significant skill that we all should learn. I think that this comes in handy with school so that you’re not overwhelmed. With time management, I have found an improvement in my grades and a promotion of my healthy wellbeing. I am happier when I am able to make time for my family, have dinner with them, and savor my time at home. Since I have created a schedule for homework and downtime, success has been easier for me to achieve.

Now, you’re probably wondering my secret schedule is. I begin my homework at 4:30 and typically spend an hour on it, no more than that. If you are triggered by distraction, I find it best that you go into the quietest room in your house and use it as your workspace. Ideally, with less distraction, you more likely to be productive and accomplish school-related tasks. One of the biggest sources of distraction is your cell phone and it will divert your focus, so make sure not to bring it into your workspace or keep it on silent. I’ll admit that it’s tempting to check an incoming text message, but you don’t want that with you while you’re working on homework.

Once your designated hour for homework is over, you can go back to doing your thing. Even though school is challenging these days, you can make room to do your homework, if you have any, and spend less time doing it when you’re focused. At Beaver Local, many of the student body has involvement in extracurricular activities or have jobs. By the time they get home, they barely have any time for homework and before they know it, it’s time for bed. Like the average student who doesn’t participate in sports and is able to directly go home after school, the extracurricular active student is just as disinterested in homework as the non-extracurricular participant. However, the athlete experiences exhaustion on an extremely different level than the student.

Overall, if you set aside a consistent time for homework, I assure you that you can get it done. Remember, students: focus is crucial!

With fall homecoming just around the corner, these few tips should help make your dance experience a whole lot better!

Tip #1: Ensure that the person you choose to take to the homecoming or prom will not flake on you at the last minute. Imagine getting a text a week before the dance saying “ sorry can’t make it this weekend. I hope you have fun!” You’d be completely mortified, right? Well just make sure to check up on your date at least one time before the dance just for safe measures.

Tip #2: Find something to wear that really suits you and brings out the best! Whether it’d be that beautiful sparkling dress you’ve had your eye on or that pair of bright red dress shoes. Wear something that makes you feel great, and don’t be afraid of what others might think.

Tip #3: Accessories are key. Be sure to accessorize with bracelets, earrings, rings, ties, and necklaces. Those are what pull the whole outfit together, and without them, the look will be boring and bland. A few stores that sell some good accessories are Dillard’s, Macy’s, JCPenney, and even Walmart!

Tip #4: If you’re going to get your nails, hair, or makeup done, don’t forget to make your appointments ahead of time! Salons tend to fill up quick on days of homecomings or proms. Make your appointment at least three weeks in advance so that you can secure a spot!

Tip #5: When choosing shoes make sure to get a pair that not only goes great with your outfit, but that is also comfortable! You don’t want to be miserable half the night because of your feet. So be certain to choose shoes that feel good to wear!

Tip #6: Before the dance even starts, talk with your date about who’s paying for what. For example, one person will buy the tickets and pictures, while the other person will pay for dinner afterward! You don’t want to run into any complications when it comes down to money, so make sure to be organized!

Tip #7: The final tip is to have fun, and to not give one thought about what other people think. This is high school, you only have four years of it to make the most out of it!

Back to school season is a time when people try to look their best and reinvent their look. We at the Beaver Blog want you to always look your best, so we came up with seven helpful makeup tips to keep your look flawless.

1.) GET A GO BAG OF MAKEUP SUPPLIES!

Similar to a bag you would have ready for the apocalypse you should be able to fit anything you would need throughout your day. I recommend keeping your setting spray, powder, and sponge/brush in there at all times. The bag doesn’t have to be large and over the top, just something small and cute that you can easily carry with you.

2.) Use a sponge sprayed with setting spray to help control creasing and cakey foundation/concealer.

Take your favorite beauty blender and setting spray. Spray your blender liberally with setting spray before using the sponge to help to blend out any creasing or cakey areas in your foundation. This type is really helpful because not only does it restore the airbrush finish it also helps to reset your makeup.

3.) Find a primer that works well with your skin type!

The primer that you use can greatly affect the longevity and overall finish of your makeup. It is very important that you find a primer that will work with your skin type since I have oily skin I find the Smashbox photo finish primer works best for me. It creates the flawless finish I look for and reduces the fine lines on my face greatly.

4.) Travel size products are your best friend.

Make-up can be expensive and nothing is worse than spending money on a product you don’t like. Travel size products give you the opportunity to not only test out a product to see if it will work well for you in the future, it also gives you a convenient tiny version of your favorites to carry with you easily and with no hassle.

5.) Develop a brow routine that is easy for you and can be quick

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To me having a strong brow game can completely change the look you bring to the day. In all reality as long as you have a fleeky brow, lip gloss, and some mascara you will pretty much look put together. If I had to rank what is most important to get done before I leave my house, it will always be my brows. They simply create the illusion of being put together when in reality we are just stressed out high-school kids.

6.) Always carry make-up wipes with you!!

It is the number one tool I use. When I’m at school or out and I see that the look has gone past the point of being fixable. That no beauty blender or setting spray could help me I simply grab my wipes and take everything but my brows off. They are also a plus to keep with you in case you have sports practice or some other event after school. Odds are if you are going to be sweating aggressively, you won’t want to have to have a melting cut crease and sweaty foundation all over your face. It is also really great for your skin to not be sweating while in a full face.

7.) Always have fun and pay no attention to what anyone else says.

Makeup is about expression and having fun. Do you and don’t worry what people have to say if you look in the mirror and are happy that is all that matters. I wish you all the best and can’t wait to see the amazing beats you are going to do.

What happens after high school? For the class of 2018, this question has been running rampant in our minds for years. This year, however, is the year we find the answer. Some of us have already been accepted into college, some have jobs lined up for after graduation, and some don’t have a clue what they are going to do.
As our birthdays pass, most of us will no longer be considered a child. Eighteen is the year that we are expected to begin to figure things out on our own, like paying taxes, making our own doctor’s appointments, and potentially moving out of our parent’s homes. Transitioning from child to adult has been gradual, but also very sudden. Last year we weren’t allowed out past midnight, and this year we can legally buy cigarettes. And, for a lot of us, this change is scary.
Our last year of high school will most likely be stressful, but should also be fun. We should enjoy this chapter in our lives as it comes to a close. After this year, we will split off from these people that we have known and grown up with since childhood to pursue our own dreams. Some of us will move away, losing contact with those that we used to be so close with. Some of us will stay here, deciding not to leave the comfort of home.
There will be people from this class that you do not speak to again. But there are people that will travel with you through life, remaining friends, continuing to grow together. This is the year that we will begin to step away from the confines of school and step into the real world. We do not know exactly what will happen after high school, but we should not fear it.
Wherever life takes us, we should go with our heads held high. Most of us have gone through thirteen years of our lives together, developing from small children to young adults. We have become individuals with our own sense of life, our own sense of direction. Where this direction takes us, no one knows. Wherever it may take us, we will always remember the journey that led up to this point in our lives.