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I woke up to the unexpected sound of my refrigerator opening. Groggily, I glanced at my alarm clock and realized it was already 10 AM — late by my standards, even for a weekend. As I walked into the living room, my mind buzzed with potential plans for the day. Would I go to the pool with my friends? Binge-watch my favorite shows? Maybe spend time at a friend’s house?

Before I could decide, my mom called me over, and my dad said, “We have something important to tell you.” My heart began to race with excitement. Was it a surprise vacation? An Apple Watch? Had they finally agreed to get a dog? My thoughts spiraled with anticipation. Then, with just one sentence, my parents shattered my world: “We’re moving.”

I stood there, speechless. We were leaving the place I had called home for years, moving to a city I had never been to — 45 minutes away. Everything would be different. It was a complete restart. My friendships, some dating back to kindergarten, would be disrupted. Even our cherished Friday morning routine — biking to school and stopping at Digby’s Doughnuts, where the pastries were bigger, cheaper, and far better than anything from Krispy Kreme — would come to an end. The weight of those memories made the news even harder to bear.

The first thing I did was call my best friend. He was devastated. In that moment, we made a pact: we would make the most of our final months together. More hangouts, more sleepovers, and even new adventures — like organizing a popsicle sale at a bustling local event. We had a blast, met new people, and even made $60 in profit, which, for two 11-year-olds, felt like a fortune.

Breaking the news to my classmates was just as tough. As someone known as the class clown and a loyal friend, I felt the collective disappointment. My friends, in an effort to make my last days memorable, went out of their way to be kind to me. They made me team captain in every game and treated me to ice cream from the school’s Friday truck, refusing to let me pay them back. Their kindness made leaving even harder.

As the move approached, an unexpected delay from PG&E postponed our transition by a month and a half. Despite the delay, we packed every day until our apartment looked nearly as empty as when we first moved in. Finally, moving day arrived. My dad’s friends came to help, and we rented a U-Haul truck. The process was exhausting, but after loading everything up, I took one last, lingering look at our old apartment before we hit the road.

The journey to our new home was an experience in itself. The U-Haul, with its roaring engine, felt like a modded V8 car but moved at a snail’s pace. When we finally arrived, I was awestruck — our new house was even more stunning in person. We unloaded our belongings into the garage and took a well-earned break in the cool indoors.

Then, an unexpected challenge arose. A massive Costco truck pulled up with our new fridge — a high-end model my mom and I had carefully chosen. The problem? It was too big to fit through the door. The only solution was to remove the door entirely. As the workers prepared to unscrew it, I had a mischievous idea. I texted my mom, “We didn’t like the way our door looked, so we took it off and are buying a new one.” Moments later, my dad’s phone rang. My mom was in full panic mode, questioning our decision. When my dad explained the real reason, we all had a good laugh about it.

After the fridge was finally installed, we celebrated with a meal at a nearby Indian restaurant. The warm ambiance, delicious seafood, and sizzling fish appetizers made for a perfect first meal in our new city. By evening, my mom and sister arrived, eager to explore our new home. My mom’s excitement over the fridge reassured me that at least some things were turning out well.

Sleeping on blankets in an empty house felt surreal, but the next morning, I took a walk around our new community. I saw a park under construction and met new neighbors my grandparents enjoyed talking to. Many houses in the area were still being built, making everything feel fresh and new.

The first few days were tough. Without Wi-Fi, I experienced a boredom I hadn’t felt in years. But once we got connected, I indulged in a full Harry Potter marathon before reality hit — I had to start at a new school. Like any newcomer, I was nervous. But as I met classmates from my neighborhood, I started to feel more at ease.

However, not all friendships were the right ones. Over time, I realized that some of my first friends at the new school weren’t people I wanted to be around. Their idea of fun included vandalizing school property, and I knew I had to distance myself. It was a painful lesson, but one I’ll never forget: people aren’t always who they seem.

Then everything changed. A new student joined our class, and to my surprise, we had a lot in common — same heritage, same hobbies, even the same favorite video games. We instantly clicked and soon became best friends. Though he didn’t live in my community, he was just a five-minute walk away, and we hung out almost every day.

If you’ve ever had to move, I hope my story reassures you that it’s not always a bad thing. Change can feel overwhelming, but it also brings new opportunities. The more negatively you approach it, the harder it will be on yourself. But if you stay open-minded, you’ll realize how much you have to be grateful for. Not everyone is as fortunate — housing costs are skyrocketing, and for many, buying a home is just a dream.

Many schools in the U.S. are reconsidering having a summer break and switching to a more balanced year-round school year, but the we are here to find out what would be better for student and families and why summer break has been the preferred schedule for over a decade, also why schools are switching now and not earlier or later. continue reading and you will find out why.

The primary merits of a traditional school schedule

Students get 2–3 months off to rest and reset, giving them a huge mental and emotional break. Most big extra curriculars and programs take place in summer specifically so students can do those without the stress from school that a majority of students get. That period of time gives most families the opportunity to travel and travel long distances without missing school. It saves energy as buildings shut off for months efficiently saving money.

The drawbacks of a traditional school schedule

That major gap in learning causes students to lose 20%-30% over break effectuating teacher to reteach in fall. Students often feel burned out due to long stretches without break leading to stress and exhaustion. Students often find it rigorous to re-adjust back to the long days of school. Schools still are required to pay for a empty buildings maintenance over the summer even when no learning is happening.

Now lets see why the traditional schedule has sustained its place for this long and hasn’t changed.

One of the main reasons the traditional schedule was preferred over others was mostly because in the 1800’s schools got unbearably hot (they had no AC). Cities were emptying out left and right compelling schools to give everyone a summer break. parents grew up with it, teachers grew up with so communities kept it. Summer programs, sports, camps are all centered around summer break since it hasn’t changed. And importantly schools back then simply didn’t need to, the U.S. population was more stable, barley any people worried about a student mental health, and school calendar’s weren’t full of testing technology and other modern demands.

The favorable attributes of a balanced school year

reduces summer learning loss especially in subjects like math and reading. The frequent breaks reduce burnout and stress, now this is personally my favorite change in a balanced school year the frequent breaks will change the way school is structured completely. A more consistent uninterrupted learning rhythm, students will stay in a school mode year round as they wont be disrupted by long breaks and will stick to routines. Schools will see better attendance as those breaks will manifest more motivation and energy in students and teachers. The use of school buildings will be more effective as buildings wont be empty for months and overcrowded schools can rotate students in different tracks.

The deficiencies for a balanced school year

The loss of long breaks will make it harder for families to freely go on trips. Most big activities follow a summer break based schedule, many programs will conflict with this new implemented schedule. With the current state of the economy and all the budget cuts and layoffs and inflation I don’t think its reasonable for schools to procced with this as a year-round school it will cost more for staffing, maintenance and constant AC. And Kids may feel like they will never get a real summer even though the number days off will be around the same they will feel like they don’t get the fun long summer they once had.

now we will see of all times why are schools considering switching now.

Like I brought up earlier Summer learning loss is a big problem but now it is worse than ever. students lose about 30% percent of their learning over the summer especially the younger grades. Teachers spend the first 4–6 weeks of fall reteaching the previous years content. Year-round school solves both of those problems. Students stress and mental health problems have increased significantly as todays kids have to deal with heavy work loads, more testing, more distractions, burnout, lack of sleep etc… Now days there are tons of waiting lists on schools as districts are growing faster than buildings can keep up. Schools can fit more students into the same school by just rotating groups throughout the year. This prevents districts from buying new land, building more schools, raising taxes. It could also improve the academic performances of the students.

“Do I want this, or do I want the reward?”

Understanding the Deep Psychology Behind Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

Imagine working tirelessly on a school project, not for a good grade or a praise but just because you love the challenge. Now imagine doing the same project for the sole reason of getting a good grade or to impress your teacher. Which of these scenario’s motivates you more. This simple distinction clearly differentiates intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, two fundamental & pivotal parts of human psychology yet completely different forces that drive human nature in profoundly different ways.

understanding these motivations not just explains why people act the way they do but also offers techniques to maximize personal growth & satisfaction. At it’s core, motivation answers a pivotal question: do we pursue something because we genuinely want it, or because we want the reward it brings?

intrinsic motivation comes from the within us. It is the internal urge to engage in a activity cause it is personally meaningful or enjoyable, rather that for some external reward. A great example would be a student reading late in the night purely cause they love learning and are intrinsically motivated. psychologists have found that being intrinsically motivated often leads to deeper engagement, creativity and persistence, because the action itself is rewarding. People that are intrinsically motivated experience a sense of mastery and purpose making their achievements feel genuinely fulfilling, free of any external recognition.

On the other hand, extrinsic motivation, arises from external factors such as rewards, recognition, avoiding punishment. For example someone might just start a weight loss journey simply for the praise and recognition of others. while extrinsic motivation can encourage behavior it is not reliable, as over time especially if the rewards are removed. Nevertheless, extrinsic behavior is powerful and can be a tool to shape behavior, especially when immediate results are important, such as in a work place or structured learning environments.

Even though extrinsic and intrinsic motivation can both drive action, they differentiate in key ways. Intrinsic motivation often creates long term engagement, creativity, and personal satisfaction, when on the other hand extrinsic motivation fosters faster results but can feel far less meaningful. However extrinsic motivation can sometimes undermine intrinsic motivation if the reward is the primary focus, a scenario known as the “overjustification effect”. Understanding these key differences allows individuals to balance both types of motivation in effectively, guaranteeing that external rewards do not overshadow the joy of personal growth.

Both types of motivation aren’t always separate, they often interact. For example a professional runner might run cause they personally love running (Intrinsic). But also participate in 10k’s or marathons for the award (Extrinsic). In some cases extrinsic rewards can reinforce intrinsic motivation by providing resources or recognition that support personal growth. However, conflicts may arise when eternal forces dissipate the feeling of autonomy making a enjoyable activity manifesting into a chore. Recognizing how these motivations effect each other helps people maintain a balance between both & avoid burnout.

The real science

(Dopamine, Overstimulation, Sleep cycles)

Ask any teenager how they’re feeling & the number one answer you’ll hear is: tired. It’s a running joke in classrooms, families, & a big online joke as Gen Z always seems exhausted. But behind the big joke is a real problem that many adults misunderstand. Gen Z’s constant tiredness isn’t because they are lazy or unmotivated. There is no simple answer but a result of biological sleep changes, increased social & academic pressures. Also due to modern digital habits & emotional overloads that vitiates healthy rest.

One major reason for Gen Z’s constant exhaustion is simple biology. During the phase of adolescence, the body goes through natural shift in its circadian rhythm, also referred to as the internal body clock. studies have shown that a teen’s body naturally delays its bedtime and feels sleepy one — two hours later than compared to children & adults. This means that a teenager’s brain is wired to fall asleep at 11P.M. or later & wake up later in the morning. But Current school times clash with a teens circadian rhythm, compel teen’s bodies to wake up long before they are ready to. If a teen gets into bed early, their brain might not feel sleepy yet. Teens getting 8- 10 hours of sleep is pivotal for healthy development, This repetitive sleep pattern eventually leads to a constant sleep deficit. In short, biology starts Gen Z at a disadvantage before the day even starts.

In addition to the biological factors, Gen Z currently faces significantly higher academic & social expectations than previous generations. Many teens juggle advanced classes, sports clubs, tutoring, Volunteering, and side learning apps. All the pressure to build a competitive and appealing résumé for high school college or future jobs creates a mental load that leads to exhaustion. Social comparison plays a major role in this, finding peers online who seem to be doing everything perfectly can make students feel like they need to work harder & you already know where that leads. This mix of academic strain & social pressure drains energy throughout the day & keeps the mind active long after it needing to rest.

Technology adds another layer to this big issue. While phones & apps can be useful & fun, they can interrupt healthy sleep schedules. The blue light that all devices emit signals the brain to slow down the release of melatonin, the hormone that helps people sleep. Scrolling late at night, talking to friends, or simply just thinking about notifications all of these scenarios result in the brain activating & making it harder to wind down. Social media creates what psychologists refer to as a “mental overload” — way to much info too process, too fast. Gen Z isn’t choosing to be tired; they’re living in a digital world that is designed to keep them awake, engaged & overstimulated.

Another big contributing factor is emotional exhaustion. Today’s teens are highly aware of global issues including climate change, financial instability, & social justice. The majority of teens face personal worries related to identity, the future, friends, & the high expectations that family or school has placed on them. Thinking deeply about these topics late at night, which is common can keep the brain in “Alert mode”, which reduces rest & sleep quality. Emotional fatigue doesn’t show up in test scores or homework piles but plays a major role in why Gen Z feel worn out.

Even though these challenges are real, there are multiple healthy ways to support healthy energy levels. Even small habits can make a significant difference: keeping a consistent sleep schedule, dimming screens at night & using night mode. Taking short breaks during homework, doing relaxing activities before bed, talking to trusted people when stressed. None of these mentioned methods work instantly but they definitely help the body & mind rest more naturally. Understanding these solutions helps teens take control & feel less guilty.