Beep, beep, beep! You slowly open the oven door, and out comes a crisp, fresh smell. Baking bread is an important skill to have in life. While it may require a lot of patience, baking can help reduce stress and anxiety. Baking is also a good hobby if you are bored. Baking is important and should be done by everyone.

       First, to make your dough, you need to grab all your supplies, which includes a scale, a large bowl, a carton of eggs, a gallon of milk, a bag of all purpose flour, and either tap or boiled water. Grab your large bowl and put it on the scale. You want to reset the scale so it doesn’t include the weight of your bowl, and hen you want to put in the flour. The amount of flour you put in depends, but you want to put around two and a half cups. You want to add 1 ¼ cups of water as well. After you add your flour and water, crack open your eggs and put them in the bowl. Add one to two cups of milk to the bowl. Then start mixing with either a spatula or your hands. Once the dough looks like a light brown or a light caramel color, you can stop mixing.

       Before you bake the dough you just made, you want to set it for 8 to 12 hours. Setting or proofing the dough will let the bread rise and will give the bread its shape. To set the bread, you should put a cloth over the dough so it doesn’t get dust on it. Put the covered dough into a glass bowl, and then leave it in a room that is 75 to 80 degrees °F. If you do this overnight, remember to check it in the morning. 

       Once you have set it for 8 to 12 hours, you want to preheat the oven to 350 °F for 30 to 33 minutes. While the oven is preheating, put your dough into a mould. It doesn’t matter what shape, but aluminum is the best material. Aluminum is the best material because it has the best heat conductor for baking. It bakes the bread evenly; it heats up fast but cools down just as fast when taken out of the oven. 

       Once the oven has finished preheating, put your mould with the dough into the oven. After the oven beeps, open the oven. You don’t want to open it too wide, or it will be hot. You want to open the oven door slowly and then let the bread cool for 30 to 60 minutes. Now you can cut and enjoy.

       Now you have your own loaf of bread. Not only does it taste better if you make it yourself, but you have just completed your own project. You can now make bread! Patience is a virtue.

-Rui-Jing W.

        PING! BOUNCE! PAK! You feel your heart race faster as you go to serve the game point. Tension builds up, and you feel sweat dripping down your forehead. Suddenly, the ball just barely makes it over the net, and it is way too short for the other opponent to reach in time. You’ve won the tennis game, and here’s exactly how you managed to do it.

       To swing the racket, you have to make sure to swing with both hands on the racket. This way, it’s much easier to hit the ball with precision. When swinging you also must take a few steps, almost like skipping motion if you want to make it over the net with more ease. 

       Following through is a step that most beginners and even those that have been playing for a while forget. To follow through, you have to swing all the way back around to the opposite shoulder you started swinging at. This creates a motion for the ball to be more controlled and go exactly where you want it in a more organized fashion.

       In order to serve in tennis, you stand sideways, either to your left or to your right, depending on your dominant hand. Then you should bounce the ball a few times on the ground and hit it with your racket back on the ground to get a feel of the weight of the ball and how high off the court it bounces. After you get a feel of the ball, you should bounce it a little bit past your waist level so you don’t need to swing so high that the ball lands out of the court, but not so low that it hits the net and bounces right back at you. When it’s at this medium height, you can achieve the perfect serve by a calm and controlled swing with a big follow through. 

       To return the serve in tennis, you have to make sure to stay a little further back on the court. It’s always easier to run forward than it is to run backward and keep an eye on the ball at the same time. Instincts are a huge part of returning the serve because if it looks like it’s coming super fast at one solid level, you should try to just let it go because chances are, it’ll land out of the court and you’ll receive the point without even doing the work. 

       Finding out the opponent’s weaknesses as you play the game is a big part as well. This way, you’ll have the player right in your pocket without them even knowing it. For example, some players might not do well with quick balls because it doesn’t give them enough time to move, where others may do worse with gentle balls because they have too much time and just overthink it. Once you realize what the opponent’s weaknesses are, you can use them to your advantage incredibly.

       Tennis is exceptionally important because it’s one of those things where you need to be tremendously precise and be alert about your decisions. In life, you need to be just as cautious and attentive about your every move. 

-Lucy M. 

       Have you ever had to work on something hard and tedious to get a good outcome in the end? How about following instructions perfectly so that it comes out right? And then after it is finished, you show it off to someone? Feeling proud of something that you have accomplished is a great feeling, such is with making friendship bracelets. 

       First, when making a friendship bracelet you need string, also known as embroidery floss or embroidery thread. I like to pick four strings, but you can go up to seven strings. The least amount of strings you can have is two. There are two different bracelets for beginners: a chinese staircase and a candy stripe.  Your string should be about two wing spans long (from one of your fingertips to the other fingers).   Do that to all of your strings. When making any bracelet you need a loop to tie the one end of the bracelet to the other end of the bracelet. Take your long strings and fold them in half. Now there is a fold at the top,  and now you should tie a knot big enough to fit your pointer finger in the loop. Now you can start to make your bracelet. 

       When making a chinese staircase you want to have one string out from the cluster of strings. You want to do this so that it looks like a 4 shape. The bent part of the 4 is that one string that you will be using to color the staircase. The vertical part of the 4 is the cluster of strings. Then you are going to tuck the end of the 4 through the whole of the 4 and pull it until it is tight. Do that ten more times, and then you can switch to a new color. Do the same thing with the 4 ten times more. After that you should have the hang of it. Do that until it fits the size of your wrist, switching colors every ten 4’s. Now if you want to add beads you should stop about halfway through your bracelet. This is like threading a needle; you need to get the strings through the hole of the bead. I like to group the strings into pairs and then string the pairs. Once you string one you want to pull the string back into the bead to make the whole bigger for the pairs to go through easier. Now that you know how to put the beads on you should tie a knot so that the beads don't fall off when you are trying to make the 4. 

       Making a candy stripe is similar to making a chinese staircase. You do the same 4 knotting, except you do it on all the individual strings versus the one cluster of strings. First you are going to make a loop at the top like you learned back in making a chinese staircase. Now you are going to make a pattern with the strings like this:   ||||||||. You are going to take the teal string and do the 4 method to all of the other strings going from the blue all the way over to the right pink. It will look weird in the beginning, but just trust the process. Doing this should make the teal string go all the way to the right. Now do that with the blue. Do it with the purple and pink too. You now have what is called a chunk. For a twelve year old girl you need ten chunks; it will most likely vary because everybody's wrist is different. At the end of both bracelets you can tie it or use a lobster clasp. Any other clips or clasps will work; you just want something that will not have your bracelet fall apart. 

       Overall, friendship bracelet making is a fun and unique talent and hobby to know. It takes some time and is tedious, but in the end you get an interesting and homemade brand new accessory. How many different designs can you make?

 

-Katy T. 

       Cross it, cross it, you yell while sprinting with the ball. Imagine you are in a one-on-one situation, and you accelerate like you're being chased by a swarm of bees and strike that ball into the net, making the score two to one. All you had to do was work together to mend that ball into the net. Your opponent is fighting a losing battle. He tries to shoot the ball but ends up flailing around like a fish out of water, getting tangled in the net and narrowly missing the shot, losing the game. You have pulled off the greatest comeback in football history, and somewhere, a sports announcer is losing his voice from all the shouting.

       First of all, football is a sport that many people would love to play. It is the most popular sport in the world, and people from many countries engage in this sport. Soccer is a sport that imparts invaluable life lessons, with the most significant ones being teamwork and self-discipline. These life lessons can enhance your life. Football is 95% teamwork. You can not score at all without the art of teamwork unless you are Ronaldo or Messi, who defy all laws of gravity. In football, there are numerous strategies that professional teams utilize to secure victory.

       The first strategy that professional teams use is vision. Vision is crucial because you need to visualize where your teammates will move and pass the ball accurately to their feet. When you practice with them, you learn their maneuvers. For example, imagine that you are running down the field, and your team spots you. Your teammate must anticipate where you are heading. If you are ahead of the opposing team, your teammate must pass the ball either in front of or behind you. You have to calculate the trajectory of the ball and follow that curve to the goal. You are likely to succeed with this strategy because your opponent will not anticipate it. This is a strategy that professional soccer teams employ in their matches.

       The second strategy that professional teams use in the art of teamwork has to be effective communication. Effective communication is essential because you need to use verbal commands or hand signals to indicate where the trajectory of the ball is going so your teammate will know where to go. The first-hand signal is a far kick. This hand signal is crucial because your teammate needs to understand if you are aiming for a long or short pass. If you are shooting long and your hand is below your waist, your teammate will not move far enough, allowing your opponent to intercept the ball and take it to the other side of the field. The second type of communication is through your voice. For example, you are sprinting down the field, and your teammate is advancing with the ball, so you say Cross it; your teammate will hear that and pass the ball right to your feet, allowing you to score the game-winning goal. That is an example of using your voice to communicate and secure a victory. Let's be honest, nothing beats the sweet sound of a perfectly timed Cross it.

       The last strategy for the art of teamwork is to assign roles. Assigning roles is critical because you need a plan to win the game. For example, imagine a situation with a defender on your right and left. Your teammates need to be there right next to you, so come up with a plan before you start the match. Giving roles in football is very important because it helps each player know what they need to do, which makes the team work better together. When players understand their jobs, they can anticipate what their teammates will do and where they will go, helping the team move more effectively. This prevents easy mistakes, allowing the team a better chance of overtaking the opposition. Overall, clear roles help the team play well and improve their chances of winning. It’s like a perfectly choreographed dance with more sweat and fewer sequins.

       There are many other strategies in the art of teamwork that pro players use, but even lower-tier players use them all the time. Most of the methods mentioned are used everywhere, even in kids’ and pro games. These are just three out of one hundred million ways used by players. The main point of strategies is to find a plan and make it work to win any type of game, and if they will not work, find other ones until you're out of strategies, which means you are literally toast and will not succeed in the game. To ensure that does not happen, use strategies to help you mend your way to victory!

-Hanniel M. 

       Imagine yourself on a softball field; you just made a really hard play and got the runner out. Your whole team is cheering you on because if you didn't make that play, your team wouldn't have won the championship. You're so happy and proud of yourself, and so are your coaches and teammates. 

       In softball, the outfield is an important position. The outfielders have to get the ball if it goes in the outfield. They have to back up the bases just in case the ball goes past the baseman. There can be three or four players in the outfield. When there are four outfielders in the outfield there is a player at left field, left center, right center, and right field. But when there are only three players in the outfield there's only one player at left field, center field and right field. The outfield does the most running; sometimes when the other team has good hitters and they’re hitting the ball to the outfield they have to chase after the ball and even dive for it. The outfielders are usually really fast and have a good arm.

       In the infield you have first base, second base, short stop, and third base. All the positions are important! The first baseman usually gets all the throws and can usually get the bad throws to first base. They are also the cut off for home if the outfield is throwing the ball to home plate.They also back up home plate when someone is still home. The second baseman helps the first baseman; if the first baseman is getting the ball and they are away from the base, the second baseman can just go to first and the first baseman can just throw the ball to get the out. The second baseman also backs up second base when some is stealing second and the shortstop catches the ball to tag the runner. 

       The shortstop covers second base when the other team is stealing second. The shortstop can also be cut off when the ball gets hit to left field. Last but not least, the third baseman. They can throw the ball across the infield to first base to get the out. The third baseman covers third when someone is trying to steal that base. Also when the runner is taking a big lead when they’re at third, the third baseman is a couple of steps behind the runner just in case the catcher throws the ball to try to get the runner out. 

       Also in the infield you have the two most important positions: the pitcher and the catcher. The pitcher does a lot of work; they have to have really good accuracy when pitching. If they can't pitch strikes and only balls then the batter is going to get a walk, and then there's going to be more people on the bases, which can lead to runs. The pitcher has a lot of pressure on them. When someone is stealing home the pitcher has to run to home plate to cover for when the catcher throws the ball. 

       The catcher is one of the most important positions on the field. They have to catch every single ball that the pitcher throws, and they have to block the ball with their body. They have to have a good arm to throw to second base when someone is stealing second base. The catcher does a lot of work behind the plate. They have to have fast reaction times for when the ball is hit and when there's a bad pitcher so they know how to catch the ball and block it. The pitcher and catcher are the most important positions on the field. 

       All of the positions are important in softball. Every position matters and has a purpose.

-Brynn T.

        You're focused.  Everything around you is silent. You pull back your arrow.  Bam! That’s how archery feels.  Many people do not do archery or have any clue how to.  For some people, when they hear the words bow and arrow, they think of cupid.  Some people know that archery is a sport, not a popular one, but a sport. 

       There are three levels in archery: beginner, intermediate, and expert.   Usually if you're just starting you’ll be a beginner.  But if you're older, you’ll be put into intermediate.  Each year you’ll kind of move up a level, depending on if you need more work or less.  Archery is not an easy sport.  You have to stand in one spot for an hour and do the same motion over and over again, so it’s not too interesting, but for some people it can be. 

       There are five colors you can hit: yellow, red, blue, black, and white.  Each one has a different number of points you can get.  White is equal to two  points.  If you shoot your arrow and land on the white circle, you will get two points. If you hit the black that is four points, hit the blue, that’s six points, red is eight points, and yellow is ten points (bullseye).   

       You have to stand the right way to get the arrow to hit the target.  If you’re a lefty you're going to turn your whole body to the left.  Then put your legs shoulder width apart. Don’t move your feet!  You want to plant your feet into the ground.  If you do move your feet, you won’t have accurate aim. Next you’re going to face the target without moving your feet. Then close one eye and look down the tip of the arrow, aim, and shoot. Make sure you keep your arm up, and don’t drop it right after letting the arrow go, otherwise the arrow will go down.   

       There are five basic rules in archery.  One rule is no shooting when someone is in front of you. The arrows are sharp, and they are not plastic.  Another rule that relates to the last one is to stand behind the line.  There is usually a line you would stand at that is a certain distance away from the target.  Anyone who is not shooting has to stand behind that line, or it could be very dangerous.  Another rule is no knocking the bow before everyone is behind the line.  Knocking is when you put the arrow on the bow, like you're about to shoot; there is a possibility you could accidentally shoot and hit someone.  The final rule is wear closed toed shoes! You probably don’t want an arrow sticking out of your foot at the end of practice. Stay safe when doing archery.  

       Archery has a lot of rules.  These rules are easy but very important.  When you play a game, rules are the most important thing.  Otherwise you have no clue how to play, and you're just sitting in a room awkwardly with nothing to do. But that won’t happen if you know the rules.  So in archery just follow the rules and the stances, aim your best shot and go for it.

-Ashlin L. 

       As you confidently walk on to the stage you peer into the audience, thousands of excited eyes look right back at you. The stage lights glare into your nervously ambitious eyes, and just like that you strike your starting pose as your music turns on. As you elegantly follow the music through your dance, you slowly fill up with confidence that makes your dance even better! That's what it feels to dance.

       When you think of pointed feet what do you think of? Pointed feet are very important in jazz, contemporary, and many other styles of dance. It is very complicated, but there are some ways to improve and succeed with a pointed foot. First, sit on the floor with your legs completely straight, and then lean over your legs and push on or stretch through your ankles and the top of your foot. Notice that you won't immediately see a difference or what looks like a round foot or an arch. Or if you want to try a challenge you can first go into a table top position where your hands and knees are on the ground, then go into a plank position, but the tops of your feet are on the ground. Start with one knee bent and on the ground, and the other leg is straight with the tops of your foot on the floor, and then switch and do the other leg. After this, if you are comfortable, try this same exercise with both legs straight and the tops of your feet on the floor. There are so many different styles of dance, and pointed feet are applied to most of the styles, so it is important to practice pointed feet anytime you decide to try a new style of dance. 

       Did you know that relevé means to rise? In relevé all you do is rise to the balls of your feet. If that is difficult for you to do, there are some exercises to help you control your relevé. First, grab a small ball, preferably a tennis ball, and then also get a chair to hold on to and sit on. After you have the materials you need, and after you sit in the chair, put the ball under your heel and notice what that feels like. Don’t put any weight or pressure onto your heel because once you stand it can make it more likely for you to roll your ankle. Then do the other side. Once you have done the other side, stand up and turn the chair around as if someone else was going to sit there.  Try the exercise again; put your hands on the back of the chair and put the tennis ball under one of your feet. Then, once you feel comfortable, switch and do the other side.

       Another way to help you with your relevé is to go into a plank. If you don’t know what a plank is, it’s where you balance on just your hands, the balls of your feet and toes. Planks are very beneficial to dancers since they exercise your abdominal muscles, your biceps, and your quads. This time focus on your feet; when you look in between your arms you can see your feet. That’s what relevé looks like; while you stay in that position, recognize how this feels. Once you practice this as much as possible it will help increase your relevé perfection.

       Turn preps use both relevé and pointed feet?  Since you now know how to do both of those techniques, it is time for a turn prep. First, make sure both of your feet are under your shoulders, and then rise into the relevé you've been practicing. Once you're ready, pull your foot to touch your knee. Your leg should look like a triangle, starting at your hip and ending at your knee. Then with your arms put them in a circle shape as if you are holding a beach ball. Put all of these steps together and that is how you do a turn prep.

       Now that you have learned how to point your foot, do an amazing relevé and do a really good turn prep, just keep practicing and you will master your techniques. Just know that confidence and repetition is key, and you can only ever get better!

-Aria W.