December 19, 2019 22 rustlernews.com
Ladies and gentlemen, Harry Styles has done it again by Holly Spragg, online editor On Dec. 13, Harry Styles released the album Fine Line and it had eager listeners dancing, crying, smiling, and then crying again. Tracks two through four were released before the album as a whole. “Watermelon Sugar” was first performed on the Saturday Night Live episode on Nov. 16. This song really just feels like an evening on a beach and living like it is summer all year round. “Adore You” was his third song released and had quite an interesting music video. The setting took place on an island called Eroda (which is adore spelled backwards). Styles plays a boy that finds a friend in a fish before he has to let the fish go because he grows too big. While the video was beautiful and the conspiracy theories were thoroughly entertaining, I cannot make a big connection between the video and the song. The song lyrics hold the idea of being so awed by someone, you can just appreciate their beauty and try to keep them safe: “I’d walk through fire for you - Just let me adore you.” Now, his next song “Lights Up,” is low on
my list. Don’t get me wrong, it is a great song and I was impressed and happy when it was the first song to be released, but I listened to it non-stop. However, I have also listened to “Watermelon Sugar” way too much but I still enjoy it every time. “Lights Up” is just a bit different. I have grown a little tired of the whimsical tune, but it could mean many things to each individual that listens to it and I think that is one of the most important things for a song. The next track was one that I instantly hated, but it grew on me and is now one of my favorites. “To Be So Lonely” has an interesting introduction with the sound of a banjo starting it off. Track 8 is my least favorite. “She” just is not for me. There are plenty of qualities that make this song very good on paper but it is just not my cup of tea. Maybe it is the extremely long segment of instrumental at the end or the fact that I just cannot relate to the lyrics. The album starts to pick up the happy vibe from the early tracks with “Sunflower, Vol. 6.” I don’t fully understand the last part of the title but the song is about someone reminding him of a, you guessed it, a sunflower. It is him understanding that he loved this person and misses them but is trying to keep his distance. While the song “Canyon Moon” is nice and cheerful, it feels like I have heard the song a few less than a million times. It isn’t awful, the lyrics are cute, and the bridge raises it up a bit. However, as a whole, I wouldn’t reach for this song. “Treat People With Kindness” is his slogan. It is on every piece of merch and is what he can be recognized by. When he created a song about it, I did not know what to expect, but it certainly was not what it turned out to be. It makes me think of a song that the main characters of Rom-Com would walk out to the endscreen with. It is a mix of different genres but is overall a happy little bop. His last song matches his album, “Fine Line.” It ends the album with a great sound and feeling. It talks about the line between love and hate - fixed and broken: “You’ve got my devotion - But man, I can hate you sometimes.” The album was incredibly personal with special memories sprinkled in songs. There is a song for every emotion and situation. If you need a song to make you sadder when you are already crying, Fine Line has it. If you want a song to dream about summer, track one and two are your friend. If you want to feel happy about life, the end of the album is there for you. Fine Line warmed my heart and my tear ducts. I am happy I stayed up till midnight to hear it for the first time.
Writing scholarship essays: for everyone in a panic Write an outline While not everyone likes to make an outline before they begin writing, it can be very helpful in this situation. An outline allows you to break down and organize your essay, saving you both time and stress during the writing process. Begin with a list of important points you want to emphasize in your essay; these should describe the basic storyline. Then, for each point, list information you will use to expand that thought. For example, let’s pretend you are writing an essay about your favorite teacher and the ways in which they inspired you. One of your first points used to start off the story could include the grade level they taught. Sub-points listed below this main idea may include how being taught at this age affected the relationship and how a connection was formed. Using this format will help you brainstorm and form sentences in a simplified manner.
Have someone else edit your essay Ideally, you would want to give your essay to a teacher or counselor who is familiar with the college admissions and scholarship process. However, anyone with good reading and writing skills can help make your essay or better. When they have finished editing, review their comments and ask for any clarifications. Sometimes having a conversation can spark new ideas and be more productive than reading questionable scribbles. In addition, ask a few broad questions: Was the story interesting and attentiongrabbing? Does the essay sound like my voice? Does the essay appropriately and completely address the prompt? Is there anything you would have done differently? Extra tip: Give the scholarship guidelines and requirements to the individual editing your essay. They can then provide you with better advice that suits your specific needs.
Show emotion and personality Make sure it sounds like your voice. Your goal is for the scholarship committee to get to know you and your personality. It is better to be yourself instead of writing what you think the committee wants to hear. For example, do not simply list your accomplishments. Describe them in detail, and tell the reader how you felt during these experiences. Showing emotions is also a great way to get the reader personally invested in your essay and helps them see you as a person, rather than a faceless author.
Use clear, concise, and simple language A scholarship essay is not a scientific thesis or professional research project. You do not need to use big words to impress the committee, especially if you do not use them correctly. A common phrase for this is “thesaurizing.” This means: do not look up synonyms for every other word in your writing. It can throw off the flow of language and the reader may lose interest. Also, do not exaggerate and add meaningless details to your story. Instead, be clear about what you did and the impact it had on you; let that speak for itself.
Revise, rewrite, revise After getting a first draft on paper, take a day or two away from the essay and then come back to it with fresh eyes. Many times I have written an essay and realized days later I should have done something differently. Writing your essay well before the due date allows you more time to edit, rewrite, or add additional points to strengthen the piece. Occasionally, writing a new draft can also inspire you to think of new ideas or a better way to tell your story. by Grace Carr, editor-in-chief
