Wynpress SEPTEMBER TERM 3 2018
Contents Editorial Importance of Risk Taking How to Ease into Eating Less Meat An Unconventional Take on International Peace Positive Thinking Day A Call to Spring to just Hurry up Already An Open Letter to all the Grade 11's who applied for Leadership Fight Procrastination Day Platonic Soulmates Oh, Honey! Better Breakfast Month Working Parent's Day Self Improvement through Organisation What are you Grateful for? Thank You
Editorial As this is the last edition from the 2017-2018 Wynpress committee, we have decided to write articles that covered a range of topics. With this in mind, we decided to celebrate the month of September. September is definitely a colourful month as it indicates the start of spring, with flowers in full bloom, and it also reminds us that summer is around the corner. The month, itself, is also known as Chicken month, Self Improvement month and many more. We cannot forget all the other weird celebrations such as Better Breakfast day, Working Parents’ day and International Peace day. The third term is also a major milestone as it is the last full term for our matrics before it's time for them to say “Farewell”. It is also the month which brings to an end grade 11s rigorous leadership process which required a great deal of courage. This edition has something for everyone and I urge you not only to read these articles, but to discuss them with friends and family. Aqilah
"The breezes taste Of apple peel. The air is full Of smells to feelRipe fruit, old footballs, Burning brush, New books, erasers, Chalk, and such. The bee, his hive, Well-honeyed hum, And Mother cuts Chrysanthemums. Like plates washed clean With suds, the days Are polished with A morning haze. " John Updike, September
the Importance of Risk-taking
Why take risks when you can lead a comfortable lifestyle without putting yourself in positions that could possibly lead to embarrassment? That is like saying: why watch a series when you can read the summary online? The answer is that life is about the journey, not the destination. If we always do what is easy and pleasant for us, we will never explore the possibilities that life has to offer.
If you have a dream for the future, you will have to take risks at every given opportunity, otherwise you will never reach your goal. You cannot wish for success and wait for the destination, you must start the journey and enjoy the learning process as you travel. Unexpected opportunities that could impact your life will only come from risktaking.
Why are we afraid of risk- taking? Risktaking pulls us out of our comfort zone and calls us to try something new, something different, and this causes us to feel uncomfortable. Risks involve the unknown. We are not able to predict what the outcome of our risk will be. We are terrified of taking risks as there is a chance that the turn of events will lead to failure or embarrassment.
Life without risks is simple, but not extremely fulfilling. We feel alive and excited when we take risks. We can only reach our goals and strive for success if we take risks. Although we may fail many times, we will learn from the process and when we do succeed, we will thank ourselves for taking the risk. Without the journey, we would still be at our previous destination, only dreaming about the success we might have achieved by taking that risk.
The secret to overcoming your fear of risktaking? Embrace failure. This is the best way to learn as you will learn more from your mistakes than from listening to someone explaining what they learnt while taking risks. We learn more about ourselves through our experiences and this allows us to grow as individuals.
Marine Bosch
How to ease into eating less meat Jasmine Kennedy This September is Chicken Month, the 2nd is International Bacon Day, the 22nd is Hunting Day. This is not a meat-eater bashing article where I impose my morals onto other people; it is simply a few recipes and ideas to show you that reducing meat consumption really isn’t difficult and that you don’t have to go vegan or vegetarian to make a difference. So, in honour of Chicken Month, I will share a few tips with you so that you may do your bit for the environment and also so that you may respect our fellow animals. Firstly, the misconception about going vegetarian is that people believe that it won’t make a difference. However,II think we all get the flawed logic in that: the same logic can be applied to any social movement. It’s like refusing to vote. Personally, I’ve seen a massive change since I became vegetarian two and a half years ago: there are a lot more frozen food options and more choices for vegetarians at restaurants. Now you can have a vegetarian meal anywhere without just ordering a side of steamed vegetables when you go out.
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Alternatives to things you love don’t need to include the crazy ingredients you read on pinterest like flaxseed oil and the petal of an orchid. If you look up any recipe by searching “very easy vegetarian/vegan meals”, you will find something with 5 ingredients that you already have in your fridge. Trying out our new vegan or vegetarian recipes which can be very exciting. You will find really easy creative recipes online and you will be able to impress everyone when they hear the meringues which you made are vegan, using the brine from a can of chickpeas. To help you with the change in your meat diets, here are some of my favourite vegan/ vegetarian recipes. They are really easy (I’m quite lazy) and most only involve one pan (so you don’t have a lot of dishes to wash). Vegan curry
1 onion 1 can of tomatoes ( or chop your own if you’re feeling adventurous) The second is that what you eat or where you stand 1 tbsp curry spice like Rajah (or Woolworths morally on what you put into your body, is your also has a nice range). business. You canB ebe a vegan and still eat the f o r e e v e n t y p i n g y o u r r e p o r t , f i r s t t a k1 e tsp t h e garlic t i m e t paste o c o n s(optional, ider who th e recommended) but occasional piece rof fish mainly e pgreen o r t i s flist or. O n e or g o oeat d ru le of thumb to remember is that the higher up paste (optional) t h e s t a k e h o l d e r i s i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l1l atsp d d eginger r, the m ore su ccinct the vegetarian, but have some free range chicken once report needs to be. 1 can coconut milk ( to make it creamy, but you in a while. Like most things, you shouldn’t be doing out any) W i t h t h e m y r i a d o f m e t r i c s s o c i a l m e d i acan m aleave r k e t e r it s h a v eifayou c c e s don’t s t o , i thave ’s something for the label, you should eat consciously tempting to drown your audience in numbers. While figures aren't bad and in moderation p e and r s e , definitely y o u d o h a vtake e t o everything make sure that these are relevant to the role of t h o s e r e c e i v i n g t h e r e p o r t . S t r i v e t o t e l lBulk t h e sof t o the r y b ecurry: hind the numbers slowly. If you want to be vegan and have never by including learnings or insights. You can include any vegetables or canned things cooked before in your life and know nothing about found in your house. My favourites include: Vitamin B12, you will struggle and feel helpless, so Can of chickpeas (save the brine for the next rather ease yourself into any meat- related diet recipe) changes. Can of beans Any vegetable, like broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potato ( this is truly the best option!), potato, mushrooms
Instructions: Pour oil into a heavy-based saucepan (sunflower, olive, coconut, butter) and add chopped onion with spices and ginger and garlic. Fry until the onions go golden/see-through. Add can of tomatoes Add bulk options (e.g. sweet potato and chickpeas) and bring the heat down, stir now and again so that it doesn’t sick and wait until the veggies have softened ( poke with a fork or taste it) Add your coconut milk. Voila! It’s ready. You can have it alone or with some chopped tomato and cucumber or with rice or in a wrap or a roti; basically whatever you want to serve it with it will taste great.
Directions: Put oil into a heavy-based saucepan with onions and spices and fry until see-through-ish Place the tomatoes into the pan and add lentils and water. Stir until the lentils have gone into a mush. You might need to add more water or drain the water at the end. Add coconut milk, just before taking it off the stove. Can be served with rice/ couscous or by itself
Vegan chocolate cake with avocado (trust me) icing: Cake ingredients: 1 ½ cup flour 1 cup sugar ¼ cup cocoa powder Vegan Meringues: 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda This is the recipe I used and found it really simple. It ½ teaspoon salt does, however,take long to mix and cook, but it is ⅓ cup veg oil really delicious and tastes just like meringues! 1 teaspoon vanilla essence (This is from: www.itdoesnttastelikechicken.com) 1 teaspoon white vinegar/ balsamic vinegar ( which I think is way better) 1 cup water
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DIrections: Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius Spray a cake tin with spray and cook or line with baking paper. Mix wet ingredients, add dry ingredients. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes, check with a toothpick in the centre to see if its done, if there is no cake batter sticking to it, it’s done. t a kIce e t honly e t i mwhen e t o c cooled. onsider who the
Before even typing your report, first report is for. One good rule of thumb to remember is that the higher up the stakeholder is in the organizational ladder, the more succinct the report needs to be. Avocado Icing:
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With the myriad of metrics social media marketers have access to, it’s t e m p t i n g t o d r o w n y o u r a u d i e n c e i n n u1 m ripe b e r s .avocado W h i l e f i g(uit r eneeds s a r e n ' to t bbe a d really mushy) per se, you do have to make sure that these are relevant to the role of ¼ cup cocoa powder those receiving the report. Strive to tell the story behind the numbers by including learnings or insights. 4 tbsp of honey ( you could probably just use
Vegan Dhal: ½ onion 1 can of tomatoes/ chopped tomato 1 tbsp curry spice Approx. 1 ½ cups of washed dried red lentils (they’re really cheap and you can buy them at Pick ‘n Pay) Approx.2 cups of water ½ can of Coconut milk Salt and pepper to taste
sugar too) ¼ teaspoon vanilla essence Tiny pinch of salt 2 tablespoon of oil (optional) Directions: Mix all the ingredients with an electric mixer until smooth or if you don’t have one, use a fork vigorously.
An Unconventional Take to International Peace
(Hi Donald!) Nicola van Tellingen The world as we know it seems to be spiralling into disarray. Nuclear weapons, civil wars that go on for decades, school shootings, election meddling, terrorism. Is it that the world has forgotten the value of peace or is it always like this and we, as teenagers, are just too young to know? Often when you ask people what they want to do with their lives (and they’re feeling particularly sarcastic) they’ll respond by saying, “Achieve world peace”. It has become such a far-off goal that most recognize the sarcasm easily and don’t bother to consider whether the person is serious or not. It simply seems unattainable. Stories like the civil war in Yemen, which has been described by the U.N as the worst humanitarian crisis of our time, are hardly ever covered in the news yet one child dies every 10 minutes. We have become so desensitized to death that most stories of attacks in which fewer than 5 people are killed don’t really affect us. Very few people living today have had first-hand experience of a World War. Significantly more can remember The Cold War, and we are currently living through one of the first ever Trade Wars. Combat is changing forms. So much so that we might not even recognize when we are living through the very opposite of peace.
appreciation, understanding, sympathy, empathy, laughter, kindness and hope. It is so easy to criticize without realising you might be guilty of those same unconscious biases, those hypocrisies. We are all the leaders of the future. The leaders of our homes, our children, our communities, our workplaces, our country, our world and each is just as important. We will one day, relatively soon, be responsible for the world and by extension, all its problems.
We need to learn how to be composed, thoughtful and measured. We need to ensure we do better than the current generation of world leaders because we can! If all of us become those pioneers How is it that America, which campaigns and in our community who advocate for peaceful projects its democratic roots to the world with much flair, experienced election-meddling and, solutions to seemingly insignificant problems, the then, its very own president SIDED WITH THE world will be a better place. The mindset required to achieve international peace starts at home. The PERPETRATOR! solutions to massive problems start at home. The 21st of September is International Peace Day. How When we look at the world now it seems impossible to do anything about it. But there are many of us even knew that day existed? Let’s take advantage of that. Think about what you want your other perspectives. Look at your community, role to be - bystander, active participant for the your neighbours, your friends, your family, good or perpetrator of the bad? Make that choice people whom you can influence, yourself. and stick to it. Hold yourself accountable and Peace starts at home. It’s the cherry on the maybe, one day, more of our world leaders will. cake built of tolerance,
Positive Thinking Day Jade De Keijzer
Could you ever believe that there would be a day such as ‘Positive Thinking Day’ (PTD)? I certainly did not, but it’s no surprise that our universal community has called for such a day, considering that we live in a world where our society nit-picks at its flaws, endorsing negativity. On Thursday 13 September, people across the world (me included, and I hope that you will too) will celebrate a day with the focus on positive thinking. The aim of this day is to encourage positive thinking, of course. However, it also aims to make us aware of how negative thinking does more harm than good. Negative thinking has been found to increase stress levels, drain energy and lower self-esteem. PTD also aims to remind us that positive thinking allows us to see the glass as half full rather than half empty. Research has shown that positive thinking reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers the risk of depression, increases personal longevity and can help prevent the common cold. You’re probably thinking to yourself, “Alright, but how do we fully celebrate the day?” Well it’s extremely simple : Think positively all day! Be conscious of your thoughts during the day, making a special effort to push away negative thoughts. Laugh. Laugh as much as you can. Laughing, has been known to reduce stress levels and you can do this by watching an episode of “Friends”. Remember “Laughter is the best medicine”. Finally, spread the love. Love on this day is shared through thinking positively and by encouraging others to do the same.
PTD, is an unofficial holiday that I personally feel should be emphasised and embraced as it’s important for all of us to strive to thinking more positively about ourselves. We, young women of Wynberg, should celebrate this day so that we recognise the beauty and intelligence that we behold. From my side, happy Positive Thinking Day!
A Call to Spring to Just Hurry up Already (Please)
Mu'minah Salie
September and Spring always go hand in hand. When September starts, even though the weather is still slightly chilly and the air still slightly damp, you know Spring is coming. And when Spring finally comes, it always brings a bit of good to the lives of the people around us. The Winter weather is shrugged off our shoulders like a thick coat. Flowers start blooming and giving a bit of new colour to the day. Pharmacies make more money off much-needed bottles of hayfever spray (to the girl who sneezes thirty-seven times in every one of my classes-- you know who you are). Spring also brings an abundance of metaphors that we can use as Wynpress articles (and, of course, you are reading one such opportunistic article). Firstly, let’s talk about the long-awaited death of Winter. This Winter was a cold, dark time in my life-- literally. I wore two jerseys, thick woolly stockings underneath the pants, the scarf and a rain jacket to school every single day. Spring has become a symbol of hope to me. I am desperately waiting for September to bring an end to the freezing weather. Now my entire article will not be on the awful weather which Spring  ends. This article needs to be metaphorical, remember?
The past Winter seemed to be long and hard simply because it was filled with exams, projects and grade 11 leadership processes. I will be the first to admit that it was a very difficult period at school. Life is constantly sending storms our way, and I doubt that that is about to end any time soon. You may feel as soft and as delicate as a flower, and the winds and rain will still rip at you. Sometimes you may feel as small as a seed, and struggle to break through the soil. I am not just talking about school now. We are all rooted differently. But Winter was not all that bad: we actually experienced rain. Cape Town moved past the water crisis and day zero (although, please, stay water-wise), and in the challenging parts of 2018, many of us found love and support. Although Winter was not all sunshine and rainbows, it did wash away some difficulties if we allowed it. The rain also watered and strengthened something inside me, and I have no clue what it is yet. Crazy? Yes. You see, dear reader,I know that I have grown in more ways than I can count. Although disappointment and failure seems to be meeting you at every second corner, sometimes pushing through is the only thing you can really do. I could not see the future back then and I still cannot see the future. I still do not know what this planted seed in me will grow into. When the time is right, it will bloom. I know it. So when Spring comes, hopefully we will all be growing and blooming gardens and gardens of pure soul, spirit and strength. But because Spring seems to be taking its time and some of us are still struggling in Winter, here are some tips to keep hope fresh: 1. Accept that which needs accepting. 2. Stay focused on what your end goal is. 3. Always give your best, because it is all you actually have. 4. Stay positive. 5. Fix the small things one at a time. 6. Stop. Reflect. Appreciate. 7. Take care of yourself. 8. And for when Spring finally gets here (because it will eventually): 9. Be vulnerable and honest with yourself. 10. Believe in something and stand by it. 11. Keep trying to adjust to the circumstances and work with it. 12. Get moving on the dreams. 13. Laugh and laugh loudly. 14. Prioritise yourself. 15. Know and understand that you are you and there is no force more powerful than an empowered person.Â
An Open Letter to all the Grade 11's who Applied for Leadership
To those of you who applied but didn’t get the position you wanted (or any at all). Don't give up. This is not the end of the road. This is a minor inconvenience on the road to your end goal. This does not mean your teachers hate you. They simply chose the best girl for the job. Though this might very well be heartbreaking to some, it can be blessing in disguise. This, in the grand scheme of things, means that you won't be juggling as many balls in your matric year with all the stress of matric dances, university applications, deciding what you actually want to do with your life and schoolwork. The last thing you’ll want on your mind is worrying about that house/pillar challenge you still have to sort out or that speech you still need to write. This will allow you to focus on finding the right shoe that matches your dress,finally understanding how to complete the square or finishing that art prac of yours.
Yes, you might be feeling bitter about not getting that leadership position you've been pining over since grade 8, but don't let that hurt or jealousy or anger spread into the way that you treat and support these leaders. Remember, before anything else, before even leaders, we are peers, we are friends and we are sisters. We are the solace that we seek out in those mornings before test period; the comfort and reassurance that, despite what's happening at home, everything will be alright in the end;that in less than a year and a half we'll be walking out those big gates and we may very well never see one other ever again. So don't let leadership be the one thing that stands in your way of being able to enjoy your last year and a half together at Wynberg.
To those of you who got the positions that you wanted. Congratulations, you did it. Life’s about to change, mostly for the better. Now I know that right now you’ve probably already started stressing about how much stress you’re going have in your Matric year, and now all the pre-stress is making you stress! But please remember that we are all here for you whenever you need us to be by your side and whenever you need help. You will most certainly not be alone throughout this important stage in your high school career. And, while we will be there for you whenever you need a shoulder to cry on, please remember that just because the balls are in your court, it doesn't mean you have to try and juggle them all at once in the air on the tip of your nose while jumping through a flaming hoop. And while, yes, you certainly are in charge for the most part, be cautious not to let all the power go to your head and cause your ego to swell. You may find that you are able to gell well with some leaders, but clash with others. Remember that good leaders work with one other, not against one other. Otherwise, I have no doubt in my mind that you will fulfil your duties to the best of your abilities, the way I know you all do. I wish you nothing but the best for your term in office. To all my grade 11s: I’ll be there for you because you’re there for me, too. All my love, Kimber Jacobs
FIGHT PROCRASTINATION DAY - 6 SEPTEMBER Robyn Brown All of us have procrastinated in some way. Whether it be putting off a school project until the night before or not tidying your room because it looks so daunting. Procrastination is a terrible habit that is very hard to overcome, but with some effort and determination it can be done. When things are scary, we tend to push them aside instead of dealing with them. You have to start by overcoming small things. So I challenge you, on the 6 of september, to take on a task that you have been putting off for a long time, even if it’s small. In the end you will have at least one thing less on your plate and hopefully this will spark something inside you to tackle more tasks. Sometimes you also need a bit of help and advice, so here are some tips on how to deal with procrastination
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Platonic Soulmates Amarachi Vazidule
Friendships are something which are essential in the life cycle of humans- or any living organism in general. Every year on the 18th of September “National Women’s Friendship Day” is held to celebrate the fulfilment which female friendships bring in the majority of the lives of the 21st century woman. Melanie Schild, Executive Director of the Kappa Delta sorority, even stated in 1999 that: “Our main goal is to encourage women to recognize the value of female friendship, something that is often taken for granted.” In many ways she was right, as in countless situations, no one else can understand you as much as your best friend. The most beautiful thing about female friendships is how both or more individuals possess strength which both can access in times of need. As a result, in healthy friendships, women increase each other’s confidence resilience. Female friendships are so important because they are a source of comfort and joy like no other, and also offer solidarity through confusing and inconvenient times-so don’t take it for granted!
Oh, Honey! Cheyenne Britten
We all know that honey is made by bees. But do we really know how important bees are? These tiny buzzing insects actually play a massive role in pollinating flowers and plants. According to Greenpeace, 70 out of the top 100 human food crops that supply about 90% of the world’s nutrition, are pollinated by bees. Just think of what happened in The Bee Movie when the the bees stopped making honey and didn't pollinate...it had disastrous effects. Without bees there would be no flowers, no fruit or vegetables and most importantly,there would be no honey. Pesticides, diseases and habitat loss are decreasing the bee population.Humans are making it difficult for bees to produce and pollinate ,and in this world, the bees don't have the ability to sue us. So what can we do to prevent bees from dying out forever?
Educate yourself and others about bees . They aren’t dangerous, as their mission is to get nectar, not to hurt you. Bees only sting if they feel threatened so learn to respect them. Buy organic fruit and veg that don’t use bee killing pesticides, and local raw honey plants, lavender,rosemary, sage and sunflowers as they are bee friendly and good for pollinator health We have to thank bees for being able to produce such a delicious thick sweet substance. Honey has been around for over many years and has been used for food and medicine. In ancient Egypt, it was used as a remedy for wounds and burns because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
We have to thank bees for being able to produce such a delicious thick sweet substance. Honey has been around for over many years and has been used for food and medicine. In ancient Egypt, it was used as a remedy for wounds and Avoid using pesticides, herbicides and fungicides in your garden. In this way, bees burns because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. won’t die from pollinating contaminated plants.
Apart from being an alternative to sugar and beneficial to your health, honey has properties that are helpful for the skin and hair.Below are 2 quick and easy recipes you can try at home. SKIN Honey is rich in antioxidants and nutrients that are good for the skin. Along with lemon juice, it is known to soothe and soften skin and clear acne. Honey and Lemon Face Mask: 2 Tbsp Raw Honey ½ freshly squeezed lemon Mix the honey and lemon juice until it forms an egg white consistency Apply the mixture onto your face and leave it on for 3-5 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water. HAIR Honey contains enzymes which allows hair to shine, regulates and retains moisture and strengthens hair follicles. Honey and Coconut Oil Conditioner 1 Tbsp Raw Honey 2 Tbsp Coconut Oil Mix the two ingredients together. Massage onto damp hair. Leave on for 20 minutes and rinse off.
Better Breakfast Month Ilham Choonara
September time is spring time which means things are changing and you’re realizing the year is nearing its end. You’re also realizing that there is a little bit of time left until you really should start regretting those new year's resolutions that you didn’t fulfil. Probably on most people's list was ‘eat healthier diets’, ‘live a healthier lifestyle’, ‘be a healthier, happier me’ or ‘wake up earlier for school’. Let’s not even ask where these intentions went because, facing it, we all know the stresses that catch up with us mid-year. There’s just not enough time to focus on these January ambitions. However, it’s not too late for a small little shift in your day, which you can carry through until the end of the year and will guarantee to make the rest of your days a little sweeter, exciting and more energized. Don’t have time for breakfast? You mean you don’t have time for this day, and would rather sludge through it, making you more tired, unproductive and maybe less accomplished than you would have been? Some sort of nutrition after we wake up is so important, especially in the busy lives we live as students. Placing some goodness into your mouth in the early hours can sustain your body for much longer, and you avoid overeating later in the day. Breakfast boosts your metabolic rate and lowers the prevalence of weight gain. Your body has been fasting through the night, which means all your body processes have been at rest. A good glucose boost* on an empty stomach can improve your concentration earlier in the day. Could the lack of a better breakfast be the reason you only really feel energized at 2p.m.? Or that your class is still greeting ‘Good morning” in the last lesson. *Nutrition tip: those 4 teaspoons of sugar in your coffee should not be considered a ‘good glucose boost’ at breakfast. Think more low GI foods (toast, apple etc.) which will keep your sugar levels sustained and controlled for longer. A DIY school breakfast routine is super easy to find on youtube- and they're mostly all the same. For extra inspiration, find out what other people around the world eat first thing in the morning! France: French toast is actually what the French make with their leftover bread from a week ago. They try to buy fresh breads on most days, and with butter, dip it into coffee or cafė au lait until soaked. Spain: Toast with olive oil and sometimes garlic. A glass of milk with a few grains of cereal inside. How’s that for ‘which one goes first?’ Iran: a flat bread with butter and feta cheese. They sometimes add egg, beans or cream. Sweetened tea. Argentina: mostly pastries and coffee. Nothing big, just something to keep you going. Japan: Rice, boiled fish and soybean soup Thailand: fried rice, egg, porridge and curries Scotland: eggs, bacon, black pudding, tattie scones (a form of potato bread) Whether you’re racing the clock every morning, or tell yourself you’ll eat after morning sports practice, try to make sure that the first essential of your day is fulfilled. Starting the day off right does good for your body physically and nutritiously, as well as your mind and comfort. Starting every morning off right makes it much easier to face whatever the day has in store.
Working Parent's Day Working Parents’ Day is celebrated every year on the 16th of September and is a time to celebrate all of the wonderful parents and guardians who work to better our lives as best they can. It doesn't matter if your parent is a lawyer, a fireman, an engineer, a cashier, a driver or a shopkeeper or even a home executive, because at the end of the day, despite their various professions, they are all hard-working and dedicated. Add in some dependant children who all have their own needs and wants and our parents’ and guardians’ jobs seem even more complicated. It's difficult to imagine that they could ever have a day to themselves to relax and practice self-care, or is it? That's where you, the child, comes in. Even though Working Parents’ Day is not a public holiday, it is still possible to make your parent or parents feel like kings and queens. You can do this by serving them something tasty for breakfast so they can be packed full of energy for their busy day ahead. You can also make them a card, because, despite what you may think, parents truly do love it when you put effort into doing things for them, even if you think that your card may not be the prettiest. Offer to make dinner. Even if you're only able to make toast, parents will appreciate every little effort you make to help ease their busy schedule. Put the TV on and allow your parents to put their feet up and “slug out”, because there are times when that's the absolute best thing to do. Most importantly, tell your parents how much you appreciate everything they've done and are doing for you. In today's world, everyone's busy, but that shouldn't stop you from taking care of your parents and making time to help them and show them how much they mean to you. Working Parents’ Day shouldn't only be on the 16th of September, but every day.
Zayyaan Esau
Self Improvment through Orginisation Ciara Birch September is Self-Improvement Month. In the spirit of self-betterment I would like to share with you my journey of becoming a more organised individual. My problem probably started around my tenth birthday when we moved into a new house. My bedroom was a tad awkward in size as it was small and square, with a nook that was wide enough for a bed and a bedside table. The room consisted of a dresser, a desk, a bed, and bedside table. I sometimes had a chair to accompany the desk, and sometimes there was a green yoga ball. I am currently using the yoga ball. For the first four years I probably rearranged my bedroom monthly. I would shuffle the dresser into a different corner, or yank my bed to rest against a different wall. I would refold all of my clothes, and stack my books in a different order. However, no matter what I tried - my satisfaction with what my room looked like only every lasted for a maximum of two weeks. I had a problem, and no way of permanently fixing it. When primary school ended, and I started to walk through the doors of Wynberg Girls’ High school on a regularly basis - the weekends slipped away. I was busier, and did not have the time to sort through everything monthly. My bedroom went through a phase where it looked like a bomb had hit it on a regular basis. I could not keep it tidy. It was at the beginning of grade ten that I decided that I could no longer live in a room that made me so uncomfortable. My realization had perfect timing, as I had to move out of my bedroom to allow for renovations to be made on the one side of our house. I started researching methods not only of how to pack things away, but how to get rid of things that you do not need. I realised that I was a borderline hoarder. My cupboards were filled with piles of things that I did not use.
I had clothes that I would never wear, ticket stubs that I was never actually going to put into a scrapbook (no matter how often I promised I would). I had books that I was not going to read, and that I was not going to reread. I had notes from grade five, that would not help explain grade ten Life Science to me. In summary, I had an abundance of stuff that I did not need. ! read about Marie Kondo on Pinterest, and subsequently read her book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Kondo’s work taught me about about keeping things that spark joy, and about organising things. It has taken a year since reading Kondo’s book, and seven years of trying to get my act - or rather my stuff - together. I am finally happy with the room in which I live. We all desire to live in spaces that bring us joy. As teenagers, we are not in control of what the rest of our homes look like, but we are responsible for our stuff. Following are a few things that I have done to keep my stuff in check: -I try, as far as possible, to store things vertically. This includes: books, shirts, bottoms, and sock. -Everything is stored in its category: all of my dresses are on one side of the cupboard, and my jackets are on the other. My long tops are in a separate row from my short tops. -I have only kept the momentos, clothes, and pieces of paper that make me very happy, or that are useful to have (like my study notes). -I keep surfaces - like my bedside table, dresser and desk, free of knick knacks, and stuff that tends to pile up (this is an aesthetic that I like, and may not fit your personal style). -Pack your clothes away as soon as you have changed. Do not leave them on the floor. I will be the first to admit that I struggle to pack my clothes away, but as I have forced myself to do it - I have grown better at it. -Unpack bags as soon as you get home. -Make your bed every single day. This makes a room look so much neater. I am a serious bed-maker, and having an unmade bed makes me feel uneasy. -Lastly, be patient with yourself and your stuff. Organisation is different for everyone, and you need to find out what works for you. I am now happy with my space, and no longer feel the need to rearrange everything whenever I walk into my room. I still have to pack away things (you will always have to that) but now I feel accomplished when I have.
What are you Grateful for?
Amarachi Vazidule There are many things that we are fortunate enough to have, that are taken for granted- the beautiful functional brain we possess, the people in our lives who would risk their own lives if the situation warranted it, or even something as small as a hug on a bad day. The 21st of September gives us the opportunity to be grateful for what we have and what the world has to offer in a global celebration known as “World Gratitude Day”. Although this ultimately should be every day (include it in your night routine!), on this day individuals and organisations celebrate the meaning of gratitude in a variety of ways. The celebration originates from Hawaii, where an international gathering was held in 1965 to express gratitude and appreciation for the many wonderful things to be found in the world. As a result, in 1966 the 21st of September was officially declared and has spread to many other parts of the world as a result. On Gratitude day this month, take the time to reflect positively on the many amazing things life has to offer, as, just by doing this, you will find that it will have a positive impact on your thinking, and will even make you happier. According to HUFFPOST’s Kelly S. Buckely, some things that you can celebrate on this day are: 1. Appreciating your family tree: Whether it be your biological family or people who you consider your family. They are made up of people with so many different personality traits, which help us to grow in many different ways. 2. Appreciate the advantages of being connected: although social media can have its ups and downs, appreciate the fact that you have a platform where you can spread positivity into someone else’s life-without even knowing who they might be at times. 3. Practice internal gratitude: embrace your imperfections and be grateful that they are there, because each scar, mark, spot and even pimple, makes up a canvas which should be appreciated. Moving beyond the physical characteristics, learn to love yourself for who you are, because no one else can ever be an exact mirror image of who you are.
The beautiful photographs were taken by Lula Alex de RosaÂ
I would like to thank my committee for all the articles they have produced and all the hard work they have put into the Wynpress in our time in office. I wish the next committee well and I hope that the Wynpress grows from strength to strength. A Special Thank You to Ms Lawrence for helping the Wynpress reach new heights!