👋🏽 the pleasure is all mine.
Thank you for visiting my newsletter.
If you are new - Hello there, it’s a pleasure to meet you! My name is Alysha Selvarajah and I am 17 years old.
As of now, I am working towards better understanding sustainability and psychology. On the side, I have been working as a Staff Writer for The Environmental Justice Coalition and building out a healthcare activism organization known as The Wellness Place.
listening
the art of listening.
a vital skill that i have yet to master.
When I am required to talk, I find myself mute. When I am required to listen, the words flow out of my mouth like a waterfall. Even in the quiet moments, my brain fills with thoughts; tons of questions and phrases mask my every intent to listen.
So this month, I tried to listen more. I can’t say I was incredibly successful. Sometimes, my mind would wander off at a time where I should’ve paid more attention. Other times, however, I found myself gaining more from the conservation when I allowed myself to listen. Throughout this newsletter, you will find that many of the recommendations came from others. I think, in a way, this is a testament to how valuable listening is - I was able to discover incredible music thanks to the ability of listening.
☕️ personal pleasantries
A Magical Night
A couple of weeks ago, my siblings and I went to watch Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Ed Mirvish. In the midst of final projects and environmental work, this was a nice break from everything that needed to get done. Though we are often told, I sometimes find it hard to internalize the idea that a break can be more beneficial than working through a slump. This trip provided me with a nice mental break and I found myself more productive in the following weeks.
Having read the screenplay and not enjoying it as much, I have to say that I came into this experience with no expectations. However, the production blew me away! From the interactive set design to the incredible acting, I firmly believe The Cursed Child should be consumed as a performance, rather than a book (so if you get the chance, definitely give it a watch!!). On a side note, the score, created by Imogen Heap, doubles nicely as a study playlist.
Reading As Much As My Screentime
At the beginning of this month, I noticed my screen time had increased back to 4-5 hours. Whether it be responding to emails or playing Dead By Daylight, I had let my screen time get out of hand. Inspired by Jack Edwards’ video, I decided to follow his lead and swap my phone screen time for time spent reading.
The result: I was able to get through a lot more books than I thought. I always believed myself to be a slow reader but was surprised to find myself getting through books. Halfway through the challenge, I also began reading books that I wouldn’t normally pick up. It was quite beneficial reading from genres I wouldn’t typically choose as it provided me with more perspectives. I have even begun reading more classic novels (which is something I haven’t done before) and quite enjoy them! If anyone has any classic novel recommendations, please let me know.
🧸 top picks
Most Played Songs 🎶
“3005” by Childish Gambino - After completing all of my major school projects, I ended up playing this song. It was the best introduction to summer!
“Surround Sound” by J.I.D ft. 21 Savage & Baby Tate - Thanks to my brother, Ethan for introducing me to J.I.D. I’ve been listening to this constantly as I work out.
Film 🎬
This month’s film recommendation is inspired by my dear cousin, the king of movie recommendations in my family. I was finally able to watch Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
I am not one to usually watch pirate-themed content. However, Pirates of the Caribbean was a surprisingly pleasant watch. The plot was easy to follow, yet incorporated various twists that kept me interested. Aligning with different characters throughout the movie was something that I completely didn’t expect. Aside from the beautiful development of characters and plotline, the rest of the movie (score, costumes, special effects) all add to the pirate aesthetic.
🧳 in the coming month
In June, I plan to work on:
Completing Advanced Functions: Tomorrow, I start Gr. 12 Advanced Functions in summer school. The goal was the lessen my course load during the year. I will utilize my past study habits as I aim for 90+ in this course.
Entering the Science Fair: Last year, my brother and I placed first in the VPL Science Fair for our project about quantum computing and climate change. This month, I hope to enter it again and challenge ourselves to solve a new issue.
in conclusion
I would like to take the time to thank you for reading this month’s newsletter. I hope that the next month finds you well.
Please feel free to reach out and I’d love to chat over a cup of green tea!
Alysha,
I concur - listening is an extremely important skill, sometimes underrated but so valuable. Also one I have yet to master. So look forward to hearing any tips you have. In terms of classic novels, there are many I haven’t read but want to get to some day. Here’s one I would recommend - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Animal Farm is a really good one which you might have read already.