Excuses or Obligations
Is needing a change of scenery all you need?
In my previous article from last year, I mentioned how I was not able to get my "infinite" amount of work done for my English class.
Now, as an almost-senior in high school in June, most of my work in English class is reading "The Crucible," as heartbreaking as it may be, writing my college essay, and setting up the college Common Application. Reminders of how far I've gotten and how far humanity has as well.
Some things never change. For example, I used to go to La Pecora Bianca every Saturday with my father, but we still go to the city... or, embarrassingly enough, do my English work in a normal fashion. But hey, change takes time. Alas, it took us 5 years to change our rigatoni-eating ways... did I mention my college personal statement yet?
There were ups and downs as I began to ponder where I have been, where I will be, and where I am now. This time last year, I was determined to join the boys' baseball team...did I join? No (Sorry, 15-year-old me)! Writing a college essay is challenging for one reason: can you explain your entire life's story in 650 words? And, oh yeah, can you please submit it on Friday?
The first hook I wrote reminded me of bad fish bait. If I were a fish, I would never fall for it.
On one hand, I submitted this 250-word draft because, unfortunately, it was Friday. Maybe I was feeling like a poet, but fortunately for me, my teacher did not like it.
Everyone has funny stories they tell their friends. Many have revelations about potential essay topics and forget them soon after. It is best to catch them before they fade away.
Writing isn't easy; it is subjective to others. An experience that occurred to you may be indescribable to another person. Objects draw memory; as I wrote this 'hook,' I was sitting in my home office, near the piano that I used to play often, something I was limited to when I was ill. Writing about a hobby that one has had from toddlerhood to teenage-hood brings many complex memories and emotions; one tends to do the "a little bit of this, a little bit of that method, meaning that they try to dabble in every stage of their hobby, the good, bad, ugly, and the funny. It is complicated to stay true to oneself while trying to condense 10 years into 250 words. That is why this hook did not work.
Sitting near my piano always brings back memories, as if I had lost a part of myself while growing up. I tend to get distracted, looking back at simple times when I would create music instead of doing hours of homework a day. I always think about the "what ifs": if I had listened to my piano teacher and pursued becoming a composer or musician, would things be different if I had chosen to go to a music conservatory instead of pursuing medicine? In 5 years, would I even have time to think about these thoughts?
Many people find solace in doing their work in other areas. Some people find it in the kitchen, too distracting for me, with infinite possibilities about what I can eat. In the bedroom, I would end up sleeping; outside, it is too cold, hot, or wet..." I'll do it tomorrow", no. There is one solution; it is called "The Library." It is a revolutionary invention. You see, you can actually take your stuff and study there...Except I live just down the street from one. I can see my house, and I can escape easily.
To speak shortly, I had just completed my Algebra 2 Regents exam, and I had an entire free day in front of me. Usually, I would take this time to relax, to contemplate, and to do household chores. However, with this English essay lingering, I decided to spend my day doing just that. I finally obtained permission to venture into Manhattan solo. After my mandatory matcha stop, I made my way to the New York Public Library in Bryant Park, into the beautiful reading room. If I didn’t have my English grade on the line, I would probably spend my time taking in the artwork, the woodwork, and the people working. It felt like I was in a magical world; it was so beautiful.
This time, my house was not down the street; it was over 15 miles away. There were no pianos in sight, no distractions from former memories. I began to brainstorm about what I would write my essay about. Definitely not about my pebble/piano anecdote; it was too personal and would make a fantastic awkward conversation starter. Maybe I should try doing that on the train instead: “You know, I’ve got a rock in my shoe, and also, I played the piano?”
Who am I as a person?
Nice, smart, caring, I love cats…but what is a moment in my life where I truly felt a challenge?
A few weeks earlier in May, I applied to become a DECA officer for my school's chapter. Business wasn’t always my thing, and as you know, my loss at DECA States 2026 changed my life. I joined DECA because I liked creating things; I love building structures where everyone has their own role. Making a business plan gives one full control to
create anything they put their mind to, peacefully, without consequences. Many of my friends and family push me to pursue finance and economics instead of neuroscience and religious studies; doing that would be lying to myself, and bingo, that is how I found my idea...In 1.5 hours, my 650-word essay was ready; I was very productive that day. Maybe I should try to study for the SAT in the city. And another perk: I did not even get a headache.
Changing scenery can feel like changing your mindset. Sometimes, the hardest part of concentrating is not the work itself, but everything around us that reminds us of everything else.
I felt Distracted
Why: At home, I was surrounded by familiar places and objects. My piano reminded me of years of music, my bedroom made me want to sleep, and even the library near my house felt too easy to escape from.
The Neurology behind it:
The prefrontal cortex helps control attention and suppress distractions. When multiple stimuli compete for attention, the brain has to continually decide what deserves focus.
Familiar surroundings can also trigger associations and memories; this allows for thoughts to wander more freely.
I felt Nostalgic
Why: Sitting near my piano brought back memories of when I was younger and had more time to play. For me, the instrument was not just an object; it was a reminder of a person that I could have become.
The Neurology behind it:
The hippocampus plays an important role in retrieving autobiographical memories, while the amygdala helps give many memories their emotional significance.
Environmental objects can become retrieval cues, meaning that seeing something associated with an experience can help bring that memory back to mind.
I felt Curious
Why: After leaving home and arriving at the New York Public Library, I saw that I was in a new environment alone, where I could not simply go home. Since the city is my weekend environment, I began to cherish my time there.
The Neurology behind it:
The prefrontal cortex supports complex thinking, decision-making, and reflection.
New environments can increase attention due to the brain sensing new surroundings, causing one to be on high alert.
I felt Reflective
Why: Changing my surroundings did not just help me write. It gave me enough distance from my usual environment to think about what I actually wanted.
The Neurology behind it:
The brain's default mode network is associated with internally focused thought, including autobiographical memory, imagining the future, and reflecting on ourselves.
I felt Focused
Why: In Manhattan, my house was more than fifteen miles away. For once, my surroundings were completely disconnected from my usual weekday routines.
The Neurology behind it:
The prefrontal cortex is central to maintaining attention and directing behavior toward a goal.
For starters, never give up your passions simply because they might not make you the most money. Imagine a world where famous painters abandoned their art to become politicians or merchants.
Museums would be empty, books would never be written, and pieces of history would be lost. Some interests may seem random or unrelated; neuroscience and Religious Studies may seem like a strange combination of college studies, but to me, they are both ways of understanding what makes us human.
Our memories, passions, choices, and experiences all become part of who we are. Maybe that is why I needed to leave my familiar surroundings to realize that I did not need to choose between the different parts of myself. I simply needed the space to listen to them.
So, while I have the time, I want to follow what genuinely interests me. After all, I would rather look back and wonder where my passions took me than wonder what could have happened if I had never pursued them.
Love, Anastasia K
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