Longship Ledger #1
- longshipledger
- 4 days ago
- 22 min read
ᛏᚺᛖ ᛚᛟᛜᛊᚺᛁᛈ ᛚᛖᛞᚷᛖᚱ
The Longship Ledger
Riverstonia: Chapter 1 - Rose Green
Forbidden Love - Avery H.
Stress: The Overall Physiological Effects on the Brain - Isabelle Stillwell
Dinosaurs: A New Age - Lauren Venjohn
Enduring Love - Dianna A.
Unnamed Poem - Zoey L.
Morning Glory - Margaret H.
The Celebration of Spring - Camden P.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) - Tula D.
ᚠᛁᚲᛏᛟᚾ
Riverstonia: Rose of Riverstonia
Chapter One: It All Comes Crashing Down
Written by Rose Green
A sharp rapping on her bedroom door suddenly awoke her. Well, it was more of an attic really. Spread around the room were various text books and fantasy books and books of many kinds. There were also plants all around the room in odd places, specifically flowering plants. The walls which were actually just rafter slats had been covered by green canvas cloths with roses and other floral patterns, the floor similarly done with a green carpet hiding the plywood floor. The room was very small, just large enough to hold the bookshelves and one twin bed which took up almost the whole space. In one corner there was a very ancient wall mirror with rust portraying at the edges. In the bed, which had a once white painted metal frame that had long since peeled away and a white bedspread with white pillowcases depicting blue roses lay a girl.
Rosa T Rivera was 13 and one of the most unlucky 13 year olds. She was born into a reasonably wealthy family and she was loved very much, and she had had a twin sister, Rosetta, who had unfortunately died at birth. Her parents had reasonable jobs; her mother was a florist and her father was a firefighter. But even though her father, Jack Brooke was a brave and strong man he suffered in a terrible accident when Rose was just 7 months old. The fire had taken down over 48 firefighters that day. Her mother, Juniper Rivera was heartbroken having lost her daughter and husband in the same year. Juniper was strong though and she persevered, continuing to raise Rose. Once Rose started preschool Juniper began a job as an accountant and much of her spirit had gone. Juniper would come home from work exhausted and she had little time left for her daughter. But she still found time to read to Rose every night, leading to her daughter's sparkling imagination.
But all good things can not last. On a brisk morning when Rose was ten years old her mother didn’t come home from her long shift. The young girl didn’t know what to do, her grandparents lived across the country and there was nobody she knew in New York who could help her, so she stayed put, willing her mom to come home. The next day Rose had heard a tapping on her door and she flung it open expecting her mother. Instead it was her aunt Sia Garcias, Jack's sister. She’d hugged the trembling girl tightly as she explained that her mother was never coming home, and that Rose would be living with her in Oklahoma. Juniper drove down a long and narrow backroad to get home and she had been so tired, she didn’t see the drunk driver on the wrong side of the road until it was too late.
So Rose came to live in her aunt's run down tiny house on none other than Main Street. Sia’s car had broken down and she was in no financial state to replace it, let alone the fact that her husband had succumbed to colon cancer and the nearest mechanic was 3 hours away. So she had been forced to move to a home within walking distance from work, the giant glass building where dreams, hopes and imagination go to die. Computers and Coffee mugs and over scheduling and dictoral bosses. That is where Sia Garcias worked. Every morning in her well worn high heels and tight skirt and knitted sweater, files tucked under her arms Sia marched to the large glass building with her head held high and every night she came back with dark circles under her eyes and the look of defeat after being yelled at by her boss all day long and told she wasn’t good enough.
Rose went to middle school on the upper east side, where the fancy students go. She was silent though because she knew she didn’t belong there, as did every other student staff and janitor in that school. Only the rich kids go to the upper east side and she practically had Down Town written on her forehead. Her bus didn’t even stop in her direction so she had to walk to the nearest public bus which would then drive her to the upper east side where she could catch the school bus, because no proper school has children from downtown. The only real reason she was allowed to go there was because she was an orphan and downtown is not safe for a sweet and innocent girl to go to school. Not that Rose couldn't defend herself, but downtown was the land of the gangsters. Main Street was in between, not gangsters but not rich folk either, really just people trying to survive on minimum wage.
So every morning Rose and Sia started out bright and early to prepare for another terrible day. But today was different. Today all the students were instructed to follow their chosen adult around work and learn what it is like in their profession. Then the students would have to write a report about what they learned and how it interested them, to Rose it was basically torture. Sia hated her job and Rose knew it. Rose had no interest whatsoever going into Data Filing, she sooner rather than later worked as a plumber. She’d been dreading this day ever since Mr Woodsburrow told the students about it, so it was no wonder when her aunt tapped on her bedroom door all Rose did was groan and continued sleeping.
“ROSA get up! I know you don't want to but I'm going to be late for work!” Sia tapped her foot impatiently, files in hand and fully dressed. Rose rolled over on her side and eyed A Magicians Guide To Failure, the book she had stayed up all night reading, even though she knew she shouldn't have. She knew she didn’t have a choice, she had to get out of bed sooner or later, plus she wasn't doing her aunt any favors making her late. Sia’s boss was already on the verge of firing her and the two of them really couldn't handle that financial crisis no matter how heartless and cruel he was. “All right, all right I'm coming. I’ll be down in five minutes.” Rose twisted the bed sheets as she swung her feet over the bed with as much energy as she could muster. Perhaps if she had known what the day would bring she would have stayed in bed all day, but then again Rose was a girl for adventure.
Rose quickly readied herself for the day, brushing out her tangle of light brown curls that would never lie still and as always refusing to put up, instead letting it rest down her back. She looked at the girl in the mirror with glittering green eyes and a face slightly hollow but not enough to show through. She chose her too small ratty white T shirt that had been bleached and stained so many times it was practically a discolored rag, the fabric so worn and damaged from the chemicals. She chose her ultra high rise jeans that she wore about every single day of her life and her one of two pairs of shoes. The ones she chose were knee high dark brown once fake leather boots that buckled and zipped up. They had long since lost their fake leather and were now just ratty fabric but she loved them. Both zippers had gotten stuck so she had resorted to some electrical tape and the entire sole of the left one had completely come off, the entire rubber bottom so she super glued it back on as well as both heels. Rose’s other pair of shoes were purple and white checkered vans which are so worn that now they are just translucent yellow fabric. The right one is more like a sandal because the whole toe is missing and the left had to be kept on with duct tape but she loved her shoes.
That being said, Rose and Sia never wasted anything. They never wasted a single scrap of food and on Sundays Sia they put every leftover from the previous week together in a big pot and make soup. However they don't always agree on what is considered a waste. For example Sia thinks that a radio is a waste because it is only purposely for amusement. If only she hadn’t had that mindset she would have heard the high chance for a tornado that day. She would have known to stay clear of tall glass buildings, especially the one in which she worked. But she had no notion, neither did Rose.
After forcing down a bowl of oatmeal, which Rose despised and swore that when she grew up she would never eat another bowl as long as she lived, and preparing herself for the day she started down the road with her aunt click clacking in her heels. Rose had lived in Oklahoma for 3 years and she’d seen a tornado before. Her first year here a small EFO had touched down while she was at school but never had Rose experienced what she was about to experience. Walking down the street though she did notice the clouds in the distance. To the east, south and west it was all clear blue sky, but from the north there were tall white clouds stretched as far as the eye could see, fluffy cumulonimbus clouds stacking in density and just itching to release a monster storm. But Rose didn’t know that of course, all she saw was a clear sky ahead and had no need for worry.
Along the way Sia warned Rose of what might happen, “Look Rosa, my boss, he's not a good man and he doesn’t like women like me. He finds us incapable and he'll do anything in his power to prove it. I’m tough and I don't let a single thing slip but if he can find it he will use it.” Sia looked Rose dead in the eye. Rose met her Aunts chocolaty brown ones with equal intensity. “So don’t let him find it.” Sia murmured. Rose nodded. She was used to being quiet, ever since her mother died she had always been told to ‘shut up and let the grown ups handle it.’ Rose wasn’t naturally a shy girl, in fact quite the contrary. She found socializing with others quite fun and she easily made friends, before her mother died she was practically a ray of sunshine. She would wear bright long dresses and dance around in the sunlight the way a flower would dance in a field. But once her mother died, so did her joy and her liveliness. If someone came along and saw her as an equal she would most definitely spring up and probably be their friend. But no one in Oklahoma saw her as that, she was just “the poor girl” and someone to stay away from.
Rose and Sia arrived at the tall building which must have had at least 20 stories on it. Sia scanned her key card and walked in, Rose trailing behind. In the building everything was plush velvet, the chair the couches the trim of the counter in which the receptionist who looked 16 although Rose was sure she was older seemed to be getting yelled at from behind a phone. “Yes sir, one second sir, please i’m sorry sir, hold-” she winced and pulled the phone away from her ear as if someone had yelled in it. “Sia Garcias, 12-56-92 here for a meeting with Mr Carter at 7:00.” Sia told the receptionist. She nodded in turn. “Mr Carter is in a bine because we're falling behind, good luck Sia.” Sia nodded to the receptionist who nodded back. Rose knew better than to address the receptionist, even though she had a bunch of questions, plus the receptionist was back on the phone apologising and wincing.
Sia made her way to the elevator and hit the number 13 and the metal box began to rise. Rose never liked elevators, she didn’t have claustrophobia but she didn’t really like being in a metal box even if that box can carry 2,000 lbs. It just felt unsettling to her. What was even more unsettling was the floor Sia pressed. Most buildings that have more than twelve floors skip the 13th floor because it is considered “haunted” for superstitious reasons. Rose was not superstitious but she did wonder why this building was different and why they were coincidentally going there. She recalled something her mother had said to her when she was young, “Rosie my dear, nothing happens by coincidence, things are placed in our path with a purpose for better or worse and we just have to face it.” Rose pushed the memory aside because 1: memories of her mother were too painful and 2: she didn’t want to think about what being on a “Haunted” floor might mean.
They arrived to find a man glaring at them with an immense amount of hatred. He wore a business suit that could only barely contain his pudgy body, the buttons practically ready to pop off. His nose was so crooked it was probably equivalent to Princess Vespas from the movie spaceballs. Atop his incisively crooked nose sat the most magnified pair of glasses in history. It was surprising there was any face left with those glasses. Rose met his stare with an equal amount of challenge.
“SIA!” He growled at Rose’s aunt in anger. Aunt Sia seemed to cower just slightly before straightening up. “Yes sir. How can I assist you Mr Carter?” He glared with so much force Rose was sure his glasses would catch fire. She met his glare with her own vibrant green eyes daring him to notice her.
“WHY DID YOU BRING THIS CHILD INTO MY BUILDING! I HATE CHILDREN!” His voice was so booming Rose understood how her aunt could fear him. Rose also understood that the very worst possible way to make this conversation from terrible to monstrous would be to speak. So obviously she spoke.
“Excuse you! I didn’t want to come. I am required by my school to be here. So please show some respect towards me! I bet you’d love it if my school report was about how rude you were!” Rose felt exactly two seconds of pride, two seconds of realization, and 2 seconds of sudden fear. “Rosa!” Aunt Sia glared at Rose but not with hatred like Mr Carter but with fear for her safety. Mr Carter looked about ready to self implode, his magnified eyes twitching from behind their frames. He took in one massive heaving breath and Rose was sure he was going to yell, again. “FINE. BUT I HEAR ONE WORK FROM YOU,” he looked at Rose as if she might be something of unbelievable disgust, “AND YOU SIA ARE FIRED AND ILL MAKE SURE YOU ARE NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN!!” How intimidating. Rose thought, but she held her tongue because she figured she’d already tested Mr Carter's limit.
“Yes sir. Thank you sir. She won’t say a word.” Aunt Sia reassured him. She then shot Rose a look like don’t you dare. Mr Carter pushed his large glasses up on his nose and spun on his heel, which must have been difficult for him to do without bursting a button. Sia followed behind the way a dog who has been scolded by his master might follow to receive further punishment. But not Rose. She’d spent so long being seen as lesser, she wasn’t about to let one man ruin her day away from that dreadful school. Little did she know that Mr Carter was only the beginning of her highly eventful day.
They seated themselves in room 309. Mr Carter cozied himself in a plush velvet arm chair while Sia sat at the only desk in the room. She sat in a straight backed wooden chair and placed her fingers delicately on a keyboard to a computer that must have been from the early 2000s. Way out of Rose’s generation. Sia then noticed there were no other chairs in the small room and was concerned for where her niece would sit. She met Rose’s eyes, pleading for her to not speak about it. Rose cleared her throat. “Where would you like me to sit Mr Carter Sir?” Sia almost sighed in relief, her niece commonly retaliated when someone treated her as less than. Poor Rose had had such a difficult life and Sia didn’t have much to offer her. But Rose had a winning personality and was genuinely empathetic. One time a massive truck had hit a squirrel in front of their house and young Rose had tried to save it. Alas he perished from his injuries and the poor child held a funeral for him and cried. She was so sweet and caring, Sia thought and she hated how no one saw her for who she really was.
Mr Carter waved his hand towards the door. “Just wander outside and find yourself a chair. I don’t really care but Do Not Touch Anything.” His voice sounded vacant and distracted, like he no longer cared that Rose was in the room. Seeing as moments ago Mr Carter was booming at them, Rose took this as a good sign. “Thank you sir,” she managed to say before sprinting out of the room. Rose didn’t hate people, hate was a strong word and a word that someone cruel would use but Mr Carter’s behaviour displeased and even revolted Rose. She found herself wandering to the large glass window that followed along the whole building. As she looked out she noticed the deep purple clouds on the horizon. A shudder ran through her body, though she couldn’t quite understand why. Storms had never freaked her out before, but she just couldn’t shake that feeling.
She turned away from the window and moved towards a vase sitting on a small wooden table. The flowers that had been cut and placed inside looked old and withered. Rose tilted her head ever so slightly and sensed that the flowers were Irises, a bright and beautiful purple. She closed her eyes and gently ran her fingers along the droopy petals willing them to lift and the life to come back to them. She opened her eyes to see something far more beautiful than she had even imagined. Normally she had the unnatural ability to revive plants, specifically flowers to their best state, their prime. But never had she made a plant grow. And yet as she studied the roots from the tall green iris stalks she knew this was her doing. But how? This was the question she could never answer.
Back in the office Sia continued typing down everything Mr Carter said. She knew she had to work especially hard today since Mr Carter was already in a sour mood. In the distance thunder boomed. Mr Carter stopped momentarily and produced his cell phone. He sneered. “Come on downstairs with me Sia. I think the lovely receptionist has some information on you.” Sia gulped. She assumed Mr Carter had found something terrible and was so nervous she almost forgot Rose. “Wh-what about my niece?” She stammered. Mr Carter grinned a most concerning grin. “She’ll be fine. You, however, not so much.” Sia tried to mask her trembling as she followed her boss down the stairs. She was too nervous to ask why the stairs and too afraid to argue about her niece. She would later realize this was the biggest mistake of her life.
Sia knew something was wrong when all the staff gathered under the stairwell of the first floor. She knew something terrible was going to happen when they locked the doors. The sirens flicked on and she knew just how badly she’d messed up. Mr Carter had tricked her into safety, and she had bought it. Her niece was upstairs and she had to get to her. Sia tried to reason with everyone but they all explained to her it was pointless. It was too late. All they could do was pray the active tornado missed the building. But Rose was an unlucky girl and her unluckyness was about to reach an all time high. Sia wept in the stairwell as many of her coworkers offered her support. Sia had failed her niece again and again and this was the final time she would mess up. Rose didn’t stand a chance against the monster whittling towards them at 165 Miles Per Hour.
Rose swung her legs against the chair the way an impatient child at the doctor's office might do. She wondered about her touch, was it magic? Or was she just hallucinating? Benny, the herbalist at the local Lawn and Landscape store had told her that some people just have a way with plants. Linda, the Psychiatrist had told her she was hallucinating. Everyone else told her it was already like that. Even her aunt said so, but Rose didn’t believe it, not quite. But there was no other explanation so she simply pretended she couldn’t do it. She stopped trying, but for some reason on this day it was different.
Suddenly Rose heard them. A terrible wailing droning in and out. Tornado Sirens. Rose stood up in a panic, she had to get to a lower level now. She dashed towards the elevator just as the power abruptly kicked off. Her finger had just pressed the button as the power surge pulsed through the button to her finger and she was jolted backwards. She tried to lift her head before everything went black.
Forbidden Love
Written by Avery H.
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Olive, and she was in love with a curly-headed boy named Leonard. He had a girlfriend, though. One day, Olive and Leonard hung out, and Olive didn't even know he had a girlfriend. They just had fun, and Olive felt really happy being with him.
But later, Olive found out Leonard actually had a girlfriend named Macy. She was shocked and thought, “Maybe I should tell Macy about Leonard and me”. But then Olive started thinking more about it and wanted to know more about Macy. So, she started looking into it and found something surprising: Macy was cheating on Leonard too, seeing multiple different guys behind Leonard's back.
Olive felt confused. If Leonard and Macy were both cheating on each other, maybe it wasn't her place to tell Macy about Leonard and her. So, Olive kept quiet for a while but stayed close to Leonard.
As time went on, Olive and Leonard got closer and closer. Leonard started to realize how much Olive cared about him and how special she was. Eventually, they became boyfriend and girlfriend, and Olive felt really happy because she was finally with Leonard for real.
But just when Olive thought everything was going to be okay, Macy came back. She found out about Olive and Leonard, and without warning, Macy punched Olive in the face, knocking her out. Everything went dark for Olive…
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Stress: The Overall Physiological Effects on the Brain
Written by Isabelle Stillwell
ABSTRACT
Stress will be an indefinite portion of your life, as it is the basis of changes in development and growth. The malleable nature of the adolescent mind is especially apparent–as humans have the slowest brain maturity rate compared to any other species– because learning and flexibility take elongated time to produce. Even so, there is a neurological vulnerability in the mind, as this malleability is highly concentrated in the age of adolescence. Stress and the environment are variabilities that go hand-in-hand. This will ultimately lead to the “good-or-bad” predicament; is stress truly one or the other?
Introduction: Structure and Function of the Brain
The mind dictates everything you do; from movement to behavior to cognitive function, it is vital for any animal’s survival. When conversing on the topic of stress or emotion, it is critical to visualize the function of the brain. In this case, the hippocampus and amygdala are specifically focused on memory, decision-making, and emotional comprehension.
Hippocampus
The hippocampus is a brain structure embedded in the temporal lobe, and is part of the limbic lobe. The limbic system is mainly responsible for emotional responses, memory, and autonomic processes. Specifically in the hippocampus, it is implicated to affect short-term and long-term memory, learning, and spatial navigation.
A man referred to as H.M (2B) , formerly known as Henry Gustav Molaison, was a man who experienced seizures due to a bicycle accident at 7-9 years old. Starting as minor seizures at age 10, they became severe by 16 years of age. By 27, he was incapacitated by these seizures, leading to an experimental surgery previously done for psychotic patients; a bilateral medial temporal lobe resection, removing the hippocampus, hippocampal gyrus, uncus, and amygdala. The lesion of such, although partially subsiding seizures, led to memory impairment, as if “...every day is alone in itself…” (H.M). It was found that memory was able to be retained for up to 15 minutes, yet he would lose said information after transitioning to a different topic. There was, of course, a variability, but H.M’s loss of memory was mainly affected in the long-term sense.
Amygdala
The amygdala is an almond-shaped brain structure that resides in the limbic cortex. The amygdala is focused on emotional processing, and connects the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) and hypothalamus information. Amygdala is more prone to weaker connectivity if presented with too many stressors.
How Does Stress Affect These Structures?
The hypothalamus is a main component to hormones, linking your endocrine system and nervous system, in turn creating homeostasis. Hormones are emitted in response to stressful stimuli, leading to adrenaline and other hormones to regulate metabolic and cardiovascular function. If there is a persistence in stressful stimuli, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) releases cortisol (2E) through a complex process: the hypothalamus delivers corticotropin-releasing hormones (CRH), stimulating the adrenal pituitary, producing adrenocortophotropic hormone (ACTH). Then, ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex, producing glucocorticoids (GC). Most organs and tissues respond to GC, yet too much may lead to a GC receptor resistance. Mainly due to a chronic stressor, these receptors “work overtime” to accompany this, leading to said resistance.
Research on animals–and seen in people with depressive symptoms post-mortem– has concluded that this over-usage of GC leads to volume reduction in some structures of the hippocampus and PFC (4A). Persistent high levels of GC result in stressed-induced hyperactivity, causing the molecule REDD1–mainly induced by stress, hypoxia, and DNA damage–to be stimulated in the PFC. REDD1 stops the kinase–an enzyme that adds phosphates to molecules, activating or inactivating molecules (1E)–mTORC1, which is correlated with impairment of synapses. Synapses are pivotal for learning and information retainment, and as REDD1 inhibits that, your information gathering is impaired.
Furthermore, the amygdala is a processing point for emotions, and interacts with PFC–a structure associated with high-order executive function for immediate responses–and will weaken in correlation when chronic stress factors occur. Chronic cortisol in a neurological standpoint will increase developmental amygdala reactivity to emotional response. As seen in multiple studies (1A) comparing those with neglect or trauma to those who did not, the absence of developmentary regulation due to parental control indicated a higher stress response in young children. Furthermore, those with traumatic stress had similar amygdala responses and development as people with higher risk of depression. This correlates a significance to adolescent stress and mental illness later in life. Moreover, the lack of PFC and amygdala connection led to underlying struggle in emotional regulation and adulthood mental illness. Finally, the increased amygdala reactivity connects to both anxiety and depression; anxiety is more likely to be induced, whilst depression symptoms are less likely. In conclusion, amygdala hyperreactivity focuses directly on internalization of distressing factors.
CONCLUSION
The idea of cortisol induction leading to emotional dysregulation may be baffling–and dare I say terrifying–as it concludes that emotional response is prone to be the initial response, decreasing logical thinking for “in-the-moment” activities. Even so, there are preventative measures to combat this: meditation, walks, removal from stressors (if possible), and many others. For parents, understanding the fundamental principle that your actions have consequences indicates how–other than genetic factors–you primarily affect your child’s
neurological growth and development. Ensuring you are a pillar for their success and safety is crucial, as the plasticity and vulnerability of their minds is heavily influenced by you.
Resources
Stress
1A. Tottenham, Nim, and Adriana Galvan. “Stress and the Adolescent Brain: Amadyalga-Prefrontal Cortex Circuitry and Ventral Striatum as Developmental Targets.” PubMed Central, Neurosci Biobehav Rev., 26 July 2016,
2A. Tottenham, Nim. “The Importance of Early Experiences for Neuro-Affective Development.” PubMed Central, Curr Top Behav Neurosci, 15 May 2014, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4021037/.
3A. Tierney, Adrienne L., and Charles A. Nelson III. “Brrain Development and the Role of Experience in Early Years.” PubMed Central, Zero Three, 1 November 2009, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3722610/. Accessed 19 September 2025.
4A. Mariotti, Agnese. “The Effects of Chronic Stress on Health: New Insights Into the Molecular Mechanisms of Brain-Body Communication.” PubMed Central, Future Sci OA., 1 November 2015,
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5137920/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20path ways%20that,may%20promote%20depression%20%5B12%5D. Accessed 19 September 2025.
5A. McEwen, Bruce S. “Neurobiological and Systemic Effects of Chronic Stress.” PubMed Central, Chronic Stress (Thousand Oaks), 10 April 2017,
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5573220/. Accessed 19 September 2025.
Hippocampus
1B. Anand, Kuljeet Singh, and Vikas Dhikav. “Hippocampus in Health and Disease: An Overview.” PubMed Central, Ann Indian Acad Neurol, 15 October-December 2012, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3548359/. Accessed 19 September 2025.
2B. Squire, Larry R. “The Legacy of Patient H.M. for Neuroscience.” PubMed Central, Neuron., 15 January 2009, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2649674/. Accessed 19 September 2025.
Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)
1C. Hathaway, William L., and Bruce W. Newton. “Neuroanatomy, Prefrontal Cortex - StatPearls.” NCBI, StatPearls Publishing, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499919/. Accessed 19 September 2025.
Limbic System
1D. Torrico, Tyler J., and Sara Abdijadid. “Neuroanatomy, Limbic System - StatPearls.” NCBI, StatPearls Publishing, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538491/. Accessed 19 September 2025.
Kinase
1E. “Definition of kinase - NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms - NCI.” National Cancer Institute, https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/kinase. Accessed 19 September 2025.
Hypothalamus+HPA
1F. “Hypothalamus: What It Is, Function, Conditions & Disorders.” Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22566-hypothalamus. Accessed 19 September 2025.
2F. “Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis: What It Is.” Cleveland Clinic, 12 April 2024,
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-hpa-axis. Accessed 19 September 2025.
Amygdala
1G. AbuHasan, Quais, et al. “Neuroanatomy, Amygdala - StatPearls.” NCBI, StatPearls Publishing, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537102/. Accessed 19 September 2025.
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Dinosaurs: A New Age
Written by Lauren Venjohn
Large creatures, high and mighty,
With sharp teeth and claws,
Frightening to the tiny.
With gigantic maws
Chasing after tiny paws,
Each step rumbling the ground with a loud quake.
In the middle of night these creatures wake,
To the sound of many a roar,
Leaving prey's lives at stake.
Soon the sky lights up,
As huge stars start to soar.
Volcanoes begin to wind up,
Leaving the large ones to drop.
All life cinched to dust,
As now the plants begin to flop.
But not all lost,
For now new life can adjust.
Enduring Love
Written by Dianna A.
Love is bigger than rejection
Love will always be more than a win
Wondering if it’s going to be perfection
Feeling the touch of skin to skin
Making every time worthy
Looking into the eyes of a sweet soul
Feeling very curly
Wanting to reach a goal
To endure a sweet love
Love will be an everlasting
That gives a sign of a dove
Will it keep me from asking?
If I am proved wrong
I will never want to belong
Unnamed Poem
Written by Zoey L.
With books and laughs and sleepy grins.
We find our seats, the lessons start,
We learn with mind and lead with heart.
Friends beside us, smiles so wide,
We help each other, side by side.
Teachers guide us, kind and true,
Each day we find something new.
Though tests may come and homework too,
There’s always fun in what we do.
For school’s not just a place to learn,
It’s where dreams grow and futures turn.
Morning Glory
Written by Margaret H.
How high can I really fly?
With you by my side,
I feel simultaneously limited and free
You are a danger to me
And yet, I need you to breathe
If I was a morning glory
You would be the moon
I strictly bask in the light of the rising sun
And yet, you have seen my petals
The spark you invoke in me
It is equally liberating as it is terrifying
Equally terrifying as it is liberating
You see me
I have never seen before how you free me
Change my nature
Eons of evolution in a matter of days
I adapt to you, for you, because of you
For the beautiful bloom of a morning glory
This is impressive
However, impressive is not always good
And I will soon wither.
I do not hope to survive.
I only pray that I might catch your gaze,
pray your gentle touch of moonlight might
embrace me once more before I succumb
To my bittersweet demise.
The Celebration of Spring
Written by Camden P.
It is warm, lively, and windy,
The creek winds far and bendy.
Springtime flowers begin to bloom,
Resembling the fragrance of a candle fume.
The woods and fields dance,
While all the springtime animals prance.
It is now the season of life,
And the songbirds sound like a fife.
The perfect weather and slight breeze,
Reminds the animals of the horrendous freeze.
All the animals come to fellowship
Remembering what they endured, the hardship.
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The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Written by Tula D.
Even if the Royal Tenenbaums was a silent film, it would still be considered a masterpiece. The wardrobe, acting, sets, shots, and colors all display the relationships between the characters and the depth the film holds. The family members are all exquisitely strange and hold extravagant personalities, holding on to themselves and each other no matter the experience or setting.
My verdict for the movie is through my personal rating system-
| 10 |
| 10 |
| 10 |
| .5 |
| 10 & both |
| 10 |
| 10 & it represents lots of different things like generational trauma, forgiveness, and how once something is broken, it can’t be fully fixed. |
| 10 |
| 10 & art |
Final score: 80.5
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