Francis Lagano

Rishab Academy

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Rishab Academy

30.6k members • Free

4 contributions to Rishab Academy

Francis Lagano

Feb 18 •

SAT/ACT/AP/IB Exams

24 TO 31 ACT... And Beyond

From 24 to 31 on ACT! Thank you Rishab for your immense amount motivation!! Somehow I ground a 32 out of Reading. I still have no idea how. I will be taking this test again and trying my best to get English and Science up. My goal is 34 but I will still try for that beautiful 36! Thank you again Rishab!!

New comment May 6

Francis Lagano

1 like • May 4

As an update: (Met my goal!)

Chinnu B

Feb 17 •

Self Improvement & Motivation

Would It Be Better to Feel Nothing?

There was a boy who loved machines. Machines were simple. They took in information, processed it, and acted. No drama, no arrogance, no ignoring people just because they weren’t the smartest in the room. The boy wasn’t a machine. One day, he sat in a room full of voices, working on something important. He explained the logic, laid it out clearly. No one listened. He said it again. Still nothing. Then, a smart kid repeated the exact same thing. And suddenly, it was right. The boy sat there, silent. He watched as the leaders ignored their own mentors. He watched as extra time was wasted on nothing. He watched as someone, carrying nothing, told him to carry the heavy stuff. And he thought, maybe machines have it better. A machine wouldn’t care about being ignored. A machine wouldn’t feel the frustration of being overlooked. A machine wouldn’t sit there, heart pounding, swallowing anger just to keep the peace. But then again… a machine wouldn’t have loved robotics in the first place. Maybe emotions are a curse. Maybe they make everything harder. Maybe they make people arrogant and make being ignored hurt even more. That’s the weird thing about emotions. They make happiness feel great, but they also make small disappointments feel crushing. Machines. No emotions. No sadness, but also no joy. No excitement, but no heartbreak either. In a way, it sounds… better? Is it? Would life be easier if we didn’t feel? Or would it just be empty?

New comment Feb 21

Francis Lagano

1 like • Feb 19

As human, emotions are a part of our nature. We find fulfillment in good emotions and are hurt or upset by bad emotions. By our definition of good and bad emotions, we clearly distinguish that one type of emotion is supposed to be correct, and those are good emotions. And if an emotion is good, than it is quite literally good for us and what we would call fulfilling. So, no matter how many bad emotions we may experience, we will always choose to have emotions, because if something can choose, it will always choose its fulfillment. To be able to have emotions is far above a machine, which is just automated matter that works according to a code. It has no Will, no Intellect, and no ability to choose anything. Those faculties we possess distinguish out higher form of existence. It is indeed better to be human!

Francis Lagano

0 likes • Feb 20

@Chinnu B, You're absolutely right. Sometimes we feel like emotions are reflexive, but that's only mostly true. Emotions can be like reflexes, but that doesn't mean we don't have judgement and reasoning in those times; it just means that they are very strong emotions. To share a little, I used to value logic for that very reason; I reasoned emotions were a weakness, and I was an unhappy and academically successful young child who people called "smart." But we are best when we are human, I guess you could say. And part of being human is to have emotions. And I can't argue that it would be better to be less than human. Bye the way, you have an awesome writing style!

Caysen McAndrew

Feb 10 •

Clubs & Nonprofits

Junior in Highschool

Hey, I wanted to start a club at my school to raise cultural awareness, so I can donate to different non-profit organizations. I live in a very white predominate area in the US and I think a huge problem in my community is the total ignorance towards other cultures. I just wanted to get peoples thoughts on whether I should follow through with my idea!?

Poll

16 members have voted

New comment Feb 12

Francis Lagano

0 likes • Feb 12

You should definitely be getting involved in activities and leading them while in high school; it will really give you a boost when applying for college! But I have seen that "Cultural Awareness" actually boils down to DEI, something that isn't at all inline with the original intent. The way you stated "White Predominant Area" suggests that you think there should be more diversity, but if you look over the course of History there is natural segregation. "Cultural Awareness" would be best if it instead would organize different events, such as an Asian style dinner party, that would expose you to aspects of other cultures without trying to force or guilt people into promoting a culture that they themselves do not share. I think you want to start and lead an activity that has meaning to it as well. Any activity that emphasizes diversity always outlines differences in too far of an extent. It loses it's meaning. If you like to study different cultures, start a club that goes through the History of the cultures, including your own. Go through what makes them "a Culture", it can range from their climate to their unique social structures. But remember, America is the melting pot or cultures. People in America are American; that's America's Founding Principle. Best of luck!