Category: Advice

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Leading the Oklahoma City Thunder

Post author By Theoplis Campbell
Post date April 20, 2024
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is making waves in the NBA as the point guard of the Oklahoma City Thunder. At a young age, he has already shown himself to be a key player by leading his team to the #1 seed in the Western Conference. However, while Shai’s leadership and skills are undeniable, there are areas of his game that I think still require improvement.

One thing Shai needs to focus on is his three-point shooting percentage. While he has shown that he can make the shot beyond the arc, consistency in this will elevate his game to a whole other level! Improving his three-point shot will not only make him more dangerous offensively but also give his teammates an opportunity because they’ll be so open trying to stop him.

Even though he has room to improve that shot, Shai’s strengths as a point guard are pretty evident. His ball-handling is quite smooth and well-paced, which is exceptional. It allows him to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Also, his court vision and basketball IQ are quite advanced, allowing him to make split-second decisions on the fly, smartly and effectively.

Offensively, Shai’s game is often shown by his ability to score from anywhere on the court, whether it’s driving to the rim or stopping and popping for a mid-range jumper. His skill set is very crafty and diverse, keeping defenders on their toes. However, if he consistently finds his outside shot, this will make him even more dynamic as an offensive threat.

Defensively, Shai has the potential to be a lockdown defender. His length and athleticism allow him to be there in passing lanes and have enough reach to contest any shot effectively. With focus and effort on the defensive end, he has the skill to become one of the league’s leading perimeter defenders.

In conclusion, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a rising star in the NBA, leading the OKC Thunder with his work ethic, talent, and leadership. Even though he’s still young and has accomplished a lot, there is still room for improvement. By focusing on areas such as his three-point shot, Shai has the potential to become one of the league’s most elite point guards of the century.

Advice Features

Best Places to Chill, have a Picnic, or Study!

Post author By Arlo Greywolf
Post date November 6, 2023
No Comments on Best Places to Chill, have a Picnic, or Study!

Are you trying to find some new places in the Sacramento area to hang out or study? Well, I’d be happy to tell you about some of my favorite places in this town to hang out and do activities like picnics, studying, and rocking out!

The first place on this list is the one and only Plaza Cervantes Park located at 2115 11th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95818. I love this place so much because everyone that goes is super chill and super kind. They pick up their trash whenever they are finishing a sandwich from The Sandwich Spot across the street and in general, the park is great to visit and bring pets on weekends.

I have had some great mornings there sipping coffee. It is overall a nice place to hang with friends and even practice music. I usually bring my Acoustic guitar out with me to the park and write some tunes there. The best times to be there are most definitely in the mornings because you have the park to yourself most of the time and can sit with a still mind.

While you are there, say hello to the statue standing proudly in front of the park. Fun fact: the statue used to stand inside or near the plaza area. Where the defunct downtown plaza once was and now where DOCO exists.

Now one of the best places in all of Sacramento is Five Sips Coffee and Tea located at 2104 11th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95818. A bonus is that it’s located right next to Cervantes Park. A wonderful park next to a wonderful Coffee shop? Yes, please! Five Sips Coffee to me is the shrine of all coffee shops because everyone there is like family. Even if you haven’t visited it and you decide to check it out, you’ll leave having had a welcoming and enjoyable experience.

They have so many yummy options to choose from and the inside has unique artwork to purchase from very talented individuals. I recommend the White Chocolate Mocha, It’s delicious! I love their chocolate pastries and cinnamon rolls as well. They also offer discounts to high school students. So if any of you want a place to have some delicious coffee to go with your study sessions, I recommend Five Sips Coffee! The owner, Michael, also has so many funny stories to tell and loves to present magic tricks.

The next place I like to hang out and get work done is Sacramento City College’s campus located on 3835 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95822. Where to hang out in this place is near the trees. I feel a sense of community, it being a community college no pun intended, but I really do like it there and most of my old friends go there so most of the time I´ll randomly run into them.

It is also a great place to skate, I don’t skate as much as I used to but there are some cool curbs to hit and some great spots to film your next edgy skate-clip video. There is also a parking garage where you can get a great view of the city from afar. I love seeing it at night when all the lights are up and you can see them all beam from the garage roof.

There is also the city cafe area in the college for when we get summer temperatures. You can hide there in the shade and take a breather from the heat. The light-rail station is also located inside the campus so you can always take the light rail afterward if need be.

This one is not a shocker, but the next location I’ll mention is our own C.K. McClatchy High School. Why? Because after hours it’s a great place to walk around, and the view of the sunset from campus is so pretty. But also the track is a nice place to get some good exercise and it is a public park and historical sight so it is nice to go on walks with friends. Sometimes though, interesting things happen there. Since it’s the spooky season I will tell a spooky story:

One night I went on a walk to Marie’s Donuts. And well I do not recall why I decided to do this, maybe because I wanted to go on a night walk. But after I got some delicious donuts, I visited McClatchy´s Campus. Everything seemed normal at first glance. Until after walking around for a bit, I saw a group of kids laughing. They looked like normal average teenage kids, no different from me. I was walking back and I heard this vibrating noise almost like an airplane in the sky. I turn around and right where you can see the D Wing and the Gym. I saw a big, blue ball of light absorbing the campus buildings. After a couple of seconds, all the power on the campus goes and it is pitch black where I was standing. I heard a scream in the distance after the lights went out. It was probably the most mysterious paranormal encounter I have ever witnessed, whenever I bring it to staff or to my teachers, no one believes me.

Finally for the last entry on my chill and cool places to visit list, well this is a rocky one, but trust me it is a favorite of mine. Cafe Colonial is located at 3520 Stockton Blvd. This place has everything from delicious vegan tacos to the heaviest bands to have ever played there.

People should go there because it exposes you to new, unique genres of music and you can support local bands while you’re at it. I have played there dozens of times and as a musician, their sound is amazing. The soundboard technicians are great at their job and are willing to make sure you can hear yourself, even if your bass player wants more monitors or your drummer is tuning a snare.

It is also a great place to support locally owned businesses and a chance to support some local artists. They have plenty of metal shows but on occasion, they will host diverse bills with Indie/rap bands. I have had some of the greatest memories at that place and have met some great personalities. Everyone there is super chill and the mosh pits can get gnarly for all the metalheads/grindcore/hardcore/straightedge readers. Some come to check it out and see for yourselves because I cannot write a paper long enough about how amazing the place is.

These are all based on my personal experiences and opinions, but I hope these were helpful for anyone wanting to connect with the community more. What are your favorite places in this city?

Advice Opinion

In State or Out of State

When wanting to move out of state for college there are a lot of things you must consider. Whether you’re just starting high school or about to finish, I recommend you read this.

If you’d like to stay in-state, it is statistically much more affordable. Public colleges get a large portion of funding from said state’s tax money. Which is why it’s much cheaper for people who live in the state than out of the state.

In addition, you’d also already know the area in which you’re going to college which could help when trying to get around the city. Traveling would also be much cheaper, especially if using the state’s public transit. If you decide to stay in the dorms of your state college, you could go home as often as you’d like.

It may get tedious since you’ve lived there most of your life, which is fair. The college itself can be fun, and other cities in the state can have options as well. Most cities in the US only have 1-2 colleges available which can make you want to lean more towards out of state schools.

I know most teenagers want to leave home immediately, but let me tell you why that isn’t the best idea. Unless you’re taking a gap year to explore the world or stay with family, going out of state for college has lots of pros and cons. The cons of moving out of state have a lot to do with money. Since you’ve never paid for taxes or been claimed on taxes in said state(s) that you plan on going to college to, they charge you twice or three times as much to live there.

It can also get super lonely, especially at the beginning when you have no friends and barely know your roommate. Getting there would also be much more expensive, plane tickets can range anywhere from 250-1000 dollars depending on where it is that you want to go. Trains or buses like Amtrak and Greyhound can be a bit more affordable but it will still add up.

The pros of moving out of state may not outweigh the finances, but I find them to be worth the struggle. There are a lot more universities to choose from depending on where it is you want to go. One advantage that many teenagers like is that you’ll get the full grown-up experience of being on your own. Last but not least, you’ll be somewhere new and can explore while making new friends and getting your education.

I personally think it would be an everyday vacation which I definitely wouldn’t mind. You get to be in control of what you do and when you do it. You wanna go out? You do it. No one can stop you. But that isn’t always a good thing.

Being able to control what you do on a day-to-day basis can be dangerous to people who have always lived with structure.

I believe that going out of state is better for me because of the ability to focus and learning to be on your own as well as the experience. Not everyone has the opportunity and that’s fine too.

When you think of college, you want to aim for what you feel is best for you. Whether you feel that is to stay in state or go out of state.

Advice Archive

Heartbreak

Heartbreak is a feeling so strong that it makes you want to crawl into bed and never wake up. It causes you to ask yourself, “What did I do wrong, do I deserve this?”

The feeling is similar to that of gray clouds on a sunny day. It’s wondering how you’re going to get through the day with this terrifying agony. It’s waking up again and again, believing that the pain will be endless. It’s grieving without death.

I think that the most devastating part about heartbreak is that the person who broke your heart continues on, and you’re forced to live a life that doesn’t include them. You fear that they’ll move forward from what you shared.

Not only do you lose that person, but also the part of yourself that existed during the relationship.

I know it feels like an everlasting pain, a hole in your chest, a void of nothingness. Heartbreak is such a long process that begins with the “numb stage”. You’re in denial, telling yourself lies in order to avoid the pain. When people ask if you’re okay, you respond, “I’m fine”. In doing so you’re not only lying to them, but yourself as well.

The next phase, the “clarity stage”, brings the worst of your emotional pain. This is when you stop lying to yourself and others. It is when you confront the pain instead of avoiding it. You just want to be able to understand the breakup and your relationship as a whole. The only way to pass the clarity stage is to fight it. The reason it brings the greatest emotional pain is because you’re finally letting all the pain come to you. After this phase, the healing starts.

The “healing stage” is next. However, this doesn’t mean things are easy. There are moments where you fall harder than ever, because you are still vulnerable from the last stage.

The best part of the healing stage is that you can begin to grow from what happened to you, and are able to open your mind to a new perspective of your relationship. Ironically, it takes sadness to know happiness.

If you are dealing with heartbreak, it is important to remember that you matter and are enough. Sometimes you may feel stuck, like you haven’t learned anything new or felt any better. I encourage you to be patient with yourself. These things take time.

Heartbreak is surmountable, but only if you fight for yourself. Acknowledge the pain and allow yourself to feel it. By doing this, seeking help and embracing yourself, you can begin to overcome a breakup.

Advice Archive

Loving as a Teenager

Loving as a teen can be difficult most of the time since there’s going to be little to no experience. There’s no step-by-step manual to show you how to love or be loved. Each person’s background impacts their love language a lot.

For example, people with a parent that showed them tough love tend to give that tough love back, not being emotionally available because of issues with ego and pride. Orphans or people with one parent tend to have abandonment issues. It’s hard to not have a loving mentor to guide you into an easier chance to love and be loved.

My background with my parents is really good. My mom is a very loving person, always reassuring each one of her kids that we can talk to her about anything. My dad as well — he isn’t your typical Mexican dad with masculine pride. He always comes into my room and says “I love you”. In that aspect I’ve been really lucky and I am very grateful for that.

On the other hand, my experience with loving and dating so far has been slow.

I’ve had 2 girlfriends and lots of talking stages. My first girlfriend was in 8th grade. It was a school relationship. She taught me a lot, we grew with each other in every aspect and stage of our life, even as exes we still keep in touch and have a healthy friendship. My second girlfriend was a little more serious since I understood feelings a lot more than middle school, but it was during the pandemic. We only lasted about 3 months but it still was a really good relationship.

Both of those relationships ended for the same reasons. I felt like I deserved better. I know that’s a really cruel thing to say, but at the end of the day people need to think about themselves first so that the relationship can prosper. I realized that in both situations I was actually more into the relationship than the person. I liked that it kept me busy and I like the way I act in a relationship. I take care of myself but for the wrong reasons. I start taking care of my skin and I work out a lot more, but they’re my only motivation. I realized I needed to put myself first instead.

If you put yourself first in a relationship you get to learn how to be a better person on your own, and it’s better to share that maturity with someone else. You can learn to coexist with that person. Grow with that person. Create memories. Which all of them can lead to a very healthy relationship. Work on your insecurities, don’t just avoid them because you’ll never fully defeat them.

Talking stages for me are really important before dating. A talking stage is a way to see how your significant other acts when you’re close with one another, but it’s not as serious as actual dating. If you start the relationship too soon, it’ll just lead to an unnecessary commitment over time. But if you wait too long, the feelings might fade away.

Overall, the advice I would give teens or my children is to definitely try out dating at a young age. You’ll never know what you like until you try. Let time do its thing, and don’t force the relationship. Emotions shouldn’t be forced. Looks do matter, they’re just not everything in a relationship. At the end of the day the truth is there is no manual to falling in love.

Advice Archive

First Loves

I once read a quote from a Buddhist: “If you meet somebody and your heart pounds, your hands shake, your knees go weak, that’s not the one. When you meet your soulmate you’ll feel calm.” It just stuck with me. Every time I’ve been in a relationship, I’ve felt subconsciously aware of if she makes me feel calm or panicked. Sometimes I end relationships because I feel too nervous and anxious around them, and sometimes that’s the right thing to do for you.

I want to feel calm around someone. I want to not be in constant fear of judgment. I want someone who accepts me for who I am. Someone who makes me want to be a better person not because of who I am. I don’t want to feel like I should stay the same, I want to grow within the relationship because they inspire me to do better, to be better. To coexist alongside them. I want someone who feels like home. I want to emerge stronger out of every conflict. I want my love to be greater than my pride. To me, this is love and while I never have experienced it I look forward to it. To my first love.

Your first love is not necessarily your first boyfriend or girlfriend, It’s the first person for which you do things you never would have imagined doing. The person who makes you feel things you never even knew existed. First loves are the people who first introduce you to love. Not love for your mother or sibling love, but love with your lover. It’s the first person you let yourself be vulnerable with. In my opinion, this type of love is the most complicated one of all, since it’s the person you could possibly spend your entire life with. It’s the person who you have to accept both the good and the bad.

First loves are very significant in your love life and in general, since they’re your first love and you don’t have much experience with love in the beginning. They influence your standards a lot. They help you find what your type is. Your first love will always be a huge part of your life, no matter whether they’re still with you or not. They help you find out who you really are, your love language, your goals in all aspects whether it’s love-related or just in general.

People usually confuse their first partner with their first love, which is not often true since “first love” implies that you actually love that person. People mistake love with caring, mostly the younger crowd because of lack of experience and maturity

I think first loves can be a hit or miss. You either have a good image of them or not. You either end your relationship on good or bad terms. I think there’s always still room to learn and grow about the relationship.

For people who are dealing with a break up with their first love — I know it would be painful. When I deal with a breakup I try to put myself in both perspectives. Try to have an honest conversation after the break up. Acknowledge what you did wrong and try to improve on what you lacked. It can help give you some closure. Personally, I try an unbiased approach. But if exes don’t want to have an honest conversation, it can slow character development.

Sometimes I still have moments where I blame myself for things I never did. I ask myself if I was good to them, even though I know very well that I gave them my all.

This is The Prospector’s first installment of “Advice from Alan.” We will be publishing a series of love advice articles written by our staff writer Alan Bautista.