Larissa Almendras

During the Spring Assembly on March 28, 2025, Ocean Lakes High school seniors sit on the ground while sports teams surround them with their hands wrapped around each other. PE teacher Yolanda Boothe gives a speech about how high school is fleeting, telling each student and teacher to cherish the time they have in this community.

People are too negative. Complaining has become part of people’s daily lives just as much as breathing.

75% of people’s thoughts are negative, which can be broken down by a recent study by Insight Peak Dynamics that states: out of the average 60,000 thoughts, 45,000 of them are negative. These negative thoughts often influence people’s moods, behaviors and well-being as they cultivate harmful habits that may impact them as adults.

It is a primal instinct to be negative, particularly with the human “fight or flight” response, despite this, there are techniques to combat human cynicism. A few small changes can have a big impact on one’s mentality.

Foster Community

When people think about what makes Ocean Lakes High School unique, a few common answers will likely come up, such as: spirit, kindness and open-mindedness, but an integral part of the school is also the “community.”

Teachers and students alike agree that the “community” at Ocean Lakes is unique and blossoms each year, regardless of the ever-changing population. This community does not have to exist only in Ocean Lakes; it can follow people outside of the building and wherever they go.

The best way to do this is by communicating with others in a positive manner and establishing meaningful connections.

“How I try to implement it is by saying “hi” to people, and trying to check up on how they are doing,” sophomore Jan Reyes said.

Learn to Appreciate

A common root cause of negative thoughts is the ever-present greed people often express without thinking. Many people claim they are optimistic; however, they just look at a situation with a smile on their face but don’t understand why the glass is half-full. It is easy for people to say they like something; nevertheless, it is even more important to understand why they like something. The more people let themselves understand why they like a certain thing, the more grateful for it they become. Reflection is key to gratitude, which is a straightforward way to build a positive attitude.

“Having access to running water and having access to clean air, are things that most people in the U.S., especially here in Virginia Beach, take for granted. I find myself occasionally thinking about those components especially after we talk about them in class,” environmental science and oceanography teacher Nicholas DiNapoli said.

Spend Time on Self-Care

People’s lives can get busy really fast. In the blink of an eye, someone can be in an unexpected situation that can change their life forever. That is precisely why it is imperative that humans sit down with themselves and understand who they are, what they do and what they believe. 

“I think it is good to have positive talks with yourself and others because you can connect with yourself and when you talk to others you can really get to know [them] and develop positive relationships,” freshman Amitthai Joachim said.

Taking time out of one’s day to figure out what they wish to do with the rest of it is vital to understanding oneself and their priroities. Once someone can do that, they can change their actions to create a positive perspective. From there, they can learn to appreciate themselves and others, particularly the time they share with other people.

“Personally, I normally appreciate the experiences I have with other people. The experiences I cherish the most are the ones with my friends, those are the ones that mean the most to me now,” Jan said. “Sure, family, grades, are probably more impactful for my sanity and daily life in the future, but I feel like developing those relationships and actually communicating with people effectively is way more impactful now.”