Opium, warfare and teenage slang all have something in common: tea. This drink has sparked revolutions, evolved to accommodate our changing tastes and altered the way we communicate with each other. 

Tea has become the most consumed beverage after water, according to the Tea Association. Tea is not just a fad; it has been prescribed to patients to help ease their pain for centuries, all the while being a drink that has led to the bloodshed of others. 

While tea is often linked to relaxation, considering its impact throughout history, historians would say otherwise. As Americans, we are no strangers to the American Revolution, and one of its prime symbols was tea, popularized by the Boston Tea Party. Decades after the American Revolution, the British introduced opium to China to exchange it for silver to be traded for tea. This thirst for tea spiraled into a war, leading to the birth of a nation and impacting culture for generations, as mentioned by the National Army Museum. 

The impacts of tea are still felt throughout Boston, as desire for this drink remains strong. Gen Sou En, Boston’s first modern Japanese tea house, proves popular amongst younger generations who find this to be a tranquil setting to enjoy tea and unwind. 

Noticing America’s growing interest in tea, Gen Sou En, which is the second largest tea producer in Japan, decided to break into their market. Chelsea Brewster, the general manager, mentioned that their new menu includes bubble tea, after overwhelming demand for this drink, a variation mixing milk, tea and chewy tapioca balls. 

The influx in bubble tea shops has demonstrated the future generations’ interest in tea, albeit with a sweeter spin. Beyond being an indulgent beverage, bubble tea shops foster comfortable hang out spots that fit youth lifestyles. 

“Bubble tea shops add to the social aspect of my life by providing a place for my friends and I to hang out and talk,” said Carolyn Diaz, a senior at the John D. O’Bryant. “Being able to get delicious drinks is a plus.”

Along with catering to youth through a sugary concoction, tea has also found a place in contemporary slang. As noted on Merriam-Webster’s site, the first variant of this word was the letter “T” for “truth.” The term later evolved to “tea” as the social context of tea became fitting, as tea time was when one would discuss the latest drama. This can be seen in modern teenage vocabulary.

 “My friends and I bond over tea while we’re spilling juicy tea in conversation,” said Mageney Omar, a Simmons College freshman.

From this single word, it has further evolved to being entire phrases from “spill the tea” to “no tea no shade,” attesting to how tea is woven in our social fabric and culture.

With the long journey tea has taken to cross the Pacific, remember the trail it has blazed before it burns your tongue.

“Minecraft” is a game created by Swedish game developer Markus Persson in 2009 and then later sold to Microsoft in 2014. In “Minecraft,” you traverse a world of blocks and journey on a quest to defeat the ender dragon. Although you have that goal, you do not have to choose that path. You could make anything from a farm to an aquarium, you could test your ability to survive while building, or you could just build in creative mode. 

The game has changed throughout the years—for instance, in the current update, there are now dolphins and turtles! If you have just started playing “Minecraft,” there are many things that you can try, like servers that you can connect to to play games made on “Minecraft.”

Many debate if “Minecraft” is helpful or harmful for children with ADHD. On one hand, “Minecraft” can help kids improve processing speed, working memory and cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to switch between thinking about two different concepts. Also, with a game like this, making friends is easier because there are so many people who play the game that there are fan conventions, called Minefaire, and a lot of “Minecraft” players attend.

While the game is helpful to some, for many others, it is a game that parents can't pull their kids away from. When talking to my mother, she explained that at first, she was a bit skeptical about the game, mostly because she felt that the game might take over my mind. 

For me, I believe that “Minecraft” is helpful for people with ADHD. Not only can you create anything that you can think of, it's a game where you can create your own mod to implement into “Minecraft.”

Ping! A young girl gets a notification on her iPad that her favorite YouTuber posted a new video. She rushes to open the app. She is glued to the screen, watching her favorite YouTuber’s videos for hours, while her parents are trying to unglue her. 

The Internet plays a huge role in the lives of Generation Z (1996-2010). In the entertainment world, YouTubers are taking over the industry, becoming more and more popular as years go by. They are posting videos in hundreds of different genres from DIYs, beauty, or gaming. They are signing multi-million dollar record deals, buying mansions and writing books. YouTubers are becoming the role models the youth look up to, rather than traditional Hollywood celebrities. 

The rise of social media and its stars have redefined the word celebrity. Now, a celebrity can be your neighbor who is setting the trends and driving opinions, and they are doing it all through their computer. The “classic” celebrity is still popular, but not as broadly popular as YouTubers. 

A survey by Defy Media in 2015 stated that 63 percent of respondents aged 13-24 said they would try a brand or a product recommended by a YouTube creator, while only 48 percent would do the same from a movie or TV star. Businesses are realizing that if they put an ordinary person to promote their products, teenagers will be more inclined to buy. Big makeup brands, including MAC Cosmetics, Tarte and Too Faced, use YouTubers to promote their products. 

Connection is the word that many use to describe the relationship between YouTube stars and their teen subscribers. According to a study by Business Insider, teens and young adults describe YouTubers as someone who is "just like me, understands me, someone I trust, has the best advice, doesn't try to be perfect...and likes the same things I do." All of these values are what teens need their role models to be. 

Think With Google states that since YouTubers have a stronger and more engaged audience, in comparison to a traditional celebrity, the top 25 most popular YouTubers earn on average three times as many views, two times as many actions and 12 times as many comments. On Ariana Grande’s posts on Instagram most people give one word responses or heart eye emojis. While on The Ace Family’s channel, a family that documents their regular everyday lives, it is common to see paragraphs of how they helped someone overcome some type of struggle. YouTubers are known for making millions of people’s happiness possible. 

While the Internet continues to be the main hub for new talent, YouTubers are winning over the hearts of this new generation by being authentic and true to themselves.

I remember the first time I played “Fortnite.” The moment I started building a wall, I knew this was the game for me because I enjoyed defending myself against other players. After playing the game a couple of times, everybody else in the world and I got addicted because it was so unique. 

“Fortnite” is a game that combines building and combat, mixing elements of “Call of Duty,” “The Hunger Games” and “Minecraft” all together. Millions of people are playing “Fortnite” for hours and hours on end, and there seems to be no sign of gamers stopping any time soon.

“Fortnite” is a multiplayer shooter where a maximum of 100 people are inserted into the game to fight to the end. The game, released July 25, 2017 by Epic Games, is an open world game where you can do anything and explore without any limitations. The game is available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, mobile and PC. 

“‘Fortnite’ has affected my physical life by keeping me in the house more,” said 16-year- old Dorchester resident Clynton Caines. 

“Fortnite” players are spending endless hours staring at the screen and have become addicted to the game. According to the New York Times, “Some of what hooks players is obvious: it has quality graphics, a sense of humor and advances rapidly.”

 However, because these gamers are focused on their victory royale, they are not fully moving their bodies, just moving their fingers to control their players. Therefore, they are not getting enough exercise. 

“My little brother, a freshman in high school, is constantly playing ‘Fortnite,’” said Joseph Downing, a computer engineer major at Northeastern University. “He plays the game several hours a day without leaving his room.”

“Fortnite” is also preventing kids from socializing with their friends and family. According to the Guardian, “Whether it’s social media or video games, children should enjoy them safely and as part of a lifestyle that includes exercise and socialising in the real world.” But, if you talk to people online and stay in your room all day, you are disconnected from your friends family, and the world around you. “Fortnite” is driving a wall between you and your family and friends.

My advice for people who want to play “Fortnite” and still have a well-balanced life is to limit yourself. You need to learn how to balance playing games and living the rest of your life. Make a schedule to set an amount of time to play the game, and spend the rest of your time on your social life and studying. You also need to have the willpower to say “no, not another game” to yourself and just get off the game.

Staying inside limits your capabilities. According to the Huffington Post, it is proven that going outside will make you healthier. It helps both your body and brain. Although there is a whole world on “Fortnite,” there is another bigger world outside.

The first time I went into downtown Boston, all I could smell were hot dogs, burgers and fries all around me. Although there were many stores and parks, the food options was what really stood out to me. Here are the five best fast food restaurants in downtown, with their top five can’t-miss menu items.

1. Charleys Philly Steaks

Charleys has delicious subs all made fresh right in front of you. I recommend the chicken teriyaki sub. The sauce they put on it is phenomenal. Their wide variety of subs range from $5–$10. The fries are always $2.50. You get great food without spending a lot of money. The top five menu items I recommend are: 

1. Chicken teriyaki sub. It has that special sauce that makes the chicken extra good. 

2. Baconator fries. They are like Wendy’s baconator fries, but thick cut like Burger King fries. 

3. Philly cheesesteak. The melted cheese blends in well with the steak in order to achieve a delectable taste.

4. Steakhouse salad. This is a healthy option for people who want to stay fit. 

5. Bacon three cheese steak. This steak sub has three cheeses and bacon mixed in. 

The moment you walk into Wendy’s you can smell salty fries. They have cushioned seats so you can sit comfortably while enjoying your food. This location has two floors, which is great because it gets packed during rush hour. Even though Wendy’s is a fast food restaurant, the food can take a while to make, because they are cooking delicious burgers. I recommend: 

1. Baconator fries. This is my favorite because they put bacon bits on some extremely good melted cheese.

2. 4 for $4 Meal. This combo lets you pick four items for only $4. It’s a hard deal to beat. 

3. Baconator. This burger has two layers of beef and cheese topped with six strips of smoked bacon.

4. Grilled chicken wrap.The spice they put on the chicken makes it unique.

5. Frosty. There is nothing better than getting something sweet for only 99 cents. 

There is always a McDonald’s nearby with very affordable prices, and most are very clean. The moment you walk in you will be punched by the delightful aroma of McDonald's signature fries. They have an amazing dollar menu that not many restaurants have. On the dollar menu, you can get great food options like the McChicken sandwich. I recommend:

1. McChicken. This delectable delight is only $1.

2. French fries. The fries are salty, but when you bite into them they are soft and good. 

3. Chicken McNuggets. These are some of the best chicken nuggets I’ve tasted. They are a McDonald’s classic. 

4. Sausage burrito. This breakfast burrito has cheese, sausage and other ingredients that makes it a great way to start your morning. 

5. Hash browns. A classic and cheap menu item. 

Burger King has some of the best fries. They are thick, crispy and lightly salted. Their value menu offers a variety of burgers for under $2. Basically everything on the menu is good and cheap, from the fries to the bacon double cheeseburger. I recommend: 

1. Chicken fries. Hot and tasty chicken strips shaped like french fries.

2. French fries. These fries are fat and salty.

3. Bacon Jr. King sandwich. It’s cheap and it has bacon on it. Enough said. 

4. Bacon egg and cheese croissant. The breakfast of champions. 

5. Cheeseburger. They are know for these burgers.

The restaurant has red and white stripes throughout and it’s very clean. All of their meat is fresh and cooked as you order it. So if you want real meat, come here. It typically costs $9 for a burger, but it’s quality food. If you don't have that much money, you’re better off going somewhere else. My top recommendations are: 

1. Cheeseburger. Fresh grilled meat paired with as many free toppings as you like.

2. Little bacon cheeseburger. Fresh bacon and meat make for an excellent combination.

3. Patty melt. While it’s not officially on the menu, you can ask for a grilled cheese sandwich with a beef patty inside of it. Order it next time you are here. 

4. Fries. Fresh cut potatoes cooked in pure peanut oil.