Disclaimer: Although it was disproven in 2013 that “right-brained” people use the right side of their brains more (and “left-brained” people use the left side of their brain more), the classification of people as left-brained and right-brained can still hold true for their personalities. The scientific theory of being left-brained and right-brained originally came from studies in the 1960s and 1970s.

sallycochran
news editor

I’m left-brained.
I tend to rely on facts, and when things don’t follow a logical order, it bugs me.
I enjoy working with numbers — that is, when they make sense.
I like rules and hate exceptions.
Yet, here I am on newspaper staff attempting to write something interesting and creative, something that will make my readers think.
Oh boy.
Although, as it states in the disclaimer, the theory of being left- or right-brained has officially been disproven, I identify with being left-brained. Of course, the idea that I use the left side of my brain more than the right side is silly and outdated, but I can see the classification of people into these categories.
(In fact, classifying is a characteristic of left-brained people.)
Even though I do fit in the left-brain stereotype, I have trouble remembering certain types of facts. I’m much more likely to be able to recall a certain person’s favorite color than any date — birthdays, holidays and important dates in history are all a struggle for me.
A characteristic left-brained person may have difficulty with being creative, but approaching it in a logical manner might make the task easier. When trying to brainstorm, try to define relationships among ideas. For example, list causes and effects or steps in a sequence.

makaylanicholis
staff writer

I’m right-brained.
Spacing out is a real problem I have.
Call it daydreaming, musing, stargazing or “being rude,” but I just can’t help it — I blame it on the right side of my brain.
Being right-brained implies a nature of creativity, the overuse of imagination and a nearly dangerous curiosity. No, we’re not all scatter-brained, but our minds do wander. We have a hard time focusing on a single thing at once because our heads are too far away, floating in the clouds or stuck between the pages of a book.
Artistic people tend to be considered right-brained. Organization is not our forté, but we can whip up a nice picture.
However, this can sometimes make it rather difficult to be successful in a classroom environment. The outdoors is a much more entertaining place because everything is alive and constantly growing and changing.
So, how can a right-brainer triumph in school? For one, take the studies inside. Sure, everything may be bland and dull in there, but you’ll find your brain having a much easier time honing in on one task. Although charts and lists are clearly wastes of a beautifully blank piece of paper, they may be necessary. Assembling information visually is a fantastic way for right-brainers to take in facts they might normally perceive as mundane. Remember, you can make anything an art project. Write a song, a short story or a funny acronym to help you remember material for tests.
And, above all else, never, ever, attempt to tame that brilliantly wild creature of inventiveness inside your noggin. It is your absolute best source of originality and ingenuity — even if you do have to paint some guidelines for it every once in a while.