Collection: an accumulation of objects gathered for study, comparison, or exhibition as a hobby – Merriam-Webster. 

Throughout my seventeen years, I have heard about different types of collections ranging from simple rock collections to celebrity hair collections (could not be me). Although some collections might be rather bizarre, as a collector myself, I understand the appeal. Each and every piece in one’s collection is slightly different than the next, that’s why it is absolutely essential to have another :). 

For me – I can never have enough pens. Different types of pens (fountain, rollerball, ballpoint, erasable, gel, calligraphy) have different objectives. For instance, a calligraphy pen’s purpose is not to write long essays, but to display beautiful penmanship. An erasable pen’s use is to allow for error (an advantage I personally abused in calculus). That is why in this list, I am going to explain which pen is best for each type of activity. 

1. Math / Science Homework : Pilot Frixion

Erasable pens have been around since the 80s, but none perfected it till the pilot frixion. The pilot frixion uses thermo-sensitive ink technology (JetPens). Basically, when the ink reaches a certain temperature,  it turns clear. No, you don’t have to put your paper in a microwave to erase it (although it would work). On the top of the pen, there is a piece of hard rubber that when rubbed on the paper uses friction and creates heat to make the ink disappear. Over time, the Pilot Frixion brand has perfected its ink formula and come out with erasable highlighters and markers as well. I think the pilot frixion is the perfect choice for math/science homework because it allows for error and unlike a pencil looks significantly cleaner. Finally, I have a personal preference for the smoothness of a pen and with the frixion I get the additional advantage of the pencil.

2. Long Writing sessions / Timed Writings : Pentel Energel  

As someone who is well experienced in the timed-writing process I have experimented with which pen gave me maximum comfort. By far, the pentel energel takes the cake. As someone who has bigger hands, the thicker barrel is the perfect diameter without being too large and hard to grip. Not to mention the lefty-friendly ink. The pentel energel has quick drying, smudge-proof, ink – which comes with many benefits. First off, this pen is a highlighter’s best friend. With a regular ballpoint or even your favorite Papermate gel pen, the writing will become illegible once a highlighter touches the ink. With the pentel energel, there is no need to worry. That’s what makes this pen great for not only long writing sessions but also note-taking. Along with the amazing ink formula, the needle-tip nib makes the writing experience even better. Even though the body of the pen is chunkier, doesn’t mean your lettering has to be too. The precise nib allows for more control of ink flow and simply feels pleasant to write with. Ultimately, if I were to only use one pen for the rest of my life, it would be the pentel energel.

3. A Pencil Case Must-Have : Hi-Tec-C Coleto

The hi-tec-c coleto is the most versatile pen I have in my pencil case. We have all had those crusty multi-pens given for free from our Dad’s work or from the elementary school book fair. The hi-tec-c is the ultra-upgraded version. Instead of all the colors embedded in the pen, with the coleto you can actually choose the pen refills you want. The refills range in colors, tip sizes, and even the type of ink. Not only can you get a pen refill, but one of the inserts can also be a mechanical pencil (which ranges in size too). You can go from a 0.4mm metallic blue gel ink to a 0.7mm mechanical pencil in just one click! The inserts and pen body can be unique. You can choose how many slots and the color of the body when purchasing. The customizability of this pen already makes it stand out, but the quality of the inserts is truly what makes the pen desirable. With the needle-tip design for all the inserts, you are promised a high-quality writing experience from the start. 

Overall, these are my top three pen choices and definitely writing instruments you should add to your collection. I hope this blog inspired you to visit Jetpens.com and up your pencil case game!

“No Dad you HAVE to sing it!” My eldest brother, Zain, whined when my father started simply reciting the words to Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Each one of the Anwar siblings, starting with Zain, had experienced my father’s booming (and very out of tune) singing voice to this novel. 

It was our very own family tradition. I vividly remember the dense cardboard pages and 3D monkey heads of our family’s favorite book. But it was not just the funky, colorful book or the rare singing voice of my Dad that made this book so charming. It was when my entire family, me included, acted out the novel line by line – each of us acting as one of the rebellious monkeys. By the end, Dad, Mom, Zain, Abid, and I would all be littered on the floor in a fit of laughter. Every time we would get to the last page, I would flip back to the cover wanting to re-enact the book just one more time.

When discussing this experience with my peers during class last week, I realized that this specific experience represents where a lot of my hobbies and passions growing up may have stemmed from. In elementary and middle school, my yearly participation in chorus and the school musical gave me the same joyous feeling as tumbling off the bed when re-enacting this book. My affection for literature had taken many forms – not just reading books. Although I no longer participate in the school’s choir or musicals I do hold onto these memories fondly and question why I did not continue.

The peak of my passion for literature was definitely in my early-middle school years when the Harry Potter Series was all-consuming. My attraction to the series could be borderline described as an obsession, however, I prefer to describe it as a fascination. Fighting evil, adventure, and magic were all concepts I could only dream of, but J.K. Rowling somehow had put my dreams into the perfect seven books. I read the books, then re-read them, then re-read them again, and during my time at Kennedy Junior High I finished the series a total of six times. Still to this day, I have at least one Harry Potter book on my nightstand waiting for me when I need an escape (currently The Goblet of Fire if you were wondering).  Ever since the Harry Potter books, there has only been one other

series that has captivated me. The Ender’s Game series. Once again, I was attracted to the impossible. I realized I was not only a sucker for fantasy but also science fiction.

Although reading has always been an enjoyable part of my life, writing was the opposite. My memories associated with writing have mostly been ones of struggle and disappointment. Growing up I felt like I had some type of chronic writer’s block and I still sometimes feel that way. There is so much I want to say but I just don’t have the natural knack for writing the way others do. So, whenever it came to activities like peer revision I always warned my partners that I was simply “a bad writer”. Now growing up a bit more I do realize that I cannot blame my lack of natural ability, but I do recognize that writing a few sentences will always take more time for me than a math problem. That is why I decide to take more challenging classes when it comes to writing and change my attitude. Instead of being dejected about my writing abilities, I want to practice and be able to formulate my thoughts more clearly on paper. So although I may have a contradictory relationship between reading and writing, I want to keep improving and re-spark my passions.