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M is For Money, Not Morals

BY: Emily Chang, Section Editor

Over the years, China has come a long way in terms of economic and industrial development. Legions of skyscrapers and apartment complexes have materialized, and the air quality seems to have improved slightly from governmental measures. However, underneath this façade of progress and wealth hides a corrupted moral compass, one that has and continues to lead some Chinese citizens to prioritize money over morals. In Guangzhou’s recent double-hit-and-run of two year old Wang Yue, questions of China’s moral standards have surfaced.

On October 13, 2011, toddler Wang Yue was hit by a truck on the streets of Guangzhou. As the truck sped away, the child was left bleeding on the ground. In the seven minutes after the initial accident, eighteen passersbys ignored the bleeding toddler, and another truck ran her over without stopping. Finally, an old bottle collector arrived and moved the child to the side of the road. Despite efforts to save the child, however, time and additional injuries from the second truck caused her to pass away a week later.

This incident has since been broadcasted around the world, sparking anger and astonishment from both foreign and domestic audiences. Many believed that Wang Yue’s death could change the hearts of those immoral citizens. But less than two weeks after Wang Yue’s accident, five year old Xiong Maoke was killed in a similar accident. Walking home from kindergarten, Xiong collided with the side of a large truck and fell. Nearby witnesses attested that as Xiong stood back up and began to collect his belongings from the floor, the driver purposely drove forward and crushed the boy. When interrogated by the police the driver merely replied, “How much should I pay?” Witnesses speculate that, as the driver of the truck that killed Wang Yue infamously stated, “If she is dead, I may pay only about 20,000 yuan. But if she is injured, I may have to pay hundreds of thousands of yuan.” It seems that people are afraid of not only being sued for injuring others but also of being held responsible for paying lifelong medical bills, and may thus choose murder over morals.

The problem seems to stem from a recurrence of lawsuits that has happened over the past few years. In August, a report indicated that a woman who had been climbing over a fence near the street fell onto the road. The driver of the car behind her immediately stopped and proceeded to help the woman up, making sure she was safe. A few days later, the driver was sued for allegedly injuring the woman, and was forced to pay 100,000 yuan. Similar incidents have occurred in areas such as Nanjing and Shanghai.

Over the years, along with economic development, income inequality has heightened; China’s poor has become poorer as the rich become richer. Hence, it may be that in such desperate times, some citizens will take desperate measures to make money. While these individual citizens are responsible for their own unethical actions, an even larger issue rises to forefront. The desperation or desire for money has driven people to turn an accident into a crime in order to prevent a greater monetary loss. And although egocentricity is said to be innate to humans, does our self-centeredness really prime us to go as far as to take from others without substantial reason, or for that matter, commit murder?

Some believe that the Chinese judicial system provides more opportunities for individuals to sue, even without real evidence of the specific incidents, possibly increasing the likelihood of such events as Wang Yue’s death to occur. Others believe that the education system that focuses solely on academia and, in previous years, patriotism, does not seem to cover the aspect of ethics or morality that most schools teach from a young age. Perhaps for this reason, it is sometimes difficult for people to realize what is truly immoral, especially when judgment is clouded by self-seeking intentions.

Sources:

Richburg, Keith B. "Toddler in China Hit by 2 Cars, Then Ignored, Dies - The Washington Post." The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - The Washington Post. 21 Oct. 2011. Web. 31 Oct. 2011.

Jiang. "Woman Perceived as Framing Man Jeered outside Court." CRIENGLISH. Shanghai Daily, 24 Aug. 2011. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. 

Herrick, Joel. "In Wake of Yueyue's Passing, Another Child-death Tragedy Strikes in Sichuan: Shanghaiist." Shanghaiist: Shanghai News, Food, Arts & Events. 22 Oct. 2011. Web. 31 Oct. 2011.

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The Perils of Football Fandom

BY: JJ Wong, Staff Reporter

Drama, intensity, heart wrenching-gut-busting moments. The indescribable joys of a well-taken goal and the soul-crushing devastation of watching your team suffer defeat. Football is not just a game and (and by football, I mean the sport where you actually play with a ball using your foot, not the “American edition”) the statistics speak for themselves: football is the world’s most popular sport with over 1.3 billion people “interested” in the sport.

The overwhelming popularity of football is in large part due to its accessibility to all people, regardless of social standing or financial situation. All you need are some mates and a ball or something vaguely ball-shaped — and voila! You’ve got yourself a game. 

Devout football fans often identify themselves with a particular team, supporting said team with fervent passion and, at times, blind adoration. In this sense, football is so much more than simply a game. It is a culture, a way of life, bordering on fanaticism that at times surpasses even that of organized religion. Football matches are times of gathering among kindred souls, eardrum-shattering shouting and hormone-fueled highs and lows. Week by week, a football fan looks forward to the next match, undoubtedly a time of excitement and, hopefully, celebration.

Being a football fan is hardly smooth sailing. The emotional turbulence, the ups and downs a fan undergoes as he/she follows his/her team season by season is immense, at times approaching on ridiculous. A horrible football defeat may result in lingering depression that manifests itself in a fan’s actions and demeanor for days or even weeks on end (vocal comments—such as “life sucks,” “*insert name of football player* sucks”—are dead giveaways). Whereas a particularly satisfying football victory may explain why, midway through another grueling, mundane week, acquaintances of the football fan in question are still pondering, “How the bloody horsewash is he/she still so bingbonkingly happy?”

Confession time. I’m an Arsenal FC fan. Frankly speaking, it’s a love-hate relationship, as it is with many fans and their chosen teams. 

Arsenal has traditionally been at the forefront of English football, with a record 90 consecutive seasons in England’s football top flight since 1919, a full season unbeaten in the English top flight during the 2003-2004 season (an achievement that has only happened twice in English football’s top flight) and many other numerous awards and accolades  since the club’s founding in 1886.

Yet for all its history, this is the same club that recently suffered its worst defeat in 115 years at the hands of Manchester United in August 2011 (a humiliating 8-2 loss). A club which over the last few years has gradually become football’s whipping boy and laughing stock, a model example of a once-great club’s fall from grace. How does one reconcile the chasm of past triumphs with the bleak reality of the present? 

Arsenal fans are by no means alone in this regard. Football fans of all teams experience similar circumstances; a sudden defeat during a crucial point in the season may cause great distress, whereas an unexpected win can simultaneously lift the morale of millions of fans spread across the globe. This is what marks a true football fan: undying loyalty even in the face of insurmountable odds. At times, unwavering faith in one’s team may result in football miracles, a moment of magic that makes all the waiting and emotional suffering worthwhile. As in life, football is a game where anything can happen. With the vocal unity of sixty thousand fans jam packed in a football stadium, along with the vicarious support of millions more, football is without a doubt the place “where amazing happens.”

Undoubtedly, football fandom is not for the faint of heart. Nonetheless, for that spontaneous moment of unbridled joy, all the waiting is worth it. 

So take the plunge, I dare you. Hop off the deep end and immerse yourself in that wonderful world we fans know as football: the Beautiful Game.

Sources:

“Football (soccer) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia."Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Web. 25 Sept. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/550852/football>

"The Official Website of Arsenal Football Club | Arsenal.com."As a red member you have access to 3,500 tickets for every Premier league home game! || Arsenal.com. Web. 25 Sept. 2011. <http://www.arsenal.com/home>.

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ISB Students Benignly Deterred From Artistic Endeavors

BY: Stephanie Wang, Staff Reporter

Our parents are our best friends, whether we acknowledge that or not. They only want the best for us and expect us to reach the best through hard work and determination. But do they know what “the best” actually is always? Is it to attend a prestigious university, have a lucrative career, and gain happiness because of our successful careers and stable lives? Often, there is a certain disparity between our parents’ and our definition of “good,” “success,” and “value.” Our interests may sharply contrast with theirs, especially in the case of artistic endeavors.

As an eighth grader moving onto ninth, I felt compelled to join the high school orchestra. Although I enjoyed playing the violin, I wasn’t keen on taking a course that required me so much commitment. But I felt guilty that I didn’t want to continue because it meant that in a sense, I did not meet my parent’s expectation. In the end, I joined the orchestra out of half-hearted interest, but mostly because of guilt and parental expectation.

Among many of the plans our parents may have concocted for us to be successful, one of the prime examples is the emphasis on and expectation to “complete” a classical education. This “classical” education is primarily focused on what many consider the “core subjects”: Math, English, Sciences, Social Sciences, and in some cases, Foreign Languages. The Arts, however, have often been unfairly neglected and relegated to the lowest rank in the hierarchy of education. The exception to this discrimination lies within the musical arts. At a young age, many of us are pushed to study the musical arts and learn how to play a musical instrument—most typically, classical instruments like the piano or violin. Or even better, we learn two instruments. 

It seems that parents often place musical arts in the upper tier, leaving performing and visual arts such as theater, painting, and film in the lower tiers of educational value. The distinction between the musical arts and the visual arts lies within the consideration that some may view the musical arts to be more sophisticated. While some may not understand some of the themes and emotions in an art piece, one can easily recognize Mozart’s Turkish March or Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. To be able to proficiently play a well-known musical piece may characterize one as “accomplished,” while the ability to create a painting may not impress others as much simply because of the difficulty to discern whether it is a “great” work of art or not. The coupling of the musical arts and the core classes would then form the “classical” education of a potential member of the “elite” and “well-educated” society. The value of such an education is believed to be immensely beneficial and essential to one’s well-being and upbringing. However, emphasis on completing a “classical” education solely through the musical arts could inhibit us  from pursuing other artistic interests.

The commonly held belief of parents that the arts have little to no benefit in the students’ future is because only a minority of filmmakers, actors, musicians, and artists are successful. Even though parents cite insecure career paths as the reason why their children should not concentrate on the arts, these students are still strongly urged to become proficient at an instrument in order to ‘complete’ their education. A common parental expectation is that a student will start learning an instrument at a young age and continue playing it throughout middle school and high school. Eventually, the student’s dedication to the practice of the instrument may or may not end up on a college application; after all, what better way to show commitment than years of honing a certain ability or talent? This dedication may be initiated by the student’s interest in the instrument, but more often than not, it is part parental expectation and part guilt that drives the student to continue playing. The idea of our parents frowning upon artistic avenue other than music unconsciously steers us away from exploring new artistic options because we fear the potential disappointment from our parents.

Our parents may not realize it, and perhaps we may not even realize it, but expectations, guilt, and fear of disappointment benignly deter us from pursuing other artistic endeavors. What students and parents both need is, perhaps, to establish a mutual understanding about certain expectations imposed so that we can chase after a genuine interest that we can foster—and, in the idea clase, use in some shape or form in the future.

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Neighborhood Review: Guitar Street

BY: Emily Harwitz, Staff Reporter

Nearby the Drum Tower in Beijing’s Dong Cheng district, an opportunity for fun called Gu Lou Dong Da Jie, fondly known as “Guitar Street” lies waiting to be explored. Its relatively easy-to-access location coupled with its abundance of interesting, quirky, and—dare I say—hipster, little shops makes Guitar Street an ideal location for a weekend adventure.

To get there by subway, take Line 15 to Wangjing West, transfer to Line 13, and take it all the way down to the last station Dongzhimen. From there, transfer to Line 2 and take the train to Gu Lou Dong Da Jie.  Then, walk for about five to ten minutes away from the subway station. If you  have difficulty navigating through the city and are prone to getting lost, your best bet on finding “Guitar Street,” known for its  plethora of interesting music-related shops and venues, is to ask a traffic guard, a shop owner, or perhaps a pedicab driver for directions. If you are not up for the adventure of exploring Beijing’s subway system, you can take a taxi directly to Guitar Street.

Guitar Street is first and foremost one of the best places in Beijing to buy musical instruments. This is due to the sheer abundance of instrument shops lining either side of the street and the quality of the instruments in these shops; hence, its name. The legendary MAO Livehouse, famous in Beijing’s music scene for its superior sound system and high-quality lineup, is also located here.

For those who not looking for instruments, there are many other shops that are plenty hip with youth, including many interesting little places in which to buy clothes, food, and various knick knacks. The selection of clothing stores includes a particularly nice little vintage shop called “Mega Mega Vintage” where you can buy apparel like oversized sweaters, leather jackets, and colorful flannel shirts. There are also plenty of small modern fashion boutiques that provide simple garments at affordable prices.

When you get hungry from perusing the various stores, you can choose from the assortment of snack shops and cafes to refuel, ranging from cozy and hipster-welcoming to trendy frozen yogurt and drink shops, various patisseries and dessert shops, and larger restaurants of appetizing international cuisine including American, Indian, Italian, Japanese and others.

Guitar Street branches off into several other streets such as Nan Luo Gu Xiang, that are definitely worth checking out as well. Walk far enough down one of these streets and you’ll find yourself on a whole new adventure, so if you’re on a time constraint, save these trips for another time. No matter what your interests are—music, food, or just having fun—an outing to Guitar Street will certainly inject some much-needed novelty into your life.

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Movember: the Joys, Woes, and Motives of Moustache Cultivation

BY: Amanda Song & Rebecca Qian, Section Editors

Movember, a portmanteau of the words “Mo” (short for “moustache”) and November, is a month-long moustache growing charity event dedicated to “[raising] vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer.” 1 Embracing the hairy month is more difficult than you think. As the men’s health awareness celebration draws to a close, several male teachers give The Break the run-down on the heart-wrenching, month-long separation from their beloved razors.

While staff and students alike agree that the moustache movement is for a good cause, some teachers are finding the actual execution challenging to deal with. Math teacher Mr. Maddock, for one, states that he “dislike[s] all facial hair,” finding it “annoying” and “itchy.” During the course of his attempt to grow out his moustache, he had shaved it off a couple of times out of irritation. Chemistry and Music teacher Mr. Beckstead agrees with the “itchy” factor, and thus is “quite reluctant” to grow a moustache. 

Others simply miss their alter ego sans hair. Economics teacher Mr. Green admits that feedback on his moustache so far has not been positive, ranging from “it’s interesting” to Mrs. Farr’s reminder that “some men should never grow moustaches.” Mr. Green himself compares his new appearance –albeit reluctantly – to that of a “used-car salesman.” Mr. Maddock also jokes that he feels and looks “much older” with a moustache. Fortunately for them, their suffering has not gone unnoticed. Mr. Beckstead comments that he “respects people who have the fortitude to grow facial hair, even when it looks ridiculous.”

While some male teachers express hesitance in growing facial hair, others dread the day it must all come off.  According to Spanish teacher Mr. Lopez, “the feelings that men have for their moustaches or beards can be compared to that of women for their hair.” This emotional attachment is what led Mr. Lopez to keep his moustache and goatee for at least fifteen years, until he recently shaved them off to campaign against the “scary war known as cancer.” Similarly, PE teacher Mr. White finds the process of growing a moustache to be “enjoyable and very easy.” In fact, he finds shaving more difficult, and notes that “[Movember] is fun, since [the participating male teachers all] look different, and [they] can tease each other a bit.”

Some teachers are also willing to participate because Movember has become annual tradition in their lives. Mr. King had participated in Movember in Australia, and continues to do so at ISB. With years of dedication to the moustache-brewing campaign, Mr. King is confident that he “would probably continue to participate in the future.”

Female teachers may hold surprising views toward Movember. History teacher Ms. Pratt thinks that “it’s very ironic that [in celebration of] men’s health month we have all the men in the school grow unhealthy looking facial hair,” but nevertheless thinks “it’s great that it leads everyone to talk about the importance of men’s health.” On whether there should be a Movember spin-off for women, Ms. Pratt says that “ribbons for AIDS awareness, or armbands” are good ideas to start with.

For all you young men and women out there smirk not — growing a moustache is not always an easy task. ISB’s Movember participants deserve a round of applause for their dedication toward spreading cancer awareness. You may poke fun at Mr. Green’s slightly felonious demeanor, or Mr. Maddock’s awkwardly aged appearance, but as long as you are talking about the men’s health movement, then Movember has achieved its purpose. Though November has come to an end, the campaign for health awareness is far from over. As teachers shed their hairy get-ups, remember that the fight against cancer continues—with or without hair.

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FCD Visits ISB

BY: Angela Chen, Hazel Chew, & Jane Park, Staff Reporters

How was your experience with Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD) this year? FCD is an organization that helps educate students from all around the world about alcohol and drug use, and sends a couple of speakers to ISB each year. Some students and teachers find the event interesting and helpful, but others view it as too time-consuming and not especially effective.

To begin with, what is the purpose of FCD? As an FCD instructor says, “[FCD aims to educate] kids about alcohol and drugs and the consequences of abusing them. FCD hopes that someday when someone offers these kids drugs and when they are wondering whether or not to accept it, these children know what the consequences can be, and understand that their future can change by their choice of drug abuse.”

In addition, FCD focuses on other ways of dealing with stress besides drug use. For example, freshmen and juniors participated in a meditation exercise, during which the students were told to clear their mind of any thoughts and worries, and instead just focus on their breathing. ISB guidance counselor Cara Tebo also says that FCD’s aim to “celebrate kids who make healthful choices” is equally important. Sure enough, praising students for making the right choice encourages them to continue their practice. Even though FCD seeks to educate students about drugs, it does not only help students gain knowledge about drugs, but also how to deal with various troubles related to drug abuse.

Student involvement in FCD also differs among grade levels. Grades nine and eleven have four 45-minute sessions throughout the week, whereas grades ten and twelve only have one 40-minute assembly. ISB has adopted this system for quite a while, although there are no definite reasons. However, Charlotte, a lecturer from FCD, says, “[FCD speakers] think that it is more important to stress the danger of chemical dependency for ninth graders, since many ninth graders tend to receive a lot of stress when transitioning into high school, and stress can be a factor leading to the usage of chemicals at a young age.” Some believe that only an assembly is arranged for twelfth graders, so as to not occupy too much of their valuable class time and lead to a buildup of schoolwork and college applications. Seniors have to spend much of their time preparing for college and their future.

During one of the FCD classes, the ninth and eleventh graders were given time to share personal causes of stress with the FCD instructor and their classmates, so they could find an alternative way to decrease or release stress rather than depending on chemicals or taking part in other harmful activities.  

Student reactions to FCD are varied. Some find it helpful, while others do not. Is FCD actually meeting the expectations of ISB? Are students wasting their school time, or can they actually reap the benefits of participating? Ms. Tebo states that since student evaluation of experience with FCD is mostly positive, the school feels that expectations have been met and that FCD has achieved its goal. Nonetheless, Maggie Shang (9) says, “It depends on the student’s attitude. Some may just take is as a joke, whereas others may try to act on what the FCD instructors say and truly improve their lives. ” 

FCD encourages students to make healthy choices for themselves and stay away from drugs. Even though the reason as to why some grade levels are prioritized is unclear, as a whole, FCD appears to be successful in encouraging ISB students to lead healthy lives and recognize the dangers of substance abuse. Although some students may view it as trivial, advice from the FCD instructors may very well alter your life in the future—so don’t just take it with a grain of salt.

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Table Tennis Becomes Varsity Sport

BY: Brian Zhan, Staff Reporter

Table Tennis is officially going to become varsity this year as a Season 2 sport, and it has been a long time coming. Three years ago, Table Tennis began at ISB as a club sport. Until recently, players traveled as a Junior Varsity team, only recruiting members by word of mouth rather than through announcements. Although it is small in terms of members, since it was founded, the Table Tennis team has stood out because of its many outstanding achievements.  The team has repeatedly won all tournaments it has participated in, including China Cup, ISAC, and ACAMIS. Its members are also regularly ranked in both first and second place in singles and doubles events in these tournaments.

Due to these various accomplishments, the Table Tennis team has naturally been invited to become a varsity sport many times over. However, the team has repeatedly refused.  In past years, the Table Tennis team did not wish to become a varsity sport because its members wished to leave practices early; on average, only four of the sixteen members on the team were present throughout entire practices. This year, however, the team decided to accept the invitation to become a varsity sport for Season Two. 

The change is due to the members’ increased dedication to the sport, with many attending full practices consistently.  Max Lai (12), this year’s team captain, hopes to take “full advantage of this newfound commitment with Table Tennis as a Varsity sport, to keep up the hardworking spirit.”  Additionally, it will also help with gaining official recognition among the rest of the sports teams around ISB.   This is probably a major reason why around ten new members have joined.  Additionally, others, such as Eddy Lin (10), joined simply because he “enjoys playing Table Tennis.”

Becoming a varsity sport will also have some drawbacks, though.  The team will have to meet the requirement of having six members on both the boys’ team and girls’ team to achieve and maintain its varsity status, and its members will have to attend practices on a consistent basis. This change may prevent  some from joining the team this year because the time spent on playing Table Tennis limits time to complete academic work—this may be the reason why several of last year’s seniors did not rejoin the team.

Despite the new challenges that the Table Tennis team will face due to becoming a varsity sport, it is bound to be worth it. In the past, the team has performed exceptionally in tournaments and will more likely than not continue their legacy of domination.

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Gaddafi: Libya's Loose End

BY: ERIK WOLLTER, Staff Reporter

Even if you have been living in a cave isolated from all media, or playing too much League of Legends, or simply have studied too intensely to get the highest possible GPA, you have perhaps heard that Gaddafi, the dictator of Libya has deceased at the hands of rebels. Known as the “Mad Dog” of the Middle East, Gaddafi’s departure is captured in a choppy, chaotic video, depicting a group of rebels as they tracked down and killed their ex-leader. In the wake of Gaddafi’s death, U.S. President Barack Obama announced in his deliberation to the press, “Libyans, you have won your revolution.”

Gaddafi rose to power after a coup in 1969.1 From the very beginning, he mismanaged Libya and her most copious asset—oil. While the wealth in Libya grew during Gaddafi’s incumbency, the wealth of his own tribe grew at the fastest pace. Not only did he repress the people of Libya during his forty-two year reign, but he also actively sponsored terrorism, being responsible for the bombing of the “La Belle” in Berlin — a nightclub in Germany popular amongst American servicemen stationed in the country — the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, a flight headed to New York, from Scotland.2 Gaddafi acquired chemical weapons such as mustard gas and sought to develop weapons of mass destruction.3 Since the spread of the “Arab Spring” to Libya, he had been holding onto power and had subsequently received a great deal of notoriety in recent years after resorting to objectionable methods of dealing with anti-government protesters, especially those methods including lead and shell-holes. Despite the inhuman atrocities he committed, he did improve the quality of life of many Libyans during his years of tyranny, especially those of his own tribe.

While many believe that the world is a better place with Gaddafi gone, there nevertheless remains a small controversy over the matter reeking in the background: his bitter end came at the hands of one man, rather than at the hands of the Libyan people. 

In the preamble of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, it reads, “Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world.”4 Should there be any exception to a person’s “inalienable” right to fair trial, “Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.”4 Is this the case even if the person is an unpopular dictator? Is it becoming a norm that “personas non grata” (unwanted people)—are put to justice at the hands of a few, with the judicial system spectating on the sidelines? Osama Bin Laden was killed in a similar fashion, the difference being that Bin Laden was the leader of a terrorist organization, whereas Gaddafi was a political leader of Libya. From years of mismanagement and repression, tension grew in Libya. Does his death quench the thirst of revenge, act as an outlet for this frustration, or give any closure to the People of Libya? 

It is within the sovereignty of the people of Libya to decide the punishment of their ex-dictator. Was the “Judge, Jury, and Executioner” behavior solely and entirely the act of a warrior, who pulled the trigger in rage amid the chaos that emerged when Gaddafi was found? If that question is not answered with a clear, unequivocal “yes,” one cannot say that the killing was pure coincidence. What has been done to restrain people from preemptively executing their autocrat and hold people responsible for their breeches in human rights until proper judicial institutions are eventually established? 

If Libya is to pursue a democratic, stable, and harmonious path, it would have helped to follow the fundamental democratic ideals in the spirit of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. This meant putting their former tyrant to justice by a court representing the “People of Libya.” It is understandable that frustration and anger accumulated under decades of tyranny may lead to violent acts and calls  for quick justice. But even for those to whom democracy matters less, those seeking redemption and catharsis still cannot be fully satisfied by his clean death. A cynic would say that it feels like a bland main-course served cold after a rather delicious appetizer. 

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Top 5 Books You Should Be Reading RIGHT NOW if You Haven't Already

BY: JJ Wong, Staff Reporter

Disclaimer: I'm not a blurb guy. If you really want to find out more about these books, at least check out their blurbs and read a page or two. I’m just here to whet your appetite. I’ve read all of the books back to front (except one, take a guess), and they all deserve a big SEAL OF APPROVAL from yours truly.

  1. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

A real gem of a novel. I’ll admit, sci-fi isn’t really my thing under normal circumstances, but this book completely trumps all those preconceived notions of how sci-fi is nothing but a bucket of intergalactic jargon, messy aliens, and imaginative (at times, trippy) cowdoodoo. The story is centered around Ender Wiggin, a bona fide uber-genius-kid who is tasked with saving mankind from near certain annihilation at the hands of an alien race known as the ‘Buggers’ (they sound a lot cuter than they really are, trust me). 

Best reason to read it? Character development, ridiculously intense plot, and total immersion in the ‘world’ of the book. Are you a Harry Potter junkie? This is better.

Especially recommended for… People who loathe reading and play too many video games. And anybody who likes a romping good read.

2. Looking for Alaska by John Green

The kind of book you wish you had found sooner and once you’ve read it you dream of un-reading it so you can just read it again. In a nutshell, it’s a story about an inexperienced sixteen-year old named Miles Halter and his shenanigans at a boarding school seeking a “Great Perhaps.” Then, there’s Alaska. Beautiful, impossibly curvy (not my words) Alaska. The book is crisp, fun as hell to read, and uncompromisingly sexy. So sexy, you really shouldn’t be reading it. 

Best reason to read it? The dialogue is better than 90% of your favorite TV shows and the characters are really realistically depicted. Do you like boys? Do you like girls? Ever felt invincible? This book is for you. 

Best reason to read it? It is a book that has so much flavor that needs time to be savored. SAVOR the book. Like those magical nights that end years earlier than you want them to, you’ll be done with this book (because it’s actually that good) in no time, so enjoy it while you can!

3. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Haha, just kidding. You’re probably (stuck) reading it right now or have already read it. Good days!

3. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

The novel is narrated by a nine-year old boy named Oscar Schell who goes around New York seeking information about a key that was left behind by his father, a victim of 9/11 two years ago. The book doesn’t seem like much at first glance, but it belongs to the elite class of ‘life-changing’ stories. In case you haven’t fully understood, let me spell it out for you: it will change your life. No words can do it justice, so I won’t really try. But envision receiving the best hug ever from all of the people whom you love at the SAME TIME (minus the awkwardness of a really loving group hug) and then multiply that by the biggest number you can think of, and you’re almost at how awesome you’ll feel about this book after you’ve read it. 

Best reason to read it? Expose yourself to its genius narration and fresh writing technique (it’s unlike anything you’ve ever read), intricate plots and inter-woven storylines, full of laugh-out-loud moments (and a fair share of ‘awww’ moments too), and you’ll feel like you were destined to read this book. Which you are. 

Word of caution. Don’t you dare try reading another ‘amazing’ book after you read this one, because the awesomeness of this book will likely greatly diminish the experience of the next one (instead, play it safe and read your book for English class next instead). 

4. The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Alright, I cheated. This is really like (well no, it literally is) five-books-in-one. If anything, at least read the first book (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy). The movie isn’t that great, so don’t base your assumptions on it. I can’t explain the book’s contents because the book itself doesn’t quite make much sense, but Earth’s about to be demolished to make way for a new intergalactic highway...etc. Imagine getting steamrolled (in a good way) by an over 9000-ton crazy train of hilarity and genius. It’s kind of like that. Don’t panic.   

Best reason to read it? One of the smartest books ever. Also the funniest thing this side of the moon that you’ll ever read in your life. ‘Nuff said.

Quotes from the book(s) to give you a taste of its ingenuity

“This planet has — or rather had — a problem, which was this: most of the people living on it were unhappy for pretty much all of the time.” 

“A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.”

5. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera 

“A young woman falls in love with a man torn between his love for her and his incorrigible womanizing…” 

Arguably not for everybody, this book requires the right ‘mood’ to get going. The beginning reads off as a tad slow but I assure you, once you’ve caught on to Kundera’s unique flair and language mastery, the book will grab at you and parting with it will seem a sin. It is elegant, beautiful, thoughtful, provocative, and unique. 

Best reason to read it? Fans of Murakami will enjoy it. Kundera is like Murakami in his insights but Kundera’s ideas are expressed in less abstract fashions. People who enjoy romance, love, thought, philosophy, life’s mysteries…etc. read it now!

Possible side effects: Bowler hats may or may not seem inexplicably appealing, desires to visit Prague may surface subconsciously, sudden interest in classical music. Es Muss Sein!

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Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better: The Perception of Women and Humor

BY: Maura Dentino, Section Editor

I think at one point or another we have all seen this scene unfold – a strapping young lad makes a witty quip that rouses hearty laughter from all those around him, yet, when a little lass comes along with her bon mot, it fails to stir up any amusement in her peers at all, leaving her to fester in the awkward silence she herself created. These kinds of situations bring up a question: Why are males perceived to be funnier than females?

Scientists have tried to validate the idea. As revealed in a study published by Gil Greengross and Geoffrey Miller1 in 2011, four hundred students at the University of New Mexico participated in an experiment were they were asked to write as many captions as they could for captionless cartoons within a span of ten minutes. A panel of judges then rated the cartoons on a scale of one to seven, with seven indicating that the cartoon was extremely funny. On the whole, the captions produced by male participants were rated as funnier than those written by females. However, we must consider the subjectivity of humor – who is to say what is funny and who is not? I doubt the pitiful panel made up of only two women and four men (bias, anyone?) used in the experiment would truly be proper judges of hilarity. 

Still, we cannot deny the distinct gap between guys and gals in terms of funniness. It could relate back to attraction: for many ladies, humor is an extremely important factor when considering potential significant others. A boy could have all odds against him – perhaps he is ugly, dumb, smelly, or a combination of all three – but he could still have a fighting chance to get to the girl so long as he can make her chortle.  The same does not apply to females, though: a pretty face and a slim figure would seemingly more than make up for a lack of wit. It is because we are not expected to be funny that there seems to be fewer witticisms among the fairer sex. 

Funny women could perhaps even be seen as a threat because of this, and therefore be perceived as less humorous. It is the man’s job to kill them with laughter and win all the ladies. Why would a woman try to step on his turf like that? Why you gotta front, girl? 

Furthermore, observations from any schoolyard show that guys are more willing to laugh at other fellow’s one-liners, no matter how lame. Bros find other bros inherently hilarious. This is not the case with females. In fact, we tend to do the exact opposite. We are much more critical when it comes to jokes. In a report published by the Stanford University School of Medicine in 2005, researchers found that “women are quicker at identifying material that they considered unfunny.”

There is not a complete lack of funny females, though. When you look at the big names of comedy today, ladies are pretty dominant – Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Kristen Wiig. The list goes on. They serve as beautiful, sparkling rays of hope for the many women of the world.  They send the message that we have the capacity to be just as funny as men, if not funnier. Take that, absurd gender stereotypes!

Sources:

Greengross, Gil. Miller, Geoffrey. (2011). Humor ability reveals intelligence, predicts mating success, and is higher in males. Intelligence. (39). 188-192. 

Hitchens, Christopher. "Why Women Aren't Funny." Vanity Fair, Jan. 2007. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. <http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/01/hitchens200701>.

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Is It Possible to Create a Blog?

BY: Brian Zhan, Staff Reporter

Has creating a blog ever crossed your mind? When students saw a school announcement on Dragon’s Gate publicizing a blogging workshop, many students, such as Justin Zeng (10), dismissed the opportunity because they thought that blogs were “far too complicated” to create.  This notion, however, is far from the truth.  During the blog workshop held earlier this year, Eric Bueschelen, the son of middle school teacher Mr. Bueschelen and a former ISB graduate, showed how some websites make blogging an easy and fun experience.

To many students, creating a blog seems far too challenging. After all, at first, it seems very hard to replicate the success and readership boasted by some of the blogs found on the internet.  Also, since blogs are blocked regularly in China, chances are high that bloggers could suddenly lose access blogs they have worked on for years. Mr. Bueschelen, however, has a very different viewpoint. Once you examine the process of creating a blog, it is relatively simple and fun to write.  Therefore, if you feel very strongly about an issue such as Baixingzhuang being taken down, you will be given the opportunity to write about it.

It is true that some customized blogs are quite complex. They require advanced knowledge, such as that of computer programming, as well as the use of paid software such as Dreamhost and Hawkhost.  While these blogs can be customized more, students will not find creating their own blog website worth the trouble because it will cost money and will require too much sophistication for the person with an average level of technological-competency to create.

On the other hand, there are also other websites that make it easy and fun to create blogs, such as WordPress, Live Journal, Type Pad, Blogger, and Sina. In comparison to the customized blogs, these websites provide themes that make it much easier to design a blog. Among this list, Mr. Bueschelen recommended Word Press because has many innovative plug-ins. Such plug-ins include the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) function, which boosts the rankings of blogs in Google searches, and Hit Sniffer, which tracks down viewers who visit your blog. 

Sina is another blogging website to consider because it is a China-based website and will not be blocked by the Great Firewall of China. Even if you have a VPN at home and are able to access your blog despite it being blocked in China, most people who live in China will not be able to access blocked websites and hence will be unable to view your work.

The most important part to a blog, of course, is its content. Mr. Bueschelen finds it effective to post at least once per week and create excerpts to his blog as opposed to direct full posts, because excerpts will allow readers a preview before they read an entire page of items. It is also beneficial to include pictures with posts, because, as the adage goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words” and the images will greatly enhance the appearance of your blog. 

Students are too often scared away from creating a blog because the word “blog” invokes the myth of an impossible-to-achieve task. However, this is not the truth—creating a blog can be a very interesting and simple experience as long as you use the correct websites!

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Inside the Head of the Head of School

BY: Daniel Tang and Oscar Shaw, Staff Reporters

We can all agree that being a teacher is a tough job. After all, teachers have to know almost everything about their area of specialty and help students achieve their individual goals and potential. The responsibilities they have to ensure a solid education are endless. 

Take this duty a notch higher. The job of managing a whole school, on the other hand, is equally difficult, if not more. No only do students depend on such a person, but teachers, staff, and whole communities rely on that head of school to create the best learning environment possible. 

Now, what would happen if you combined the responsibilities of the two? Only Dr. Razik himself, the Head of ISB and an Asian Studies teacher, can shed light on this phenomenon.

At the start of school back in August, Dr. Razik became the co-teacher of a ninth grade Asian Studies class. He has since helped Ms. Tantraporn teach the class, all while assuming his duties of, well, running the school.

When asked about what first gave him the idea of taking on an extra job, Dr. Razik replied, “I really enjoy the interactions with students. [They] keep me grounded and connected to the reasons I went into education many years ago.”

It’s certainly not easy to handle the responsibilities of the two jobs. Neither, believe some, is it easy for the students in his classes. Terence Ho (9), one of Dr. Razik’s students, says that Dr. Razik can keep on top of his work by with the help of “technology, [his secretary].” What do the students and other teachers think about it? Do the students feel more pressure?  Mr. Kendall, a fellow Asian Studies teacher, says Dr. Razik, like all other teachers in the department, contributes to the planning of lessons. He also added that if he were a student, he would feel as pressured with Dr. Razik as with any other teacher—no more, no less.

In reference to his time management skills, Dr. Razik says, “My assistant Mary Ann works hard at helping me keep my priorities and responsibilities on track. This is a very difficult thing to do and I hope that I am not putting anyone—students in class or the school—at a disadvantage.” Although he acknowledges that such a balancing act is difficult, Dr. Razik says he has found a way to make it work “by [managing his] time effectively.” 

Daunting tasks like responsibility and planning aside, according to Dr. Razik, assuming two roles has made him a better Head of School and teacher: “It is my hope that the benefits work both ways. Teaching will help me be a better head of school because I will have first-hand relevant knowledge of how teachers experience teaching at ISB and I can better relate to how students experience ISB.” He adds, “Hopefully my teaching will also improve, because [now] I have a better understanding of how education has changed from when I began teaching.”

In other words, Dr. Razik will have direct knowledge about the inner workings of the school curriculum on a personal level: “It is my hope that both teachers and students will benefit from my teaching and that my decisions and leadership will take into consideration the various perspectives on a deeper level.”

“I am grateful to the Social Studies department and Ms. Tantraporn for allowing me the opportunity to teach,” Dr. Razik says. “I am also appreciative of the administrative team for their understanding and support of this.”

Despite having sufficient duties at the Head of School, Dr. Razik says he could not imagine spending his limited free time in a better way than interacting with students and arming them with the skills needed to succeed in an ever-changing and competitive society. “Our time with students is precious, and that I must make the best of every class period and create as many positive learning experiences as possible.”

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Tasty's: Caters to Students' Tastes

BY: Andreina Lamas, Staff Reporter

Say you're staying after school with a couple of your friends, and suddenly you all get extremely hungry. You wander downstairs to the cafeteria, to get some iced tea and banana bread, only to find that the cafeteria is closing early! Where do you go to eat snacks? You’ve got limited options: Tasty’s, Jenny Wang's, or the pricier Jamaica Blue.  Which one would you choose? Tasty's would be the wisest choice, with its wide variety of low–priced food, an asset that both Jamaica Blue and Jenny Wang's lacks, and a very convenient location nearby the school.

Tasty's has fantastic desserts, with famous, freshly baked snicker-doodles waiting for you on the counter, offered at only one Yuan per cookie. But more than that, Tasty’s also offers a wide range of desirable, quality foods including ice cream, cinnamon rolls, and even warm pizza bagels oozing with melted cheese, unlike the dry, factory-produced snacks offered in Jenny’s.  In addition, rather than drinking the unhealthy, packaged  soft drinks sold in Jenny’s, Tasty’s has fresh, homemade drinks including bubble tea and hot chocolate. Tasty’s will not only satisfy your hunger, but it will also provide you with savory foods that will fully satisfy your cravings.

Another element that sets Tasty's apart from Jenny Wang's are the couches at the back. As Angeline Pan (9) puts it, "[Tasty’s]  has a casual environment...and there's plenty of room to hang out." Meanwhile, if you decide to go to Jenny Wang's, you have to stay standing, since there aren't any areas to sit or relax apart from the dusty steps outside. 

Tasty's is at a very convenient location—right across the road from the East Gate You can easily stroll over to Tasty’s and return to school just in time to catch the next bus. The great thing about Tasty's is that there's really no need to tire yourself as you visit for a treat.

If you're ever stuck after-school, whether it be with friends, or by yourself, you know Tasty's is definitely the place to go if you want to spend less for quality foods.

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Jenny's: the Place to Go

BY: Jacqueline Hon, Staff Reporter

When hunger strikes, there is no escape. You run to the cafeteria at high speed, only to be disappointed by the pitifully stale croissant that meets you at the so-called Café Ritazza. Desperately you search for the next closest food haven and arrive at a dilemma between going to Jenny Wang’s or Tasty’s. Jenny’s is the obvious choice.

Jenny’s is conveniently located outside the west entrance of our school. Its façade, though admittedly not as immaculate as it could be, is more attractive than the dirty white walls, and dirt ridden-doors of Tasty’s. Also right next to Jenny’s is a fenced off area just for your bicycle, if that’s the type of transportation you prefer. Jenny Wang’s is also conveniently located in one of the Yosemite clubhouses, making it a very popular place to walk or bike by on students way to school Talia Jin (9) says, “It is very convenient on the way home, and I stop by there often.”

Upon entering Jenny's, one is greeted with a smorgasbord of foreign foodstuffs from countries such as the United States of America, Australia and Korea. As Nikki Wines (10) puts it, the fact that Jenny's imports its products is "very convenient." With all these imports many foods loom before you: chips, soda, candy, ice cream and list continues. On the other hand, when you enter Tasty's and you are bombarded with garbage and flies as they zigzag around the shop, tapping their feet on donuts and cookies, to the beat of a spreading disease. At Jenny's however, food have been wrapped and 

packaged to prevent the consumption of harmful bacteria. There is no need to worry about stocking up on food from different countries, because Jenny's offers an array of imported food available for purchase at all times. With neatly stacked shelves just waiting for you, there's no need to wait, just pick up what you want and pay, unlike in Tasty's, where you have to wait for your order. So whether you’re just getting a snack with friends or on your way home from school, Jenny Wang’s is the place to go. There are many different reasons you should go to Jenny’s but at the end of the day it is you choice. Just know this if you want a convenient place, with a larger variety of food, go to Jenny’s.

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Trending in ISB: Simulation Games

BY: Rebecca Qian, Section Editor

Just when we thought the era of childhood role-playing had long passed, a new wave of simulation games has begun to sweep the high school. Yet far from being frivolous activities, these games require intensive strategic thinking. Stock Market and Assassin are two such games that have been introduced in ISB, and simulate many aspects of “real life.”

For Stock Market, the name of the game is all-revealing. Participants enter an online stock market simulation, where they compete to gain the most profit from purchasing virtual stocks that mirror real-world stock trends. 

Stock market behavior is notoriously difficult to predict, with fluctuating trends that confound newcomers and practiced economists alike. While luck is certainly a large factor in the stock market, IB Economics teacher Mr. Green, who leads the Stock Market ASA, maintains that performance is largely determined by the amount of effort put into market analysis. “It is a competition, so students have to do research on companies if they want to do well”—similar to the real stock market, in which investors must accumulate knowledge of companies before making decisions. Unfortunately, this is where some students fall short. Kevin Zhao (11) explains that he lost six thousand [simulated] dollars due to “not putting enough time for research.” Despite doing research, Brian Tsang (11) states that he’s “losing hard.” Although he made calculated investments—choosing to buy stocks from Apple due to familiarity with the company’s products—his investment turned out to be fruitless.

Now this is where the advantage of the simulation kicks in: if all else fails, at least only virtual money has been lost. The monetary worth of the stocks is the most significant distinction between the real world market and simulated market. This seemingly small difference in the worth of stocks instills in Stock Market players a sense of security and a willingness to take risks that the real world markets may not necessarily provide. 

The other real-life simulation game, Assassin, allows players take on a slightly different role. Participants are given “targets” to “assassinate,” with no knowledge of other players’ targets. “Assassinations,” which can only occur when two players are at least three meters away from others, result in the transfer of the “victim’s” target to the successful assassin. Since “assassinated” players are then eliminated from the game, the objective is to become the last assassin standing.

In many respects Assassin imitates organized crime. The convoluted web of systematized crime crosses over into the game, since players are aware of game participants yet are unable to identify their “enemies.” The guesswork does reflect the uncertainty in mob life: with gangs constantly battling it out for the spotlight, the fates of individuals are truly unpredictable.

Hawkens Bory-Baar (11) says the unpredictability of the game is “suspenseful and surprising,” and that “there’s nothing worse than the feeling of betrayal when your friend kills you out of nowhere.” Indeed, much of the game is dictated by chance. It forces participants to be more aware of their surroundings.

“You quickly learn never to walk alone with someone playing the game,” says Bory-Baar, “and to try and be as sneaky as possible.” While this tactic appears straightforward enough, it is significant in that it redefines the participants’ day-to-day experience in school and sharpens students’ observance skills. 

Once again, the protective shell of the simulation is what ultimately provides pure entertainment without fatal consequences. Assassin mimics mafia plotting in the real world without putting individual lives on the line. Competition then becomes the sole motivator for game participants, since only one “assassin” can win. 

So how does a crime-plotting scheme relate to a money-making competition? Despite having different rules, both stock market and murder mystery simulations have a certain degree of risk, unpredictability, and competition, injecting students with a rare thrill of adrenaline amid the humdrum of daily life. The best part of these games, though, lies in the sense of security, since the actual ramifications of failed investments and murders are a world away. Perhaps the greatest lesson that can be derived from playing these games is the power of chance. Being prudent will minimize our losses, but when we are competing for a single title, individual success rests largely on luck—and how far one is willing to go in order to triumph.

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Face-Off: The Diverse World of Band

BY: Jay Mok, Staff Reporter

When deciding on which musical instrument to play in high school, students usually consider the two major sets of instruments: those belonging to either the strings or the winds. So will it be the ancient and civil group of strings or the modern group of wind instruments? Here are the reasons why band trumps orchestra.

Band is special because of the vast variety of instruments available for students to play. One of the most enjoyable aspects of band is how students play as a unified group. Nearly four years of personal experience has taught me, a band veteran, that every instrument has its unique purpose. Fellow band member Vanessa Meng (9) agrees that it is a great opportunity “to hear the different parts that actually make up a piece [of music].” She also finds it “interesting how [the instrument variety] makes everything sound very nice.” Every instrument in band, ranging from the timpani to the triangle, plays a focused role in every piece of music. Another band student, Jarrett Shirouzu (9), who plays the saxophone, has chosen to do so in order to adhere to the long-held saxophone-playing tradition in his family (which boasts a remarkable total of fourteen saxophonists). Even if playing a band instrument isn’t in your bloodline, you needn’t be discouraged, as there are plenty of other merits to playing in the band.

Band member Daniel Zhu (9) "enjoys band because of all the different types of music played, [ranging from] marching band music [to] classical music [to] chorales." If you don’t have a particular liking for any type of music played, band class offers one the opportunity to create his/her type of music, as there are multiple composition sessions throughout the year to quench the thirst of every composer-in-the-making.

Technically, it is fairly easy to pick up a band instrument and play straight away. Unlike the string instruments in orchestra, band instruments especially woodwinds rely on placing your fingers at certain button combinations to make a certain note to sound. In addition, if you learnt the recorder before, the recorder has the exact fingering as the saxophone or clarinet! What a relief! In comparison, string instruments require players to place their fingers at certain spots on the strings and sometimes, it is a somewhat arduous task to even transition between each note! That’s why it is never too late to learn a band instrument due to the simplicity of beginning to play.

The band experience doesn’t stop at High School Concert Band. Jazz Band is a division of band that revolves solely around jazz music. The modern style of jazz offers even further diversity to the pre-existing melting pot of band instruments. Other groups one can audition for include APAC and AMIS, which give students the chance to perform with other schools in Asia.

Ultimately, students choose band for its instrument diversity, abundant genres from which pieces are chosen, easy learnability, personal enjoyment and the camaraderie of playing in a large group. Many people prefer band for this reason, and if these aspects sound attractive to you as well, choose band!

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Quantity Over Quality: Finding the Perfect Balance

BY: Andriena Lamas, Staff Reporter

Life is full of new experiences, whether making new friends, going to new schools, or even moving to new countries. One of the most impressive new experiences throughout our young adult lives is the transition from the “top of the middle school food chain” to becoming “fresh meat” in high school, as Coach Arnott dubbed her ninth grade class. As Elisha Beebe (9) puts it, “reality caught up with us.” The liberty, responsibilities, and new classes are only a few of the differences between middle school and high school, but what really throws us off balance?

With activities ranging from theater to sports, it’s incredibly easy for freshmen to get involved in too much, too fast. For some, activities might be merely viewed as a means of getting into Ivy League universities, with many students believing that more involvement in activities equates to higher chances of acceptance into top colleges. STUCO Freshman President candidate Yash Jain (9) deals with activities by “going all out, fitting in whatever I can in my schedule.” He explains his motivation as “want[ing] to be an active and participating student.” Undoubtedly, this is the correct spirit for dealing with activities as students should not just seek to boost his/her portfolio, but also to contribute to the ISB community. However this spirit of trying to tackle a large variety of activities could, on occasion, prove to be a very fatal mistake.

Colleges look for quality over quantity, how well you do at some activities rather than how many you can do. According to collegeprepu.com1, “being a member of a club or sports team is a great choice. But do your best to take it a step further.” Some people find that their strengths lie in the performing arts while others find themselves itching to do sports. Nobody is good at everything, so enrolling in many different activities, some in which you excel and some in which you do not, may have an adverse effect.

However, getting yourself involved in too many activities is just as harmful to you as not getting involved at all. If you decide to participate in every single club or team in the school all at once, you’ll find less time to spend on your homework, your friends, or even yourself. More often than not, it will drop your grades by greatly decreasing the time you have to focus on academics rather than the extracurricular activities, thereby decreasing your chances of getting into a good university.  

On the other hand, focusing too much on your academic and personal life rather than getting involved in a few different activities could also harm your college application. Aside from the fact that it will better your chances of getting into a good college, getting involved could give you opportunities of meeting new people and of taking up a new hobby, at the very least. As Chris Meilchen (9) says, “Dealing with after-school activities…it’s kind of like a break from school. After-school activities are fun and help you communicate with others, and it looks great on your record.” There is absolutely no harm in trying.

As Jim Rohn, an American business philosopher once said, “Don’t start your day until you have it finished on paper first.” 2 Try to maintain a balance between academic, extracurricular, and personal time, which can be done through careful organization, and you should glide through high school.

1"What Do Colleges Look For In An Applicant? | Top 4 Factors That Impress! | CollegePrepU.com." Preparing for College Admissions | CollegePrepU.com. CollegePrepU, 13 Apr. 2011. Web. 01 Oct. 2011. <http://collegeprepu.com/what-do-colleges-look-for-in-an-applicant/>. 

2"Motivational Quotes | Inspiring Quotes | Inspirational Quotes." Real Estate Marketing | Marketing Strategies | Marketing Mix. Web. 01 Oct. 2011. <http://www.marketing-tools-for-real-estate.com/Motivational-Quotes.html>.