Voices Magazine 6 by Concordian International School

Dear Concordian Community, Welcome to the 6th edition, 2023 of VOICES magazine.

VOICES promotes our creative community of Concordian International School by encouraging artistic creations and providing a venue to share our efforts and accomplishments.

The theme for Voices 2023 is Chaos and Calm, inspired by a Bangkok Art & Culture Centre exhibition.

This academic year has been less chaotic than the previous pandemic years, something we can be thankful for. With the returned relative calm, we have hopefully been able to live more fully, be social again and achieve more. We have all learned valuable lessons in both our academic and personal lives, this is a testament to our growth and we can reflect with new appreciation for our present.

Voices is the compilation of the efforts of many; special thanks go to Ms. Baertschy, Mr. Fiander, VOICES members, Mr. Bill, Ms. Prinz, and everyone brave enough to share their artistic endeavors.

VOICES extended its publicity with creative interactive activities such as the Just One Line contest, an avenue showcasing opening liners selected by popular votes. Although we were on a tight schedule during the last weeks of the publishing process, the team pulled through with responsibility and tenacity.

VOICES welcomes new members to the team every year, we look forward to welcoming more students next year.

Please enjoy the variety of interpretations from the many pieces featured.

The VOICES Team

Tiles Burger, G9

Like the waves of big blue, Though it is colored like that of undergarments, Of centurions returning from battle. Once they had a maniacal banishment, To be far from human touch.

Huddled together, slanted up, Conjoined as if that same centurions’ testudo.

The heavens often are sleepy, And the neighbors resigned to indifference. Passersby may posit their remarkable stillness, And dullness to the senses.

But wait, for when the wind blows, A light breeze upon their small patch of earth; And when the palms dance their flamenco to its beat, And when the jubilant sun shines his boastful golden hour light

And frolics through the marching army, As if they were Wordsworths’ daffodils.

Sea after the Storm, Phoom, G8

The Light from the AC

Imboon, G8

Some nights, the only color in the world is the light from the AC. Unmoving, steady green, a reassurance that I’m still me. Lately I haven’t been so sure about that, my sense of self suspended in space, disconnected from my marionette self. I am the hand that moves the strings but I do not feel.

The AC light shines on.

Sometimes I fear something will sever my puppeteer strings from my limbs. That I’ll collapse, the marionette falling from my grasp, lifeless limbs and hair splayed out on the cold, unforgiving stage. How to go on? How can the show continue, when I’ve lost my puppet? I imagine a porcelain face, which shatters in my mind’s eye. Is that what will happen once my strings are cut?

The AC light shines on.

Yes, that’s how it’ll end. The marionette crumples under her own weight, jointed limbs clattering on the ground, the doll’s face still. Unmoving, still smiling as she shatters into pieces. And who will pick them up? Who will sweep up the powder, who will iron the dress? Who will fit the jointed limbs together, who will repaint her face? Will anyone care enough to fix her? If not to restore her, then to remember? Who loves her enough to be there, unmoving, a steady flame, a reassurance that she has someone?

The AC light blinks out.

Traditional Animation Zeotrope, Jerry, G10

Mask Nina, G6

Humans of Concordian Project

Step into the world of Concordian through the lens of our G8 English LanguageAcquisition students with “Humans of Concordian.” Inspired by the style of Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this special feature in Voices Magazine showcases the diverse stories of Concordian staff members, all connected to the theme of Chaos and Calm. From tales of personal challenges to moments of triumph, the students captured the raw and authentic narratives of individuals in our community through video-recorded Big Talk interviews. Discover the human experiences that shape our school, from heartwarming anecdotes of resilience to thought-provoking insights on finding balance in the chaos of life. Join us in celebrating the power of stories and the voices that make up our Concordian community. Happy reading! Stay connected, stay engaged, and stay inspired with “Humans of Concordian”!

Ms. May

Interviewer: Rene

“If I could go back to any point in my life, I would choose to go back 5 years ago right before my first cat died. My cat’s name was ‘Noey’ which translates to butter in Thai. She was a white cat with black spots, just like a cow, and she also had beautiful green eyes. Noey was adopted from the streets, and she quickly turned from a normal soi cat to a friend. We eventually got close since she’s an indoor cat and she would stay near me. I chose this point in life because she’s my first cat, and back then, I didn’t know how to properly care for a cat. Whenever she tried to play with me and I happened to be busy, I would ignore her and simply tell her to go away. Sometimes when she put her head on my hand, I would ignore her as well. This made me realize that I could’ve at least petted her when she wanted attention, I could’ve at least hugged her and given her my love. I would do whatever it takes to go back to the moment when she would want to play or cuddle and I would do so. Another moment that I’d like to relive is before she passed away. I noticed that her abdomen was a little bit swollen, but I didn’t do anything about it. If I’d taken action and taken her to the veterinarian, maybe she would have felt better and all her pain might have been reduced. Her condition was terminal, therefore, there are no treatments that could possibly cure her disease. At that current state, she wasn’t able to fight her disease any longer. I came to a realization later on that maybe I could’ve given her a better ‘last moment’. I would’ve kept her at my house rather than leaving her at the vet overnight. I would have also tried my best in clearing my schedule to spend quality time with her. I would have stayed beside her on my bed beside the window where she loved to watch the birds. If you have a cat, you’ll know that they will always be there by your side no matter what. Cats will try their very best to comfort you and you’ll definitely feel a connection of unconditional love, they will love you no matter what or who you are. If Noey was still with me, I’m sure that she would provide me with endless love, joy, comfort, and support. If I have a chance to talk to her again, I would apologize to her for my actions. I would also remind her that I will always love her no matter what, that I wish I treated her better, and I’d do anything to see her again.”

Ms. Rong

Interviewer: Nina “

Even though I felt a bit unsure at first and not knowing what would happen in the future, it was kind of like an adventure. When I first arrived in Thailand, I always had thoughts like “When I come, will I be able to find a job?”, “How long will it take me to find a job?”, or “What will my life be like here?”. These were all uncertain. So, when I came, it was like gambling, not knowing what’s going to happen in the future, like a 50/50 percent chance. There were many things that I struggled with at first. I went through many struggles with the language barrier. Since I didn’t know how to speak Thai, I struggled to communicate. Now that I think about it, I should have done a lot of homework before coming to Thailand. I should have taught myself how to understand Thai students’ characteristics. I should have also taught myself to not try too quickly to adapt into the environment and that I should take it slow. But, even when I went through a lot of challenges and struggles, I had no regrets, none at all. Moving to Thailand is the best decision that I’ve ever made.”

Coach Nui

Interviewer: Nina

“I love playing the sport, I love how soft the grass is and seeing the others improve alongside me. I have been playing football ever since I was a child. I remember practicing every day with my teammates, seeing ourselves improve over time and honing our skills. I eventually got so good at football that I got a scholarship for sixth grade all the way to a master’s degree. I was eventually invited to be a part of a professional football team called “Thai Port FC”. I still remember playing in my first ever league championship with my team. It was very different from a regular tournament because instead of the winner moving on and facing the other winners until the finals, we had to face 20-30 other different teams that faced each other every week. The championship continued on for 2 seasons, and at this time I also started to take up coaching young kids. Helping them to improve, just like how my coach taught me all those years ago. I like helping kids learn to perform drills and seeing them improve over time. I love teaching football to kids and eventually with this passion I landed a job as a PE teacher at Concordian International School. I really enjoy my job as a teacher for the school. I love playing football, I love the skill and teamwork of the game and how soft the grass is against the sole of my shoes because football will always be my favorite sport.”

Mr. Daniel

Interviewer: IngIng

“You can reach for something, but it’s good to have a plan. That was the number one thing I learned. As we get older, there are a lot of challenges in life but one of the biggest challenges for me happened when I was in my final year of university. It was a very busy time as I was working a couple of jobs and was a full time student. At that time, I was preparing for my GRE, which is the Graduate Record Exam similar to the SAT. Despite the fact that I was working extremely hard and got very high grades, I froze up during the exam. I felt like my brain shut down, and ended up not performing well. Nevertheless, I still wanted to join a very prestigious graduate school. Although my professor suggested that I try several

schools, one that is easy to get into, one that is harder to get into, and one that would really want me and would give me a full scholarship. I decided to focus on only 2 schools I wanted to get into. Unfortunately, neither of the schools accepted me and then I had no plan at all. At that point, I decided to move back to Ohio, where I came from, to find a job. My aunt who lived there was working with a private psychologist. Therefore, she suggested that I have an interview with that psychologist. It was a lifechanging moment. The psychologist advised me to join a school in Ohio since she also graduated from there

and was currently running this private practice. Right after that, I made an appointment with the school. They accepted me straight away and offered me a teaching assistant job. However, all the scholarships were gone, so I had to take out student loans. It was a completely new experience as I tried to learn different learning methods. It was an extremely stressful time as I worked for 35 hours and learned for 15 hours worth of classes weekly. I didn’t have a lot of support or much money as the teaching assistant job also didn’t pay much. Managing time was difficult for me as I had so many responsibilities. I had no time to rest at all, and that was when I began

running. I ran everyday to reduce stress and clear my mind and I still do. Listening to music while running also calms me down. Recalling those days, I learned many essential things. For instance, managing stress. Although I don’t really regret anything, if I could go back in time, I would study harder for the GRE. The one mistake I made was not listening to my professor’s advice, so the advice I would give for students here would be to look at all their options when they apply for universities. Always remember, life is like a long road where you meet lots of difficulties so never give up and one day you will be successful in your life.”

Melissa Interviewer: Tae

I have found my passion. Back in high school when I was about to graduate, I took the National Interest Examination that determines what I am good at. I got science and math as my highest score and they gave me the advice to become a medical doctor or an engineer. I became a construction engineer back in my country until my friend told me to visit Thailand as a tourist. I really love Thailand but my hardest decision was to move here. It was a good decision because I got a good job here in Concordian, without this job, I would’ve gone back to my country. I was

able to be here now from my father’s advice. Whatever you do, whether it’s big or small, do it efficiently and honestly. It has motivated me to work harder. For me, a big part of living my life to the fullest is not wasting time, working hard, being happy with everything I have at the moment, and finding my passion. I think that I will accomplish living my life to the fullest. I am about to retire and I really considered myself done. I have saved my money and plan to travel around the world. I plan my health insurance and everything so that I can do everything I want after my retirement. I did my best with no regrets. I would consider my life now very calm rather than chaotic. I would pray and I know that every problem has a solution, just like math!”

Ms.

Ms. Sherylle

Interviewer: Pang “

The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.” By doing what I love, being with the people I love, and loving what I’m doing, I learned to appreciate what I have. Flashback to when I was still in the Philippines. I grew up with a simple family background, living as an ordinary person. Life was not bad but I had to ask myself, “Is this my happiness?”, and I wasn’t sure if my life in the Philippines could offer me all that I wanted. My goal was simple: I want to be a good person and a great teacher. Teaching in Thailand is amazing. Thailand is simple, you work hard and get rewarded, everything is more sustainable. I have good connections and my friends are here to support me. When holidays come I get vacation and visit my home and family, because family is not just an important thing, it’s everything. I miss them, but I had to do my responsibilities which include supporting my family both in Thailand and at home. I’m lucky that my responsibilities are also my greatest passion, which is being a good teacher. A lot of people asked, “Why a math teacher?”. At this point I can say that I love teaching and supporting the students to learn new things. I found that a lot of students struggle in math and I want to make sure they truly understand. A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning. Seeing students enjoy math always makes me smile. Moreover, as a mom seeing the process of my daughter learning, I am able to support and guide her and give her the best education. The God of Christianity inspires me to be a good person in my job and responsibilities. We show respect to ourselves and others. Therefore, before coming to Thailand, I had lots of challenges to overcome. Our finances, problems with money meant my parents were not able to support me but I stood up for myself, and fought the challenges until we all (my brother, sister, and me) graduated. Obstacles are those frightful things I see when I take my eyes off my goals and intend to graduate. Flash forward, sometimes being a teacher requires patience, but a good teacher is able to encourage the students in their learning by understanding what they are going through. From here I am grateful for being a teacher. The key to happiness is real progress and growth and constantly working on yourself and developing. I learned that life experience is the best teacher for me. What I fight for and who I fight for. I have a daughter waiting for my support. A good mother is a daughter’s comfort zone and best friend. She was the best gift I’ve ever received. I am completely happy with my life. The past 4 years in Concordian were my best experience as a teacher. Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success when you learn and fight through them.

Stereo Jin

Mr Maurice Mickle

When I first met you, I was possibly eleven, maybe twelve. You were a punky sprite perched on a pile of used clothes at a yard sale.

I distinctly remember, you had the most wicked wardrobe I had ever seen. Your Iron Maiden tee-shirt featured Eddie, the skeletal mascot of the band. Every suburban mom’s worst nightmare. Somehow your attire was the epitome of cool, perfectly faded and tattered, with the sleeves cut off. I also recall your rust-colored skintight parachute pants with zippers galore. But your most noticeable feature was your fried-out frizzy blondielocks that reminded me of some runaway kid on the Sunset Strip. Of course, the entire look was tied together with a gold cross earring dangling from your left ear. You were totally awesome.

I made eye contact for a second, and you shot back a greasy smirk before you slipped under the table and disappeared into the ether.

A minute later, I noticed you leaning against a clunky, yet high-def stereo. Except for a few minor chips and scrapes, it was in excellent condition. At that exact moment, you transformed into a green gas and got sucked into the cooling vents of the stereo.

“Oh my god, where did you go? What in the world? That little dude turned into green gas! I must have this stereo!” I exclaimed to no one in particular.

Pasted on the face plate of your high-tech home, a piece of masking tape with the price of $10. What a steal!

I took a peek into my super fresh checkered wallet to make sure I had enough dough. Of course, I knew exactly how much I had before I peeled the Velcro apart; I counted every penny of my allowance back then. Luckily, I had exactly enough money to acquire you from the garage sale. It was serendipity; at least it was to me.

Since your previous owners/masters were the Maroney family, my neighbors from the other end of the block, I easily managed your transport back to my place in a few trips on my trusty H uffy.

Behind the beauty, Manie, G7

With delicate care I set you up and plugged you in. A gorgeous electric green glow emitted from your tuner panel. Your equalizer display fluttered up and down like a pulsating staircase. I was hypnotized for hours watching the radiating aura of your LED light kit.

Your voice was so clean, so pure, echoing from the wooden chambers. I hoped you would reappear, but nothing happened, at least not for a little while. Still, I was confident you would come back one day.

Even though you were MIA for a period of time, I was content with the purchase of your home. It was all mine, my first, my very own, all-in-one stereo: receiver - turntable - cassette deck - spectacular sub-woofer speakers.

One sticky July evening as I sat in my bean bag chair jamming out to Rock the Casbah, a familiar green mist emerged from the cooling vents you vanished into months ago. Finally, you materialized once again. To my surprise, your fashion choices changed drastically from our first meeting; transitioning to a Brian Setzer rockabilly look instead.

From that day our mutual fondness flourished despite our limited conversations. We always used a telepathic form of communication to get our points across. Mainly because I didn’t want my parents to commit me to an insane asylum and for the fact you weren’t into aimless small talk. You were more of a shy muse, a brooding cool cat, a composing confidant.

Suburban summers seemed sublime in my bedroom, with only you. Especially the nights when you aided me with our ultimate mix tapes for my tween girlfriends. We spent hours planning the exact progression of the tracks and what subtle hints we needed to include, without blowing our wad on side A. You

were meticulous and never let me rush the job. We made soundtracks for our own lives and ones we imagined for the girls we had crushes on in the 8th grade. Macy, Lorraine, Jenny, and Jill. Do you remember Jill? What a stone-cold fox.

After a few years I asked you to upgrade your home, and you reluctantly agreed. We traded in for a trimmed down jet-black number by Sony. Sadly, after your house got a facelift, you could no longer spin 12” vinyl. But it didn’t matter which media you spoke with, you kept me company for countless hours without exception, cooing and crooning into the late hours of the evening.

You even followed me to college and moved into my dorm room. My stereo jin, you kept the party alive and also lulled me to sleep almost every night. Living 2000 miles away from everyone we knew wasn’t always easy. Thank you for that.

Ultimately, you didn’t need a conventional home and you shed it all together. Your new flexibility made it possible for us to travel everywhere in tandem. We trekked on trains, bike paths, even to the John. We could hang out virtually anywhere on earth.

Our years together have been wonderful, but it’s been too long since I’ve seen your face. I miss you, man. You have been rather reclusive in my adult life, but I think I understand. You probably got fat too and resemble Elvis Presley circa 1976. Don’t be ashamed, come have a frosty beverage with me and let’s make an ultimate mixtape together. Excuse me, ‘playlist’ on Spotify. Just like old times.

The Chair Anonymous

Sitting here twenty-four hours. The sound of the wind echoes through the lifeless chamber as the clock strikes midnight. (Empty inside) but not lonely, covered with unbearable weight. Waiting for it to be lifted knowing too well that it always comes back. My legs shake as if they’re about to shatter. But I can’t fall. I can’t c

down, or this pile of burden will crumble down to the chair’s core.

Leaping into Twilight, Nam Petch, G9

Pastiche of Billy Collin’s Poetry

La

morte dell’arte

(The death of Art)

Tsheyang, G11

I muse upon the grandest forms of old, That soared in splendor, both in sight and thought, Dancing through verse and canvas bold, Gleaming, casting shadows, for all they wrought.

The artistry of Vermeer’s subtle grace, Complementary hues weave an arcane tale, Gold and pearls, in streaming light encased, A glistening pearl earring defies time’s scale.

A fog of haze ushers in impressions, While unaltered hay withstands the tide, Clouds streak beneath the parasol’s concessions, Yet idly linger in the minds untried.

Banana taped upon a barren wall, A urinal declared the source of life, The well runs dry, now empty and appalled, Transformed, from virtue to vanity, Art’s strife.

No longer l’art pour l’art, its essence pure, Didactic aims now muddled and obscure, Neither aesthetic nor moral endure, But vanity itself, a hollow lure.

Here lies Composition VIII, reposed, Abstraction’s peak, transcendent and mystic, An elusive mirage, an enigma enclosed, Where once colossal beacons shone artistic.

As memories dim, their echoes drift to dreams, In tangled mazes of the minds unseen, Where winding trails through soulful hills unwind, And vanish into realms where dreams and truths align.

My Generative Poetry Transformation

Mr. Jamie Matindale & Chat GPT

“In the halls of learning, we gather each day Students & teachers, in Concord we stay A dragon of knowledge, we seek to tame With intellect sharp, and a clear-eyed aim

We come to school to learn & to grow To build a vision for what we can know To sharpen our minds & build up our reason As people of integrity, no matter the season

But the path is not easy, we all know this truth Homework & tests can feel like a noose

Yet onward we strive, leaving nothing undone

‘Til we shine as bright as the tropical sun

And as we learn, we grow in compassion

To see the world through a lens of action

Serving humanity, & all of our Earth

Guided by justice, and proving our worth

Together we’ll travel, out into the world

With hearts full of love, & kindness unfurled For this journey is lifelong, & we’ve only just begun To celebrate connections between each & every one.”

Annabel, G7

Grace, G6

Kate, G9

Clare, G9

Sweetness

Ms. Rosemary

Gretta waited until the sun was almost at its peak before she dared to take the winding road into the swamps. By that hour, heat had scoured away the morning’s clinging mists, and the warmth coaxed sweetness from the frangipani trees.

It always took an extra little tug to pull the cottage door closed right. She thumped it into place, spun on her heel, and drew a fortifying breath. Her fingers gripped the satchel tight.

The little dog she’d never named took prancing steps towards the town. A quick whistle called him back. He flopped back down on loamy soil with his head cocked to one side and watched her turn towards the swamps.

She never went towards the swamps. The dog knew that. But now, today, that was where she turned.

Taking just a moment to adjust, the pup sprang forward once again, sunshine gleaming on the mottle of his merle. He blithely dashed ahead to where the path twisted into reaching trees.

Gretta followed with steps less sure and eyes still wide.

This time of day, green-gold light suffused the swamps, and a smell of growth and decay floated over murky waters. She placed each boot carefully as she went, mindful of puddles in the sucking muck. For all that she started at each sound and jerked her head to catch the motion of egrets stalking in the marsh, Gretta found

nothing more alarming than a horsefly dogging at her heels. She was deep into the swamps, moss draped thick on every side, when she finally spun and smashed the cursed thing. It burst with all the blood that it had drunk. The dog jumped and snapped at dragonflies while she knelt to scrub her hand against some leaves.

She turned left at a half-sunk oak, then right when she reached an old canoe. The path was thinner here: a barest bridge of stones and sticks to hold her up above the mud.

And then, when her skirts were wet and clinging and the sun was high up overhead, she found the man’s old cabin. Just where he said he’d be.

An ancient hen creaked in dismay at her approach and shambled to its weathered coop. Gretta took uncertain steps up to the cabin door. Though solid, it bloomed with stone-gray lichen, and mushrooms meandered up the grain of its old wood.

She’d barely let her knuckles rap when she heard him call from behind her.

“Ho!” sung out a voice, and she whirled so fast her fingers knocked some mushrooms to the ground.

He strode up, sweaty-faced and grinning, and she caught her breath and backed against the door. For a long moment the only sounds were of the swamp: a lone cicada keening, the restless song of water, a distant plop as something jumped and sank into the muck. Gretta tipped her head

back to keep her eyes on his.

The little dog let out a yap, bristling between them, and it broke the captive moment while Gretta fumbled in her bag.

“You came,” he said, and she flushed at feeling him watch her as she scrambled out a bottle.

“Yes, I— it’s what you asked for, in the market—” She held out the stoneware flask, eyes resolutely fixed upon the ground. “Brewed just last night, which— it’s better when it’s fresher and— just stir it into any drink, like I told you—”

When he reached to take the bottle, his calluses caught her fingertips. “You came,” he said again.

At that, she looked up, quizzical, head cocking like the little dog’s. “You paid me in advance,” she blurted. “And I’m no cheat.”

He grinned at that, but he also took the bottle, freeing Gretta to spin and take quick steps, retreating back the way she

came.

“Thank you, Gretta,” she heard behind her, but she did not turn or answer back. The dog chased tawny butterflies all the long walk home.

It was next week, on a Tuesday, that Gretta went to the market once again.

The market was all sing-song calls and bright-dyed pennants and smells of bread and fire and manure. She dodged carts and goats and shrieking children to find the tiny stall tucked in by the old fishmonger. He nodded, worn face kind but always grim, and shuffled seashells to one side to give her space.

The things Gretta sold at market were all simple.

There were the good-dream callers, woven out of twine and twigs, which mothers bought to hang on beds and cribs. There was the soothing ointment, a favorite for the farmers, which she scented with dried blossoms and packed in hollowed tagua nuts. She also had enchanted baubles, little stones and bones and trinkets, bespelled to twinkle in the sunlight, and shards of sea glass that would whisper tales when held up to your ear.

Those wanting something less simple had to deal with her directly.

Market day was almost over, sun shifting redly towards setting, and Gretta’d sold most of her stock and taken extra orders, too. Clyde Auger asked for a cloak of warmth, with sunshine knitted in the seams. Bones Owens wanted wagon wheels that knew their way along the road. Sweet Chancy Jane had asked, abashed, for a tonic that would cure bad breath, and Gretta murmured reassurances that she had just the thing.

Ing Ing, G7

Beside her, the fishmonger muttered outlandish stories of survival, and Gretta smiled and half-listened while she packed away her things. She was nestling glass vials in a bed of straw and feathers when her eyes flicked out before her and she saw him standing there.

The man from the marshes waited patiently, those callused hands easy at his sides, late afternoon light picking out the gold tones in his beard. She knew him by his shoes, cracked leather thick with dark mud, and her fingers trembled as she slid the wood box closed.

“Weren’t but half the boat left then, those fearsome teeth’d done such damage, and the boatswain had to paddle with a dead man’s boot—” rambled on the fishmonger. But Gretta’s eyes darted up to meet the marsh man’s hazel gaze, and for a moment the only thing she heard was katydids and egret calls.

“Gretta,” he said by way of greeting.

She ducked her head and didn’t speak.

“—cut the damned thing open in the end, and all they found inside were seventeen toes and a bit of old leather, still got the scars all down my left shin—”

“The same, again?” he asked, taking a step closer to offer out three shining coins.

Where her tongue may have failed her, Gretta’s business sense stayed savvy, and she swiftly pocketed his offering and answered with a nod.

He grinned once more, and Gretta looked at the dirt, the clouds, the passerby — anywhere but at that gleaming smile.

From the corner of her eye she saw him give a polite word to the old fishmonger, whose prattle barely paused, and then the man was on his way.

Sea Life is Part of Our Life, Kenny, G7

When she’d packed up, slung her bag over one shoulder, and nudged the dappled puppy from his nap, Gretta headed back towards her cottage. Her steps were slow as she reviewed her orders for the week: a sun-warm cloak, road-wise wheels, a halitosis tonic — here she paused to breathe in deep and think of gray moss draped on trees — and a potion for the man out in the marsh.

The next morning she arose at dawn and set to work.

“Whatever could he need it for?” she asked the yawning puppy as she siphoned dew from leaves. He snuffled and then flopped down in the dirt.

“I made that first batch right, I know I did,” said Gretta, coaxing nectar out of honeysuckle. Each bead of sweetness mingled with the tiny dish of morning dew.

Her brows knit together first in concentration, and then in consternation while she tatted lace of spider silk with

mouse bones as her tools. “What kind of man would need another — a second one, so soon!”

With each step of the process, Gretta’s mind continued whirling, and she muttered endless questions while the dog whined at her feet. However, when her work was finished, and she forged her way back through the swamp, and marched up to his doorstep and set to knocking on his door, when his voice called again behind her, she found herself once more stammering and blushing at his callused hands and easy grin. Gretta handed him the potion and left breathless, without a word.

And next Tuesday at the market, her heart danced when he returned.

“The same, again,” he told her, this time not a question, and once more gave her three gold coins and a gleaming, knowing grin.

Calm and Chaos, Mr. Robert Kovach

She worked all night, stealing snatches of sleep between steps of the spell, and had the wax-sealed bottle ready by the time that dawn had broken. Now, when she left the cottage, the little dog leaped in practiced bounds towards the swamps.

It was still dim and mist shimmered on the dark waters, but she knew the path and practically stomped her way towards his house.

“I have some questions for you,” she said to the trees, imagining his tawny beard. “I don’t know who you think you are—”

In the branches overhead, a startled nightjar crooned its eerie song. She thought about the warmth of his voice, and the way her heart stuttered when their fingertips touched.

This time, in the cool gray light of early morning, she hammered on his door and he was, for once, within. The mushroomed wood swung open and he offered her a sleepy smile. “You came.”

Gretta thrust out the wax-sealed bottle, which he took with easy grace. She drew a deep breath in. He waited, hazel eyes still caught in hers, and she blushed and turned and left. A dozen paces down the path, she whirled back, nerve renewed, only to find him in the doorway giving her a lazy grin. Gretta huffed, cheeks red, and turned to stomp her way into the woods.

The light had gone from gray to gold and she was halfway home before she turned and started marching back towards his home once more. Confused, the little dog came behind, a rotted stick clenched in his teeth.

She let her curiosity and indignation drive her up towards his door, where she hammered so hard the lichen fell loose. When he answered, she hardened her

nerves against those eyes and smile, and let loose all the questions that were bubbling inside.

“Three. Three. Three love spells in three weeks — I call that libertine!” Gretta stood with hands on hips. “What is it then, a different lady every night? Who are you even wooing, so deep into the swamps? And don’t you claim the magic failed — I gave you my best spell!” He met her tirade with the same knowing smile, and Gretta’s outrage faltered. In uncertain tones, she asked him, “Aren’t they working?”

He stood back then and let the door swing open, leaning on the frame as if to ask her in. One arm indicated the shelf inside — the shelf where three pristine bottles sat, wax still sealed, love spells intact.

Gretta looked at the undrunk potions in confusion, then felt his callused hand along her jaw, tipping up her chin so that her wide dark eyes met his.

“Aren’t they working?” he repeated with his easy grin. “You tell me.”

G6

Raffi,

Ms. Katarina

Ms. Katarina

Phoom, Term, Leo, Grace, Sally, Bond, G6

Serendipity

Or the Lost Art of Finding

Mr. Alessio

Like a cat prowling under a blood moon: Slanted right orange glowing watermelon slice rises over Hills of darkness and a mirror of wine.

A sky-sickle sunset slices most until the sand stops the split. Between trunks of light the light bed hangs While they listen to twilight whispers.

Summer sweetens and winter wounds the heart As it floats like silk threads over embers. They listen as it duets with the waves, unison beats of Irregular harmony.

The spheres quiver.

Like a beetle rolling over the dunes: A fallen date shows the way to the water Where it sinks then floats like silk threads over embers.

Grand, G9

Erupting Lava

Mr. Robert Kovach

From destruction springs new life, Dove lands on sapling

After the Hero

Leo, G6

Cold winds abide, Warm drafts arise.

White lands welcome the dunes of desert. Yet none calls for the hero’s demise.

A wanderer approaches the moon palace, Another nears the Apollo.

Whilst melting winters forfeit freezing summers, The universal hero starts on its journey, Its fate decided by another.

Enemies appear from pure sight, Lovers grow from trees of fruit. Friends ever so obvious. Foes never as obscure.

The hero, dreaming of success, Sets off with enemies in fret. Glory lies in wait, For redemption on his trek.

Pepe, G9

Pastiche of Billy Collin’s Poetry Litany

Meepoo, G11

You are the bread and the knife, the crystal goblet and the wine. You are the wooly clouds against bright blue and the sunbeams dancing on water. You are the ribbon on top of the gift and the fish swimming in a clear pond.

However, you are not the wind whistling between the trees. You are neither the taste of sour cherry sorbet, nor the seashells in the sand. And you certainly are not the flickering street light. There is just no way you are the street light.

It is possible that you are the birds pecking on breadcrumbs, maybe even the cat curled up in the painter’s lap, but you are not even close to being the bouquet of sunflowers at sunrise.

And a glance at your reflection will show that you are neither the blue blanket draped over the armchair nor the band playing at a festive fair.

Speaking of the abundance of imagery in the world, it might pique your interest that I am puddles after summer showers.

I also happen to be a field of lavender at dusk, the dusty dollhouse in the corner, and the city lights at night.

I am the moon’s reflection on still water, and the pile of plush pillows to clean up later. But don’t worry, I am not the bread and the knife. You can be the bread and the knife, as well as the crystal goblet, and surprisingly - the wine.

A Grandparent’s Choice

Poj, G9

Uhh! The spoiled smell, Whoosh! the ravaging winds, Ow! the scorching sun. The extreme edges of our Mother Nature. DEAD-from years of blunder. Tears flowing from icecaps into the home of everyday chaps.

A couple with polar white hair, tickled by the thick, sweltering air. Grandchildren washed away by frozen streams gone astray.

Alone. The couple looks back at years of flamboyant acts: tasty grey steaks, pints of oil, drunken cars, and contaminated soil.

Only with the resolve to forego this tasty and pampered life, will their grandchildren return.

Life is a Lonely Boat

Leo, G6

Life is a lonely boat

Down in the vastly sea

Drowning in miseries

Foretale the mocking deeds

Looking up into the heavens

The moonlight shines to cease

In the vast lunar sky

A star never falls

Four seasons pass and go years wither good and old

Life is a lonely boat

Down in the murky moat

Cold winters remind you

How it is like to not wander loose I wish you luck on your cruise

And wish you’d do that too

Warm winds remind me

How miserable it is to be

Free of each other

Missing sleep every week

The deep dark universe

Tell us the fate we seek

Life is a lonely boat

That never is to cease

A Blend

Lynn, G8

a blend (of confusion and sadness and love and joy)

i’m sorry that i was mean.

i’m sorry that i lashed out, that i insulted you out of greed. of greed, for my feelings and didn’t think about yours its true that i’m still healing and letting my emotions run their course

but then just when i thought you could treat me delicately, not try to provoke and antagonize me,

you go and do it all again. restart the cycle of self hate and wondering when i could learn to keep my cool

because it’s all my fault, isn’t it? when you start to make me think we could be good that we could get along like good friends should but when i extend my feelings they just get hit

by your indifference that only seems to come around just after you’re nice to me, just after when you laugh along with me and make jokes and make it seem like we could be friends it would all be okay if we could just be friends no.

the way things are going, we’ll never reach amicable terms and i’m sorry if my temper has left some burns

but i’m tired of being treated like your plaything tired of you acting like i don’t exist, ignoring my attempts at friendship

i’d love to cut you off from my life and fix everything in real life, i’d never let these words slip

our relationship is a confusing maze, but i just want to be your friend. i don’t see why you have to avoid my gaze, and stir my feelings up into a blend of confusion, of sadness of love, of joy.

My Story

Sheen, G9

I used to be an important item, a picture frame in fact

I used to hold a photo, of a small young boy with faded blond hair and an intelligent gaze

Accompanied by a middle-aged woman, with silky brown hair and a dazzling smile

I used to be displayed, on top of drawers, all over the place

I used to be admired, and smiles always greets me

Paired with nostalgia, I am the most exquisite item you would ever meet

With fine gold encrusted emblems, I ooze the feel of special, I ooze magnificence

My master now had wrinkles on his forehead, with a plump red face and a hairy gray beard He always carried around a bottle of water all the time, Usually sipping it throughout the day But draining it every night

Whenever he had finished his drink, he would stagger like he was about to fall His face would turn red and his volume would be deafening

Whenever he did this though, a peculiar action always followed He would storm into a room and would shout with all his might I would hear whimpers and cries following

And in the morning when the sun rose high and mighty

The boy in my picture would appear, with a glum face and a depressing walk

I noticed that his skin was always purplish, some blue, some green

Like a floral pattern encrusted on his body

Yet, one night I heard a soft pitter-patter at the door

And the next morning, I heard a roar of rage

My master came running through the hall, grabbing his coat and deserting the house

After a long while he had returned with the same glum look the boy had always worn

Then suddenly, he ran at me, in a fit of rage he threw me to the ground shattering my life

And at that moment, I wondered why would he do such a thing?

Ad Hominem on Yourself

Burger, G9

a kind of rough layering. Atop Seneca’s crescendo which rebutted hard Glisten conifers upon the weathered flow.

Phra Apaimanee, a straight Jack. All mentioned are betwixt poles that belong to Heracles and Drake’s narrow and icy way. Though most—even Bezos or Musk—cannot relate in the form of metaphor: Hypno

Could not can not but one decision, As she couldn’t grow the hermits’ hair. He was burgeoning or so it seemed, He thought so, But mere creatures don’t know the truth: Tosakan, and his golden finger, Telling Pangu to change his plans.

Though it is within that that was analyzed of Einstein. Where the monopoly man lays: “Hypno!”

Who stabs with monocle might.

Midas’ pain of gilded gold, As if Mjollnir had brought Thor to capitulation. Even Erawans’ elephant, he of 33 heads Can’t seek escape.

Once seen upon tables of pretentious shape,

Digest

Ms. Melina

Idigest what vulnerability tastes like.

It tastes like a place where solace is slipping away.

A place where discovering reasons boils your entire body.

A place without sidewalks to step on. A place where your soul is stripped down and exposed.

A place where faith is diminished. A place where uncertainty revokes deep-rooted fear of rejection.

A place where you’re gasping for air yet your lungs are unable to take it all.

Those exhales and inhales would be taken away from you. Someday. Somehow. Somewhere and when. Uncertainty.

“Are you scared?” she whispered.

“Sometimes,” I observe my plate to avoid eye contact.

“Why?” her eyebrows furrowed in curiosity.

“I do not like this place. It makes my heart ache,” I inhale 1… 2… 3… 4… 5…

“I understand. I do not like it either,” she shrugged.

and exhale 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…

I know she is one brave little girl. Curly and the darkest brown hair that could ever be. She rarely endures compliments, yet she often grants them. Her wound taught her to smile. Her scars are a badge of honor.

Her pain constructs her backbone of life. Her tears are a river of victory. Her soul is mended.

“I have to eat these… you know, to survive,” she munched down a big spoon of defenseless. I’ve tasted that. The congested thought of being exposed lingers. I adjusted my seat again to gain strength as those thousand inhales and exhales could not ease me.

“Is there something I could do?” I pointed to the burden on her shoulders with my chin. She is now chewing rejection. It took some time for her to chew as there were a lot of nonacceptances stuck in her mouth. I am familiar with that.

“Just don’t ever take it personally,” she gulped down a sip of security. “You did your best. That’s what I like about you.”

I observe her face. Lighthearted. Weary. Fortitudinous.

“I don’t think I am that kind of person,” I put a spoonful of humiliation in my mouth. I taste sweet and sour slightly with a pack of bitterness in the middle. I look at my half glass of esteem, wondering if I should drink it now but I am not triggered. “What makes you plucky?”

“I want to be like you,” she cuts a piece of reassurance and spreads it on consolation skin. “Try this,” she added. I grabbed the spoon from her hand and without any hesitation I devoured it.

“Do you like it?” she smiled and handed

me an encouragement napkin to clean up the resentment.

“I do,” there is a mix of abundance and gratitude in my mouth. It is soothing.

“There is more,” she pointed to the bowl of vulnerability on the dining table.

“I don’t think I could handle that,” I shook my head.

“I think you could. I believe in you,” she nodded.

I am petrified. I decided to stand up and walked closer to her. Her body is so small, how could she take all of these?

“Because I believe in you. I believe in who I want to become,” she looked up at me. I hugged her. I hugged her so tight my hands hurt. She did not let go. I’m sure she enjoyed it as well.

I squatted down to be at her eye level, “Thank you for always believing in me.”

“You already know what you want to do yet you are looking for validation from others,” she lifted her hands and put her palms on my shoulders. “You are here to do what has never been done. So never run from the power you have to make leaps and bounds. Nobody can live your life for you,”

She moved from the chair and stood in front of me, “The only thing I know is this: I am full of wounds and still standing on my feet. I believe in the person I want to become and I want to be you. I am proud of you.”

At that moment, I realized that my healing requires me to release and redefine what love is and what is expected of me to receive it. I have to digest vulnerability

to keep on going. I have to devour pain to grow stronger. To survive.

To suffer is to heal and healing is a quiet homecoming. It is about returning to myself and settling peacefully into the truth of who I am. I am neither incomplete nor broken. I am whole, loveable, human.

Because those exhales and inhales would be taken away from you. Someday. Somehow. Somewhere and when. Uncertainty.

Grey, G10

L, G10

The Red Cafeteria

Gorya, G8

I wait in line for a scrumptious meal That only the rich can afford While the poor resort to steal The rich come to concord

If my life is full with glam Then why is the line so long My patience is as thin as ham I can hear someone’s death song

I hold my breath as I wait in line I see someone being bold My patience snapped, that meal is mine As my breath turned cold

I opened my eyes and I see red That person who cut me is now dead

Pun Pun, G12

Memories Sheen, G9

I remember when I was young, When Sun was still shining

I remember when She was still here Her incandescent light

I remember the views, the flurry of green, The luscious wild I remember Her smile, Her gaze, and Her twinkling eyes

I remember the smell, the fresh spring

The gentle whiff of honey and rose

I remember Her perfume, Like fresh-baked cookies her fragrance always attracted me

I remember the sounds, the trickle of waterfall

The whistling of yellow, and the delicate rustling

I remember Her laugh, Her soothing and calm voice, Her melodious songs

Above all, I remember Soul, Soul of a smile, Soul of life

I remember Her soul, Her liveliness

Her ever-lasting glow

I remember my thoughts, My vision when I first saw that wispy color

I remember Her tone, Her worry

Her anxiousness

I remember the Change, the end

The silky clouds, turning toxic gray

The vibrant green, achromatized

The magnificent wild, reduced to ash

I remember the Transition, the finale

The sweetened air, to coughing fumes

The earthly wind, left for dead

The glowing aura, diminished

I remember the Shift, the terminal

The songs, replaced with monotonous drills

The chirping, instead a broken sob

The whisper of wind, to the deafening mechanical whir

I remember Her departure

Her sparkling eyes, faded Her kind gaze, dimmed Her silky hair, littered with white

Her radiance, faint

Her back, hunched Her smile, forced Her brilliance, ruptured

Her warmth, now fiery rage

Her laugh, unfinished Her cough, painful

Her Soul, forever shattered

Yet, after all this time

All this time She spent in agony

All this time spent in an unrelenting prison

All this time spent in suffering

I can still remember Her indistinct warmth…

Last Minute

Ms. Melina

Society tends to give the notion that quitting is for the weak. It is an embarrassing thing that people should not do. A great dollop of shame with a pinch of disgrace. Glittered with mortifying judgment and a touch of humiliation.

“All you do is just cry!” Mrs. Linda shouted from her desk across the room. She is mad because Himawari came unprepared.

They meet regularly once a week, but it has been a while since Himawari did not attend a lesson. Her anger doubled when

she found out that Himawari did not practice enough.

“I want to quit,” said a shaky voice with tears streaming down uncontrollably.

This is the first time that Mrs. Linda has heard that.

If you quit on the process, you are quitting on the result they say.

It is a fact that impressive results can’t be achieved overnight. That is why quitting is part of the process. The difference is when you quit and don’t do anything about it.

Mrs. Linda did not know the musical journey that Himawari had endured before they met. She was also unaware

Pun Pun, G12

that her spoken words during teaching hours fed into the negativity. Quitting is not a personal trait. Circumstances are a pain in the butt. Himawari was at the point where she couldn’t take it anymore and quitting is the best solution… for now.

Nothing is worth it if you aren’t happy. Himawari reminded herself of that over and over again. She fell in love with music long enough that she couldn’t remember the beginning. All the beats and rhythms that she heard from the radio cassette player made her pants want to dance. Facing the piano since she was 4 years old, performing and entertaining people with her piano playing is one of her happiness.

Mrs. Linda was in her mid-30s when Himawari met her. She was not that old but her understanding and concept were inherited from an old-fashioned type of teaching. Strict. Perfect. Mistakes are sins. Not practicing means laziness. Wrong notes equal hand-slapped by a pencil or a ruler. Wrong answers equal stupidity. She would compare Himawari to others, yet each kid has different abilities and learning behavior.

Himawari came from a family that did bribes and rewards so their children would do things that pleased their parents. Where playing wrong notes during practice time equals being not good enough for playing music. Where scoring 60 out of 100 equals embarrassment. Where being opinionated about something is equal to rebelling. She was struggling to read the magical symbols and complicated counting stressed her out. She trained herself so hard that she could produce beautiful sounds from both hands. She put herself under so much pressure that it made her cry after her performance during the piano competition because she played the wrong notes which the audience

did not notice. She made it to third place and it was equal to doubts that her family gave her: What did the judge see in you? How could you win third place when you did not practice?

Nothing is worth it if you aren’t happy. You did your best and they just did not see it that way.

2 years after Himawari quit Mrs. Linda’s lesson, she came back to learn music again. She took all the examinations and requirements just for a piece of paper to show and declare to everyone that she passed and succeeded in learning music.

She learned from Mrs. Linda that she does not want to be a teacher like her. Her former music teacher in elementary, Mr. Abraham, inspired her. His words resonate very well through her music education, “To learn music is to learn how to love.”

Himawari would like to be a better music teacher. Not just for her students, but for her children and grandchildren too.

She put emotional investment into making learning music better. She sees and realizes that every child is unique and that their gifts are special and deserve to be developed and celebrated. With teaching, she learns to love without condition, to give without any reason, and to care for people without any expectation.

It was late. She did not realize the time because she was busy sorting out documents. She closes the fallboard and made sure to leave every room locked.

“Good night, Ms. Himawari”, said Tanaka, the receptionist. She walked down to the parking lot, opened the car door, and stared at the sign on top of her office building.

Himawari Music School

An Overtly Modest Proposal to

Enhance Educational Performance in Thailand

Anonymous

Note: This is article is meant to be a satirical piece criticizing educational norms. This article is not meant to be taken literally.

Our education system is the sick man of Asia. Thai students routinely underperform in international exams such as the PISA. Thailand’s educational crisis can be attributed to trying to achieve too much learning with too little time. High school students in Thailand often have a very high course load because the curriculum is designed to both achieve depth and breath at the same time. Thai students are already turning into zombies by wasting 400 more hours on schooling than the average European or American student but still achieve worse results since there’s no time to cover all this content.

I don’t reject the noble aim of our current educational framework. In fact, we need to build a population which is equally wellrounded and specialized at the same time to economically compete with nations with cheaper labor. No other nation has been able to achieve it but I think we’re more than capable of this venerable goal! Top industry leaders said themselves in a public talk at the Stock Exchange of Thailand that, “agility through a workforce which knows so much they can do any thrashing jog is crucial for our post-Covid growth. Without it our economy will surely be short on breath!”. Hence, I propose that we should help create more time for students so that they can actually achieve the educational

goals by nurturing children in state-run boarding schools starting from the ripe old age of 6 months. These children shall be collectively raised and have no contact with their parents. This regime brings three main benefits:

It focuses all our children’s time on studying to create better results.

It creates consistency and reduces inequalities.

It eliminates long-term burdens on parents.

More Time Equals More Attainment

Children spend too much time at home which includes sleeping, eating, and playing. Kids only go to school for 8 hours a day and that includes lunch! When we deduct time for other miscellaneous activities such as assemblies and spirit weeks, students barely get 5 hours of classes everyday. Ms. Wilkerson, the principle at a prominent Bangkok selective school said that, “students only spend about 1440 hours at school annually. Parents should be outraged! Only Mr. Spock can master the arts, humanities, sciences, math, and liberal arts in 1440 hours!” By nurturing children in boarding schools, another 16 hours students originally spent at home will be

put into schooling. Additionally, babies with no recollection of parents need not take weekends, summers, and leaves for family activities. In other words, children will be able to study all 24 hours of the 365 days a year. Such a drastic increase in educational time should allow schools to focus on both breadth and depth.

Educational Consistency

Our education system is the sick man of Asia. Thai students routinely underperform in international exams such as the PISA. Thailand’s educational crisis can be attributed to trying to achieve too much learning with too little time. High school students in Thailand often have a very high course load because the curriculum is designed to both achieve depth and breath at the same time. Thai students are already turning into zombies by wasting 400 more hours on schooling than the average European or American student but still achieve worse results since there’s no time to cover all this content.

Collectively raising children will lower educational inequalities. The way a family raises their children or provides for them heavily impacts their educational attainment. Even among schools with families of similar socioeconomic backgrounds, differing values about education (ex. is a birthday party or homework more important?) heavily influence a student’s academic performance. By collectively raising children in boarding schools, the government can control loose ends like parenting style and economic status to reduce educational gaps by providing the same resources to every student.

I don’t reject the noble aim of our current educational framework. In fact, we need to build a population which is equally wellrounded and specialized at the same time to economically compete with nations with cheaper labor. No other nation has been able to achieve it but I think we’re more than capable of this venerable goal! Top industry leaders said themselves in a public talk at the Stock Exchange of Thailand that, “agility through a workforce which knows so much they can do any thrashing jog is

Eliminates Parenting Burdens

Raising a child is expensive, demanding, and exhausting. Allowing the state to collectively raise children will lift parental burdens after the first six months of breastfeeding for child growth. Then, the parents can lovingly abandon the baby at the nearest police station for the state to take care of at no charge. This brings several benefits. Firstly, it shortens maternity leave since parents can return within six months of childbirth which reduces employment costs. Secondly, it increases consumer spending because parents will have more disposable income which heightens consumer spending. All in all, this proposal will reduce parenting burdens and increase economic productivity. The lack long-term family planning needs may even entice couples to have more children to solve our looming demographic crisis!

Possible Objections

The foremost objection to this proposal will be that it violates the rights of parents to keep their children. Nevertheless, the collective well-being of our nation and

Pun Pun, G12

millions of children overrides all individual needs. It is selfish for a group of parents to deny their children more educational results for their own sentimental needs. If a government program can raise children to achieve higher educational results, it is in their children’s best interest to be taken away.

Another complaint will be that the program will cost several million arms and a couple billion legs! Yet, we already waste an inordinate amount on education. It’s just that those funds have been partly subsidized by parents. By interning all children into boarding schools, the state will simply bear the same financial burden instead of parents. This not only alleviates

the burden on parents but also reduces overall costs through industries of scale. Even if the cost continues to be high, it is still worthwhile long-term investment in our nation’s next steps which will be returned over the next decades.

All in all, caring for children beyond six months in government-ran boarding schools will consistently reduce inequalities, eliminate long-term burdens on parents, and result in greater educational results. Therefore, the government should start carting babies away to secure our nation’s economic future.

Pun Pun, G12

G6-8 Chinese Writing 我想去日本

Plearn 萧乐学, G6 Phase 4

我有一个梦想。 我的梦想是去日本。我小的时候就已经去了很多 不同的国家，比如：中国、英国、台湾等等，但是我没有去过日本。

每个人都说日本的天气特别好，不太冷也不太热。 每次当我想到日 本的时候，我第一个就会想到一种花叫樱花。这个花的花心有一点点 黄色，外面都是粉红色的。我想要去日本看这些漂亮的花。

第二个我会想到的是冰淇淋。每个人都觉得日本的冰淇淋很好吃， 吃了像可以飞一样，美味可口。最有名的口味是北海道和绿茶的。我 在泰国吃过，非常好吃，所以我想要去日本吃各种各样的冰淇淋。

去了日本，我可以学到不一样的文化。日本人喜欢穿五颜六色的裙 子。我觉得是非常特别。日本人也说日文，我很想学日本的语言。日 本也有很多电影是我喜欢的，比如：名侦探柯南，让我看了一遍又一 遍。

总而言之，我的梦想是如果我去了日本，我想学那里的文化、语言 和更多的东西。每一个国家都是不一样的。我们要当胸襟开阔的人， 去学更多的知识。不要忘记，不管有什么事情，都不可以放弃，一定 要坚持梦想。

给妈妈的一封信

Airi 庄玉光, G7 Phase 4

亲爱的妈妈，

您好！今天在学校的时候，我的老师让我写一篇作文，说一说我 最想要去哪里。我没有写什么，因为我真的不知道我想要去哪里。可 是当我回家的时候，我就知道了我想要去哪里了。

我最想跟您一起去。哪里都可以，但一定要跟您一起去。这是因 为我跟您在一起的时候，我觉得最安全。我不知道为什么，从小，我 跟您在一起的时候，我就什么都不怕。我认为是因为如果我害怕什么 的时候，您就会拿我的手对我说，“不要害怕，你可以做的！”。您 说的时候，你的眼睛会变得更大，你会看着我，让我知道我是你最爱 的人。

我跟您在一起的时候，我也会非常开心。如果我伤心，您就会找 尽方法让我不伤心。你记得那一天吗？我从学校回来的时候很伤心， 因为我的泰文考试没有考好，您看到的时候，您就跟我一起去外面走 一走，还买了我最喜欢的食物。那天是我最喜欢的一天，最难忘的一 天。

您也是一个很努力工作的人。您每天送我去学校之后，您都要急 忙开车去工作的地方，每当我看到您努力的工作，挣钱给我，哥哥和 弟弟们，我都会觉得很伤心，因为您每天要很努力工作，你就没有时 间留给自己。如果有的时候我做不好的事情，都会让我觉得很对不起 您。你每次跟我生气的时候， 我知道那是因为您想要对我好。从现在 开始，我会帮您照顾弟弟，这样您就可以做你想要做的东西。

您是我最爱的人，所以你去哪里，我就会跟你去，哪里都可以， 只要我可以跟您去，我就想要去。我爱你，妈妈。

坚持梦想

Newton 倪增金, G7 Phase 4

如果我们有梦想我们就应该努力不放弃。在我们追求梦想的过程中可能会 遇到各种各样的困难和挑战，但是我们不应该放弃，反而应该认真地做，去实 现我们的梦想。如果我们不放弃我们就可以成功，比如说马云，因为马云遇到 了很多的困难但是他没有放弃，反而努力的去追求他的梦想，最后他成为了一 位成功的商人。

在马云第一次参加学校考试时他考到了很不好的分数第二次考试他也没有 考上。马云的父母就不想要马云去考了，但是马云并没有放弃，所以他一边工 作一边学习，第三次他终于考到了很好的分数。

因为马云不可以说英文他就很想要学英文，所以每一天早上他一起床就去大街 小巷练习，去问外国人可不可以教他英文。通过这种方式他就学会说英文。

在马云第一次用电脑的时候他发现在中国还没有电脑，所以他就想要去 做。以前他只是一位老师，在一个学校工作，收入也很少所以他就问一问他的 朋友，他的朋友知道以后就来帮助他。刚开始他遇到了很多困难，也失败了很 多次，但是他坚持梦想不放弃，后来就成功了。

我们不应该轻易放弃，如果我们放弃就不会成功。 Prem , G12

从小的梦想

Pim 邓梅英, G7 Phase 4

G7 Phase 4

从小，我就想当一个医生。我只有一个梦想，这个梦想鼓励我要好好的学 习，也鼓励我要当一个更好的人。当一名医生就是我仅有的一个梦想。

我小的时候跟爸爸妈妈看电视，我看到一名医生在帮助小孩子，我觉得他 是一个勇于尝试和懂得关爱的人，我就很想要当一名医生了。我也看到那个孩 子脸上的微笑，那时我就知道我的梦想是当一名医生。

在晚上的时候，我喜欢躺在床上想：”如果我是一名医生，我可以帮多少 人呢？人们的微笑会怎样的？“梦想陪伴着我进入了睡梦中。

我很开心我有做医生的这个决定，这个决定鼓励我要更认真地学习，因为我的 爸爸妈妈告诉我：”当一名医生是很难的，你要认真学习才可以！“我很害怕 我将来不可以做医生，所以现在我就很努力的学习。这样才能拿到好的分数， 像 deans award。长大的时候，我就可以去好的大学，学习怎样做一个医生。 如果我在一个好的大学学习，我就可以用我学到的知识帮助非常多的人，也可 以看到他们脸上的微笑！

我有一个困难，就是我看到血的时候我很害怕，可是我不会放弃，总有一天我 会不害怕的，因为帮助别人是更重要的事情！

每当我看到医生的时候，我都觉得医生们很漂亮，也很懂得关爱，他们像 天使一样。

这就是我当医生的梦想，那你呢，你有一个梦想吗？

Jenny, G12

从小的梦想

Rita 陈安娜, G7 Phase 4

梦想是一个很重要的事情，我觉得每个人都应该有。长大后就可 以有实现梦想的机会。不管是长大想要成为一名医生，还是想要做一 个科学家，都应该有自己的梦想。我的梦想是长大后我想要成为一名 海洋生物学家或者科学家。

我很喜欢大自然，比如海洋里的各种动物，陆地上的各种植物等 等。只要我来到海边，走进森林，停在动物身边，我就会很开心了。 但是现在，因为海洋，森林和自然都被破坏了，动物和植物也都慢慢 的死了。

我想要成为一名海洋 生物学家，因为这样我就 不仅可以帮助海洋里的动 物，也可以帮助森林里的 生物，但是我更想要帮助 海洋里的动物，我觉得海 洋是更重要的，因为水是 人们生活中不可缺少的。 我们需要水来生活。

如果我长大可以做一 名海洋生物学家，我会很 开心的，因为 做这样的事 情既保护了我们生存的环 境，也是我很喜欢做的事 情·，所以我会很开心有 这样的工作。

Warutch, G12

梦想

Paopao, G8 Phase 5

我认为每个人都有自己的梦想，无论是与职业有关的梦想还是与家庭有关的梦 想，或者是关于未来学习的梦想。虽然说每一个人的梦想有平等的价值，没有谁的梦 想比别人优越，但也有些人从出生的那一秒就有劣势了。我相信每个人都有一个与众 不同的梦想。我的梦想呢？我的梦想虽然对别人来说很普通，没什么特别，但多年来 我不改初心，坚持为了自己的梦想努力，我也相信自己我会为实现梦想坚持到最后。

那么，我的梦想是什么呢？我的梦想是成为一位医生。从小，我每天看爸爸开 心的出去工作，就忍不住会想 “一个职业能让人那么愉快吗？我每天去上学觉得没意 义，真是无聊，为什么爸爸去工作的时候，脸上总是带着笑容，眼睛也格外明亮，像 太阳一样？”。有一天我问了爸爸：“为什么您去工作时会感到那么愉快？”。爸爸 笑着跟我说：“因为我是去帮助别人，给他们更多的时间和爱的人一起生活，有机会 尝试新事物，才是真正的幸福。”

从那天起我就想，虽然我们每个人都不可以选择自己出身是怎样，有的人遭遇 许多困难，但有人应有尽有。我想让世界上无论是穷人还是富有的人，有一个“平 等”的机会活下去，勇往直前的实现自己的梦想。我想用自己的能力，帮助世界上每 一个生病的人，给他们再次生活和改变自己生命的机会。

为了实现这个梦想，我会坚持不懈，打破刻板印象，受到打击时不放弃，我不 会让谁对我的未来说三道四。我是谁，我的梦想是什么，我说才算。我会用自己的双 手让世界变得完美，让每一个人有平等的生活机会。

我恍然大悟，原来，我的梦想是帮助更多的人实现他们的梦想。

Jenny, G12

坚持梦想

Maya, G8 Phase 5

我有很多的梦想。我想要有很多的钱拿去买什么都可以。我想要买很 多我不一定需要用的东西。我希望可以不用去学校，然后跟我的最好的朋友 们去旅游。可是，我最大的梦想不是用钱可以买到的。因为，我最大的梦想 是能回到很多年以前。

现在如果我能时间旅行，回到过去，我有很多想要做的事情、很多想 要去的地方、很多想要去见的朋友。

如果时间旅行是可能的，我会做的第一件事就是回到2019年7月的那 天。我会回去找曾祖母然后告诉她：“曾祖母，我想要跟您说我们都非常想 您。我们很想吃您亲手做的非常好吃的食物，穿您亲手做给我们的衣服。我 们也特别想听您的笑声，因为每一天您都知道要怎么做才能让我们觉得很开 心，很平安。”

“曾祖母，我想跟您说我非常感谢您为我们做的事。每一次我伤心的 时候，您是唯一一个知道要做什么我才能感觉好起来的人。您去别的地方的 时候，您从来没有忘记给我和我的兄弟姐妹们买来玩具和十分可口的食物。

为此，真的谢谢您。曾祖母，我想跟您说对不起。我现在才知道那时候我没 有当最好的孙女儿。我知道有时候我跟您说话不礼貌，只是因为我自己有一 些解决不了的问题。我知道我应该每一天去找您。因为当你是最好的曾祖母 时，我不是最好的孙女儿，对不起。曾祖母，我想跟您说我很爱您。我爱您 因为每一次您都会找食物来给我们吃，玩具来给我们玩，好看的衣服来给我 门穿。我们做了不好的事，您也从来没有对我们生气，只是耐心地教我们怎 么做对的事。我非常感激您总是把别人放在自己之前，我也很感激您为了我 们过上更好的生活而牺牲了这么多。”

您让我懂得了时光飞逝。现在我知道我应该跟家人在一起，应该好好

地跟家人说话，无论自己正在面对什么样的难题，我要把爱带给家人，而不 是把烦恼带回家里。

所以，我有一个梦想，一个不管有多少钱都不可能买到的梦想，那就 是回到从前。如果我能回到从前，我就要去找我的曾祖母，因为我有机会的 时候没有好好珍惜。这个无法实现的梦想让我明白了时间多么重要，它往往 会在我们没有留意地时候迅速而悄悄地溜走。给我们留下了遗憾，也为我们 带来成长。

梦想的价值

Term 马荣鑫, G6 Pre LL

一点都没有想到，钱就像我们每 一个人似的...

我低着头在公园里拉着我爸的 手，走来走去。我身边的活动丰富多 彩，我身边的树叶都碧绿，我身边的 人都不慌不忙地开玩笑。但我心还是 黑暗，什么光都没有。

我的梦想，摸不到了。如果我 想追求我当足球明星的梦想，那为什 么……为什么我要输掉这个足球比 赛！凉快的风吹干了我的眼泪，让它 们渐渐地打到了草地上。我的父亲摸 摸我的头，告诉我不要那么愁眉苦 脸。但我没听，往前一直走。

“哎孩子！我来告诉你！”爸爸 的话让我偷看他微笑着的脸，给我一 些温暖的感觉。他拿出一千泰铢的纸 币，问我要不要。我说“要”。但不 久，我的爸就把这块钱丢到地上，问 我还要不要。我还是有一样的答案。 最后，爸爸脚踩了地上的钱，问我要 不要，我还是说想要它。

“你看小马，你追求梦想的路中 注定会遇到失败。你虽然输掉了一场 比赛，但你要像这张钱一样，不输掉 自己的价值，不输掉自己的自信。” 听到我爸的话后，我就不再伤心了。

如果我自己还看不见我的价值， 那我怎么才能风驰电掣地往前去追我 的梦想呢？

Jerry, G9

我想去天堂

Deen 平迪恩, G8 LL

在幽暗的房间里，我能感受到 我的每一次心跳。我仿佛能看到死神 向我不断的接近。我的人生在一分一 秒地减少就像一个计时器，当时间走 到零，那么我的生命就快结束了。回 忆在我的脑海里涌现，我看到了人生 的走马灯。很多人都对死亡感到恐 惧，但我却对死亡充满了希望。

我想去天堂，这就是我对死亡 渴望的来源。我希望死后可以飞升到 天堂。我希望可以亲眼看到人们口中 美丽而又神秘的天堂。在洁白的云朵 上睡觉。像小鸟一样在海蓝的天空自 由自在地飞来飞去。在鸟语花香的天 堂舒服且自由地生活，太阳会向你挥 手，小鸟会给你唱歌，美丽的天使可 以满足你的一切愿望，请问谁会不想 来到这里生活呢？

我想去天堂，不光是因为那美丽的风景，开心又自由的生活。我想去 见我已故的亲人。跟他们对话，跟他们分享我对他们的思念。我想去天堂看 一看我从未见过面的爷爷。我想去找一找我的太姥姥，再去吃一次她拉的 面。我想去看一看我从小就失去的大姨。我想去看一看几年前失去的猫，我 想再一次摸它的头。想到这里泪水在眼睛里打转，眼睛也渐渐变红。并不是 天堂有哪里不好，只是想到如果我去了天堂又有谁还在人间安抚我的父母， 他们又是何等的伤心？我不希望我的离去会让父母感到伤心。我最后留下的 一句话是“爸妈，我先去美丽的天堂等着你们。”

“人终有生老病死”，随着机器上的心跳成为一线，机器发出了叮--的 声响，我笑着离开了人间，在美丽的天等着我的家人。在这一刻我去了天 堂。

Tiro, G12

追逐梦想之路

Joanne 叶珈安, G8 LL

“恭喜叶珈安，第50届诺贝尔医学 奖获得者”的声音在场地内回荡着。 我缓缓走向舞台，脑子里闪现的是我 为了站在这个舞台上所付出的努力和 心血。

这一路走来，我遭遇了偏见，遭遇 了质疑。我身为女性，当我想成就一 番事业的时候，耳边总会想起各种反 对声：“你一个女生当什么医生？能 当护士就不错了，女生读医学院就是 自找苦吃，还浪费钱!”跟所有女孩的 命运一样，从出生其就被寄予找一份 轻松安稳的工作，勤俭持家、相夫教 子的希望。但我不愿意一生都照人们 为女生设定的航线走，我只想向我心 中的灯塔前进。

我经历过狂风恶浪，跌入过深渊。

这些偏见让我质疑起了自己，一度

Thee, G12

想过放弃但有想起了那如春风一样的 存在，那些从未放弃过的人，他们给 了我勇气。此外，妈妈的陪伴让我有 了坚持下去的动力，也让我理解了在 追逐梦想道路上一定会遭遇歧视和偏 见，但我深深相信成功的关键是努力 而不是性别。于是，我把自己所有 的努力都用到学习和科研中，我将会 是那个打破偏见的存在。我的成功不 仅仅是我一个人的荣耀，而是一个证 明，证明女性也可以在以男性为主的 领域里大放异彩。

我感谢那些质疑过我的人，让我化 悲愤为动力，铆足了劲往前冲，站在 了许多男性都到达不了的高度。我将 不会是最后一名站在这里的女性， 这不是个结尾而是个开始，我知道将 会有成千上万个女性站在我所在的高 度。

G9-10 Chinese Writing

理解

—— 写给另一个自己 Pear 李秀静, G9 LL

亲爱的李秀静，

你到底是谁啊？我怎么样才能真正地理解你？我知道你喜欢唱歌、喜欢旅 行。你努力学习、你爱爸妈。但是，我怎么高爵你有时候像一只迷路的羔羊， 对未来充满迷茫呢！

我现在还不知道你有什么梦想、你长大了想当什么。你是否已经有答案了 呢？我看到你总是认真地做每件事，但却不知道自己为什么做这些；你忙了学 习忙练琴，但却怀疑是不是每个青少年都是如此繁忙？怀疑他们是不是跟你一 样担心自己的外来？

我知道你有压力，知道有时你想放弃。可是你一定要相信自己，相信自己 只要努力就能实现梦想。即使我现在无法理解你，但我想十年后的我可能会理 解你，也相信你每天都有成长、有改变。

你今天的目标可能跟明天的不一样，但是你不要担心。你迷路的时候， 我会去找你；你遇到坎坷的时候，我会为你鼓气；你找到梦想的时候，我们会 为你祝福。我们一起学习，一起进步，一起长成我们想要的样子。对工作，要 永远有耐心、有责任心；对朋友，要永远信任、忠诚；对未来，要勇敢、有信 心。即使暴风雨来了，你也一定要继续砥砺前进。

现在你知道我是谁了吗？我就是另一个你，一个永远伴你左右的坚强的 你！ 你的，

李秀静

2023年 4月 4日

Hut, G12

一顿特别的晚餐

Sheen 黄俊兴, G9 LL

叮铃叮铃！ 学校放学了！孩子们像一 阵风一样飞快地跑了出来，脸上全都洋溢着 甜甜的笑容。小红也和其他小朋友一样冲到 了学校门口，脸上挂着微笑，挥着手和老师 同学们说再见，心里想终于能回家了。

“小红，小红我们明天再见哦！”

“好的！那我先回家了！”小红一边 喊着一边往家的方向跑去。

小红到了家，打开门发现家里空空 的，妈妈又没在家。小红有点失望，心想妈 妈怎么有这么多工作呀。既然妈妈还没回 来，那小红就决定先完成功课。一边写作业 一边等着妈妈回来。

过了一会儿，小红听到了熟悉的脚步 声。“妈，您回来了！”小红激动地叫出声 来，她看了一眼旁边的表，都已经七点半 了。

“对不起啊小红，妈妈工作晚了一 点，快去坐吧，妈妈给你做好吃的。“说 完，妈妈轻轻地抱了一下小红就急忙去厨房 准备晚餐了。

过了一会儿妈妈就从厨房里走了出 来，她告诉小红晚饭已经做好了。小红兴奋 地跑到餐桌边一看，不禁发出了感叹：“

哇！这么多美味佳肴呀！妈妈真厉害！”小 红看着这一桌丰盛的晚餐，口水忍不住流了 下来，肚子也咕咕叫起来了。妈妈微笑着让 小红坐下来吃饭，小红抬头看了一眼妈妈。 她突然发现妈妈的脸上怎么新长出了这么多 皱纹呢，妈妈的黑发中怎么多了好多根白发 呢，妈妈的眼睛周围怎么有了黑眼圈呢？以 前的妈妈总是很开心，像太阳一样，但最近 妈妈面容好像被一堆乌云挡住了阳光一样， 好像被一阵风雨挡住了温暖一样。虽然妈妈 还是和以前一样微笑着看着小红，但小红依 旧感觉到了妈妈的变化。妈妈做的饭依然美 味可口，但小红的内心却不是滋味，心中不 停地问：妈妈您还好吗？

那天晚上小红想了很多，想着想着就 进入了梦乡。但不知什么时候，她突然惊 醒，浑身出着冷汗，心也跳得飞快，原来是 做恶梦了。小红看了一眼床边的闹钟，才凌 晨一点半呀。她觉得口渴，想下楼喝水，但 她怕吵醒妈妈，所以就小心翼翼地下了床， 走到了楼梯边。突然小红发现餐厅中还有一 束微弱的灯光下妈妈工作的背影。小红就明 白了：原来是妈妈最近工作太累了才有这么 大的变化。小红的内心感到十分担忧，她 想，我该怎么帮助妈妈呢？ 第二天放学后，小红急忙赶回家，她 知道今天妈妈肯定也会很晚回家，她要为妈 妈做点事情。她写完功课后就走进了厨房， 开始给妈妈准备惊喜。晚上七点半，妈妈回 家了。她打开门，惊讶地睁大了眼睛，满身 的疲惫立刻消失了。她简直不敢相信自己的 眼睛，餐桌上整整齐齐摆着好多做好的饭 菜。小红站在旁边满脸都是汗。

“小红这是你做的吗？” 妈妈惊讶地 问。

“对，妈妈，最近看到您好累啊，我 是想帮助妈妈。妈妈看我做的还不错吧？” 小红自豪地看着妈妈，脸上带着又骄傲又害 羞的微笑。妈妈听了小红的话感动地流下了 眼泪。她们两个紧紧地抱在了一起。这真是 一顿特别的晚餐呀！虽然小红做的没有那么 好吃，但是在妈妈心里，这顿晚餐是她吃过 的最美味的一顿饭，因为这顿特别的晚餐是 小红对妈妈的爱。

妈妈和孩子就像大地和小花儿，大地 给小花养分让小花成长，小花也会让大地变 得更美丽。妈妈爱小红，小红爱妈妈。她们 互相关心，互相温暖。她们是对方眼中的全 世界，也愿意给对方全部的爱。

理解青少年，理解自己

Poj 李光春, G10 LL

年轻人常说的一句话就是“父母不 理解我”。特别是有些人在选专业时候， 往往跟家长的想法不一致，导致矛盾的产 生。这让我想到一个词——理解, 也就是 年轻人对于自己的理解。

高中是年轻人做重大人生选择的时 候。应该上什么课？考什么大学？参加什 么活动？这些就是年轻人经常问自己的几 句话。由于学习压力大，有些学生还没有 找到自己的梦想，他们往往在社会和朋友 的压力，做出决定。我就是其中一个。

在我刚上九年级时，我得到了很多 活动和学习机会。我从来没有面对过这么 多的选择。我不知道应该怎么做。因此， 我盲目地参加了全部的活动，并选了最难 的课来上。这些活动和课导致我要承担更 多的责任，这些责任就像石头一样，压的 我透不过气来。完成了几个活动以后，才 如卸下了几块石头一般，开始热爱上自己 的生活。看来，责任多了之后，石头就会 变重，致使我肩负的重担越来越大！这 时，我才发现我做的选择都是漫无目的 的。从学习活动到写作比赛，其实这些活

Ben 王沛恩, G10 LL

手拿糖果的男孩，捧着玩具的男孩，仰望 天空的男孩，怀揣梦想的男孩.......

我们在不同的年龄段时就像一本本不同 的书。小时候的那本书是薄薄的，简单 的。但是随着时间的流动，书本除了页数 在逐渐增加以外，书本的内容也变得如堕 烟海般地凝重而难懂。但无论有怎样的结 局，每一本书中都蕴含着一个个大大小小 的梦想。

我的人生之初的那本书，上面画满 了家人与朋友，虽然字数尚寥寥无几，但 像画册一般可人。我的这本书段落分明 的，用词简单，内容看起来平淡无奇，语 句也没有那么优美、似乎缺少华丽的词藻 的点缀，但却可以带你身临其境，走近一 个充满了梦想的的孩童世界，你会看到：

如今，我的书的页数厚了很多，如 短篇小说一般，看似用词简单，但不再是 无声无色， 字里行间流露着年轻狂少！ 虽然段落仍旧变长，但是语言变得美了很 多，写作手法也丰富起来，“做比较”运 用到了每个事件中......。在这本书中，没 有那么多生动的画面了，取而代之的是： 课桌前低头苦读的男孩，篮球场奋力出击 的男孩、心怀抱负砥砺前行的男孩......

我们的人生就是这一本本不同的 书，不管内容与文字有多少不同，都会记 载下我们每一时段的梦想。如无边大海中 的鲸鱼一样，游向自己想象的海岸。

两个不同的角度

Haady 平哈迪, G10 LL

理解不是一件容易的事。每个人都对事情的看法不同，每一个人都有自己的角 度。那么， 怎样才能真正地理解别人，了解别人的习惯，知道别人的想法呢？ 各位老师，同学们：

大家好！我是平哈迪，今天我要来讨论“理解”这个词，并说一说我对理解的看法。 “理解”在我的想法中就是可以从别人的角度看一件事情，从而懂得别人为什么有这 种想法。。那么，我们怎么才能理解别人？先，我们要知道每个人看事物的角度都不 一样。如果想要真正的理解一个人，我们要知道那个人的背景，那个人的逻辑。知道 这个之后就要了解现在的情况。为什么这件事情发生？发生之后会对他有什么影响？ 其次，我们要选看对错。最后，我们知道这些信息之后就要把自己放到别人的角度来 看正在发生的事情。这样，了解之后就可以学会用不同的方法安慰别人，教导别人。

大家学会了吗？（观众说没）没有吗？好吧，那么我来讲讲自己的故事。这个 故事叫做《两个不同的角度》。我小的时候，喜欢吃零食，每天都吃，不吃就会不开 心。我妈妈一直劝我说：“哈迪，不要多吃垃圾食品，吃了会对你身体不好！”我 啊，那是还小得很，不懂事。我就说：“为什么我不可以吃？我自己感到好吃就吃， 吃了也影响不到你！”妈妈听到了什么也没说，阴着脸拿走了我手里的零食。现在， 我长大了，也开始理解我妈妈那时说的话了。虽然我自己吃零食影响不到她，但是她 是从母亲的角度出发，在关心我啊！

我们每个人都有多重身份，身份限制了我们看问题的角度。比如说，作为学生 的，看待学习，觉得功课是多余的；作为儿子，觉得取得好成绩是为了家长高兴；作 为朋友，觉得自己应该有求必应，哪怕是让朋友抄作业。在现实生活中，每个人都有 多重身份，并以特定的身份去思考问题。

人们，是一种复杂的动物，有喜就有怒，有哀就有乐！但如果能从别人的角度 去思考问题，喜与乐必将伴你一生！

站在积极，向上的角度，去理解你身边的事物吧。你的生活一定会充满了幸 福！

我的演讲结束了，谢谢！

Thee, G12

我的梦想

Grey 陈思容, G10 Ph6

小时候，我的梦想是 成为一名成功的艺术家。 并不是因为我只想有名， 而是我希望表现出我的创 造性。

“你长大后想做什 么？” 我的爸爸问我， 当我向爸爸表达我的梦想 时，我遭遇到他的反对。 他认为这个想法太离谱 了，当艺术家只会让我生 活得很穷。这些话让我感 到悲伤，当然，谁不会沮 丧呢？当自己的爸爸不支 持你？但我并没有放弃我 的梦想。我相信自己能够 克服所有的困难和挑战。 艺术是与技术不同 的创造性领域，只有人类 能够给艺术作品真正的情 感和思想。你去看世界上 最著名的艺术家吧。比如

Van Gogh，他从开始就只创作情感丰富的绘画。每一张他创作出的画都 能让观众感受到他的痛苦。我自己也希望能够通过我的作品来激发我的创 造性，并让别人感受到我的感情。

我的梦想是成为一名成功的艺术家，不仅为自己而活，还要为与我有 相同的经历的人而战。每个人应该有机会实现自己的梦想，追求自己想要 的生活，这才叫人类。我们都要有自己的追求和梦想，我的梦想就是成为 一名有创造力的艺术家。

小朋友们你们好！

你们有没有梦想？比如：你长大后想 做什么工作？想去哪里？想有怎样的生活方 式？今天，我想跟你们分享要怎么做才可以 追梦，但首先你们要知道追梦的路可不是一 帆风顺的。

你们知道吗？如今社会上有很多人被 刻板印象、偏见和歧视来决定他们的生活。 他们不能认真思考、自主选择，不敢追梦。 朋友们，你们还是小小的孩子，但你们可能 也有偏见和刻板印象哦。比如你们当中很多 人会认为男生喜欢的颜色一定是蓝的，反之 女生一定要喜欢粉红色，对吗？你们知道 吗，这样的想法是一种性别偏见。

在大人们的社会里这样的性别偏见更 严重。比如很多人觉得有男孩子比女孩子强 壮，因此长大了以后男孩子有更多的工作机 会，比如当医生。虽然我们社会里也有女 性的医生，但是她们在追梦路上会遭遇很

多困难和歧视，他们可能会受到来自父母的 打击，被老师们冷落或者被朋友们嘲笑。仅 仅因为她们是女性，别人就认为她们不能当 一名医生。不少女生因此而放弃了自己的梦 想，让人们的偏见决定她的命运。但是还有 些女生不改初心，坚守梦想，最后她们成为 了很优秀的医生！

朋友们，这个是我们社会里一个关于 性别偏见的例子。听完以后你们梦想还会轻 易被打倒吗？即使有那么多的偏见，我们 还能继续追求自己的梦想吗？答案是：可以 的。你们是我们社会的未来，如果你们从小 学习到全面的知识，长大后就能有同理心， 有礼貌，能勇敢来面对这些的偏见。除此之 外，你们还要善于交流，胸襟开阔，不要有 偏见，这样所有人就都可以有无限可能的机 会。当然，如果有一天面临偏见/刻板印象， 你们要不改初心，坚定地说：“没有人能对 我的未来说三道四！”绝不让偏见决定自己 的未来。

绝不让偏见决定未来 Mei 李玉梅, G9 Ph5

Jenny, G12

梦想 Bow 陈娜琳, G9 Ph4

爸爸妈妈常常会问孩子，你有什么梦想 或者长大后想做什么？我每一次被父母问这 两个问题时，都会回答：“我不知道”。 这 三个字让我想知道自己想做什么和喜欢什 么。 因为大家都会有自己的梦想，但是我们 要自己寻找。

当我还是一名中学生的时候，每一天 我想来想去， 也想不出梦想是什么，所以父 母就告诉我：“如果你想不出来，就去做医 生吧！” 我听到，心里就开始想，“如果我 真得想不出来， 那医生就是最好的选择。

后来，我高中毕业，就在我即将进入 大学读书时，我发现了一个事情。 我想到我

小时候非常喜欢跟父母说我的梦想是有我自 己的公司，但我长大后，就忘记了自己的梦 想。 “我真的想成为一个医生吗，还是我只 听别人的看法，没有问自己？ ” 我一遍又 一遍地在心里问自己，这时候，我才知道我 心里的梦想是什么，所以我就开始学习经济 学。

最后，我不忘初心，努力的工作，让 我的梦想成真了。虽然我没有去大学，但我 的收入非常高，因为我很喜欢这个工作。

总的来说，我们不要让别人告诉我们 要怎么做，我们要自己想和找我们真心喜欢 做的事。此外，如果找到了，只要努力和不 忘初心就会成功。

Jenny, G12

梦想 —------ 日记连载

Kurtis 孙克聪, G9 LL

日记一（7岁）

杰姆斯 2007 年 9 月 14 日

我想去月球，就像电视上看到的那些太空人一样，去探索月球。

我想从月亮上看地球，就像外星人那样。

我相信，我长大后一定会能去外太空的！

日记二（10岁）

杰姆斯 2010 年 2 月 19 日

我今天很开心，因为我们终于能够在课上学习太阳子的内容了。我今天才知道我们看 到的月球其实只有半面，而另一面是因月球与地球同步自转而看到的月球的背面。听 说我们的宇宙无与伦比的大，难怪太阳下山的时候那空虚无尽的夜色会吞噬整个的地 球。

日记三（15岁）

杰姆斯 2015 年 7 月 9 日

开始上高中了，每天真的是筋疲力竭！ 我最近又没掌控好，跟朋友约出去吃喝玩乐浪费了大量的时间，如今功课堆积如山， 压的我透不过气来。

烦死我了，功课真的有那么重要吗？老师怎么总是给我们那么多功课？反正考试能拿 高分，做不做功课不重要，敷衍一下，做一点儿就行了吧。

日记四（18岁）

杰姆斯 2018年 11 月 11日

我高三就快结束了，马上就要开始上大学了。我必须考上麻省理工的太空部， 这样才能有机会到美国航空航天局工作，可是我和该专业的录取的成绩差距还很远。 嗯，绝对不要跟其他人比，我做好自己，努力学习就好了。嘿嘿，还好我们家 势不错，利用爸爸的钱和资源应该还有把握的。

日记五（20岁）

杰姆斯 2020年9 月 9 日

在 MIT 的压力大大大大大！

每天都要写四、五个钟头的作业, 疯了疯了疯了～～～

我的梦想

Cheva, G9 Ph3

从小我就很喜欢唱歌。我长大后想当一名歌手。我喜欢看人们在舞台上唱歌， 如果在学校有机会给我上舞台表演，每一回我都会说可以，我会很珍惜这样的机会。

每当我在舞台上的时候，我就会很开心，我的感觉是我是我自己，我不是别 人，舞台是我的舞台，时间是我的时间。

很多人说，歌手不是一个真正的工作， 可是如果这个世界没有歌手，就没有我 们喜欢听的音乐了。我在舞台上的时候，我看到人们笑，我也会笑，也会开心。如果 是一个很伤心的歌，看到人们哭，我也会和他们一起伤心。

我长大的梦想是我想当一名歌手。人们可以说这不是一个好的工作，也可以说 很不好，可是我喜欢这一件事情。这就是我的梦想。

Jenny, G12

世界上最有钱的人

Cathy 陈凯琳, G9 Ph5

从小到大，我已经看到过各种各样的人。有些人出生在不富有的环 境，而有些人出生在已经非常有钱的家庭。我就出生在一个中产阶层的 家。父母是我见过的最努力的人，他们是我能够去好学校读书，吃到丰富 的美食的原因。可是我时常会为他们担心，如果有一天他们不能工作了， 那我们要怎么办？

有一次，我梦到了在我家的院子里有很多会长出钱的树。每天我都 能爬上树去拿钱，就像去摘苹果一样。这些树不停地长出新的钱，这样我 会一直有用不完的钱。院子里一共有大概 10 棵这样的树，它们的叶子会 在风里跳舞。我能看到我跟父母每天爬上树去拿钱。我们用这些钱去买新 衣服、最想吃的食物、或者新科技产品。

这些钱有数不胜数的用法，父母不但可以用它来付学费，也可以让 我得到最好的教育，这样我才能获得更多成功的机会。诚实地说，就是你 有多少成功的机会很大程度上取决于你的家庭有多少钱。

钱可以为我们提供生活中的需要的各种东西和服务，钱是否也能帮 我们提升社会阶层呢？虽然在生活中有钱的人总是说“钱不是生活中最重 要的因素”，但如果这些人没有钱，他们就会失去舒服的生活和许多让他 们成功的机会。到最后，他们就只能像贫穷的人一样过一个艰苦的生活。 由此可见，钱不一定能帮你提升社会阶层，但是钱却仍旧是决定着你生活 舒服不舒服，能不能有更多成功机会的重要因素！

当我睡醒的时候，我意识到每个东西和每次机会都不是免费的。这 就只是一个梦，但是它却教会了我一个很重要的道理。长大了，我就要像 我爸妈一样努力工作，才能为我和我最爱的人提供一个舒服的生活。如果 我努力，坚韧不拔地面对每个挑战，好好珍惜自己的时间，总有一天我就 可能成为世界上最有钱的人。

我的父母告诉我，钱是一种相对的价值，可是如果从现实社会的角 度来看，这个叫 “钱” 的货币是现在对我来说最有价值的东西。

Astra & Astro

Prim & Sureen, G6

“Beep beep beep” The alarm rang. It was 6:00 am and time for Astra to wake up.

“Yawn! Ah, what beautiful sunshine,” claimed Astra while viewing the morning sky out of her bedroom window.

Astra has awoken from her exactly 10 hour long beauty sleep from 8pm to 6am. She wakes up way before her twin brother, Astro, as usual. It was time for her to get ready for the day, as she believes, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a girl healthy, wealthy, and pretty.”

Her routine starts by taking supplements, and a sip of vitamin water. From there on, she pets and plays with her cat, Lucy for a while until it is time for her to take a shower, brush her teeth, and do some morning skincare. Following, she picks out a fashionable outfit, does her 5 step natural look makeup, and heads downstairs carrying Lucy in her arms on an elevator to go eat the most healthy breakfast ever, salad.

Three hours after Astra woke up, a pair of eyes opened in the other bedroom. It was a bedroom with blue led lights, car models, sports equipment, a video game station with an Oculus and PS5, and just a bunch of other cool high tech gear. You guessed it, it’s Astro’s room.

“Yawn! Saturday morning and the FIRST day of VACATION! Today’s the day I’m getting that level 50 gear.” Astro leaped out of bed.

With his Samoyed, Loki, Astro went straight to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Unlike Astra, his morning skin care routine involves

water and a towel. After he brushes his teeth, he goes straight to the mansion’s gym to get a morning workout. He runs on the treadmill, lifts some weights, does some pushups, situps, squats, pull-ups, and practices soccer and basketball shots. After soccer practice in their field, Astro plays some dog games with Loki.

After all that training, he goes to wash all the sweat off by taking a nice cold shower and an ice bath. Then, he goes ahead and puts on his clothes, which is just a sports shirt and shorts. After that, he goes downstairs with Loki following closely behind and joins his sister for breakfast. Unlike her, his breakfast is waffles and maple syrup with a side bowl of Fruit Loops.

Today was the first day of summer vacation. Astra and Astro were planning on having a normal holiday, at their beautiful mansion of a home, watching movies all day in their movie theater, with bowls of popcorn on their laps. Until…

“KIDS! FAMILY MEETING!” Dad yells from the 2nd floor lounge.

“Ugh! Not again! Dad knows I hate family meetings, especially those about business deals,” complained Astra. She hates meetings so much that if there is a day without it, it’s music to her ears.

“Eh. I don’t care. If going to those meetings means I can keep my Meta Quest, then I’m going.” Astro said.

“I don’t think mom and dad are going to allow that today, they sound pretty serious. Anyways, let’s go.”

They head to the 2nd floor lounge to see Mom and Dad with their serious faces on.

“So kids, we’ve decided that you two have been having TOO MUCH screen time.” Mom claimed.

“So, we’ve decided to go on a ROAD TRIP with NO ELECTRONICS.” Dad added.

Those words casted looks of despair on the two. Astro’s pranky smirk disappeared from his face. Astra’s professional social media star smile vanished.

“WHAT? You gotta be joking. That’s absolutely IMPOSSIBLE! I can’t live without my phone, how about taking pictures or instagram?” Astra exclaimed.

“Does my Meta Quest 2 count?” Astro asked.

“Yes, it does. And Astra, you’ll live,” Mom said.

“You think? No,” at this point, Astra was fuming.

“How long without my Meta Quest?” Astro asked.

“3 weeks,” Dad replied.

“That’s a nice one, Dad,” Astro laughed.

“Not joking,” Mom confirmed.

“WHAT?!” the two’s faces defined sorrow.

“It’ll just be 3 weeks on a specially ordered camper RV with no electronics. The only screen you’ll see in the next 3 weeks is the screen on the microwave.” Mom announced.

“How about the TV? Come on, theres gotta be a TV,” Astro hopefully added.

“We asked the engineers to remove all connection from it, and completely shut it down,” confirmed Dad.

“Ugh, you really got my hopes up!”

After a few more minutes of complaining, the twins finally accepted their fate.

“I guess I’ll go and do my last Tik Tok and Instagram Reel…” Astra sighed.

Look Pear, G6

Jenny, G12

“I’ll play one game and then I’ll get packin,” Astro said.

Both Astra and Astro were miserable. They never ever lived without their devices. They weren’t living in old age, of course! Devastated, they packed their bags and got in the RV.

“UGHHH, I hate this! What will I say to the Astries?!” Astra complained, “*sigh*, It’s going to be okay, Lucy,”

“What are Astries supposed to be?” wondered Astro

“My fandom, of course! They won’t be able to live without me… so I better prepare a speech to bring them back alive when I come back to my iPhone 30!” Astra planned.

“Hiya, my lovely astries, sorry I was not active for the past few days. My unthoughtful parents did the UNTHINKABLE! My devices were banned… so I was not able to post anything, or do anything interesting.”

“Astro, was that good enough? Is that too dry?”

While Astra was planning a speech to her followers, Astro was busy kicking his ball around the RV living room and breaking furniture.

“Dad, can we stop at the park?” Astro asked. “Sure, son. Astra, join him. Be outdoors, have

some fun,” Dad said.

“Ugh, fine. Can’t say I would enjoy it, though,” Astra mumbled.

Out in the park, Astro was playing fetch with Loki, while Astra was writing her speech.

“Woah, I didn’t know this park has a basketball court!” Astro grabbed his basketball and called his friends, Zayn, Langdon and Asher to play 2v2.

Mom and Dad smiled at them from the RV. They were proud that the kids were surviving this far without their precious devices.

After a while all the chaos turned to calm. Astra decided to make a new painting in the art room. Art was something that helped her calm down a lot, and not worry about her absence on Instagram and other social media. Astro was still playing basketball with his friends. They both realized that devices weren’t their life. Astro had his sports, and Astra had art, something they both loved. It was time to let go of social media and games for a few weeks.

“I really did not think they were gonna change from those complaints,” stated Mom.

“Maybe we should make another road trip like this,” suggested Dad.

“NOOO!” Astro and Astra shouted.

ด้วยความปรารถนาดี G12 Valedictory

Kru Lek

แม้ว่าเราต้องปล่อยมือออกจากกัน ทุกความทรงจำาไม่เห็นต้องปล่อยทิ้งไป ช่วงเวลาที่ผ่านมาได้ผูกพัน ขอให้ความรู้สึกนั้น ไม่ผ่านไปไหน

ห่วงแค่ไหนก็ยังเป็นอย่างนั้น สิ่งเดียวที่ต้องการ ไม่เคยเปลี่ยน

ให้เธอได้พบคืนวันบนทางเดินที่สวยงาม ให้เธอได้คว้าดวงดาวทุกดวงตามที่ต้องการ

ให้เจอกับรักที่เธอจะจำาไปชั่วนิรันดร์ ความปรารถนาดีๆ จะมีให้นานแสนนาน

ให้เธอได้พบ...

ให้เธอได้คว้า...

ให้เจอกับรัก...

ความปรารถนาดีๆ จะมีให้นานแสนนาน..นาน

Jenny, G12

Jenny, G12

Cr. เพลงด้วยความปรารถนาดี_ศิลปิน เอ๊ะ จิรากร _ คำาร้อง เผ่าพันธุ์ อมตะ

ด้วยความปรารถนาดีจากใจ

ครูเล็ก MYP/DP Thai Department

The Little Prince and “Shewing the two Contrary States of the Human Soul”

Grade 11 English Language and literature students explore the effects of social institutions on children through an examination of William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience and the 2015 film version of The Little Prince. To synthesize understanding of this ambitious unit, students engaged in poetic homage to Blake’s speakers as they transition from naivete to seeing the world as it is, while borrowing inspiration from The Little Prince.

Cake, G11

Songs of Innocence: The Child’s First Lesson

In Eden’s Garden, pure and bright, I sat beneath a tree of light, My mind, a vessel filled with grace, Unblemished by the world’s embrace,

“O white Lamb!” my teacher spoke, “Your mind, a canvas unstroked, I’ll guide your hand, your soul’s delight, To paint upon your heart so white”

“O white Lamb,” my teacher gently said, “Let not your soul from light be led, For in obedience, a heaven unbound, A joyous peace, shall be found.”

And in that garden, once so bright, I walked in the soft twilight, My innocence, now veiled in shade, The price of knowledge duly paid. physics hands down

Songs of Experience The Fallen Scholar

In twilight’s hour, a scholar stood Where once he played, in childhood’s wood, He gazed upon the crumbling walls, Of hallowed halls where wisdom falls,

“Alas!” he cried, with voice so weary, “My heart is heavy, eyes are teary, For in this sacred school I learned To cherish dreams, but hope was burned.”

“O Blake, your words of innocence Did kindle in my soul a sense Of heaven’s grace, but now I see That childhood’s wisdom sets us free.”

And so, the fallen scholar spoke, His voice a whisper, weak and broke, A testament to those who yearn For wisdom’s flame, forever burned

Songs of Innocence: Platter

What a lovely bed inside this lovely cage

I sit down and ponder as I turn the page

We all do fight just for the chance Yes we sing and dance and walk a prance

To please the owners of the cage

We do do a great deal, enraged

When we fail to impress

With all our work and zeal and zest

Shrivelled up I feel sometimes And brittle some are my spines

But in the cage there’s water

Yet still it gets no less hotter

Noble owners of the cage

I dedicate to you this stage

Your shows in my head devine

Within me you are enshrined

Noble owners of the cage

I dedicate to you a page

Laying in your cosy bed

On your platter is my head

Songs of Experience: Of the line

I am the ship that breaks the waves

Torchmen’s lives written in bead

Cracked, abused Lead circles, angles and lines

On burnt, crumpled paper

The dock garnished with pride from land locked handkerchiefs

The men in white and blue, stood aside Their faces grim, hands in empty pockets And away she sails

The carpenter by the captain’s side Wedges, timber, axe saw and hammer

Hero of the decks from the depths

A share for his work, a share for his service

Along the seas. Free as sea birds can be Accounted charts, perfect mastery

I am the ship that breaks the waves

Men’s legacies written in blood

Cherished

Songs of Innocence: My Little Rose

Amidst the lifeless landscape, Protrudes the scarlet tape of my Rose. Standing out from the crowd of apes, Across the river whence Green flow;

As I lay flat inside my room, She hands me the papers of wealth. As I idle about in my room, She assures me of great health.

As I wander aimlessly through the paleyellow fields, She brings me the conveniences of industry.

In the palm of her hands lay the ministries, Providing us with the utmost care.

As we are neglected by the greater society, She spares me her sympathy.

Oh, my little Rose, What a God-given blessing you are. In this land of smiles.

Songs of Experience: My Little Rose

Laying over the hill of Greens Of lies surmounted together, Beyond the submerged tubes, Rusting away.

There my little Rose lies, Trimmed of all its thorns, Buried beneath the insurmountable plastic.

For she brings me the lifeless Greens

Oh, my little Rose, A true one of its kind, For she is encased in a dome of ice. Sat alone by all herself,

For all of eternity, For she sees things altruistically; For she lacks competence; For we are hers to puppet;

Anonymous Songs of Innocence: The Free Choice

In fields of green, and skies of blue, Birds flying into the scene

I was but a child knowing nothing but fun

Just running around playing in the green

I’d run and play and laugh and sing

Wishing that each day would just last a bit longer

The memories of my youth will never be forgotten

As time passes it will only grow stronger

But as I grew things changed too, The world was much darker, a frightening truth

Responsibilities came in and innocence began to go

Things weren’t the same as the days of my youth

Yet I still hold the memories dear

And keep them close holding them tight

So that my innocence isn’t corrupted

So that my heart will still have some light

I will hold these memories tight

Let them be a sign, of hope and peace

For to be free is to be innocent

And forgetting will be the ending piece

Songs of Experience: The Life of the Worker

In a world of order

In a life of work

On a paper-filled table

Working throughout life

Lost of soul through the path of money

A one-way trip devoid of joy

Without gold death is near

Without gold happiness is gone

The world is nothing but just a game

The life of rich is a journey with pain

My fellow man is just a tool

To make me richer, and move up further

A world filled with competitors, With the same goals and aspirations, Working towards greatness

In the end were all the same

I am a adult life only brings work

Night or day, there is no play

In a world where the rich prevail

The innocent light is nothing but a fraud

Just One Line One Sentence

Competition

Swank Award

G6-9

“

It was hot that summer, and the air stank of burning dreams.

G10-12

“

The clink sound of the lighter closing traveled down the building along with a flick of ash; another light in the sonder city night.

Teachers

“

At last she stands on a sea-soaked pier, her mourning clothes a lovely shambles, her once-coiffed hair now rolling with abandon in the ocean’s wild winds.

Popular Vote

G6-9

“

There were giant mushrooms, and flowers, and vines, and trees, like a jungle, and around them were a bunch of… ducks?

G10-12

“ Boy im going to fold you like an amino acid.

Teachers

“

At last she stands on a sea-soaked pier, her mourning clothes a lovely shambles, her once-coiffed hair now rolling with abandon in the ocean’s wild winds.

G6-9 Submissions

“

With each flicker of its foot and every sharp turn, the goat kept the audience on the edge of their seats, never quite sure where it would take the ball next.”

“

We, are human beings.”

“ The line flattens, the last pulse signaling an end to what should have been a beginning.”

“

It was hot that summer, and the air stank of burning dreams.”

“

There were giant mushrooms, and flowers, and vines, and trees, like a jungle, and around them were a bunch of… ducks?”

“

Damn it, we watched him for five years, and after five little minutes the child got away! We never know what “Secret” his cursed parents held now…”

“

Good morning class! Today we are going to be learning about famous ducks!” explained the teacher.”

G11 STEM Project

G10-12 Submissions

“

I don’t aim to survive; I aim to excel.”

“

This is why we know world war one as the fire, the forge and the blacksmith of the modern era”

“

And as the spirits evaporated into the air along with the prospects of tomorrow, one really wonders until when the problems are pushed back.”

“ Though the night was young we were already tired; burning muscles and shame forced a retreat under the covers.”

“

The clink sound of the lighter closing traveled down the building along with a flick of ash; another light in the sonder city night.”

“

The black sky trembles adding a clang to the nearby building; a shiver, a sip and closed eyes.”

“

Darkness claws through her vision, her heaving chest goes tight, and the Haze engulfs her.”

Jenny, G12

“

And as if ignorance was the order of the day, all pleas fell on deaf ears.” “

Live or die, all is same, what matters most, is that you are sane.”

Dating is like herding sheep, she is a sheep, and you are one too.” “

Spontaneous compliments hue a disorienting mystery”

“

Now Billy had opposed the death penalty, but the events that had just unfolded before him made him reconsider.”

“

Boy I’m going to fold you like an amino acid.”

“

Is society truly so sparse that a woman cannot entertain a tête-à-tête on a grand morning such as this?”

“

Twas a damp and dreary night in the streets of KaoSan Road... Something was awry.”

“

The orchestra sometimes stops its bows, and listen to its echo.”

“

The silent orchestra plays, all will play their part, playing through the brink of the first sunshine.”

“ Its originality was still up in the air, it... was just not there.”

Jenny, G12

Teacher Submissions

“

“

As the lines blur between human and machine, one wonders: Is this statement made by man or by AI?”

Students are not machines. need love and understanding”

“

At last she stands on a sea-soaked pier, her mourning clothes a lovely shambles, her once-coiffed hair now rolling with abandon in the ocean’s wild winds.”

“ The future, the past, the present all walk into a bar; things got a little tense”

“

“

Kadie had heard scratching behind walls her entire life.”

Laugh, Live and Love - that’s Life!”

“

Lava lamps and lava cake – that summed up her childhood.”

“

“What will people say?”, you ask.”

“

She was suddenly aware that her tongue was a muscle: heavy and tense, she felt the urge to put it on the roof of her mouth.”

“

An accidental death shadowed his twin’s timely death, a blessing for both”

“

To love and to hate are two sides of the same coin, be sad when there isn’t either.”

“

Cassie’s gut told her to walk away, her curiosity turned her to walk right back to him.”

“

Consonants click-clack and vowels hoot; together the train of thought rolls ahead ... from steampunk brains into a metaverse world.”

Tiro, G12

“

Jenny, G12

This story is better than Hemingway’s.”

“

A tortoise and a hare were just another story until Alice wondered too much and left Kansas for good.”

“

Nothing in the air presaged a love story until the cuckoo saw the nightingale’s nest.”

Moonglow

Mr. Maurice Mickle

There are two types of clubs

Highfalutin hoity-toity stuck up clubs

And gritty grimy dingy dank dungeons

I prefer the latter, for obvious reasons

Clubs must be weathered

Crackled paint & nicotine stained

Age-worn oriental rugs on stage

Vinyl booths with duct tape over the gashes

Illuminated in simple elegance - key lights - cinematic

Shining from above, a street lamp spotlight

Smokestacks ascending into the fixtures

Dust particles dancing in the smoky beams

An old fogy donning a fedora, belting it on the brass

Wee dee dee dee

Suave-mellow-warm-fluttering-flittering

Followed by a ta ta tah - ta ta tah - ta ta tah solo that knocks me out

A ponytailed gentlemen with black bold frames

Setting the keys on fire, improvising on the spot

Glancing up afterwards, “Any requests?”

My lady howls out “Body and Soul!…My Funny Valentine!”

He spoils the crowd with a medley made for us

Down in the depths, subterranean and cramped

No dress code, no cover

No snobby bathroom attendant

But these palaces of nostalgia, bygones

One by one, they fade

Resuscitated briefly, then snuffed out

Electric blue neon extinguished

Anemic silence outside

Timeless tunes trapped in your chambers

Only echoes of Ella as the glow dims

Farewell Moonglow

Farewell Messages to the Concordian Community

My dearest choupettes and chatons,

This should be the moment for me to tell you that a farewell is a new beginning, not the time to be sad, and to write motivational quotes taken from internet and supposedly created by inspiring philosophers, celebrities, or ChatGPT.

I tried to find one but honestly, they were all so boring, and the truth is, I don’t want to say goodbye. I had a lot of fun, and so much more with all of you, so please keep this in mind: you are great the way you are. My wonderful students, I am going to miss you, period. I wish you all the joy and fun you deserve.

Jeanne

Dear Concordian Community, I am trying to find words that express my deepest gratitude to the Concordian community, to Thailand, and to each and every person I had the privilege to meet during my years in this beautiful country.

You have been and will always be an important part of my lifelong learning journey. I truly hope our paths cross and when that happens we celebrate life, love, and friendship.

Take care and pursue your dreams,

Ms. Carolina

Hut, G12

Mim,

Dear Concordian Friends,

It’s hard to leave this school, which after 4 years has truly entered my heart & become a part of me.

My wife Veronika & I will miss so many things about our community, and we have absolutely loved our experiences here with you.

We are headed to Prague, Czechia, to be with our elderly parents and other loved ones who have simply been too far away for too long now, and hope you will remember us and stop by for a visit when you are in Central Europe. We would stay with you longer if we could, but family calls. As we prepare to move on, two quotes come to mind that I first encountered when I was a student in HS. They are from author Richard Bach:

• “It is easy to forget our times of knowing, to think they’ve been dreams, or old miracles, just one time. Nothing good is a miracle, nothing lovely is just a dream. The image may fade, but the beauty is real.”

• “Do not be dismayed at goodbyes, for a farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments, or after lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.”

I find comfort in ideas like that, especially during times of transition & change, and these past several years have been full of transitions & changes, haven’t they? We all lived through the global pandemic together, and we will think back on this unusual time a great deal in the future, marveling at what happened and how we dealt with it. That is a special bond among us all.

You have a wonderful school and community here at Concordian, so please cherish it, and make the most of it. We look forward to hearing what will come next for you soon.

Sincerely,

Jamie Martindale

Dear students,

This July marks the end of my seven years at Concordian. I have taught some of you two or three times, others once, and seen many turn into capable young adults. Although I will no longer be bodily present for our spirited classroom discussions and hallway chats, I will value these years and what a special group of kids I got to know. As you continue learning and growing, remember that the connectedness between students and teachers is what transforms good schools into great schools.

Take care, Luke Fiander

To all of my Little Ponies, Corn Children, Spring Chickens, and Homies:

It has been such a pleasure having you in my English classes throughout the years. I will always treasure our time spent together in the Rotunda sweating in front of “Linda”, deciphering desk graffiti, and jamming to Pakistani Pop.

You are all very special human beings and I feel lucky to have been a small part of your life. I am excited to learn what you choose to do with your knowledge, energy, and empathy in the future; I am sure you will be great wherever your lives take you! If there is one thing that I hope you take from my class and carry it with you on your journeys forward, it is of course, you cannot use a comma between two independent clauses— JUST KIDDING!

When life becomes tough, always remember to look at the bigger picture and rest assured that you are enough just as you are. You have so much to look forward to and luckily, most of it does not include your favorite acronyms ACES or TPIVOT.

Thank you for making me laugh on a daily basis and I hope we can stay in touch!

<3 Ms. Lynch-y

P.s. “Spicy Wind”

Queridos:

Moving on is never easy. I have never been good at separating from where I am and from who I share my time with. No matter the scale of the place, the amount of people or the distance I will be moving to. It has never been easy for me to move on.

However, life can be challenging and funny at times because I chose to be an international teacher. And as such, getting to know many cultures around the world can be a strong asset. So moving is not easy, but it can be a big part of my role.

So with my heart in one hand, I can not say goodbye because you are and will always be part of me. I truly hope that some of our many experiences shared together here at Concordian remain with you as well.

This is how I have learned to cope with the paradox of moving on. I will take you with me.

Hasta muy pronto, Ms. Caro

Jenny, G12

Jenny, G12

Mast CEO

Elia Wen Peña (Elia), G12

Co-CEOs

Elizabeth Rose Chiang (Rose), G12

Paradee Arkarattanakul (Meepoo), G11

Layout

Warutch Ingwattanapoka (Pun Pun), G12

Chuntaput Ruayjirawat (Tiro), G12

Dear Perada Watanadilokkul (Dear), G11

Cover Page

Warutch Ingwattanapoka (Pun Pun), G12

Chuntaput Ruayjirawat (Tiro), G12

Chotchanit Lohachitpitaks (Jenny), G12

Editors

Anna Binabdullah (Anna), G12

Thanyalak Loo (Temmy), G12

Elia Wen Peña (Elia), G12

Elizabeth Rose Chiang (Rose), G12

Tsheyang Wangchuk Tsering (Tsheyang), G11

Kyla Abigail Jayapurna (Kyla), G11

Paradee Arkarattanakul (Meepoo), G11

Advisors

Ms. Kathleen Baertschy

Mr. Luke Fiander