March 2015 Eagle's Eye

Eagle’s Eye Dalat International School, Tanjung Bunga, 11200 Penang, Malaysia

What’s Inside: Desired Destinations . . . 2 TCKs with the “travel bug” can’t wait to visit a new site (maybe during spring break)

Out to Lunch . . . . 3 Seniors enjoy their privilege to eat lunch off campus

Vandalizing the Hills . 5 Long boarders tear up the hills (and their bodies) on the hills around campus

The “No” in Technology . 9 Dorms hold a “Media Blackout Day” to focus on building lasting bonds

Behind the Scenes . . . 13 Yearning to be one of the “big guys” on campus instead of enjoying your own position Eagle’s Eye Staff Note: This copy of the school paper has been written by the students in the English 12 class.

Writers: Josh Basha, Jessie Brandon, Cindy Chiem, Dennis Choi, Shelly Choi, Li Ze Choo, Jing Yi Khoo, Andy Kim, John Kim, Kirk Ladner, Jian Shiun Lai, Denzel Lim, Ting Hui Lim, Clarissa Lister, Micah Martens, Ziwei Moey, Tayler Nash, Hung-Jie Song, Juliet Suen, Johnathan Tan, Yang Rong Tan, Fong Wei Ting, Melissa You Adviser: Mrs. Carin Roylance

Eagle’s Eye

March 2015

Only Rotten Fruit Comes Free

By Shelly Choi

The people of Papua hold a similar perception of free education. Yet Ob Anggen exists to counter that perception by providing quality education free of charge. Ob Anggen literally means “good fruit,” and its name reveals the school’s good favor in the community.

The need for quality education can easily be observed in the Papuan Bokondini context.

Papua’s 2001 SpeWamena cial Autonomy Law, intended to return the majority of Papua’s natural wealth to its provinces

Whether curious students have seen Papuan teachers roaming around the campus or heard the odd name of Ob Anggen dropped by teachers, most members of the Dalat community have at least some level of familiarity with the Papuan school and Dalat’s connection to it. Aside from the privileged Penang Kuala Lumpur

Jakarta Bali

few who have spent a week in Papua eating rice and green veggies three times a day in the company of thousands of cockroaches and enduring a media fast even longer than the notorious Media Literacy requirement, most know little about the Ob Anggen School and its purpose.

The Ob Anggen School communicates its mission on its website by sharing a story from the book The Beautiful Tree, which is summarized as follows: An African father who, when asked why he sent his child to a run-down private school when he could send his child to the government school, answered, “When you go to the market and someone is giving fruit away for free it is because it is rotten. If you want good quality fruit, you pay for it.”

and to abate political unrest, failed; and Papuans still live in misery. They have the highest malnutrition and HIV rates and the lowest rate of life expectancy. Specifically in the aspect of education, schools face issues such as a lack of funding for teachers and a shortage of facilities for schools in which to gather.

Seeing these needs, Dalat alumnus Scotty Wisley found a perfect fit for his gifts and passions. He loved adventures and wanted to find a way to impact others by exemplifying Jesus in high-need areas.

When he encountered Papua, he found it a perfect place where he can not only (Continued on page 2, col. 1)

Painting Your World

By Juliet Suen

Carpe Diem. We use this terrible social platitude to describe how we derive many of our dreams and aspirations in life from our desire to experience the unknown. “Bucket lists are good for remembering your dreams and setting goals for what you want to achieve in life,” said Micah Martens (12).

The experiences crammed in a list before we die include: sky-diving, riding in a hot air balloon, traveling the world, throwing tomatoes at the Toma1

tina festival in Spain, taking a helicopter ride across the city, and swimming with dolphins.

We live for nail-biting experiences. We live for palpitating moments. As one holistic human race, we live for adventure; and adventure just happens to sit at the heart of life-long memories.

When asked about their bucket lists, a few seniors gave ecstatic responses while others gave blank, unenthusiastic stares. Although some seemed (Continued on page 3, col. 2) March 2015

Desired Destinations If you had a million dollars, where would you travel to?

With spring break right around the corner, an unlimited budget would allow you to collect new stamps in your passport.

Most students finally start planning vacation trips to take a break from school and de-stress from all the workload. No matter what your budget, curiosity can inspire you to travel, allowing you to see the differences and beauty in other countries.

Travelling essentially molds our character and allows us

to discover ourselves in more depth; therefore it gives us the ability to form better versions of ourselves.

Countless people yearn to travel to different countries to explore and experience lively cultures. As spring break comes around, students ask among themselves if they plan on escaping this small island to head to another destination to relieve their stress.

Gazing at the world map in the library, Clarissa Lister (12) said, “I want to travel alone to a place

where no one knows me, where I have limited resources, allowing me to reflect on the meaning of life.”

Travelling, a popular trend for many people, motivates some to go as far as making it their lifestyle. For example, Louis Cole, a YouTube vlogger known for filming his travel adventures all around the world, shares what he does online for people to see and to become inspired.

Many reasons exist as to why people choose to travel to different continents; for instance, some travel to meet new people along the journey, but others take the opportunity to experience rich cultures from all around the globe.

Traveling can ultimately destress us from our lives and al-

lows us to relax. “I would love to go to Russia to see the Eastern Orthodox churches. Both my favourite author and director are Russian too,” said Tayler Nash (12) as he flipped through the pages of The Brothers Karamazov.

In the school community, students offered feedback on their favourite tourist destinations. Jian Shiun Lai (12) said, “If I could choose to travel to any country, I would choose Spain because I would like to experience the culture. I also know Spanish, so it would be awesome if I could communicate with the people there.“ People want to learn new things and experience different cultures while making the most out of their trip. Some solely want to enjoy a trip to places they have never seen before.

While giggling, Matthew Shafer (12) tried to speak in a serious (Continued on page 3, col. 2)

Ob Anggen School...

visit Ob Anggen and to offer support in the areas of curriculum and professional development. Dalat staff members anticipated being able to offer their areas of specialization, but they found that the school needed a more foundational framework at that stage in its

ylance and science teacher Mr. Brian Brewster, and Mr. Brewster’s sixth grade daughter Kalia, went on a second trip in March 2015 to spend time with the teachers and students in Bok. When Mr. Brewster started teaching about pendulums and how they work, he realized that the teachers did not know how to read time on a stop watch.

He then had to change his approach and instead trained them to use basic measuring instruments.

While in P a p u a M r.

Brewster found the simplicity of the Papua lifestyle shocking: “Hanging out with people was my favorite part of my trip. People are so friendly, full of joy, and happy.”

He continued, “I realized how materialistic I am when I lost my luggage, and by observing the Papuan people I realized how happy people can be even with very few material possessions.”

Mr. Roylance said, “Papua was mysterious, but now it is a place of beauty: beautiful scenery, beautiful people, and a beautiful cause.”

Kalia, the only student who has been to Papua from Dalat, expected a lot of bugs, dirty water, and bad food. Although her expectations were accurate, she enjoyed her time there.

Prior to her trip, she had spent three months designing and making earrings to sell, raising money for her flight. While she was in Papua, she did some art projects with students using power paints she brought from Malaysia and had loads of fun.

When asked to describe Papuans in one sentence, she said “They may not have a lot of knowledge of science and math in their brains, but they sure do have big hearts.”

All in all, Dalat hopes to help the Ob Anggen School improve by providing the support of a sister school. Wisely believes that helping villages start schools will bring more opportunities of working closely with communities, which he sees as a valuable way to bring God’s kingdom to Papuans.

By equipping schools with an international standard of education, the Ob Anggen School empowers families, and Dalat gets to play a part in that noble pursuit. In order to play a big role effectively, everyone in this community would benefit greatly from getting involved.

Nineteen hours of journey in five different planes and a long truck ride brought the crew from Penang, Malaysia, to Bokondini, Indonesia. •

By Melissa You

(Continued from page 1, col. 4) explore but also change numerous people’s lives. Combining his passions for adventure and development, he created a program that challenged American college students to grow spiritually and emotionally by traveling overseas and providing educational support to local schools. He dreamt of providing schools that could serve 2000 students and desired to model these schools after Dalat.

God works in mysterious ways. About five years ago, the Fischers met Scotty Wisely at Penang International Church.

Wisely shared where he works and what he does in Papua. Mr. John and Mrs. Heather Fischer built a friendship with him while he was visiting Malaysia on a visa run, and they started thinking about how Dalat, as a well-established school, could provide help to the younger counterpart.

When presented with the idea of partnering with Ob Anggen, the school board approved it. Mrs. Fischer hopes for Dalat to help Ob Anggen School indefinitely. Asked to describe the future plans, Mrs. Fischer said, “It is like a partnership.

We will be training them on site and bringing the staff to Dalat and sending our staff to support their needs.”

Dalat followed through by sending three staff in 2014 to Eagle’s Eye

Ob Anggen School

Bokondini (Google Maps)

development. Math teacher Mr. Bob Davis, with a big smile on his face, explained that while he planned to teach math-specific pedagogy, he found himself teaching things such as the use of lesson planning, objectives, and active learning.

Even though things didn’t go the way he expected, Mr. Davis specifically commented on the staff in saying: “I was surprised by how dedicated teachers were to education and their pouring love towards their students.”

ESL teacher Mr. Craig Ro2

March 2015

Out to Lunch

By Yan Rong Tan “To eat senior lunch or not to eat senior lunch, that is not a question,” said the well-known Ting Hui Lim. From Monday to Friday, for twenty-four hours, one thousand four hundred and forty minutes, eighty-six thousand and four hundred seconds, seniors anticipated this very moment— lunch. It gave them 40 minutes of freedom to bond and escape campus and satisfy their cravings for Malaysian cuisine.

“Yan Rong [Tan], stop talking to your girlfriend and go!” Lim yelled at the top of his lungs.

Situations like this where students rushed their friends for lunch commonly occur at the beginning of lunch block. Due to the short amount of time for eat, seniors regularly rushed to the office to sign-out; and those who were slow were often yelled at.

Students who drove out to eat sprinted from the office to the upper field in hopes of gaining more time to eat, bond with friends, and get back in time for F-Block classes.

The privilege of senior lunch gave them the opportunity to go to different places and experience various Malaysian cuisine.

In walking distance, some of the common places the seniors

went to were Hillside, Gustos,

Bucket Lists...

do them; participating in Holi, climbing up Mt. Everest, and eating Haggis begin to seem impossible. They do not happen every day, after all.

Certain things on bucket lists seem more achievable, and some remain under the bleak category of “nearly impossible”; nevertheless, the dream lives on. No matter how impossible, people aspire to achieve their dreams because having dreams can make life that much more thrilling and meaningful.

A cultural exploration seems to permeate the bucket lists of many students. People, in general, want to explore cultures that seem exciting and foreign to them. Traveling the world has long been ubiquitous in bucket lists globally—there’s just something about experiencing different cultures that captivates us.

In a sense, we have this overwhelming feeling of being enriched with things we have never experienced before—we yearn for our world to be painted

(Continued from page 1, col. 4) to have a good idea about what they wanted to experience before they “kick the bucket,” others didn’t give the existence of a bucket list a second thought. For example Shion Matsumoto said, “A bucket list? What’s that?”

Skydiving seemed to be the common denominator of all bucket lists, and quite frankly, who wouldn’t want to sky dive? Often times, we do not hear people say, “I want to learn to snowboard” or “I want to be a power ranger” on bucket their lists. No. We live for electrifying, exhilarating, edge-of-the-seat experiences; and that, boys and girls, makes life exciting. This could say we shoot for the moon in hopes to make the impossible possible.

Not only can memories be extrapolated from bucket lists, but they can create experiences of a life time. The entries on bucket lists exist because we rarely receive an opportunity to Eagle’s Eye

and Domino Pizza. Those with transport generally went to Ninety-nine, Sin Nam Huat, and TESCO. Some of these places offered the seniors a chance to taste Malaysian hawker food.

Whether chicken rice, a burger, Thai food, or economy rice, these dishes over time enticed seniors to return for more.

Consequently, a large number of students preferred to go out for lunch.

Sometimes, a normal sedan car, like Jet Oh’s Audi A4, A6 or Mercedes E-Class, would be filled with up to eight students. “To go with-

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out senior lunch is like meat without protein, water without hydrogen, and men without mind,” said Lim. Although senior lunch had its many privileges to enjoy, time was an enemy. Students who drove out regularly had limited places to choose due to the disadvantage in time. The ticking time also forced students to eat their meals quickly, so they could make it back to school for class.

“The short time for lunch sometimes forces us drivers to

make desperate decisions in hopes of getting back in time before the first bell rings,” said Li Ze Choo.

Eating and driving at a hurried pace may in time contribute to an unhealthy life-style. This could be alleviated if more time was given for lunchtime.

Going out to eat was a blessing for all seniors. It gave them the opportunity to take a break from three years of repetitive high school lunch and bond with friends in a different environment.

Jian Shiun Lai said, “Lunch, for me, is a time to bond with my friends when we go out, try new food, and chat about our daily lives as we often do not have time for this at school due to the constant pressures that we have to cope with. It is also about learning new traits and hobbies that my friends have.” •

The Travel Bug...

(Continued from page 2, col. 4) tone, “I’ll travel to North Korea and shake the hands of Kim Jong Un with an electric buzzer; then I would proceed to run away and avoid getting shot.”

A myriad number of people travel all around the world each day, whether for business or personal purposes. Each person embarks on his or her own unique adventure and desires to

make unforgettable memories.

Aunt Valerie Weidemann stated, “Once you have left your passport country and see a new place, you catch the travel bug.

It can become a life-long desire to seek new experiences, new cultures, and new parts of the world. It’s hard to stop travelling once you start.”

Each trip shines like a jewel collected in a treasure chest, just like each stamp collected in your passport. •

with colors not of our own.

Learning about culture “... helps you understand the reason behind why there are so many different outlooks in the world today and why people are different,” explained Shaikha Shahtaj (12).

Life promotes the ability to learn more every day, and bucket lists help shape the adventures people take; and ultimately, these dreams help drive us to connect with people outside of our own little world.

But we cannot forget the most appealing aspects to exploring the unknown: the people we love.

Through the highs and lows of an adventure, the people we share these precious memories with are the people we do not plan on forgetting anytime soon.

A bond, formed from shared experiences, puts into perspective the reasons why we live and what we live for. They separate the trivial from the important.

Bucket lists serve to make

dreams tangible no matter how unimaginable our dreams may be. Though some may seem impossible to achieve, they offer us the one thing we need: hope. These bucket lists are not just short-term goals, these are life long-term objectives set in hopes they will enrich our lives like never before.

Jumping off a small, shaky plane thousands of feet above solid ground may change you as an individual, eating Haggis may lead you to discover that you don’t like it at all; but in the end, all these experiences make us realize that life and its adventures are incredibly precious.

Bucket lists impel us to do the unthinkable, to never give up, and to believe in ourselves; therefore let us be inspired to have one of our own. We put ourselves out there to see what life has to offer in our fleeting moment.

At the end of the day, it is the journey that paints our world with colors and experiences of a lifetime. • March 2015

This Too Shall Pass

high school.” Like You, seniors have bonded strongly with each other during Sneak and have enjoyed the bliss of reaching out to younger grades.

Although seniors relish in the joy from diverse senior privileges, they work even harder to

twelfth graders as more and more peers received acceptance letters from universities all over the world including, but not limited to, the U.K., the U.S.A., Australia, Singapore, and Canada.

The senior year, however, exists for more than just preparing for colleges. Clarissa Lister stated, “What I enjoy most about senior year is that it hits me—

ally, life-long friendships amass from high school.

The student council has created an atmosphere that allows everyone to come together without any difficulties.

Denzel Lim said, “I felt that most class members got open....

There is always a boundary among people, but we [were able] to cross those boundaries [together].”

maintain good grades. Apparently, the pressure of college applications had seeped into every senior to a point that the term “senioritis,” a disease used to describe lethargic state of senior students, has become a myth. Ting Hui Lim supported this sentiment when he declared, “Senioritis did not hit me.”

College application had become a hot topic among the

how in less than a semester we are all graduating; as a result, I psychologically feel closer to my class. We are all going through this [college[ transition together, and that makes things slightly better.”

In the class of 2015, independence does not exist; instead, interdependence flourishes among individuals. Gener-

Every senior stands equal to each other, and ease flows throughout the class.

As the year hastens to an end, the nostalgia and laughter multiply by the day. Under these distractions, however, seniors still strive to work arduously to end their final year strong because, for all they know, this too shall pass. •

By Andy Kim

The 4th of June indicates the beginning of yet another summer break for many; but for a certain few, the day marks the end of many chronicles. Senior year, the year every student desires—mainly for the lunch privileges and banquets—comes to a rapid close for seniors when second semester kicks in.

As the DDay nears, seniors often get caught in nostalgic emotions as memories of the Senior Sneak, class parties, and bonding with friends creep into their minds.

Melissa You asserted, “I guess the one thing I enjoy most about the senior year is that we can finally go out for lunch. And I feel a lot closer to my classmates after bonding with them during Senior Sneak. I also enjoy having an eighth-grade buddy because we are reaching out to the younger ones and spending time with them before they transition into

Feel the Relief The students reach the room, trembling with excitement as the wooden door opens, leading to an illuminated cyber-world. The love of a student’s life lies beckoning, embracing, and welcoming the user to escape into the

realm of the imagination.

The computer, abundant with multiple realities, allows media users, such as fatigued students, to delve into dimensions of perfection and stress-relieving activiEagle’s Eye

By Li Ze Choo

Despite the ever-standing pressure, through flourishing technology and widespread marketing, students can now easily find an escape through an ever-occurring quest within a few taps of their fingers.

Kirk Ladner (12) asserted, “Life is stressful. People need a release from stress. Some people find their release in social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or even Pinterest.

These things are too real for me: they are too much like the real world which just reminds me of the stressors of life; so I like to escape reality into the virtual worlds offered by the video games I’ve come to enjoy.”

The stress of the real world cages adventurous souls into the confined and “accepted” views of society. Through the unlimited quests of virtual reality—although unhealthy if occurring in long hours—teenagers anni-

ties. This allows the stress—of maintaining a student’s social, emotional, and academic aspects of his or her life—to be discharged into oblivion and never to be found again.

Teenagers’ souls crave to seek and explore new things, to find the missing links that they have never experienced before.

Unfortunately, the stress of school life shatters and smashes those desires into pieces.

From a young age, children assimilate adults’ emphasis on academics in order to get accepted into the ideal college and to get hired into the ideal job. All adolescents’ passions have been unwillingly suppressed to fulfill the expectations and wishes of society.

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hilate their metaphoric cages of societal pressure and break free into intellectual evolution.

This allows a youngster’s mind to escape into a realm of their limitless and infinitely innovative creations. Although stress levels may never subside enough for a person to obtain absolute inner peace and a healthy mind, gaming allows him or her to endure the grueling battles of stressful parental and societal expectations.

The stress of high school students slowly devours their health, leaving only grumpy attitudes and panda-like eyes.

Andy Kim (12) said, “Every day I reach home stressed and disappointed by the amount of homework I have. I attempt to pace myself slowly throughout the night; however, I always end up frustrated and discouraged due to immense pressure.”

Stress, by itself, does not suggest the outcome of chronic and painful illnesses; however, (Continued on page 5, col. 1) March 2015

There Is No Title

By Hung-Jie Song

When given the freedom to respond however they wanted, the students and faculty provided valuable insight into the veracity,

Good afternoon or morning or evening ladies and gentlemen.

Frankly, I’m no psychic, so I won’t even try to lie about knowing when you will read this. It’s 2015, and I’d like to say that you—yes, you with the beautiful face—are guilty.

Before you try to defend yourself and growl at my baseless accusations, I would like for you to try something for me. Put your iPad or whatever you decide to read the Eagle’s Eye with to the side and go lie on the ground for a moment.

Have you done it? Great! You probably look dumb to those around you and feel equally the same with a crimson blush that now sears your face—but that’s not the point. The point is that all of you just lied.

Whether or not you did accomplish what I asked for really goes to prove my point. After all, the New Oxford American Dictionary defines “lie” as, “(Of a person or animal) being in or

assuming a horizontal or resting position on a supporting surface,” and, “an intentionally false statement.”

I am, like all of you, an individual that lies. If you still feel guilty, I so happened to have run across and have interviewed several liars from differing student populations.

The interview process adopted a simple approach and required answers to only two questions, with the first inquiring of people’s lying habits: “How often do you lie?”

Students and staff answered with yes or no responses—who even does that? In all honesty, I might have restricted them to only two responses to choose from. Below, nevertheless, lies a chart that tallies the responses given by the Dalat Community.

Surprisingly enough, I have aggregated rather astonishing results. Five individuals responded with option C or “maybe” an option I did not even provide.

or the lack thereof, of the speech patterns they adopt amongst their peers under quotidian circumstances.

What we may conclude from these statistics really boils down to the fact that everyone lies.

Yes, even the people who claim to have never lied have—in a bout of irony—just lied.

We should, nevertheless,

Gaming: a Stress-Reliever...

able to satisfy his or her burning desires to explore converses with other students of the same interests to explore virtual jungles, arenas, and playing fields.

Through the exploration of the unknown, the students can relish the virtual effects of deserts, oceans, and valleys; but, at the same time, they can enjoy the cool comfort of their cozy beanbags. Through technological improvement, bonding can now occur with strangers all around the world: one does not need to linger in the same area to find and affiliate with others of the same interest.

The interests of people around the world always differ. Some love to venture deep into the jungle or sail on the vast ocean while others love to explore such scenarios in the comfort of their own home. The main idea lies in that humans require ways to relieve stress.

Gaming, an activity that allows bonding and requires motor skills to achieve and accomplish, nests in one of the most common ways that students relieve their immense stress. Gaming endures as students escape from strenuous reality and find euphoric pleasure and instantaneous relief. •

(Continued from page 4, col. 4) it is an important contributor to heart disease and stroke.

Human bodies do not exist to withstand the amount of stress that constantly, in modern society, disturbs the conscious and subconscious mind.

Mortal beings require periods of extensive rest and peace in life to create rooms for the human race to improve and experience pleasures. Instead of always focusing on the activities that accentuate stress, individuals, through gaming, stand able to release stress through the realm of imagination.

Apart from alleviating stress, gaming also encourages people from all nationalities and backgrounds to associate. Jian Shiun Lai (12) emphasizes, “Through gaming, I was able to discover and meet strangers who have lived different lives. Gaming has aided me in discovering why others were so addicted in it; it helped me to discover intellectually and mentally how gaming sometimes does improve one’s skills not just in a creative manner, but also in the working aspect of society.”

A student, such as Lai, unEagle’s Eye

focus on the positive aspects of life. Upon inquiring further into this matter, Tayler Nash (12) said, “[I like it] like my women: Hot and not too cheesy.”

Of course, you may wonder what Mr. Nash means in the context of how often Dalat students lie, to which I must admit that he did provide those exact words but in response to a completely unrelated question—how do you like your pizza? I have not spoken an untruth up this point.

You may accuse me of perjury, but all I’ve done up to this point—regardless of the content’s absurdity—contributed to displaying the extent to which deception pervades our Christian society. We must remain attentive to the words that slip from our mouths, but we should not attempt to dictate or defeat what has become a part of our sinful nature. Jesus will do that.

Just remember, the next time you decide to tell your kids Santa Claus does exist, that that counts as a lie too. If it makes you any happier, at least those asked how often they lie provided honest answers. Hopefully. •

Vandalizing the Hills

By John Kim In the middle of the scorching day, under the blazing sun, the boys gathered and hiked up Pearl Hill to begin the journey in search of adrenaline. Passing cars and motorbikes, they raced down the incline at 100 kilometers per hour as they reached a sharp corner. When they reached the apex of the hill, all of them, in one motion, drifted to slow down and make the corner. The wheels left thane lines, marking the hill as the boys’ territory. Gliding down the asphalt, they felt cold sweat reaching down their throats as their young bloods pumped hard.

“Oh Shoot!” yelled Micah Martens (12) after a massive wipeout. As he stood back up, dusting off the sand and gravel on his arms, he laughed and ran rushed back up to the hill for another run.

The boys’ bodies—marked with stitch marks, blood, scars, and road rashes—proved all the wipe-outs they experienced.

“Even though we wipe out and leave scars on our bodies, we 5

can’t stop. The adrenaline drives you insane!” said Keegan Oppenheim (11).

A long board is made from of a set of four wheels, two pairs of trucks, bushings, bearings, and a deck. With different sizes and durometers of wheels, skaters choose what kind of riding they want to do.

The deck comes in with multiple plies of Canadian maple.

The board’s length ranges from 35 to 50 inches.

The trucks, made from metal pieces, connect the wheels to the deck. The bearings connect the trucks to the wheels, and it helps with the spinning.

Long boarding branched off from the skateboarding scene 30 years ago as more people began downhill skating. It can be used for freestyle tricks, cruising, freeriding, and downhill riding. As the scene developed throughout the last couple of decades, more people began spreading the culture across the world. Especially among the younger generation, the adrenaline of speed and (Continued on page 6, col. 1) March 2015

Grades! Grades! Grades!

Students have an eavesdropping issue: peeking on other students’ iPad screens.

Watching someone playing a game, giving commentaries, and even spectating silently at their professional skills truly provides joy.

On the other hand, many tend to get overly anxious and sensitive if someone gazes at their iPad screens while they check their PowerSchool.

Students desperately check their GPAs, and they would salivate over their close to or higher

Long Boarding...

(Continued from page 5, col. 4) urban culture intrigues them.

“What’s special about the community is how open and free it is; it doesn’t matter what your ethnicity, age, background, or social status is. We are all connected by one love,” explained Martens.

The culture welcomes all kinds of people. Long boarding promotes passion and love for one another. “It is a good community where people come together to spend good times doing what they love,” said Yusoof Monawvil (8), the youngest rider currently on campus.

Over the past years, many skaters and long boarders gathered at Dalat. United in one spirit, they enjoy the favorite hobby of their lifetime.

Shredding the local hills and skating down gnarly ramps, they express their souls in different colors compared to normal teenagers. Even though they encounter injuries and pain, these merely motivate them to challenge themselves. As the community grows, campus is full of life and color by strong and passionate teenagers. • Eagle’s Eye

By Denzel Lim

earn money, how would you feed your family and have hope to continue life?”

Parents at Dalat don’t really know what’s going on in the school life of their kids. They seems to only be pleased with the grades that their children attain and are not too concerned with other aspects of their children’s lives. They wouldn’t continue to bother their children from different criteria; therefore as long as the students get the grade, they do not mind what their kids are doing as long as their academics are up to standard.

Teachers, on the other hand, follow a different philosophy than students. They emphasize learning instead of numbers and figures in PowerSchool.

Grades motivate students.

Nonetheless, very few students care about the learning and the application of the lectured materials. “I think it is up to students to balance priorities and figure out how best to spend their time.

As far as anxiety, if you have done your best with the time that you have, then don’t be anxious.

What more can you do? An ‘A’ that you worked hard for is just as valuable as a ‘B’ that was your own personal best, but I know many students don’t agree!

“In general, Dalat students are involved in many more activities than students at larger schools. Although this is a great benefit to being at a small school, a part of life education is learning how to balance your time and say “no” to that really great thing you want to be involved in.

than 4.0 GPAs and still beg for higher grades.

Instead of getting anxiety from what movies to catch for the coming weekend or from their body image, students apprehend grades. Shouldn’t these anxieties be spread evenly throughout other aspects of life?

Sean Ko (10), a specimen of the academic perfectionist category, proudly proclaimed, “A ‘B’ is a fail; I’m going do anything to get an ‘A’ next time.

I check my PowerSchool almost every single block.”

Ironically, another bunch of students showed contradictory results because senioritis affected them. Li Ze Choo(12) explained, “GPA doesn’t matter in life. Einstein said, ‘If you test a fish by its ability to climb a mountain, then it will live its life thinking that it is stupid. Friendship is not something you can live without.”

Hung-Jie Song (12) replied when asked if he values grades or friendships more. “I treasure friendship more because grades are superficial. If friendships are superficial, they don’t exists in the first place.”

Andy Kim (12), in contrast to Song and Choo, asserted, “If there is no education, then you won’t earn money; if you don’t

“Or you may accept the “B” grade because you want to experience involvement in multiple sports. I do see some students doing this,” explained Mrs. Carin Roylance, twelfth grade English teacher when confronted with the question of whether the students put excess anxiety on grades.

Mrs. Roylance continued when asked whether if students should spend more time on other aspects of life, “It’s all about priorities, balance, and choices.

Is your spiritual life suffering? Is it worth sacrificing for that A+?

We all need to make sure we aren’t losing out on things that are very important and crucial to life because we are focusing only on grades or our job or monetary success.”

Periodically, everything that students have to do seems like a priority, which makes it tough to figure out where to begin.

Grades are just numbers, and it does not define everything in a person. As Mrs. Roylance said, we should know how to prioritize our duties and get in touch with our own hobbies.

Students will not marry their grades in the future, although stating it this way might over exemplifying the drama of the stressed issue.

The common things that are priceless in life don’t usually come in numbers.

Don’t commit academic suicide—academics always takes a certain priority in our lives—but it’s often misunderstood as the ultimate priority in a student’s life. Students need to set priorities on other aspects of life. •

What’s Happened to the Movies?

By Kirk Ladner the books have a good story line but purely to make more money.

The results of the poll showed that high school students know about 57.3 percent of the movies that premiere this year. Over half of the surveyed students expressed the most excitement for the upcoming film The Avengers: Age of Ultron but not entirely without their reservations. Benjamin Tse, senior class president, had this to say, “I would say the Avengers [causes some anxiety]. I am actually set-

What movies premiered in 2015? High school students, polled about some of the movies set for release in 2015, gave their thoughts on movies in general.

Lately, Hollywood has produced movies with story lines and characters from popular novels; and a majority of the surveyed students found this revolting. Recently, the problem has become exacerbated because Hollywood produces these movies not because they think 6

ting a pretty high expectation for it, so I hope it is a great movie.”

The least-anticipated movie, according to the high school students, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip, probably experienced low appeal as the movie had a much younger target audience.

The high school students, one after another, presented their fears for the future of the film industry as more and more sequels come out of the The (Continued on page 7, col. 1) March 2015

Backstage Drama or Drama That’s Backstage?

By Fong-Wei Ting

A hushed silence fell over the crowd as the lights slowly dimmed, the audience patiently waiting for the actors to reappear on stage. Time seemed to pass slowly as the entire auditorium was bathed in darkness; soft, ambient music played in the background.

In contrast to the stillness of the audience, the backstage became an absolute train wreck.

The actors ran up and down the stairs, trying to find the correct props and microphones to attach to their costumes. The technicians themselves were having a ball, trying to get in contact with unresponsive stage managers, regaining control of the malfunctioning lights, and calming the disorder within the sound booth rampaged above the heads of the audience. What seemed to be an eternity was eventually resolved within the span of five minutes; however, it was long enough to make the audience wonder why they were within the embrace of darkness for so long.

Backstage drama is literally drama backstage—pun intended. Little bits of amusing yet frustrating events pop up

at random times; for instance, during last year’s Boardwalk Melody, Dong Jae Khoo’s microphone did not turn on, and he proceeded to practice his singing, much to the amusement of the cast.

Khoo then became quite agitated at Joel Halbedl (11), who spent the next half hour running away from him.

Although this may seem like fun and games, the actors and technicians have quite a lot of work to accomplish in order to finalize the play. While actors memorize their scripts, their places on stage and try to keep in character, the technicians have to ensure that no problems will occur with the microphones, lights, and cues during the play—and perhaps try to stop the catchy songs from replaying over and over within their heads as they listen to the actors sing.

Eventually, everyone will make up for each other’s shortcomings—such as a misplaced light cue that shines on the wrong spot whereby the actors will then try to improvise their acts to make it fit (sometimes), or when an actor isn’t ready, the technicians will try to stall as long

as they can without the audience noticing (most of the time).

Like all extramural activities, drama takes a large portion of a student’s time both inside and outside school. Halbedl stated, “I guess it does take up a lot of time, especially days where we have junior class workdays, homework or...stuff.”

Dress rehearsal days, or even a day before dress rehearsals, seem to be the most hectic as the sound and light technicians have to leave after D-Block to go and set up all electronics, with all lighting plans drawn, within a span of six hours.

During dress rehearsal, everyone sticks around for six to eight hours of non-stop practicing, for two days, in order to become accustomed to the routine and to fix some misconceptions and errors along the way.

Although this seems to involve a ton of work, it isn’t exactly all painstakingly prepared.

One of the technicians said that although it might get tough during rehearsals and set-ups, she found it enjoyable and exciting to manipulate stage effects during actual performances.

Overall, working backstage

has its perks. Watching every show for free, going to Sasse Food Challenge without having to be challenged, and just having a good time with everyone in the cast makes one truly appreciate the time spent with one another.

When the technical crew pull off a spectacular play with no mistakes, alongside the actors who ran through all the scenes perfectly, it shows that the hard work and dedication that the cast and crew put in paid off, and it allows all to celebrate with a smile for the rest of the day.

Eventually, all things must come to an end. Every year calls for the seniors to graduate, allowing them to move on into the world to find their dreams and ambitions; because of this, the drama department always loses a couple of actors every year.

This year more than half the cast is leaving, leaving none of the original RLT Players behind.

Hopefully, the times and memories cherished will be passed onto the later generations of actors. As Shakespeare once said: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances....” •

Movies...

J.R.R. Tolkien’s son, and executor of his literary works, Christopher Tolkien, said this regarding The Hobbit movies: “The chasm between the beauty and seriousness of the work and what it has become has overwhelmed me. The commercialization has reduced the aesthetic and philosophical impact of the creation to nothing. There is only one solution for me: to turn my head away.”

Christopher didn’t like his father’s masterpiece as it made its appearance on the big screen.

High school students didn’t like it either.

The Marvel movies, produced by Marvel Studios, also cause strife. Jessie Brandon (12) proclaimed “I worried about The Avengers, Ant Man, and The Fantastic Four. If they [Marvel Studios] mess them up, I’m going to pummel Marvel [studios].”

She feels anxious for characters she likes; for example, Ant Man

could get misrepresented from his true character in the comic book series.

The new Star Wars episode also causes feelings of anxiety in many people. Jacob Uzzle (12) said, “I’m not as worried about this one [Star Wars] as the others, but this does have a chance to flop and ruin my childhood forever.”

People fear for the sanctity of their childhood as Hollywood rips it out from underneath them by reinterpreting the great movies and stories of days gone by.

At the end of the day, the high school students will watch the movies produced by Hollywood, especially the movies they based off of some of their favorite stories, because they have to know if Hollywood ruined it—and they do not always turn out badly. For example C.S Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe turned out well even though the story was based on a book.

Optimism will be the key in the years to come as not all the movies that Hollywood creates interpret the stories incorrectly. •

Merry-Go-Round

(Continued from page 6, col. 4) work; in addition, they rip off perfectly good characters and amazing plots out of novels and reinterpret them for their own gain.

Hollywood’s production of The Hobbit as a trilogy goes to show just how far Hollywood has gone to make money. They made The Hobbit, an approximately 300-page paperback novel, into three movies when one or perhaps even two would suffice.

High school students expressed disgust for some of the changes that occurred to novels as they are transformed into movies, and they feel anxious about more that are coming out. Cindy Chiem (12), in particular, said “[The] Mockingjay [movie worries me] because I liked the novel and am worried that they didn’t do it justice.”

The complaints about the unforgivable things Hollywood has done does not end with the high school students. Recently, Eagle’s Eye

7

By Jian Shiun Lai “Ah, it got me again!” Exclaimed Ting-Hui Lim (12) as the unfathomable creature crept into him and took over his body.

“I just cannot escape from this vicious cycle,” said Cindy Chiem (12).

This monster—known as the art of procrastination, or the so called manipulative, monstrous cycle—has a tendency of tempting and seducing students, especially seniors, from finishing their tasks.

How does this immortal beast permeate and ingrain itself into the very core of seniors? How did it even exist in the first place?

Many in the class of 2015 have wrestled with these thoughts unsuccessfully, fighting a war of attrition with this untamable, wicked creature— without any hope of surviving as they succumb to their desires while falling slowly into the pits of darkness.

(Continued on page 8, col. 1) March 2015

You Shall Not Pass

By Johnathan Tan

I have always been a little baffled at the policy that the Dalat administration has implemented when it comes to restricting the apps students get to use.

Why ban 17+ rated apps? Why restrict students who meet the “17+” age as well?

I surveyed an anonymous group of 62 students from high school to see what they think and the results speak for themselves.

Additionally, I interviewed three respectable people in charge of the iPad program to get the school’s say of the matter.

The Restrictions When you need internet connection while in the premises of the school, a “welcome web page” asks you to install a profile on your iPad before you are able to surf the web. There is no way around this step, and the profile does not contribute to your access to the internet—it simply

Procrastination...

Continued from page 7, col. 4) Many students, interviewed about their struggles in dealing with the origin of this issue, responded with blank stares when the question arose. Some could not even answer this question: it seemed that this beast incarnate had suddenly swept away their thoughts and possessed them just on that moment—seemingly not wanting to reveal its origin.

The responses that some managed to give, however, sounded vague.

This intriguing mystery prompted further research, trying to expose this conspiracy on why it targets students, especially seniors, ruining and disrupting their so called “flowery and colorful” lives.

Teachers, especially Mr. Kerry Mahoney, the Apologetics teacher and counselor, have emphasized and constantly told their students not to procrastinate and leave their school work till the last day. It seemed that once a student first experimented upon the idea,” I can just do it later,” this cycle would manifest Eagle’s Eye

The general motive behind these restrictions is clear. As a school implementing technology into its academic veins, the administration has the responsibility to safeguard its students from the harms of society.

“When we brought the iPad in, we realized that it was a device that had a lot of potential for distraction and lots of potential for misuse,” high school

principal Mr. Brian Brewster acknowledged, “and so we took what steps we could to protect students from the potential for distraction.”

Although you may be inclined to believe that the “17+” tag on apps are on par with other forms of entertainment such as 17+ movies, reality shows a skewed margin.

TechCrunch conducted a series of tests that looked into the iTunes ratings system, and according to them, an app that featured “frequent/intense” amounts of “realistic violence” would only get a 12+ rating; but apps with “mild prolonged graphic violence” would not even be considered for the app store.

On the other hand, an app with “frequent/intense” amounts of “mature/suggestive themes,” which could include violence, would be hammered with a 17+ rating—not that it would matter to middle school kids watching the TV shows we have today.

Fear not! The host company, Apple Inc., has already stated that “Apple will not distribute (Continued on page 9, col. 1)

compensate for it.

True enough, one of the major ways to deal with this cycle of procrastinating, unbeknownst to many, rests in appreciating it as part of an individual’s identity. Recognizing one’s flaw may seem weak or timid; but it would benefit a person who admits his or her own blunders, like finding ways to cope with it, rather than a person who adamantly refuses to accept reality.

Students like Choo and Chung represent a part of the seniors who continue to fight with this consistent pattern but seek to improve themselves, aiming to conquer it someday.

In Japanese folklore, monsters called “yokai” exist through feeding and eating on people’s hatred, envy, lust, greed, pride, and so on. These feelings and desires would often lead to the forming of yokai of different shapes and forms, striking fear and horror amidst the people.

“Bakemonos,” another word for yokai, resembles procrastination. Like these supernatural beings, procrastination feeds upon the temptations of humans that would then bring about their dismay. This concern does not appear tangible or physical; however, when a person gives in to the beguiling and deceitful gadgets or items, then it might

materialize into a devil, pulling an individual with chains and dragging him or her further and further into utter helplessness.

Humans, with their imaginary and creative elements, created and shaped both yokai and procrastination, making people think or consider that these fabricated and fictitious monsters aim to ensnare a person and drive him or her powerless. In other words, procrastination embodies something that students came up with—their disrupted and agitated thoughts of frantically trying to finish an assignment due the next day created the identity of a non-existent being.

In all honesty, procrastination will continue to terrorize students of future generations in a vicious cycle, just like a merry-go-round. With its deceits and lies, it would appear to materialize in a physical form and push students into thinking that it appears real.

However, with proper equipment and knowledge, these would bring about hope and confidence so that the war of attrition would end, not in the favor of idleness and negligence due to procrastination, but in finally conquering this monster.

Therefore, always remember that necessity is the mother of invention. •

from downloading apps rated 17+ even if, according to some of the survey’s respondents, they are not “17+ worthy.”

“We didn’t want students using apps that did not reflect Dalat’s values,” stated Mr. Joel Roberts of the Dalat’s Tech.

Department. “Dalat has certain rules, and if anyone wanted to be a part of the community, they would have to abide by those rules.”

applies the administration-approved settings on your device.

The restrictions are as follows: • TV show ratings enforced • Movie ratings enforced • App ratings enforced • Adding Game Center friends not allowed • Erotica in iBooks not allowed • Explicit content not allowed The reasoning behind the fourth restriction is clearly questionable, not that it would deter students from playing games during class or disconnecting from their iPads; instead it serves as a minor inconvenience to gamers.

But let’s not get side-tracked.

We want to, instead, focus on the third restriction regarding apps. Students are restricted

The System

itself and permeate into the student’s mind; consequently, it would lead to an incessant and increasing moment of idling and rationalizing that he or she still has plenty of time to spare.

This might seem a bit farfetched as many would begin to ponder whether there happened to remain no cure till this day.

For example, if an individual has started procrastinating, how could he or she stop this process as the statement implies that the problem transpires once someone even thinks about it.

Li Ze Choo (12), an individual who constantly struggles with this problem, proudly declares that procrastination is part of his daily life.

Choo, a talented and bright individual, describes how this issue drives him crazy as sudden messages from friends or a likeable, weird post on Instagram would lead him astray.

Another adept and capable student, Hee Ra Chung (12) embraced this constant issue as one of her major flaws and has admitted that, by accepting this weakness, she could strive to 8

March 2015

Who Is Matthew Shafer?

By Tayler Nash

Echoes of “Happy Birthday” resounded throughout the Spanish room as the English 12 class congratulated a student—who, not even enrolled in the class, still attended it everyday—for finally achieving manhood.

How did this absurd situation arise? Why does Matthew Shafer sit in our English class, even though he takes AP English 12? Several students speculated on the strange occurrence and arrived at wild conclusions.

“Matthew’s birthday falls on the 23rd of February, and you know, you can clearly see this is

a sequence: 1, 2, 3? A, B, C? 1 +2 +3 = 6.

“Now, if you were to take the next six letters in the sequence: D, E, F, G, H, I? ‘I.’ ‘I’ is the first letter in Illuminati!

Coincidence? I think not,” said Hung-Jie Song (12).

Conspiracy theories like this typify a few of the students who have developed conceptions of Shafer as a spy for the NSA or for Mr. Brian Brewster; however, others have arrived at just as crazy conclusions but by taking a different route.

One student, Ting Hui Lim (12) commented, “Matthew sits

Putting the ‘No’ in Tech-NO-logy

By Micah Martens “And one!” exclaimed Calvin Thompson (11) as he emerged from a mass of entangled limbs to lay the ball off the backboard and into the hoop.

On 21 February, the dorm’s experienced their first ever “Me-

dia Blackout Day,” where, for everyone willing to participate, any form of media was off-limits during an eight-hour period.

“Media blackout day was so much greater than I expected,” explained Thompson. “It’s like

17+ Apps...

fect and has room to improve.

The built-in web browser, aka.

Safari, gives students access to nudity, sex, sadistic violence, prolonged violence, and any combination of them.

Unfortunately, the school can only do so much to curb such content. Additionally, students, legally 17 years of age and above, are still being subjected to the policy.

The factor of student responsibility comes into play here.

Dalat’s solid reputation of promoting student integrity and encouraging independence has given birth to programs such as the Senior Lunch Program that give seniors the freedom to go off-campus to each lunch while teaching them responsibility.

Mr. Karl Steinkamp (Head of School) echoed this by saying, “Dalat is trying to achieve a balance between freedom and responsibility.…If we take away all freedom, we also take away all responsibility.”

When asked if Dalat should allow students aged 17 and

(Continued from p. 8, col. 4) applications that contain inappropriate content, such as pornography.”

Similarly, the video games and movies that students play and watch every day on other devices are saturated with “mature” content.

I’ll leave you to describe the obvious on your own. Nevertheless, the Dalat administration commits itself to the “bettersafe- than-sorry” route.

The Logic Behind It Started in the Fall of 2012, Dalat’s iPad integration program, like many other infant programs, is certainly not perEagle’s Eye

in our classroom because he is in love with someone in our classroom.”

This is a highly contended proposition among students with Matthew himself as its most heated opponent.

There are some who have retained their sanity throughout all the shenanigans of G-Block English and have derived more reasonable theories to explain the strange phenomenon. Andy Kim (12) said, “Matthew just loves learning English, so he comes to our class everyday after his own AP English class to cement his learning.”

Dennis Choi (12) championed a similar theory, “I believe Matthew’s dear friends are in our English class, and he also enjoys learning English outside of his

own class. He is so devoted that he takes extra classes.”

Finally, exhausted with all the rumors and conspiracies, Shafer himself emerged to clear up all controversy: “It all started in the library, I was working on some homework when somehow a discussion formulated between Li Ze Choo [12], Jian Shiun Lai [12], and Kim about their upcoming English project. After a poorly chosen word, I found myself a part of their project. After we presented it, I just came back to class everyday like a puppy that doesn’t know its master doesn’t want to feed it anymore.

But then Mrs. Roylance gave me candy on my birthday, so now the theme song of my life is ‘I Will Follow G-Block Wherever It May Go.’” •

the dorms came together and had one big party. There were a lot of fun things to do.”

Many dorm students, skeptical at first, seemed unwilling to leave their beloved technology for a day, but these fears dispersed as participants engaged in a plethora of fun communitybased activities.

“I played board games in the student center for hours with

friends,” said Josh Basha (12), “and then I played basketball for two hours. After that I was pretty tired, so some other students and I just chilled and talked for a few hours until the all-dorm barbeque, after which we played sardines. It definitely was a full day!”

The day’s conception began weeks before the actual event, when one brave soul proposed the idea to Dorm Council, a group of staff-appointed dorm kids who decide upon a variety of dorm events and policies.

“The idea for Media Blackout Day actually came from an anonymous middle schooler,” expounded John Kim (12), a member of the Dorm Council.

“The idea was introduced to us about three weeks before the actual day, and we discussed how and when we would implement it over those weeks.”

Weeks of preparation paid off, however, and the event proved an instant hit with dorm kids. “So often we dorm kids get so absorbed in technology that we forget we have real friends and real relationships all around us,” explained Joseph Um (12).

“The media blackout day was a wake-up call, reminding us to set our priorities right, that bonds between real people are so much more important that the bonds between us and technology.”

For those with the intestinal fortitude to withstand the temptation exuded by technology, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Dorm parents spent hours baking brownies for those who surmounted the challenge, and for those few it proved a (Continued on page 10, col. 1)

above the use of 17+ apps, 83.6 percent of the students surveyed

responded “yes.”

Mr. Brewster addressed this saying, “The 17-years-old distinction is an arbitrary one that is imposed on [Dalat] by outside sources. For me the distinction is that [students] are under my care, and you’re at school and content that is above 17+ rated typically is not stuff that we would want anybody accessing during the school day.”

What’s Next?

According to Dalat’s Administration and Tech Dept., there are no current discussions happening regarding modification of the policy, but they also mentioned that this would not kill the possibility of having one.

Could the future of the app policy see 17+ apps being another senior privilege?

Another chance to teach the graduating class the life lesson of self-accountability and responsibility?

With reasonable justification, there may be a day—but that day is not today. • 9

March 2015

The Limited Laboratory

stored. However, frustrated with chemical failures, unknown solutions, and depleted supply

By Jing Yi Khoo of disposable tools, Ms. Jodi Hoogendoor n, AP Biology Four minutes passed. Still no etry, potato catalase, and Beer’s teacher, and Ms. Chhangur decolor change in the solution. law name only a few of the cided to create an inventory of Once engaged in the experi- multiple labs executed by the the chemistry closet. ment, the Advanced Placement chemistry students this year; Ms. Hoogendoorn revealed Chemistry students set their but according to the class, less multiple stock-solution bottles timers aside and stared glumly than half of their experiments had either no label to idenat their uneventful compounds gave conclusive results or even tify the contents or multiple with the hopes of an intervening sparked a reaction. tabs describing different commiracle. pounds. Ms. Chhangur Unfortunately, labs do also found cupric nitrate not rely solely on luck to in the far back of the yield conclusive results; chemistry closet dated rather, the presence of 1983. functional instruments She revealed that and chemicals provides “most chemicals should the foundation, leading to be renewed every six the success of an experimonths or replaced at ment. their expiration dates”— With feelings simiwhich may explain why lar to attempting a jigAlka-Seltzers, expired in saw puzzle with missing 2007, turned the water pieces, most students yellow rather than prowho enrolled in classes ducing a gas during an requiring the use of the AP Chemistry demonlaboratory, experienced stration. Both teachers difficulties and limitations hope to generate a de“What’s the opposite of ‘Eureka!’?” from the unavailable or tailed inventory for the Although students’ data may benefit of all science teachers. defective materials needed for not support their hypothesis, an experiment.

As well as the chemicals, A newly revived class, AP this differs from the issue when various instruments presented Chemistry heavily utilized the resources and chemicals prevent mechanical troubles on lab days. laboratory of Room 14 for ex- the expected reaction to occur. Again, Ms. Chhangur stumbled Chemistry students experi- upon yet another spectacle—hot periments covering everything from the simplest demonstra- enced this first hand. Shelly Choi plates heating up only half the tions to data collection of com- (12) said, “There was one time plate. we were supposed to light Bunplex reactions.

Other devices, such as mass “It is more beneficial for sen burners, but all of the spark scales, relied on batteries—but students to physically do the lighters, all 10 or so, did not due to the hot and humid climate experiments rather than to just work.” As a result, she and the in Malaysia, the batteries quickly read a description of it in the rest of the class spent most of ran dry without warning. textbook,” said Ms. Stepha- the period rummaging through a Although ordered shipments nie Chhangur, AP Chemistry box of sparkers, only beginning loaded with educational materithe experiment with the help of als and appliances arrive from teacher.

Dehydration of copper (II) two BIC lighters found hidden the United States once every sulfate pentahydrate, calorim- in a drawer. year, different power supply and From stoppers not fitting frequent technical glitches drive the tops of flasks to pH tapes most science teachers to buy giving no indication of acidity, their resources locally.

Media Black-out Day... the students struggled to comWith a limited budget, both plete the majority of labs, even Ms. Hoogendoorn and Ms. (Continued from p. 9, col. 4) those requiring only the basic Chhangur agreed that Penang sweet reward indeed. equipment. provides an adequate variety of “The brownies were scrumpWhen asked what went equipment and chemicals. tious,” said Josiah Brake (10). wrong in her AP Chemistry Despite the difficulties at “It was nice to receive a reward. labs, Ziwei Moey (12) simply hand, students and teachers Although I think going a day responded, “Everything.” adapted to the defects and without technology should be Though an exaggeration, her found useful alternatives to avoid totally natural for us, I guess reply reiterated the concerns of the need of unavailable equipthe fact that it was difficult at all lab efficiencies and productivity ment. Ms. Chhangur’s general is a bit worrying; it shows how of every science class, especially chemistry classes has had their dependent we have become on with each period only 45 min- fair share of unburnable magtechnology.” utes long. nesium and outdated chemicals; Although the day undoubtThe new teachers in the sci- however, unlike the advanced edly brought the dorms closer to- ence department brought forth class, general chemistry rarely gether, its true meaning and per- one such concern: poor docu- required complex materials, and petual consequence transcended mentation of materials in the therefore had a higher successful a simple bonding experiment; laboratory and stockroom. rate of completed labs, accordit reminded a community, in Located in Room 14, the stock- ing to Fong-Wei Ting (12). the words of Um, “...to set our room has some organization of Apart from the chemistry priorities right.” • the chemicals and apparatuses division, the AP Biology class

Eagle’s Eye

10

shared several successes with the help of the Internet. “We don’t often create chemical reactions, but we do many simulations, such as the white and dark moth population simulation, to help us understand the concepts better,” said Lucia Combrink (12), who shared an overall success of lab results with the rest of her biology class.

Like Combrink, several students kept a positive attitude in the midst of complications and continued to give their best effort with the labs thrown their way—including the virtual labs—used mainly in physics and biology classes. As pointed out

by Yan Rong Tan (12), whenever in need of understanding, “... students can turn to Google for the answers.”

In fact, the shortcomings of high school experiments may actually prepare students for university, where cookbook labs end and real-life situations begin.

“Half of the time, the labs in university give inconclusive results, and it is up to the students to figure out what went wrong.

That is why so many undergraduates find themselves frustrated and under the pressure of finishing the tasks at hand,” explained Ms. Hoogendoorn.

As a result, AP Biology and AP Chemistry may perhaps benefit the students at Dalat since they would then understand the difficulties of achieving success in a lab. After all, “...there is such a feeling of satisfaction when you understand the works of an experiment and to see it actually work in front of your very eyes!” said Clarissa Lister (12), who battled through the good and the bad in AP Biology.

As seen through the labs over the school year, the chemistry laboratory requires more maintenance and care from one teacher to the next and from the Annual Fund. With the help of dedicated science teachers Ms. Hoogendoorn and Ms. Chhangur, the laboratory will not only increase the number of potential experiments for each science class but also increase the chemical understanding and exposure for the students.

Despite the frustration experienced in the lab, students learned an important lesson: no matter the difficulties, students must always come through and mix their ideas together, delivering their best effort to dissolve the challenges blocking their path to success. • March 2015

Yellow in the Midst of Greyness

Like the flesh heart that circulates heat from pumping blood, so the faith that lives produces action from the love of God, striking yellow radiance in a society so used to greyness.

A woman whose husband’s flesh has long but perished imbibes a sea of encumbrance.

As if adjusting to the reality of a loss is not enough, widows also have to take on the role of being the sole provider of the family.

Mrs. Susan Allen possess an acute awareness of the circumstances presented to widows, and employs two of them. One works in her house, and the other, in a guest-house she runs.

The guest-house, symbolizing hospitality, was a means to provide missionaries in need of a place to stay, accommodation.

Mrs. Allen’s manifestation of faith in action, which she credits God for, does not merely lie in one aspect of her life, but also in her position as a pedagogue and in her role as a mother. Without God, she believes, she would not have the energy and joy to carry out such deeds, ones that shows the frozen world that hope still abides.

Mrs. Ailee Chan’s eloquence in both Bahasa Malaysia and English plays an instrumental part in her ministries, the fruits of her living faith, as a teacher at Dalat and in her volunteer work in SKTT (Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanjung Tokong—The Government School of Tanjung Tokong).

On a day-to-day basis, she spends her time passing on the art of Malaysian language to Dalat students, confident that

God will utilize her students to bless the local Malaysians somehow. She said, “Never underestimate what God can do through you.”

Saturday mornings, for her, are spent with a group of high school students who understands that life does not only revolve around themselves. Her team’s mission is to go out to SKTT, sacrificing their time unselfishly, to display love to local children by bonding with them while tutoring them English and playing foosball.

In this cold, ridden world, the sunbeam of breathing Christian faith breaks through the clouds of ignorance which claims that there is no other but the self.

A faith that beats like the heart yields warmth, a by-product of God’s transforming, an icy environment.

This is not to say that works propel a person closer to reaching Heaven—not at all. In fact, it is more accurate to state that because one can trust Christ’s love, he or she desires to love God; and the Holy Spirit helps in the conquest by transforming a person in the process of sanctification. 1 John 3:18 says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Since love is an action in truth, when one’s faith is living, it produces action—and what is most wonderful about this news is that, living faith can be found not only in history, but in this very soil as well! • __________ 1 Metaxas, Eric.

Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery. New York, NY: HarperSanFrancisco, 2007.

voice acting. Since the rise of internet, anime has entertained a vast number of people globally. Many factors contribute to the attraction of anime.

One episode of anime is half the duration of an episode of normal drama, so it is easy to watch anime without spending too much time.

Instead of spending a full hour, half an hour is long enough to finish one episode of anime.

In addition, characters in anime display perfect acting.

“When I watch movies or dramas, sometimes I see some poor

acting of actors in the play, but anime is totally different. Characters in anime have perfect acting skills. There is absolutely no doubt about the superiority in anime characters’ acting in comparison to the acting of Hollywood stars,” said Li Ze Choo (12).

The biggest advantage of anime is that it doesn’t have limits.

Movies and dramas have limits because they involve real, living people in there. The potential of anime, however, is limitless.

Anime can portray exactly the (Continued on page 12, col. 1)

By Clarissa Lister

Fingers, filled with as much life as a squirrel’s corpse, anesthetized from the inescapable frigidness.

Nose, desiccated from the breeze of vaporescence, the sort that precipitates moist mucus into a solidified, unyielding glob, pestering the epithelial cells surrounding the inner layer of the nostrils.

Heart, calloused, the last but deadliest consequence of the icy environment, passing through the exterior, reachi n g f u r t h e r, into the depths of the human soul, making it vibrate unyieldingly.

Coldness can do these things to people, often without the consent of its host. Fortunately, in the midst of this cold ridden world of destruction, living Christian faith, evident in history and even on this very campus—like the warmth rays of the sun—relieves the world of frantic shivering.

Now, this begs the settlement of the question, what is Christian faith, one that springs from the fountain of life? To answer this query, one must first consider how this phenomenon came about.

The only reason faith is ever in existent, and not treason, is due to the fact that there is a buttress for it to fall upon, a being that can be trusted. What has this deity done in order to gain

such conviction of multitudes?

The sacrifice of Himself. Love, in short.

This concept of love is transcendent, as He, Himself, is.

Furthermore, this transcendent love is the one that captures the heart of admirers, of followers, who, overwhelmed by such example of love, crave to do the same.

O n e significant manifestation of this faith brought by love, includes action. As James 2:17 states, “. . . faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Now, for the exploration of Christian faith in action!

Slavery, child prostitution, and other social ills infected England to the edges in the 18th century. The poor were deemed a lost cause, waiting to decay.

Wilberforce, a politician with ambition, flew into the scene, emancipating the wicked mindset of society. The fuel behind this promotive force proves to be none but Wilberforce’s faith, a faith that was not stale, but one that obeyed the laws of Heaven, one that embraced and operated on them.1 Since God has knitted each and every human, of no surprise it is, that when an individual loves Jesus, he will also love his neighbors—and so, Wilberforce loved his people, God’s people.

attack on Otaku

By Dennis Choi What is an otaku? On hearing this question, most people make frowny faces full of disgust, and start talking bad about otaku.

An otaku has an obsession with watching anime or creating it. They spend more time, money, and effort on anime than the average person.

A majority of people misunderstand otakus and degrade their identity. However, otakus should be treated the same as those who love TV dramas Eagle’s Eye

and movies because anime isn’t worse than TV dramas and movies but is better in many aspects.

So what is anime? Anime is any type of animation with a story-line in a variety of genres, including romance, action, shounen, adventure, shoujo, seinen, fantasy, historical, school life, and tragedy.

Unlike movies or dramas, anime is composed of computer graphics only. There is little need to hire stars or celebrities for 11

March 2015

It’s Us Against the World

By Ziwei Moey

courses and concentrated help.

Even though such methods of teaching exist in the realm of middle school, it has proven its effectiveness because the students perceive an increase in their learning capability. Similar to the opinions of their elementary school counterparts, a number of eighth graders place confidence in the teachers.

“Teachers here have a good understanding of what students need, and they are good at explaining stuff,” said Yusoof Monawvil (8).

Across the eighth grade board, added reand It feels like I’ve been given a pass to adulthood, sponsibilities increased homework load tantalize and I have no idea what to do about it.” the students who an elementary school student. cerns with the homework given still manage to anticipate ninth The joyful smiles on their faces in high school, noting, “It will be grade eagerly.

The thoughts of high school clearly reflect the happy and different from middle school.”

The upcoming introduction seniors reside on both sides of carefree lives of these boys and girls, yet their thoughts about of PowerSchool also made a the spectrum. Those unprepared middle school do not reflect their few eighth graders, such as John for university see it as a mysteriCho (8), realize the importance ous rite of passage to adulthood cheerful demeanor.

Asked if they were ready of self-management in high in need of much explanation. for middle school, a majority of school: “PowerSchool tells us On the other hand, the seniors fourth graders responded with how good or bad we are doing who can confidently march “no”; however, the lack of and intensifies our responsibili- onward into university accredit academic knowledge did not ties,” Cho said. “In high school, certain aspects of Dalat, which play a big role in that answer as responsibility is a necessary thoroughly prepared them for opposed to the scary thoughts of skill because if you fail, you will future challenges.

The phrase “You won’t know probably be flipping burgers at detention and academic stress.

Karis White (4) described fifth McDonald’s—and nobody really until you try” applies to the seniors who question their overall grade with an analogy: “Being in wants to work at McDonald’s.”

Despite the worries of home- preparedness for college life. Li fifth grade will be like being the kindergarten of elementary— work and new-found respon- Ze Choo (12) said, “It feels like sibilities, a handful of eighth I’ve been given a pass to adult[we would be] the little kids.”

“The teachers’ expectations graders anticipate high school. hood, and I have no idea what are really high,” added Beatrice Ku Seong Min Kim (8) looks forward to do about it.”

(4), “Dalat has helped by having to ninth grade because “...there Jennifer Yook (12) also adgood teachers that make sure that is one teacher for every subject,” dressed her fears that “[Teachers] which allows for more specific have yet to introduce anything to you understand everything.” help the transition.”

Other students also hold the same mentality as they movies, but the one that evokes finish their senior year, where Anime... my deep, hidden desire for uncertainty remains the main intimate romance is anime. contributor for unprepared se(Continued from p. 11, col. 4) Although my high school life is niors. Yook suggested a possible imagination the author has.

“Basically, your fantasy or ending, I am looking forward to solution: “Teachers could set wish can be fulfilled through my romantic life in college. I real- aside a couple of days and allow animes because you can find ized how precious it is to have a us to experience a university your favorite story line among reliable opposite gender. Thank environment by mimicking it or thousands of animes,” said you, anime,” said Kira Choi (12). trying to incorporate some asDenzel Lim (12).

Likewise, watching anime is signments that resemble those Anime is equally valuable one of the best leisure activities given in university.” in comparison to movies and and must not be looked down Apart from the ambiguous dramas. The only difference on. As long as the audiences can descriptions of university, anbetween them is that movies and differentiate between fantasy other issue bugs the troubled sedramas use real people, whereas and reality, animes will gladly niors: the overprotectiveness of anime is purely composed of guide you to your own fantasy, the Dalat environment. Hui Min computer graphics. relieve all of your stress, and Tang (12) spoke of this concern Just because anime doesn’t fulfill your desire. It is time for and added, “I feel that when I go have real people doesn’t mean otakus to stand up for their rights to college, I will not be prepared one can look down on it. “I’ve of status equality among those to deal with controversial issues watched so many dramas and with different hobbies. • about ‘real life.’”

Students endure education to prepare themselves to combat the struggles of the real world; however, the journey through school revolves around transitions—mainly those between elementary, middle, high school, and ultimately, university.

Before students walk the road of life, teachers equip them with skills needed to thrive and survive the obstacles found along the way.

The question surrounding these preparations still stands: “Has Dalat fully prepared its students for the next stage of their lives?”

Firstly, a look at the life of

Eagle’s Eye

Though most fourth graders do not feel ready for fifth grade, they still have the confidence in both their current and future teachers to guide them through the next transition in their lives.

The next step along the road of life: middle school. The years of playful manner gone, middle schoolers begin to understand the meaning of words such as “popularity,” “cool,” and “grades.”

The meaning of the term “high school,” however, remains synonymous with homework and responsibility to them. En Min Saw (8) expressed her con-

12

Teachers can easily explain college; however, the difficulty lies with allowing seniors to experience a version of that reality before diving into the unknown waters of life.

Nevertheless, a handful of seniors claimed to be ready for university and for varying reasons. Shelly Choi (12), Josh Basha (12), and Melissa You (12) credited their preparation for university to Dalat’s dorm program, where students live independently while under the guidance of their dorm parents.

Choi described her experience of dorm life, saying, “I learned how to manage my time wisely, to balance studying and hanging out with friends.”

Academically, seniors feel prepared for university because of “...Dalat’s rigorous workload and expectations for students,” according to Derrick Lim (12).

In addition to its dorm program and academics, Dalat has a long-standing tradition of hosting the Senior Transition Retreat, in which seniors expect to benefit their preparation for university. “Not many schools have a Senior Transition Retreat, so I feel like I have a head start in college life,” said You. Dalat’s efforts to prepare the next group of well-rounded students for university succeeded with the majority of seniors; yet for some, true preparation cannot be achieved until gaining first-hand experience.

After the interviews with fourth graders, eighth graders, and seniors about their preparation for the next stages of schooling, a surprisingly large number of students do not feel ready. However, their concerns about academic understanding, worries about responsibility, and fears about the lack of experience come hand-in-hand with possible solutions.

The teachers at Dalat effectively prepare students academically for the transition into middle school; and with a fresh batch of eighth graders moving onto high school, PowerSchool assists in their gains of responsibility.

Lastly, for the seniors, the much-needed Senior Transition Retreat provides the confidence for living a wholesome life in university. With thoughts about the next major transition in life, the various age groups can relax knowing that Dalat has done its best to prepare its students.

Now, their fate and the choices they make will define themselves as they face-off against what the world can offer. • March 2015

Behind the Scenes

depends on the person and how he or she handles time management. It could be the most relaxing year if you don’t procrastinate and put all the important things to the side.

“As long as you prepare ahead of time,” Ziwei Moey (12) said, “your senior year should be a breeze.”

But beware—regardless of the stress levels experienced throughout senior year—senioritis wields the power to hit you hard, knock you down, and crush all your hopes and dreams. No amount of preparation you take helps you when this insidious disease seeps into your brain and makes you procrastinate so much that you end up pulling all-nighters trying to finish your homework—or giving up and not finishing it at all.

This happens especially after college acceptance letters arrive at your doorstep making you believe that everything will turn out fine and tricking you into thinking you now have the time to relax and enjoy yourself— who cares if you fail one English quiz anyway?

You should care. Senioritis can become a huge factor on the level of stress if you do not learn how to control it.

By Cindy Chiem

During my middle school years, I looked up at the twelfth graders in awe. They looked so mature, so responsible, so...big. I could only think about how cool they looked driving around in their fancy cars, holding hands with their significant others, partying every weekend, and wearing elegant outfits. Now, as a senior, I realize that I should not have let Hollywood shape my views.

What. Big. Fat. Liars.

Seniors being mature? Sure, if you count throwing banana peels at one another as mature.

Fancy cars? I don’t even have my license yet—not because of my age, but because of my laziness.

Boyfriends? I’d rather drool over Captain America.

And parties? Do they even exist?

The false stereotypes of senior life only unravel themselves after first-hand experiences.

Considering that current Dalat middle schoolers seem to have more intelligence than I ever did during my fifth grade year, I have asked several students for their thoughts on senior year.

Expectation Number 1: The Maturity of Seniors Since twelfth grade is the last year of high school before college, people expect us to become the most mature beings on campus. John Cho (8) expressed, “The first thing that comes in my mind about senior life is that I will be the oldest student in the school where people respect or look up to me.”

And the reality? It feels no

different from being in eighth grade. On the outside, puberty has given us older features; but on the inside, “...we feel just the same as a child, just with more social restrictions,” said Clarissa Lister (12).

I have an ongoing fight every single day about whether or not to join the elementary kids on the playground and act like them; however, I could feel an unseen pair of eyes judging my every step, my every move, my every breath ever since I reached twelfth grade—eyes that tell me, “No, don’t do that, you are a senior for goodness’s sake!”

Yes, seniors hold the position of the eldest in the school, but it does not mean that we feel that way most of the time.

Expectation Number 2: A Super Stressful Senior Year

College applications, SAT’s, TOEFLs, IELTs, ACTs, APs, tests, projects, graduation, and as Sara Stoltzfus (8) said, “... thinking about my future and getting ready for college,” could bog anyone down during his or her senior year—especially if he or she has slacked off since the freshman year.

According to Matthew Shafer (12), “By senior year, you’ve hopefully learned how to relax and make school somewhat enjoyable in your own way, not letting go but not getting stressed out about everything. Don’t be silly, but you don’t have to take everything too seriously anymore either.”

The level of stress really

Expectation Number 3: More Freedom, More Privileges Everyone—and I mean everyone— looks forward to wearing different uniforms and sauntering off campus for lunch.

Both are the defining characteristics of senior life at Dalat as they induce a feeling of specialty and prestige—no arguments there.

On the topic of freedom, however, Shafer mused, “On top, you have to be stronger, more responsible; you have to bear the weight of things more. It’s like surfacing out of the ocean and then having bird poop on your head. You’re more free but more vulnerable.”

Having freedom during senior year, as Shannon Frohlich (8) put it, “...does not mean feeling relieved that you’re away from your parents but more about being free to make a choice on how you want to live the rest of your life.” Choosing a college, choosing a career path, choosing where you want to live rests in your hands.

Yong-Yu Huang (5) asserted, “I expect my senior year to be one of the most important years of my life and to challenge me to do my best.”

He’s absolutely right. The last year of high school will take students on an emotional and fulfilling ride. There will be the last basketball game, the last Christmas Banquet, the last first day, the last everything—which is the only thing Hollywood manages to get right.

So for those who look forward to their senior year and expect a lot of things, just take a moment to enjoy where you are right now, to experience every little thing, to savor every moment.

The twelve years of school will go by in a flash, and the next thing you know, you’re heating ramen noodles in a dingy old kitchen because your parents live on the other side of the world. •

Questions to Dr. Jessie Brandon

By Dr. Jessie Brandon, Ph.D. in Satirical Studies

Greetings and salutations, This week has been lengthy and laborious, and I do beg your vindication for last week’s issue. I felt under the weather and could not pen my thoughts. But as luck would have it, I seem to have miraculously improved.

I want to thank you all for your lovely letters of encouragement while I was out and the fantastic questions that you all sent me for this week’s edition.

Eagle’s Eye

about this myself. I feel I must tell you I have discovered the truth behind the hotdog paradox. I found the answer one day looking deep into my cereal milk. I saw the world in a different light. The stars and sky revolved around me. I saw that the universe centered on me. I could control the stars and sky.

I had limitless power! And that, my dear Hungry, is why hotdog packages have 6 hotdogs but hotdog bun packages have 8.

As requested, I have gathered my favorite questions and have answered them to the best of my ability.

Once again I thank you and as always, “Stay cool.”

Why do hotdog packages have 6 hotdogs but hotdog buns packages have 8?

–Always Hungry Well my dear, Hungry, I must say I have often wondered 13

Why can’t we sneeze with our eyes open?

–Anonymous Nerd Dear Anonymous Nerd, Why does this question keep coming back to me? I will give you the answer I have given all the others that have come for my wisdom—MAGIC! Why can’t you lick your elbow?

–Always trying (Continued on page 14, col. 1) March 2015

Dear Dr. Brandon...

(Continued from p. 13, col. 4) Good question.

Can you say the letter M without your lips touching?

–Always Trying No. Go away.

Why can’t we fly?

–Forever Grounded Have you tried jumping off the roof of your house? No? Good. It does not work, I’ve tried.

Why do Dalat students overachieve? –Overworked Well, Overworked. Let me tell you about a magical fairy named Stressa that lives in a cloud above Dalat. All that fairy does all day long is making each and every student work and work and work. This fairy makes them work until they get

Eagle’s Eye

What is Dalat and how can I download it?

–Confused

straight A’s, but now it seems Stressa has taken a certain interest in the junior class of Dalat as well.

My dear friend, you cannot truly download Dalat. In fact, it is not what you would call an “app.”

But, not to discourage you, an Eagle store exists in Gurney where you may go out and buy Dalat’s symbol. I would recommend getting the Dalat 2.0 even though it may receive some new upgrades in the near future that may take time. It is totally worth the wait.

Why is everyone clued into everyone else’s business?

–Highly Annoyed Yo u k n o w , Highly Annoyed, that is quite ironic coming from you because I know what you did at Gur ney last week. Ya! That’s right! I saw you with Overworked on Thursday. I heard you two had broken up, but I guess I was wrong...wait till I tell Hungry!

Why is everyone so uncultured?

–Very Pretentious

I have published just a few of the thousands and thousands of lovely letters I received while indisposed. I would like to thank you once again for your devoted readership. •

Who are you calling uncultured?

14

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March 2015