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MAJLIS
CONTENTS
NTENTS Pg.13
Pg.35
Pg.16
External
Teens and Technology: A Good Relationship?
.5
Calamity is Coming! Endangered Species of the World Music to Mind Famous Celebrities: The Rise to Fame Continent of Catastophe
8 10 11 12 1 13
Qatar’s First Liver Transplant Forget about Trump, we’ve got Trudeau!
Internal
Skin Deep DoE: Living Life on the Wild Side DC Word MUN: The Big Six 4 / Majlis / Spring Issue
6 7
Pg.38
Medical Review 2017 CCI Legacy Talks Of Two Worlds Young Muscian of the Gulf Art Enrichment Day
Arts and Features
How to Write the Perfect Story The Beauty of Music 10 Best Get-Away Destinations Laptops vs Tablets
Sports 16 20 21 22
Money in Football Can Sports Change the World? Women in Sport Australian Open The Robin Hood Tale of the NBA
Pg.41
24 28 29 30 32
34 35 36 38 39 40 41 44 45
EXTERNAL
Teens and Technology: A Good Relationship? Words by Rayaan Siddiqui
M
any children around the world use high tech devices to enhance and extend their learning capabilities and styles. For the past few years, technology has enabled us to learn and expand our minds, and help us communicate far easier using messages, e-mail and other forms of communication. Technology has also improved hand-eye-coordination and language skills. However, there are some negatives aspects, as well as good ones, to this increased use of technology.
Improved Communication
Around 160 years ago, it would take the Pony Express more than 10 days to travel 1,800 miles just to deliver one single message. Today, it takes a single mobile phone, with a wireless signal, a mere 5 seconds to reach somebody 2,000 miles away. Email, instant messaging and social networking websites are all examples of convenient ways to keep in touch with family members and friends. Transmitting mail online is also much more reliable and safe than using a postal system; if the data lines are secure, sending anything using a phone or the internet will not be affected by weather conditions or potential loss.
Improved Education
There is no question that, today, technology has become a part of our everyday lives: 58% of American children have a smartphone and 42% of them also have their own tablet or e-reader. It is simple: no child is exactly the same. Every student learns at his or her own speed and introducing technology into the classroom can help students to learn and study at a rate that is comfortable for them, allowing them to access and retain information very easily. For example, in classroom lessons or activities, using laptops allows students to read directions, process information and complete work at their own pace.
Brain Changes
The improper use of technology, however, can alter the actual wiring of the human brain. More than a third of children under the age of two use mobiles and tablets, and that number only increases with age, with 95% of teens aged 12-17 spending large amounts of time on a device and online. A major concern today is that the time spent using technology doesn’t just give kids new ways of doing things, it actually changes the way their brains work. For example, while video games may help the brain to pay attention to multiple things at once, they can also lead to students becoming easily distracted, as well as decreased memory function. In addition, children who use technology too much, may increase obesity rates as they are inactive for long periods of time.
Privacy and Safety
Digital safety is a growing issue right now, and parents and teachers have a responsibility to talk to teenagers about it, giving advice on what to do if they find themselves in trouble. Teenagers in particular are at risk from cyberbullying, grooming and even blackmail; they often overshare images of themselves online, or their opinions about things. This means that it is very important to ensure that correct privacy settings are in place to safeguard our content. Whilst technology clearly has its uses in terms of education and communication, it should always be monitored to make sure it is safe and easily accessible for all users. We should control the technology, the technology should not control us.
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HMC successfully performs Qatar’s first liver transplant from a living donor
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he Organ Transplant Team at Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Hospital has successfully performed Qatar’s first ever Living Donor Liver Transplant (LDLT). The transplant took place in November 2016.
Dr. Yousef Al Maslamani, Medical Director at Hamad and Head of the Organ Transplant Committee said: “The transplant was planned and performed by HMC’s highly qualified team of liver transplant surgeons, anesthetists, nurses and technicians. The procedure consisted of the partial resection of the donor’s liver, which took eight hours to complete, and the removal of the recipient’s liver. Implanting the donated portion of the liver in the recipient’s body, who suffered from liver cirrhosis took 12 hours to complete.” Each year, between 20-25 patients are added to the waiting list for organ transplantation in Qatar. Prior to November, all seventeen transplants performed here were from deceased donors. However, liver transplants from deceased donors are difficult to find, match or plan, and there’s an extensive waiting list. LDLT involves complex surgery and is a lengthy procedure. Dr. Hatem Khalaf, Senior Consultant and Clinical Lead of HMC’s HPB and Liver Transplant Services, explained: “In the case of this recent transplant, the right lobe of the donor’s liver, totaling 65 percent of the liver mass, was resected and implanted in the recipient’s body, following the removal of the cirrhosis-ridden liver. The donor recovered and was discharged from hospital one week after the procedure. The recipient remained under the care of HMC for
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two weeks and was then discharged.” LDLT has many benefits for the recipient of the organ including: 1) a greatly improved quality of life, allowing them to return to normal activities and be physically active. 2) an operation scheduled earlier in the liver disease progression, before the onset of life-threatening complications which can occur when waiting for a liver from a deceased donor. 3) greater longevity and less likelihood of organ rejection 4) a liver which usually functions immediately and recovers faster. LDLT makes more liver transplants available as a living donor removes a candidate from the transplant waiting list, allowing those on the wait list who cannot find a living donor - a better chance of receiving the gift of life.
of two months, and donors can generally resume their normal home and working lives within two to three months. The morning after surgery, they can walk down the hallway to visit their liver recipient. Most leave the hospital 5-6 days after surgery. Dr. Al Maslamani also stated: “There are future plans to increase liver transplants in Qatar from live and brain-dead donors. HMC’s Qatar Center for Organ Transplantation and the Qatar Organ Donation Center (Hiba) are relentless in their efforts to encourage new organ donors to enrol in the donor registry, with the ultimate goal of helping patients who are currently awaiting a lifesaving transplant.” Words by Aisling McMahon
The remaining part of the donor’s liver is sufficient to maintain normal body functions. However, the recipient also receives a large enough segment of the donor liver to maintain body functions. Unlike the lungs and pancreas, the liver has the ability to regenerate and regrow; within about two months, both the remaining and transplanted liver re-grow to full size, providing normal long-term liver function for both the donor and the recipient. Living donation does not impact the life expectancy of the donor. After recovery, most donors go on to live healthy, normal and active lives. The usual recovery time is a minimum
Quotations taken from HMC website: https://www.hamad.qa/EN/news/2017/ January/Pages/HMC-SuccessfullyPerforms-Qatars-First-Liver-Transplantfrom-a-Living-Donor.aspx
T Fo r g e t
RUMP, we have
RUDEAU
Justin Pierre James Trudeau, the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada, is many things: a husband, a father, an ex-nightclub bouncer. But there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to Canada’s beloved Justin Trudeau – although, this ‘meeting of the eyes’ should be emphasised due to his not exactly being a burden on them! Frankly, as a Canadian myself, I am not particularly bothered about having a PM who could actually take up modelling in his spare time. Nonetheless, it must be reiterated, he is so much more than this. Trudeau marks a generational change in Canadian politics. With Trudeau comes youth. With Trudeau comes energy. With Trudeau comes a tight pink tee-shirt clad Prime Minister taking part in Pride Parades. Let it be said: Canadians are proud to have such a man represent us globally. Trudeau’s campaign in the 2015 Federal Election was one that will not be forgotten. The Liberals, Trudeau’s Party, entered the campaign with only 36 seats in the House of Commons, but ultimately won the election with 184 seats. This is no small feat. Stephen Harper’s eleven years as PM are clearly over, and change has arrived. Justin Trudeau embodies the international idea of ‘Canadian’ beautifully: He is the first PM to instate a cabinet with as many women as there are men, from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Words by Emily White
He has removed the ‘muzzle’ placed on scientists to discuss their research with the media. He has reserved $969.4 million over five years to be put towards the First Nations education infrastructure.
Castro’s human rights violations. After considerable backlash and conspiracy theories proposing that Trudeau is Castro’s child (thank you, conspiracy theorists, for providing endless food for shower thoughts) Trudeau defended his comments, stating that he “meant
“Those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength”
#WelcomeToCanada
He brought in over 35,000 Syrian refugees in 2016 alone – the largest refugee resettlement movement in Canadian history. And, lest we forget, following Trump’s travel ban Trudeau issued a tweet reminding, “Those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada” (a nice contrast to the constant string of tweets from our less savory neighbour to the South). This is not to say that there aren’t complaints to be made about the man. Eyebrows were raised after his comments following Fidel Castro’s death, naming him as “remarkable” and a “larger than life leader who served his people,” disregarding
to recognise the passing of a former head of state – a head of state with which Canada had a deep and lasting friendship.” But with Trudeau’s youth comes some errors in judgement, so we shall not crucify him too harshly. In the words of John Buchan, “the task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.” With our world seemingly irreparably divided, it is refreshing to have a leader that represents the good in his country, a leader that strives to bring his people together, rather than further increase the gap between them.
Keep it up Trudeau – we are rooting for you. Spring Issue / Majlis / 7
CALAMITY IS COMING Words by Srivishnu Ramachandran
Can we stop the overwhelming disaster of Global Warming? 8 / Majlis / Spring Issue
Global warming is, arguably, the most critical issue facing the world in the 21st century; an issue that has cursed our planet now for many decades, but an issue that is of our own making. If we don’t act now to supress this disaster, we will be annihilated and there will be no mercy shown by Mother Nature. This is the last call for the human race to be saved… What are the impacts of Global Warming?
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here are many impacts of global warming on the world, such as environmental refugees - people displaced by environmental disasters in which global warming destroys their homes in the form of floods, extreme heat, etc. This also causes job loss as people flee from countries that are in danger of global warming. Another impact is the downfall of tourism because major tourist sites, such as the Great Barrier Reef, are suffering negative effects. In the future, islands such as The Maldives will be underwater at this rate. The melting polar caps will increase the sea level, drowning low lying islands and countries and harming wildlife when their habitats are destroyed. Some scientists have also speculated that a warmer climate, that allows more intense storms to develop, would also spawn more hurricanes. Finally, global warming is likely to increase the infection rates of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue fever and West Nile virus as rising temperatures create more mosquito-friendly habitats.
What have we done to stop it? Various companies, countries and officials have presented many ideas that have helped stabilise global warming. An example is the Three Gorges Dam in China: a hydroelectric dam that spans the Yangtze River, it is the world’s largest power station in terms of installed capacity at 22,500 MW, and it is a good example of the world trying to stop global warming as it uses a renewable energy source (water) that does not specifically harm the environmnet. Another good example is the American car company Telsa who produce electric cars. There is an enormous difference in efficiency between an electric motor and a gasoline engine: an electric motor has 97% efficiency compared to gasoline’s 30%. Many nations around the world are upping their game in the fight against climate change with many governments trying to switch from coal burning to gas burning. Various oil companies such as Shell are trying to capture CO2 and force it under the earth: a process called carbon
capture and sequestration. At the Paris United Nations meeting of 2015, 195 nations signed a historic agreement to reduce their carbon emissions, with the goal of limiting future warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. This meeting has spurred global leaders to try save our Earth before it immerses in extinction, proving that gatherings like this that help promote our planet’s survival chances. How can you stop Global Warming?
“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try,” John F. Kennedy once claimed, and these words apply to everything we do; even one person can make a huge difference. Healing the planet starts in your garage, in your kitchen, and at your dining-room table. Think about the paper you use: Paper is a resource that we use every day, everywhere. Over the centuries, paper has been made from a wide variety of materials, but today’s paper fibre comes mainly from two sources: pulpwood logs and recycled paper products. Decreasing the use of paper made ‘from scratch’, reduces deforestation which, in turn, will decelerate the process of global warming as there will be more trees left to take in carbon dioxide. ‘Post-consumer waste’ is the paper you throw out or recycle. Buying paper made from a high percentage of post-consumer waste helps reduce the number of trees needed to make brand new paper. It also saves energy and keeps paper out of the landfill, therefore further slowing down global warming. You should also make every effort to recycle your own paper both at home and at school. Other, more efficient, natural sources for paper include hemp, bamboo and cotton. Reduce your carbon emissions by…
Using solar panels:
Solar panels reduce the need for fossil fuels for making electricity, as they convert sunlight into a useable power source. This reduces the release of CO2
into the atmosphere.
Reducing animal agriculture:
Animal agriculture is responsible for around 9%, 37% and 65% of global carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions respectively. A way to reduce this is to limit your meat intake – specifically beef, as this requires more resources (e.g. land, fertiliser, and water) than other sources of meat. Scientists estimate that producing beef requires 28 times more land, 6 times more fertiliser and 11 times more water than producing white meats. The production of vegetables creates even fewer greenhouse gas emissions: potatoes, rice, and broccoli all produce approximately 3–5 times lower emissions than an equivalent mass of white meats. The reason is simple – it’s more efficient to grow a crop and then eat it, than it is to grow a crop, feed it to an animal as it builds up muscle mass, and then eat the animal!
Buying better bulbs:
LED light bulbs use up to 80% less energy than regular bulbs and are cheaper in the long run making them not only beneficial for the earth, but also good for you and your pocket.
Reducing waste:
Decomposing waste in landfill sites produces methane and other greenhouse gases. However, energy is also used in producing waste products in the first place! So by reducing your consumption of metal, plastic, glass and paper; reusing items made from these materials or actually recycling them, will help to minimise your carbon footprint.
Planting trees:
As they take in carbon dioxide, trees have the power to slow or even stop global warming. Deforestation of rain forests has been a major contributor to the process of global warming. So by planting new trees, even at home, or by supporting projects where this is done, you can help to offset your own carbon footprint and deforestation somewhere else in the world.
These are just some of the ways you can help to defeat the threat of global warming. Remember, our future lies in our own hands – take action now…before it’s too late. Spring Issue / Majlis / 9
Top 5 ENdangered species Words By Aisha GhaurI
1) Ivory-Billed Woodpecker This wonderful, unique bird is the world’s third largest woodpecker. They are carnivores with a weight of 450-570g. These birds make a special double-knock noise when pecking at trees. This species of woodpecker is believed to be almost extinct.
2) Amur Leopard The nimble-footed, strong and solitary cat is also known as the Far East Leopard. They live for 10-15 years, but with a population of 60, this species is critically endangered. 3) Javan Rhinoceros Javan rhinos are the most threatened of the five rhino species. They have a weight of 9002300kg and a height of 1.4-1.8 metres. These rhinos are dusty grey and have a single horn of up to about 24 centimetres. If we lose the population in Java, the entire species will disappear. 4) Northern Sportive Lemur There are around 100 species of these primates, all of which live on the island of Madagascar, off the southeast coast of Africa. With a habitat loss due to logging in the forests, where they live, these lemurs are decreasing dramatically. 5) Western Lowland Gorilla With its brown-grey coat and their slightly smaller size, these gorillas can be distinguished from other gorilla subspecies. They also have smaller ears and a wider skull, but can weigh up to 440 pounds. Numbers have decreased by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years due to poaching and disease.
If you are interested in finding out more about, or even helping, endangered animals visit www.worldwildlife.org today! Don’t delay – it may soon be too late.
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Music to Mind
When you listen to music, several areas of your brain become active. However, when you play a musical instrument, every single part of your brain works at once. It’s like your brain is having a full-on workout. It’s like fireworks go off in your head each time you play. There are many benefits to playing a musical instrument, and these are just a few...
Increases the capacity of your memory:
Research has shown that playing a musical instrument can improve your memory. A study was carried out on children between 3-4 years old: ones who played musical instruments and ones who didn’t. All of them participated in the same preschool activities throughout the day, and were tested at the beginning of the study, and at the end. The results showed that the children who had music lessons improved their performance in the tests by 34% more than the other group.
Boosts your teamwork skills:
Teamwork is a major part of life. If you don’t have good teamwork skills, you won’t get far in your future. When you play in an orchestra, you rely and depend on the other players in the group, working together to create a piece that is so much more than ju st the input of an individual. This is teamwork, and this skill can be applied to other school subjects and areas of adult life.
Creates a sense of achievment:
Once you have perfected a piece or passed an exam, you experience a sense of achievement and a really happy sensation that you have done something good in your life. Everyone deserves to have that feeling, and when you learn an instrument that feeling comes through.
Sharpens your concentration:
What playing a musical instrument, you need to concentrate on lots of things: rhythm, tempo, intonation and note duration. This will slowly but gradually sharpen your memory, making it quicker and easier to concentrate. Having a sharp memory and improved concentration helps you not just in school subjects but in other activities too, like catching a ball, answering quiz questions and completing tasks efficiently.
As you can see, playing a musical instrument has many benefits - there are more than just these – and it will help your life greatly. Did you know that if you pass your Grade 4 and 5 in any instrument, it will count as an A* GCSE? Learning an instrument teaches you vital life lessons and will always benefit you in the future. You just need to think about the end product, and how that will make you feel. What are you waiting for…?
Teaches you perseverance:
Learning an instrument requires a lot of patience and perseverance; you can’t just play a piece of music straight away and this, potentially, could annoy you greatly. However, even the best musicians can’t do that. So practicing hard and often teaches you to persevere – another key life skill.
Br rina u l F y ds b Wor
iner
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Celebrities Who Failed Before Succeeding Celebrities: everyone knows who they are and where they come from. Many people wish they were them - perfect and always successful. But what people don’t always know is what many celebrities went through before they became the people they are today. These are stories of well-known people who have failed in the past, but pressed on until they found success. Steve Jobs: Steve Jobs was the co-founder of Apple Inc. and Pixar Animated Studios. Although initially enjoying success in these enterprises, he was left depressed after being unceremoniously removed from Apple Inc. Twelve years later, he was invited to return to the floundering company, leading it into a new golden age.
Albert Einstein: Albert Einstein has contributed to the field of theoretical physics more than perhaps any other man in recent history. Einstein allegedly didn’t start speaking until he was about four years old - average children start speaking at between 1-2 years old - and when he was 16, his schoolmaster said he would “never amount to anything.”
Dr. Seuss: Theodor Seuss Geisel has produced some of the most popular and famous children’s books in history, but his first book, ‘And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street’, was rejected by 27 publishers, before being released to widespread critical acclaim by Vanguard Press.
Thomas Edison: Thomas Edison was the inventor of the incandescent light bulb, and held over a thousand other patents. However, that wasn’t always a given; a teacher told him he was “too stupid to learn anything,” and that he should go into a field where he might succeed by virtue of his pleasant personality. J.K Rowling: The author of the world-renowned Harry Oprah Winfrey: Potter franchise, Rowling’s manuscript Many people know Oprah Winfrey of her first book was turned down by 12 from her multiple award-winning talk publishers before Bloomsburry picked it show, but not everyone knows she was up for an advance of just £1,500 in 1996. originally a news anchor in the Baltimore The series went on to sell more than 450 local channel WJZ-TV. She was eventually million copies worldwide. pulled from the air, the producers considering her “unfit for television.” The Beatles: The world apparently disagrees. Now known as the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed band in history, they were rejected by Decca Records, who said that they didn’t “like their sound” and, ironically, that had “no future in show business.”
Walt Disney: Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper for “lacking imagination” and “having no original ideas.” He then went on, after several further setbacks, to create Mickey Mouse, Disneyland and one of the greatest companies ever, gathering 26 Academy Awards over his lifetime.
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You might have thought that these people were always prosperous, but now you know some of the real journey behind their success. As people say: “Success is a state of mind. If you want, success, start thinking of yourself as a success.” Words By Lojaine Yaakoub
CONTINENT OF CATASTROPHE CATASTROPHE CATASTROPHE CATASTROPHE Words by Ross O’Donnell
Last year saw two major moves in the Western world: Donald Trump’s election as US President and Britain’s exit from the European Union meant two leaders of the global world order were in disarray due to an angry society. The message from their citizens was simple - focus on us first and the rest of the world later. However, these actions were not singular events that have now been and gone. They represent a major movement that is sweeping the Western world and will ignite the European continent this year: populism. Spring Issue / Majlis / 13
GERMANY German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is now seen as the most powerful person in Europe and the most powerful woman in the world. She is an inspiring figure to many leaders worldwide due to the constant stability and growth she has brought to her country over the past decade. However, over the last 2 years, she has embarked on a programme to allow nearopen immigration to asylum seekers from Syria amongst other countries. An astonishing 1.1 million refugees arrived in Germany last year alone. This, unfortunately, coincided with terrorist attacks across Germany such as the truck attack on a Christmas market in central Berlin, an axe-attack in Wurzburg and the suicide bombing in Ansbach. Merkel’s reputation has been tainted by the refugee intake that many blame for such attacks, leading to the rise of the Alternative for Germany (A.F.D) party who wish to ban refugees and take a hard anti-Islamist stance - even threatening to destroy every mosque in the country. However, the fact that it serves as an organisation for anyone anti-Merkel means it enjoys massive popularity. It has polled second repeatedly in regional elections, even causing shockwaves in Merkel’s home region by coming a nearsecond. The far-right PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West) Party make up the more radical element of the movement and yet even they are on the rise across Germany with rallies occurring weekly. Although pollsters and political experts expect Merkel to fend off these challenges to be re-elected
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in 2017, keep in mind that they also expected a Clinton victory and a Remain vote.
ITALY The place where the EU was founded, the country where the Euro was always the most popular amongst the European powers… not anymore. The country’s unemployment rate is like many in the Mediterranean, standing at a staggering 12.5% overall and a whopping 43.5% for those under 25. And some still ask where the anger has come from - it doesn’t take a political genius to work that out! This anger has led to a movement like no other in the world: the Five Star Movement. Its leaders state it is neither socialist nor capitalist, not anti-immigrant nor pro-globalisation. In fact, no-one really knows what it is. Its founder and leader, Beppe Grillo, is a much-adored comedian and blogger, which goes down well with voters to whom he speaks at rallies across Italy. He is joined by the ‘heart throb’ of Italian politics, Alessandro Di Batista, whose social media presence and motorcycle tours of the country make him, perhaps, the most loved person in Italy today. These men seem to only share the fact that they are anti-elitist, and that’s what this movement is all about; with no political experience, up to a few years ago it was viewed as a massive joke. But, they polled second in the last round of elections and keep on growing. With the popular Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, being forced out of office by mainly Five Star Movement
supporters in 2016, look out for more shockwaves this year…
NETHERLANDS Due to its high standards of living in comparison to other countries, many immigrants from places such as Syria, West and East Africa and Central Asia have moved to the Netherlands in the past five years, bringing with them their cultural and religious beliefs that many native Dutch are now claiming is damaging to their own culture and religion. Enter stage right… The Party for Freedom and their highly popular leader, Geert Wilders. He has compared the Islamic Koran to Hitler’s Mein Kampf in the past and has attempted to have Islam banned. Funnily enough, he is on trial for inciting racial hatred right now in the Netherlands. This has unfortunately led to even more interest in, and popularity for, his party which is topping opinion polls for the Parliamentary elections next march. It seems like this man will be the next face of the Netherlands and with it shall come his anti-EU, antiIslam, anti-Immigration rhetoric.
FRANCE The French were a founding member of many major international institutions of the world today. Their involvement in everything from the United Nations to the European Union has made them one of the key players in both European and global politics. However, this year’s presidential election will be one of the pivotal moments in European history, due to the rise of the anti-globalist, anti-EU party known as the French National Front. Their leader, Marie Le Pen, is the most popular leader
in France (polling at 26.5%) and is a common face to see on any major news site nowadays. The move of Marie Le Pen into office as President would, to paraphrase EU leader Jean-Claude Junker, be the end of the European ideas of free movement and open trade. This is not a referendum like in the UK, this is the election for the leader of the largest military power and the second largest economy in Continental Europe. The effects would be unlike any seen in Europe since the end of World War 2. So, now that we have seen the populist trends in Europe this year, one can’t help but wonder how this has happened and what anyone can do to stop it. I have listened to students and the wider expat population in Qatar talk for years about how it’s uneducated people or those who have not gone to college or university, or those who haven’t travelled and been exposed to different cultures and customs that are the problem. What those claims all have in common is that they all masquerade for the word poor, or underprivileged. People are voting for these radical groups because inequality has increased, whilst politicians from the left or right have failed to change anything for the past 30 years. This had led us to a world where the ordinary working class person has been through an education system where the odds have been stacked against them, entered a job market where their income has fallen and voted for leaders who have broken their promises to help them out time and time again. Add to this the countless biased media articles deflecting the anger onto Muslims, immigrants and (ironically enough) poor people themselves; it doesn’t take a political genius to work out where all the problems have come from. In turn, this has brought us to a place where we, as global citizens who have been fortunate enough to have a top level of education, should be more understanding of why the public is angry and have a desire to fix those problems rather than pass the blame onto those who have been less fortunate than us. One thing is for sure though, populism is in full swing and will storm the Western world both in 2017 and for years to come…
They represent a major movement that is sweeping the Western world and will ignite the European continent this year: Spring Issue / Majlis / 15
INTERNAL
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a school production
SKIN DEEP Spring Issue / Majlis / 17
A
s we entered the auditorium, we were bombarded with cast members clad in school uniforms asking how we felt about our body image: Do you think you eat healthy enough? Are you happy with your body image? Do you exercise enough? These questions kept us thinking as we took our seats, expectant of a wonderful show ahead. We were certainly not disappointed as the constant action and twists kept us clinging to our seats throughout the three hours. The cast presented us with a plethora of skills including singing, dancing and, not to mention, acting… all perfectly crafted by the directors and drama teachers: Mrs Jane Williams and Mrs Gillian Milne. This year’s production highlighted issues often ignored but forever relevant, especially for teenagers: it brought to light the devastating effects that eating disorders can have and gave examples of parent-child relationships that have soured over time or involved strong differences in opinions. Yet, it also brought humour in all the right places, ensuring the audience weren't depressed or disheartened by the array of serious topics being dealt with on stage. The actors and actresses involved had obviously practiced to perfection, giving up much of their free time to being committed to making Skin Deep a success. They poured hours of hard work and effort into creating the play that was performed so brilliantly over the three evenings it ran. To get an insight into the play, we talked to some of the students who took part about their experience of being in Skin Deep. Faye Hashim, a body image girl, said: "It was very fun! I got to see a different side of people when they acted which was very cool." Rayyan Khan, who donned the role of a geek, said: "I was initially not going to join as I was scared of being embarrassed on stage, but to overcome the fear I forced myself to join and ended up loving every minute of it. Ironically, my main scene included me embarrassing myself on purpose!" The storylines were very emotional and hit close to home for many of us, as the pressure of having to have the 'perfect' body image has become the norm in the world we live in today. The play gave us a little peek into the hectic lives of Fliss (Roxanne Gardiner), Morag (Connie Morrison) and Alice (Ellen Lucas), amongst others; characters who everyone, old and young alike,
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thoroughly enjoyed and could relate to. As an audience, we were delighted to get an opportunity to interact with the cast before the actual play started, as they asked questions such as: "Do you think you're fit? Do you think you lead a healthy lifestyle? When was the last time you had a McDonald’s breakfast?" and some of us even admitted to some of the bad habits we are guilty of! By engaging in this activity, we realised that we weren't so different from each other and, in fact, we were all very much alike: no one is as perfect as they seem to be. Every character in the production had their own story to tell, each having to overcome their own obstacles as they went through their daily lives in a world where body image perfection is crucial. The story began with everyone getting worked up about the longawaited arrival of Jamie Oliver to solve all their ‘food’ problems at the school; the play also addressed the issues of bullying and eating disorders which were all linked to body image. Leading up to the anticipated arrival of Jamie Oliver, the headmaster (played hilariously by Harry Golby) was heavily preoccupied with whipping the kitchen into shape and forcing the school cooks to work overtime to improve the entirety of the cafeteria menu, replacing it with much healthier alternatives. The school had made some positive adjustments overall and things were changing for the better. All throughout this, however, Alice, a student at the school, struggled to cope with an eating disorder and she was constantly bullied. As it turns out, she was not actually the victim of ‘real’ bullying, but the bullies themselves were voices in her head that stemmed from a serious psychological disturbance caused by social pressures. The play ended with this frightening realisation, just before Jamie Oliver’s arrival: in the nail biting finale, Alice became too overwhelmed by the voices in her head and ended up collapsing in the bathroom, with an ambulance being called for her.
Throughout the dramatic and, at times, comedic twists and turns of the plot, we heard the lovely voices of the talented singers and, overall, the play really embodied Doha College’s spirit, with an array of mini stories, played by many students, combining to make great overall production. During the interval and after the play, to stay in line with the theme of the plot, healthy foods were sold by the charities committee and all profits made were given to charities in Syria to help with the refugee crisis. As the production ended, we were left on the edge of our seats, craving more of the story. Leaving the auditorium, however, we felt empowered, as we now knew that we weren't alone in our struggles. With such a powerful performance this year, we look forward to seeing what the drama department and the talented DC students have in store for us next year… Words By Nina Nair and Natalie Chan
Spring Issue / Majlis / 19
LIVING LIFE ON THE WILD SIDE Letting go of our easy and luxurious lifestyle will always be a hard choice to make. However, there are some thrill-seeking daredevils who think the choice is quite easy – especially if a tempting adventure comes with it! After considering the challenges that test skill, physique, and devotion, The Duke of Edinburgh (DoE) does seem to be a demanding commitment. But the majority of Doha College students don’t seem to take that view, and the program has proven to be very popular; this year alone saw 115 students participating working towards the Bronze award, 37 for the Silver and 15 for the Gold. The DoE scheme is an opportunity for students to camp out and demonstrate a number of skills in camp craft, navigation, nutrition, and teamwork. To achieve the award, the teams must truly learn to ‘live life on the wild side’. Open for everyone from Year 10 and up, the awards recognise participants for completing a series of exercises and challenges. Each of the three levels - Bronze, Silver, and Gold – make increasing demands on the students involved regarding the time and commitment required from participants, while their expeditions take them a further and further distance away from home to explore new terrain. So, what’s going on with the current participants? Bronze Award Entrants had a trek in Bir Zekreet on the outskirts of Qatar. Known for its beautiful, untouched desert formations, it’s an uninterrupted stretch of terrain that sees few visitors, making it perfect for our brave pioneers who spent two days and a night there.
After months of preparation, and a successful trip to Sri Lanka, the Silver Award participants are back from their two nights and three days’ trip which happened while the rest of us were enjoying half term. The final fifteen who made it all the way to Gold DoE will go to Snowdonia in Wales for their trek - four days and three nights packed with adventures, which includes the Welsh climate, awaits them! So……what do I need to know before I join the Duke of Edinburgh? It’s difficult to list them all here, but here are some things you should definitely know: 1. You’ll have a ton of fun exploring new places with opportunities and challenges you will not get elsewhere 2. You’ll be pushing yourself to do new things which will help you to grow in confidence and develop useful, lasting skills. 3. You’ll meet new people who will inspire you and lead to lasting friendships. 4. And a DoE Award can give you the edge when you apply for college, university or a job! Put simply, “the DoE is all about helping you along the path to a productive and prosperous future. As many of the participants say: it’s life-changing.” Mrs. Croker, DoE Organiser
Words by Raabail Khawaja and Ashima Mugibur Raghman
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Word
to the
Wise
Unless you have been otherwise engaged during form times over the last few weeks, it is impossible that you have missed the school podcast: DC Word. To find out more about how the podcast was created and is made, and how you can get involved in the near future, Majlis’ Annabelle Vincent caught up with its co-creator, Nasreen Hago. Who created the DC Word and what was its aim?
interview some teachers to mix things up a little, but the idea is that each prefect has complete control of their own episode so they come up with their own ideas.
Aiman and I created ‘DC Word’ together after having our oneon-one meetings with each of the heads of committee something we do every term to see how each committee is getting along. We realised that each committee had a lot planned for the term and so we decided that it would be nice to have the rest of the school hear about everything that was going on.
What was the inspiration behind DC Word? I was actually inspired by the film GREASE and how the movie starts with an announcement over the tannoy saying, “Welcome to Rydell High!” It seemed like such a great start to the day, so Aiman and I decided it would be a great way to further promote the prefects to the rest of secondary. We wanted to do something similar - integrating the upper and lower school has been a big aim for us this year.
Where do you get ideas for the episode and how are episodes made? Usually the two prefects hosting the podcast for the week have to come up ideas for the podcast and put their own spin on it although Aiman and I sometimes give them suggestions. For example, we suggested to Sarah and Meshaal that they could
Who is involved in the making of the episodes?
Aiman and I will edit it.
The episodes are filmed throughout the week and Aiman and I are usually in charge of the filming. They’re all filmed in the same place: Mr Conly’s old office, which is now kind of the ‘headquarters’ for the DC Word. Prefects also currently do the editing; we usually have some prefect volunteers and, if not,
How do students get involved? Unfortunately, as exams are coming up, we’re going to need a lot more help from younger students with the filming and editing - as mentioned in our previous podcast. So if anyone is interested, they can easily get involved by dropping either Aiman or I an email (nhago@dohacollege.com.qa and awahizam@dohacollege.com.qa). Hopefully, after the half term, we can get an ECA up and running where we teach basic editing and filming skills, get people into teams and maybe have a ‘group manager’ who is ultimately responsible for the podcasts – a role which may change every week. We just want to ensure our legacy is carried on after we leave and remains at a high standard.
Words by Annabelle Vincent
Spring Issue / Majlis / 21
THE NEW M ost students at Doha College will have at least heard of MUN if
President of DC MUN
Sanjith Ganesan
not actually being involved in some way – the club’s presence is felt in daily briefings, highlighted on notice boards and witnessed via those ‘suited and booted’ students who roam the school corridors on the Thursday before a big conference. Many of you will have also heard of ‘The Big Six’ but may, like me, not actually know who they really are or what they do. So, I set out to find out…
What role do you have in MUN and what does it involve?
Sanjith, President of DC MUN: As president, my main job is to organize the logistics of each DC conference, contact directors, and ensure everything runs smoothly on conference day.
Secretary General
Jeeveththaa Thirugnanasambanthar
Jeeve, Secretary General: I set up the conference along with the Big Six. We meet up several times a week and talk about organising the event- emailing directors, talking other members of the team and making sure that they know what they are doing, not only for the conference but also the day-to-day running of the club. Nick, Deputy Secretary General: As Deputy Secretary General, I help run the club at the highest level, participating in discussion over what decisions we should make for our conferences, along with the other members of the Big Six. I also get to order the pizza for the conference, which is good, because this time we’ll be getting pepperoni!
Secretary General of Middle School MUN Lara Hamidi
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Nafe, Deputy Secretary General: The entire executive team is allocated jobs by the President and the Secretary General. Nick and I make sure that these jobs are carried out to their fullest. On top of this, as a team, the Big 6 make important decisions about upcoming conferences.
Lara, Secretary General of Middle School MUN: My main duty is to monitor the day to day running of the Tuesday after school club for middle school training. Naveen, Deputy Secretary General of Middle School MUN: Lara and I oversee the sustained growth of MUN within the younger years. We make sure they have access to an MUN experience which is both appropriate for their age and inspiring in continuing their career in the club.
What made you want to be a part of the Big Six? Jeeve: My first conference was a total disaster- my resolution didn’t even get approved by the Approval Panel and I awkwardly stumbled and stuttered my way through the conference. But that experience gave me a goal to achieve in MUN: to be a confident public speaker and express my opinions clearly.
Lara: I find MUN is a big part of my life and has taught me so many important things that I can use in life, and that is why I wanted to pass that on to the many other new delegates. Inspiring the younger years to be a part of MUN is amazing as they would be able to enjoy MUN as I did when I was still in middle school. Naveen Anthony: The ability to run and make an impact on the lives of others,
BIG SIX as well as be a part of something big. By being a part of the Big Six, I have learned more about responsibility and teamwork due to the fact that we are all in this together.
a fantastic team so I have no doubt that we will try our hardest to make sure that everyone who comes to our conferences leave with something memorable and valuable.
Do you have any advice for people aiming to be a part of the Big Six?
Sanjith: Balancing school as well as MUN will be a bit of a struggle. Moreover, as I have to plan many conferences, it can’t be helped that problems pop up here and there. Thankfully, I have strong team that helps one another so if something goes wrong, then someone is always there to help.
Sanjith: Have a passion for it. You won’t get in if you think ‘I only care for my CV’. Nick: Build up a lot of experience by going to a lot of conferences, prove your worth to the current Big Six and they will definitely consider you. Also, don’t fool around in conferences; try to gain experience working with others in a team- this part’s vital for the job, and, most importantly, show that you will be committed to what being part of the Big Six entails: it’s a lot of work. Nafe: To the people who are aiming to be at the top, the one thing I can’t stress enough is don’t let any opportunities pass by. The smallest opportunities can be the most beneficial even if you don’t see their immediate effect.
What future struggles do you expect in your position?
Jeeve: The immense responsibility is something that I have to adapt to setting up conferences with more than 200 delegates is a big deal and there are many details that need to be taken care of, but I have the honour of working with
Lara: In the future, I think that one of the struggles will be time management and organising the conference by the time needed.
What superpowers would you like to have? Nick: I’d love to be able to stay up 24/7 without getting tired. Imagine, never having to sleep; you’d get an extra 8 hours a day and never feel dead.
Deputy Secretary General Nafe Ahmed
Deputy Secretary General of Middle School MUN Naveen Anthony
Naveen: I am the living embodiment of the term ‘superpower’. I do not need them. Nafe: If I could choose a superpower it would probably be the ability to manipulate time and be able to travel forward and back in time.
Deputy Secretary General
DCMUN Words by Millenia Parinduri
Nick Belsten
Spring Issue / Majlis / 23
Doha College 4th Annual Medical Review Inspiring Our Medical Students
The Medical Review Group is an ECA where interested students explore recent developments in medicine. Teaming up, they choose a topic of interest to research and evaluate. Using all possible means available - online forums, teachers, medical periodicals, researchers worldwide - they outline the current research, clinical trials and impact on the medical world. Finally, the students prepare and deliver their findings in a round of presentations in December to qualify for the Annual Medical Review Conference in February.
Words by Aisling McMahon 24 / Majlis / Spring Issue
Spring Issue / Majlis / 25
T
he conference is hosted by Doha College in partnership with two major medical organisations – Elite Medical Center (EMC) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). Experts from these organisations judge the students’ presentations as well as offer feedback and guidance.
effect of elevated Citrin on cancerous growth. Frederick Banting - famous for his work with insulin - would be awed to hear of an artificial pancreas to replace insulin injections for diabetes patients! Other topics presented included questioning if Melittin (bee venom) can really kill pathogens such as HIV; the potential of genetic engineering to cure the zika virus and how the virus can be suppressed in the foetus; the use of Zombie Zebrafish instead of lab-rats for clinical trials; and 3D printing of the heart.
This year, the conference was opened up to all COBIS members (Council of British International Schools). Event organiser and Head of Biology at DC, Rachel Hart, told us: “The conference seeks to inspire students and fuel their passion for science and medicine. They present their medical and scientific research, and On the day, teams split into six break-out rooms during gain invaluable feedback from peers and experts drawn from the the morning session where teacher judges ranked each team’s presentation using a rubic. The four teams with the Qatar medical community”. highest scores went forward to the afternoon session where they presented to the medical experts. Presentations were The initiative was set up in 2014 to add educational value to approximately 10 minutes long and were judged on research students with an interest in science, medicine and pharmacy. content, quality of resources, presentation sequence and clarity. Students explore some of the most medically significant issues Students had to ensure their presentation skills were on point, as of our time and showcase their scientific and medical research, well as engaging the audience using a variety of techniques such while honing their presentation techniques. It also encourages as props, interviews and videos. This was followed by a Q&A healthy competition, allows students to interact with other session where candidates had to demonstrate their opinions, schools, and gives them access to medical experts within understanding and knowledge of their topic area as a peer, to a Qatar. The conference has expanded from three schools, six panel of medical experts. presentations and 15 students in 2014, to seven schools, 27 presentations and 64 students this year!
Teams of students from Qatar’s top international schools competed in various pre-determined topic areas for a chance to be in the final. This year’s topics included: Infectious Disease; Pharmacological Developments; Diagnostics; Feto-maternal Medicine; Hereditary/Metabolic Diseases, and Cancer. Students presented their research and opinion on a vast array of complex medical initiatives which included: breakthrough lung cancer treatment such as Keytruda instead of chemotherapy; the controversial Germ line therapy for hereditary diseases; and the
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The judging panel, drawn from medical experts from EMC and HMC, assessed the presentations given by finalists and offered their advice. Dr. Osama Hassan Salha (HMC) gave invaluable feedback to the finalists, as did Professor Ramzi Mohammad (HMC and Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College) who has been a judge for four years now and continues to be impressed with the high calibre of entries. Dr. Nesrin (EMC) gave a truly inspirational speech to all students at the closing ceremony. After the prize giving, participants met with judges, permitting a more informal exchange of thoughts among conference attendees.
Out of 27 teams, 10 from DC got through to the Conference, 7 of those were in the top ten and 2 made the final four. The winning team, three of our own outstanding students, were Hyqa Islam, Saarah Rashid and Shahd Fares, whose winning presentation ‘Treating Alzheimer’s disease’ delved into the available treatments and drugs, and looked at trials attempting to prevent Alzheimers from occurring. A fascinating presentation, it was very well researched and confidently presented. A team from DBS placed second, with an insightful presentation on the treatment of Psoriasis, whilst third place was awarded to AKIS, who discussed revolutionary diagnostic testing of pancreatic cancer.
Once again, the quality of research and presentations were of an exceptionally high standard, and the competition was stiff. Everyone who presented was a winner maybe not the big prize winner - as we all gained knowledge, confidence and pride. Grappling with complex topics, the conference provided an opportunity for participants to collaborate, share ideas and benefit from exploration. The Medical Review Group and Conference is a truly fantastic opportunity offered by DC, which I am delighted to have
been a part of. Special thanks should go to our great science department and teachers – Ms. Hart, Ms Stafrace, Ms. Gordon, Dr. Khan and Ms. Khodabukus - for their guidance and encouragement, and to the expert knowledge of the judging panel. The entire journey - from the Medical Review Group, to deciding on our topic, to presenting in front of judges and students from different schools - allowed me to apply the concepts and theories from years of studying chemistry and biology! The conference itself was a superb way to take a break from the ordinary routine, coming together to learn about the breakthroughs in the world of medicine, reviewing various treatments and clinical trials. The science of medicine has seen great advancements in recent times, and with dedicated students and opportunities like this we will see many, many more! The conference has really stimulated my passion for medical research, and I strongly encourage students in Years 11, 12 and 13 to join next year.
Spring Issue / Majlis / 27
The
CCI
I
LEGACY TALKS
s there something you have a passion about, but have never had the chance to express it? How about an obsession, or a talent, or an opinion about a controversial topic? The CCI Legacy talks allow students to express themselves and present topics they have a passion for, want to learn about, or have an interest in. Doha College’s senior prefects introduced the talks to leave behind as a legacy of their time as leaders, and they give students from every year group a platform to discuss any topic they want. Last term’s speakers discussed various topics such as: Teleportation, Greek Gods, Islamophobia, ‘How to become a Somebody’, ‘Skirts in Science’, and many more. After watching last term’s talks, here are some audience opinions, together with advice for next term from previous participants:
As a participant, what interested you most about the talks?
“The talks interested us because they helped us refine our speaking skills and allowed us to present the audience with a topic we were truly passionate about.” - Nina Nair
Are you planning to do a talk next term?
“Yes, I think it will be a good experience to strengthen my public speaking and presentation skills.” - Natalie Chan
Were you nervous walking up onto stage?
“I was slightly nervous as our presentation started, but during the show I slowly got more confident.” - Tanisha Chopra
What made you think of joining the CCI Talks?
“I thought it would be a fun project, and convinced my friend to do the talk with me.” - Yash Nanda
Finally, we talked to an audience member from last terms’ talks who told us about his favourite topic and gave advice to anyone wanting to join the CCI Talks.
“My favourite topic was the talk about Islamophobia as it showed the harsh realities faced by Muslims around the world. I feel
like it inspired many people in the audience. For people doing talks next term: prepare well, harness any shyness you have to your advantage and remember to keep a good pace and volume. If you mess up, cover it up in a covert way and make sure your audience doesn’t notice. But most off all you should have fun!” - Akash Deshmukh Although the talks were organised to give students a platform to express their ideas and opinions, they are also a great way to improve public speaking skills. Skills which aren’t consistently taught in the classroom, and which are only improved by practice. The skills that are learnt while speaking will most certainly help in the future; they will boost confidence by making something so huge, like speaking in front of a crowd, seem smaller and more manageable. This is an incredible and exciting experience that we encourage everyone to partake in! Students don’t get many opportunities like this, so we recommend that you come along to watch! Unfortunately, sign-up for next term’s talks are now closed, but we’re sure the event will be brilliant and we recommend that you come along to see for yourself. .
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Words By Hannah Consunji and Faye Hashim
OF TWO WORLDS A Glimpse into The Lives of the Bicultural WORDS BY RAABAIL KHAWAJA AND ASHIMA SEIK MUGIBUR RAGHMAN
Being from two different places can be quite challenging at times, especially due to the different traditions and languages. In this article, we’ll be interviewing a couple of students who’ve chosen to share their stories about how they juggle multiple cultures and the different challenges they face. The first person we interviewed was Jeanne.
The next person we’ve interviewed is Nadine.
Q: Where are you from?
Q: Where are you from?
J: I’m from South Korea and Germany.
N: Egypt and the U.K.
Q: Are there any major differences between both cultures?
Q: So both countries are really different and diverse! What are some of the similarities and differences between the traditions and customs?
J: Korea is more traditional and cultural when compared to Germany. There’s also the big difference in food, entertainment and religion. Germany is less traditional in a sense, and is normally associated with western food and culture. People also act differently and have different lifestyles, as well as entertainment choices. Q: Which countries have you lived in so far?
N: Both countries are great! However, Egypt is more bustling and has a lot of celebrations on the streets whereas the U.K. is much more serene and beautiful. Q: Can you speak both native languages?
N: Yes. J: I was born in Mexico and so far I’ve lived in Indonesia, Egypt, Abu Dhabi and now Qatar! Q: Do you feel more attached to one country compared to the other? Q: So you say you’re new to Qatar! Are the traditions here any different from those in the places you have lived before? J: Abu Dhabi and Qatar are almost the same, as they are both are Arab countries with similar food and people, the same language and religion. However, Abu Dhabi is slightly less conservative than Qatar. Q: What are your favourite things about your native country? J: The impeccable cuisine!
N: I love both Egypt and UK equally. So, nope! Q: Do you visit Egypt or England more often? N: I go to visit Egypt annually, but I used to live in the U.K. Q: Are you proud of where you’re from? N: Yes, I’m very proud of where I’m from and always will be. There are some difficulties and benefits that come from living in two different worlds. However, you should always be proud of where you’re from and embrace your culture with pride.
Spring Issue / Majlis / 29
eyona s by K Word
YMO Fazil
“
Earlier this year, two students from Doha College travelled to Bahrain to participate in the Young Musicians of the Gulf, an event involving 136 students from around the region. As one of those students, I naturally felt very excited to be a part of such a competition, particularly as no DC student had attended for the last six years. I went on this trip for the experience and also to become more comfortable performing in front of a large audience and judges. During the trip, I met a variety of different people with a range of different perspectives and personalities.
Experience what it’s like to be at the most competitive music competition in the Middle East.
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Prama Yudhistira
OG and I, with Mr Sorrentino, took to Hamad International Airport early on Monday 23 January bound for Bahrain. When we landed, we were greeted by other students in the airport, waiting with cello and saxophone cases, and at the competition itself, I was surprised to see such a variety of instruments: from the tuba to the viola to the bass flute. The day itself went quickly, but as my turn came to play, I was quite nervous. Three professionals, the judges, sat in front of me, waiting to hear me introduce myself. Later, I was told that I looked very cheerful and confident, but all I can recall is my knees shaking like crazy! At lunch, I met people from Dubai College (who managed to bring 24 students with them)
fierce; there were so many talented singers and musicians, and at such young ages too. I believe that Prama and I were the ‘kick-starters’ for the Doha College presence at YMOG. Next year, we hope to take as many musicians as possible (perhaps enough to rival Dubai College!). There are so many different categories that we can enter for: Duets, Ensembles, and Vocal groups. Being able to go this year, gave me a great insight into how much work I need to put in to be able to get into the finals next year.
and from St Christopher’s. It was really refreshing to meet all these new people who had all come to Bahrain to perform for the same reason as me: their love for music. The finalists for 2017 all played and sang beautifully; the flautist After they announced the 37 brought so much emotion to his instrumentalists who would move performance that I was moved to on to the next round - thankfully, tears. The performances varied that included Prama and me - we from a dramatic, yet comedic, got our suitcases and got onto a interpretation of “The Girl in 14G”, bus where I met students from to a romantic and deeply moving Jumeirah College in Dubai. In the performance of Chopin’s “Fantaisie half hour journey to the Sofitel Impromptu”. All in all, I benefitted Hotel, we bonded instantly over so much from this experience and our love of musicals… and sleep! learned a great deal. Missing four It was from that moment that I days of school, even in Year 12, made two very good friends, Anna turned out not to be the end of and Satya, both of whom I now the world; I caught up with all my talk to every day. All the people work while I was away and still from Jumeirah College were lovely, managed to have fun. I also met bright, and immensely funny; from up with two of ex-DC students that first night, we stuck together who are now studying at St like glue. Christopher’s! The hotel was beyond amazing. Even though we didn’t have much free time to explore and use the facilities, it was beside the sea and the views were fantastic. Our stay there was early mornings, late nights, and a whole lot of fun. Prama successfully got through to the third round, which is a huge accomplishment for him and for the school. The competition at YMOG was very
I truly recommend any musical person to think about participating in YMOG next January. Even if you’re not of the highest standard on your instrument, you can always join an ensemble and experience what it’s like to be at the most competitive music competition in the Middle East. I can’t wait to go back to Bahrain for YMOG 2018 - I know it will be just as magical as it was this year. Spring Issue / Majlis / 31
Art enrichment day
On Wednesday 25th January, all the Year 9 students came together in the Art Department classrooms to create largescale pieces of art. These will eventually display the core values of Doha College and will be exhibited in the Primary Hall. Each class had an art movement to emulate and one big board to work with to create a masterpiece in three hours - a challenging task for even the most skilled artists. However, the Year 9s managed to do just that through a mixture of great teamwork, coordination, organizsation, and skill. The art movements worked with included Fauvism, French Impressionism, Pop Art, Abstract Impressionism, Art Deco and Futurism. For Ailsa Cameron and Maya Stafrace, it was “a great experience full of teamwork” and “doing Fauvism which is full of bright colours and patterns was fun.”
The six different paintings from each class had to be coordinated onto the board to blend into each other, giving the effect of one final painting which was executed well by the groups. Also produced on the day, by a member of each team, was a video consisting of time-lapses and photographs showing the progress of the painting and a presentation with mood boards of all the different art movements included and the core values embossed on top. As Emel Erdogan said afterwards, “it was a good opportunity to mix with all the other classes which is usually rare and afterwards, I felt a great appreciation for artists who do this daily.” Matthew Rouse felt, “it was inspiring, fun, and exciting!”. Miguel Tavarez, a new student this term, felt it, “was a fun day to spend working together. I also got to know people a lot better!” The art movements were inspired by many different artists: Andy Warhol who inspired the Pop Art piece; Claude Monet, who was a well-known French impressionist; and Umberto Boccioni, an influential Futurist artist were among those emulated. Since the piece was a collaborative project, students gained the opportunity to work with people they hadn’t done so with before. Each group was assigned a group leader to organise and allocate jobs to each separate team member. Everyone got a chance to help with either the video, the
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PowerPoint or the actual painting. So that everyone got a chance to make a contribution, the team leaders organised rotations of roles. Prior to the day, each class looked at their art movement and created mind maps to help them understand the movement. Classes also looked at famous artists and analysed their work. During the art lessons before art enrichment day, the students learned about painting techniques and how to create strokes. These lessons really helped the students discover colours and shades that complemented the movement; for example, French Impressionism uses quite pastel shades and artists avoided using dark and overpowering colours like black.
Students also took inspiration from their allocated artist’s most famous work and tried to recreate their own using similar techniques. Even students who saw themselves as people who weren’t necessarily ‘artistic’, gained confidence and learned new skills and ways to create art. This also helped the teachers in the art department create a bond with their students and help them strengthen their art skills. Students also sketched out the art piece prior to the day so it was ready to paint on the actual day. This was done because the students only had three hours and it was recommended that they spend most of the time painting and completing their project.
As a positive memory of the day, splotches of paint were left behind to create colour within the department, to leave a lasting memento of an incredible enrichment day. At the end of the day, students felt proud since they had accomplished and created something they thought they were never capable of doing. In each group, there were students that were experts in different styles of art, so everyone was able to combine and communicate with their class to create some impressive artwork. Communication was a major skill that people improved because, without communication, the paintings would not look the way that they do today. Overall, everyone enjoyed it and thought it was a fun and enjoyable day that they hope to experience again in the future.
Words by Faye, Nina, Rabaai
ANDY WARHOL
Campbell‘s Soup I - 1968
Green Coca-Cola Bottles 1962
Triple Elvis - 1963
Claude Monet
Water Lilies and the Japanese bridge - 1897–
The Cliffs at Etretat - 1885
La Gare Saint-Lazare - 1877
umberto boccioni
dynamism of a cyclist - 1913
Elasticity - 1912
The Laugh - 1911
Spring Issue / Majlis / 33
ARTS AND FEATURES
How to write the perfect story Want to impress your teachers? Want to astound audiences? Want to mesmerise minds and inspire individuals? Then this guide is for you and it’s time for your literary makeover!
Plan
Planning is the most important step to consider when writing the ‘perfect’ story. The key is to clear your mind and let ideas flow on to a blank page before even attempting to write a story from scratch.
Note Ideas
Ideas can come at any time, at any place, so it’s best to keep a little notebook with you: always. This step isn’t totally necessary, however, it’s fun to jot down whatever comes to mind every now and then. This means that you never forget what wonderful ideas you come up with.
Write
Here’s the hard part: writing your story. If you never start, then you’ll never get it done, so put yourself in a calm environment, make yourself comfortable and use your plan to start writing your perfect story. Write it like you mean it and show everyone what you’re made of!
Imagine
Imagine the world is yours to control and write your story in that perspective. The most fun thing about writing is that you have free reign over anything that happens. Use your imagination wisely and be sure to NOT procrastinate!
Present
Finally, present your story. Make sure you bring smiles to those glum faces! Remember you can present your story in any kind of format. You can use Word, write by hand, or whatever suits you best. As long as you’ve enjoyed this process, you’ll do great! Good luck! Words by Zubia Faisal
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The Beauty Of Music. Take a minute; just think to yourself for a brief moment. What is music to you?
Y
ou see, this isn’t one of those questions that you can ask your friends about; the reason simply being that music means something different to everyone. Music isn’t something you can describe or put into words: it’s a feeling, an experience, a rollercoaster of emotions packed into one solid punch. When I say music, I don’t
mean that new track by Ed Sheeran or the one Taylor Swift track you’ve been jamming to since 2008! Music is the one thing that’s personal to each and every person. Music doesn’t require you to be a certain age or a certain height. Music is simply chaotic and yet it’s contained. I remember the first time I actually listened to a song, and I mean actually listened to it: understood the words and let my mind absorb the beat. It was probably one of the best, if not THE best, experiences of my life. I still
remember the song. It was Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes. After hearing the song, I couldn’t stop; I listened to anything and everything I could find, and to this day I do that, to somehow recreate the same feeling that I experienced that day. The whole point of me sharing that relatively pointless story was to show you this: people listen to music for different reasons. You may listen to it when you feel down, or as motivator before a big game, or to dance to, study to or fall to sleep to. Whether you
Words by Syed Comali Ali Rizvi
do it to pass time, or to fill those empty spaces in a day; whether you do it for the lyrics, or the bass, the beat or the notes that are being played; whether it’s jazz or Mozart, hip-hop or pop, R&B or Soul, music is personal to us in our own separate way. That is what makes music beautiful.
Whatever you do, don’t forget to see The Beauty of Music, because it resonates all around us. Spring Issue / Majlis / 35
10 BEST GET-AWAY DESTINATIONS Words By Sienna Valdez
Vacations: as our teachers and parents, you spend every single day working hard for them, but when they arrive where is the best place to go? Well, this list has been put together to help you find the best getaway destination, perfect for you. And students, keep reading too and set your sights on your dream holiday‌
Cape Town, South Africa
The Maldives
On the southwest coast of South Africa, Cape Town is a place like no other. Beauty and adventure collide to create a breath-taking city. Take a glimpse into South African culture as you walk through the local markets with clothes, food and art filling the stalls. You could take a historical adventure back in time to visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Perhaps you want to absorb the beauty around by climbing to the top of Table Mountain. Whatever it is you’re looking for, Cape Town has it all.
The Maldives is an archipelago composed of 1190 small islands placed along the Indian Ocean. The Maldives are widely known for their white-sanded beaches and clear, blue waters. Adventure and relaxation come together to form one of the best vacation spots. Colourful sea creatures and fish inhabit the extensive reefs below, ready for you to explore. After a long day out, you can always visit the long, natural beaches. These places make The Maldives a beautiful place that is always there to welcome you.
Goa, India The sandy beaches of Goa are great for settling down and watching the serene sight of the waves. It is a calming beach holiday perfect for those who love to relax. A selection of traditional food and curries will be there for you to savour, experience and enjoy. Goa is a charming place, and one you will want to return to.
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Grand Canyon, Arizona The Grand Canyon is an incredible sight to experience, reaching 1,857 meters deep. Located in Arizona, the canyon is layered with bands of red rock, revealing millions of years of geological history. How incredible!
Borneo
Sweden, Ice Hotel
Borneo is an island located in Southeast Asia’s Malay Archipelago. It is a wild vacation for those who like adventure, and people who love to venture into the unknown. Borneo’s rainforests offer a thrilling experience into the wild. If you would like a possible sight of orangutans, seeing dolphins dive through the glistening South China Sea waters, or maybe even locking eyes with a saltwater crocodile, Borneo is the place for you. And not only are you experiencing the jungles, but you are also helping the wildlife. Deforestation is a depressing problem in Borneo and by you going you are giving the animals another chance.
Are you looking for a vacation that you will never forget? What you might be looking for is a stay in the Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel in Sweden. This hotel is rebuilt every year in a new design out of ice and snow. If you arrive at the right time, you may even be able to see the Northern Lights. With so many activities, this ice hotel will be an amazing vacation for the whole family.
Machu Picchu, Peru Machu Picchu is an ancient citadel, once inhabited by the Incans, located high in the Andes Mountains in Peru. After a climb up the Andes mountain range, the breath-taking sights greet you. Its intriguing architecture is incredibly intricate, and how it was built remains a mystery. It will make a memorable vacation.
Bora Bora Turquoise seas, soft white sands and pink and orange sunsets: Bora Bora is a beautiful island located in French Polynesia. Scuba dive with the tropical fish and coral, watch a live shark feeding, go on a tour through the island and, finally, finish off your day by relaxing in your hut on sea, watching the sun float down through the sky. Bora Bora will be an amazing vacation for everybody.
The Brazilian Amazon Overflowing with adventure, the Brazilian Amazon has something new at each turn. There is always a sight to see in a jungle tour through the tropics. Experience something breathtaking or a sense of peril, right in the Amazon Rainforest. There’s so much to see, so much to do and so much to love.
Safari, Kenya Whether it’s exploring national parks by minibus or heading off through a rugged path in a 4x4, Kenya is sure to have an amazing safari for you. From majestic elephants to diminutive dung beetles, Kenya has it all. Experience an amazing trip through the grounds of Africa with animals all around. Kenya has an incredible trip waiting for you.
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Words by
Arunima Srivastav
In the modern age of technology that we are all currently living in, both laptops and tablets have become an essential part of the average person’s daily life. However, the question still stands: which one of them is most efficient? To be honest, it all really depends on the type of person and their specific needs.
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s students of Doha College, we are provided with iPads. Upon entering secondary school, we students find that an iPad does more than enough to help us with both our schoolwork and our homework. We can do almost everything on it, from running Office, to IOS, and Google applications. We can make and edit our documents and presentations, and given the touchscreen element, searching the web is made far easier as well. It’s my firm belief that students from years 7 to 9 will very much enjoy the help offered by the school tablet. However, students currently in their (I) GCSE, AS and A level years may opt for subjects such as Photography or Media
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where more advanced editing cannot be carried out unless they have a laptop with the proper software installed. Another advantage that the laptop holds over the tablet is the ability to code; coding is an essential part of courses such as ICT and Computer Science, so a laptop is preferable for students who rely on more advanced technology. Whilst tablets have improved over time to have more and more space in terms of memory, laptops still have more, plus the ability to use USB external memory devices giving unlimited storage capabilities; thus, they prove to be far more powerful than tablets. However, tablets have a touchscreen which is
helpful, not to mention accessories such as external keyboards to mimic that of a laptop’s functionality. After much thought and consideration, I believe that an affordable cross-breed between the both – such as the ‘Surface Pro’ 3 & 4 - would have the potential to satisfy any need. However, I actually feel that neither one of the devices laptop or tablet - is objectively superior to the other, considering that personal preferences and individual needs play a major role in deciding which device to own.
Money In Football
SPORTS
The main argument I always hear against football is that the players are “paid far too much!”: words often said by my mother when I reveal my favourite team lost to a team that they should be beating. Regardless of my love for the game, I do agree with her - unfortunately.
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oney in football has changed drastically over the years. Back in 1992, Paul Gascoigne was regarded as one of the best, if not the best, footballers in the world. He cost S.S. Lazio, a club based in Rome, £5.5 million. Of course, that still is an extortionate amount of money to be spent on a footballer, but in today’s market £5.5 million will only get you a below average player. Just 7 years later, in 1999, the transfer record fee had more than doubled and was now at £22.5 million when Nicolas Anelka transferred to Real Madrid from Arsenal. £22.5 million was being spent on a 19 year old. A 19 year old footballer! I can’t even begin to imagine what more beneficial things that money could have been spent on. Although the money involved in the world of football has been high for a long time - as seen when, in 1975, the £1 million mark was reached for the transfer of Giuseppe Savoldi from Bologna to Napoli -I would say the money certainly began to increase in large amounts back in 2009 when Kaka broke the transfer record with a move to Real Madrid for £56 million. From then on, this was the benchmark for a ‘normal transfer.’ This was also certainly the benchmark for the wages of players, with Kaka earning £180,000 a week. For playing football. An infantry soldier risking his life on a daily basis and separated from his family
and friends - earns, on average, £28,000 a year. And yet a footballer back in 2009 was earning £180,000 a week to kick a ball around. Nowadays, it’s gotten even more ridiculous. Footballers labelled as ‘pretty average players’ are earning far more than they should be. This is thanks, mainly, to the emergence of China on the football scene. Out of nowhere, Chinese clubs have been splashing the cash on players; some of them have signed some pretty good footballers, but have done so by paying twice the price and then doubling, or even tripling, their wages. Take the Brazilian payer Oscar for example. He’s a very talented player, don’t get me wrong, but moving to China at the age of 25 hardly implies he’s out there for the competition. After playing only two games in
five months, somehow he was worth £60 million in transfer fees and £400,000 in weekly wages double what he was earning at Chelsea. During his recent visit to Qatar, with his new team, he played on the same pitch that I have previously played on. This is a £60 million footballer playing on the same pitch as a 17 year old Doha College student…utter madness. What the future holds for footballing finances I cannot begin to comprehend, but one thing I do know for certain is that, on this topic at least, my mum is right: those players are definitely “paid far too much!”
Words By Callum Smith
Those players are definitely “paid far too much!”
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Can sport change the world? Have you ever wondered what impact sport has on an individual? On the world? Well, it has a massive impact: it can change mindsets, unify people and bring peace. Now, you might be thinking that all of these claims are just that – claims or ideas for the future. But, what if I told you that it has already happened, and is still happening today?
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football player, Didier Drogba, who played as a forward for Chelsea F.C has achieved something extraordinary: he stopped a civil war in his home country, Cote d’Ivoire. This is the story of how the footballer used the power of ‘the beautiful game’ to end his country’s conflict. Drogba was at the height of his career when his country, the Cote d’Ivoire, was being wracked by civil war. From 2002 to 2007, the civil war raged between the rebels in the north and the government locals in the south. “I left Cote d’Ivoire with a certain image: it was beautiful, its streets were lovely, there was greenery everywhere and people were happy. And when I came back a few years later, I saw a real change. That’s when I started asking myself questions,” Drogba has told the media*. Using his fame to bring about social change, Drogba decided to take action to save his country and so he appealed to politicians, warring factions and his own
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people for peace. After leading his team to a victory that would take the Ivory Coast to the 2006 World Cup, Drogba picked up a microphone, dropped to his knees, and begged the warring factions to lay down their arms while live on national television. Amazingly, they listened and a ceasefire was created after five dreadful years of war. Drogba then pushed for the Cote d’Ivoire’s next game to be played in the rebel north’s capital of Bouake. Once again, they listened and, for the first time in five years, the whole country came together without any violence. The Ivorian Elephants beat Madagascar 5-0. The ceasefire led to a peace agreement and the war was over.
A ‘Flame of Peace’ symbolised the end of the war and a peace ceremony was held in 2007 which united the country. When speaking about bringing about peace Drogba said: “I have won many trophies in my time, but nothing will ever top helping win the battle for peace in my country. I am so proud because today, in the Ivory Coast, we do not need a piece of silverware to celebrate.” ** An idol for people all over the world, Drogba should serve as an inspiration to all of us, regardless of whether we are football fans or not. Sport not only changes people, sport can change the world. Words By Rayyan Khan *Source: http://www.aljazeera. com/programmes/footballr bels/2013/03/201336105035488821 **Source: http://thechive. com/2014/11/23/retiring-soccer-player-isso-good-he-ended-a-war-11-photos/
WOMEN IN SPORT
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Women In Sport
Over the years, women in sport have transformed the face of today’s society, as they have constantly fought the battle against critics to be given the same pay, respect and media coverage as men. Women today are being covered more than ever before, and I’m lucky enough to say that in my life time, I’ve seen this growth first hand. Growing up, I was surrounded by sport: football, tennis, netball, rugby, swimming and the odd gymnastics lesson - but I stopped once I realised I couldn’t touch my toes! As a young girl, my mother was the only real female role model I had. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true. Instead, I grew up looking up to a man called David Beckham - that English footballer who changed the capabilities of a free-kick as his Adidas sponsored boot hit the side of the ball and began its flight to defy the laws of physics.
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But, ironically, I did not want to play football. A 12-year-old girl, dreaming of leading the England Netball team, was looking up to a man who played football. There was no other reason for this, except that I could not look up to a woman in the game because she simply wasn’t there. I could not aspire to hold the same trophy she did, fight for her Top Trumps card or even blue tack her face to the walls of my room because, and I repeat, she simply wasn’t there. My mother would argue that this may have been a good thing, but I do believe that she, along with my friends, teammates and coaches, lacked the presence of a strong female role model. I wish that all those possessing admirable talent could have had access to a role model, as they could have then carried their sporting journey beyond their teenage years. But, I am confident that girls growing up
today, are supported by a much greater presence of women in sport. Our women in sport have flourished into something beautiful, strong and empowering. My heart warmed as my eye caught a glimpse of a young girl’s wallpaper on her phone just the other week. She had just come out of football training, her studs clanged against the muddy floor as she reached for her phone. An image of Alex Morgan, recognised as FIFA’s Women’s World Cup champion, lit up on her screen. Today’s younger generation will think nothing of it, but I was excited, stunned and, most importantly, proud. Proud that we have come so far in the space of a handful of years; proud that a young girl can now look up to a woman in her own sport, and not a man in another. These
young girls wearing football boots, diving off of the starting block or shaking hands with their opponents, are the sportswomen of the future. Our women of the future.
when the BBC announced that the Wimbledon Association were issuing equal prize money to both the female and male athletes. It was the conversation at the dinner table, the chat at the local fish and chip shop and, Today, we see our not forgetting, the small talk “Women in women in sport sport are beginning with the person sat next to continuously to fight for what they you on the bus. It was a developing want - what they need. step forward for all of us. over time. For our girls. They are no longer Most recently, allowing anything or in tennis, both In today’s generation, anyone to get in Serena Williams we are able to use social their way.” and Andy Murray media to positively promote received an equal amount of and drive women in sport £2 million each for coming out endlessly. However, a recent on top in Wimbledon, 2016, article on netball, written by a whereas ten years before this, woman from the Guardian, did Pete Sampras took home £50,000 quite the opposite. My blood more than Venus Williams, boiled as I read the top of the despite them both becoming page and continued to read, as a champions of Wimbledon. I sport netball is, “indeed deeply clearly remember my mother, uncool”. This hit a nerve with my auntie and grandmother me. Particularly as the piece watching the telly back in 2007 was released three days after the
England team took on Australia at Wembley Stadium– a match which, for the first time, aired on BBC Live. Twitter soon fought back with #NetballOnTheRise trending at number one for the entire day, where international athletes, mothers, students, coaches and even Gary Burgess – the international netball umpire – let the world know that netball is most certainly, extremely cool. Women in sport are beginning to fight for what they want - what they need. They are no longer allowing anything or anyone to get in their way. Women in sport will no longer be messed with. Although our women in sport are rising, we are not finished yet. There are more still barriers to break down but, sometimes, it is important to step back and see how far we have come. Together.
From left to right - Maria Tutaia, Nicola Adams, Alex Morgan, Serena Williams, Jessica Ennis Hill, Katie Ledecky
Words by Ella Hudson
Spring Issue / Majlis / 43
An Open Full of Surprises The Australian Open was very competitive and an extremely unpredictable way to start the year. This Grand Slam tournament started way back in 1905 and it’s consistently a huge success, year upon year.
The Australian Open was very competitive and an extremely unpredictable way to start the year. This Grand Slam tournament started way back in 1905 and it’s consistently a huge success, year upon year. This year’s tournament started well for defending champion Novak Djokovic (ranked world number 2) but, in the second round, Djokovic was knocked out by Denis Istomin (ranked 77th). Three days later, world number 1, Andy Murray, was knocked out in the fourth round by Mischa Zverev, the world’s number 34! With two of the world’s best Murray and Djokovic - both out, it was anybody’s guess as to who would win the tournament in Melbourne… Kei Nishikori was beaten by Roger Federer in the fifth round of a five set thriller, whilst JoWilfred Tsonga, Stan Wawrinka, Rafael Nadal, Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov, Alexander Zverev and David Goffin all
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progressed to the quarter-finals. Nadal had a hard game against Raonic, but the Canadian injured his leg halfway through the match giving Nadal a slight upper hand as he advanced into the semi-finals. Federer’s match against Mischa Zverev - the man who beat Andy Murray in only 92 minutes - was more straightforward, with Federer following Nadal straight into the semis after taking Zverev down. Wawrinka and Dimitrov made up the remaining places with Dimitrov breezing past Goffin to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal since 2014. In the semi-finals, Nadal finally managed to beat Dimitrov in an exquisite match that lasted for 4 hours and 56 minutes; Nadal won the game three sets to two. In the other semi-final, Wawrinka went head to head with fellow Swiss, Federer, who was the strong favourite and he proved the bookies right by advancing into the final.
Federer and Nadal met again in the final: two all-time greats ready to battle it out in the tournament for the first time since 2009. Initially, Federer took the lead, but Nadal managed to even the score. However, Federer eventually took the first set 6-4. In the second set, the level of tennis being played went up a notch as Nadal won 6-3. In the third set, Federer found himself 3-0 up with Nadal making it 3-1, but that was the only game he could manage to win as Federer then won the second set 6-1. The game went right down to the wire as Nadal took the fourth set 6-3. Federer kept his nerve to win the fifth and final set 6-3 giving him his record-breaking 18th Grand Slam and earning him a cool $2.67m. Even Nadal walked away defeated but with a hefty $2m. Overall, this year’s Australian Open had many thrills and surprises and, as the first tennis open of 2017, it set the tone for what may follow. Words by Amr Abdeldayem
The Robin Hood Tale of the NBA: Talent being given to the Talentless
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The NBA has become one of the most spectacularly unpredictable competitions in sport worldwide with teams once weak with little ambition, now striving for playoffs and giving huge franchises a run for their money.
n the NBA (National Basketball
Association), like many other sports, giant franchises dominate the league and are repeatedly favourites for championships, whilst the smaller teams struggle to qualify for playoffs. With dynasties being built and superstars taking the MVP awards yearly, the league is becoming a “splash the cash” competition for the NBA Titans. At least, that was the case in the 1960s. However, in the 21st century, the NBA League and Playoffs have become some of the most spectacularly unpredictable competitions in sport worldwide. Teams, once weak with little ambition, now strive for playoffs and give huge franchises a run for their money. The Hawks, who once struggled to qualify for playoffs, now challenge in the finals year after year. The Warriors, who had never played in the playoffs before, reigned champions only two years ago and have an all-star roster. It’s clear that there has been a surge in unpredictability and ‘David vs. Goliath’ stories in the NBA, and the reason for that is the introduction of lottery picks into the draft. The basis of lottery picks is that the fourteen teams that failed to make playoffs in the previous season, enter a lottery to determine the order of selection for the first fourteen picks in the draft. Designed to allow the worst performing teams of the last season to take the most talented of the draft, it prevents franchises from making a dynasty that can dominate
for many years, and gives the underperforming teams a fighting chance against star studded rosters. As for the lottery picked rookies, they are introduced to a system that revolves around them, giving them valuable minutes on the court and testing if they are ready for active play instead of being a benchwarmer for a giant franchise who won’t risk success on untried rookies.
In my personal opinion, this system gives the NBA the unpredictability factor that makes for exciting games, as well as introducing rookies to the make-or-break situation of their prioritization, moulding them into world-class pros. It benefits the NBA and, without it, the same teams would compete in the playoffs every season and the league would become boring to watch. And all basketball fans would hate for that to happen.
Words by Amin Arabo
In recent years, Kawhi Leonard was drafted to the Spurs and took them to a championship title, receiving an MVP award in the process. Andre Drummond joined the Pistons, and now numerous teams scout the newfound NBA All-Star. Clearly, rookies and franchises alike have prospered from lottery picks, with rookies being honed and prioritized, whilst franchises flourish with their progress. It also makes franchises more balanced in skill and gives less successful teams the chance to take the NBA by storm with potential superstars.
Spring Issue / Majlis / 45
Matthew Renner
E
very year, at the beginning of the first term of school, the leadership of The Majlis passes into new hands. With it come files, systems, and records, but also tradition, wisdom, and responsibility. And, for the last seven years, a certain individual called Matthew Renner. Originally, he was just another fresh-faced Year 7, fancying himself a writer. But over time, he’s had the privilege of watching The Majlis grow, watching it being both transformed and cultivated by successive generations of student and teacher leadership. He’s watched the team grow, attitudes change, and formats come and go. Each year, new sets of hands took the helm, until he looked down and he found that those hands… were his own.
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nd now, this year, it’s his turn to step down from the helm, and disembark. One of the first articles
I wrote for the Majlis was an interview with Mr. Leppard, the contemporary Principal. It was rather surreal; in primary, I’d spent more than my fair share of time in the principal’s office. So, in a new school, a new setting, a new face, I found myself in a vastly different yet familiar situation to the one I was used to. Frankly speaking, I was terrified. Old habits die hard. But at the end of the interview, I came out a bit different, a bit stronger, a bit more mature. I think that’s the purpose of the Majlis. Not just to provide a source of news, but rather as an opportunity for growth. For many students, this will be a growth in terms of their ability: to them, The Majlis provides an outlet for their creative spirit, or a platform for their opinions. To some, such as me, it might provide a more abstract kind of growth. When I look at the younger writers each week at the meeting, it strikes me that one of them may well be seated in my chair several years from now, reminiscing on their years of experience as they write their final editorial. It also strikes me that I will never be there to see it, that the seeds planted today will only flower tomorrow. But, that’s how it has to be. How it always has been, and probably will be for years to come. There’s something cyclical about that which appeals to me. Something beautiful. Now, calling at port, it’s only right that the new crew of the ship has the chance to understand what manner of vehicle they must manoeuvre. There will be difficulty, of course. The walls creak in places. She’s not speedy by any means of the word. Some lines will break, some oars shall snap. But her captain’s unshakeable, and her hull can weather any storm, no matter how harsh. And believe me, when your time comes, and the mast disappears over the horizon, it all becomes worth it. Good luck, and bon voyage.
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CREDITS Editor
Matthew Renner Writers Rayaan Siddiqui, Aisling McMahon,
Deputy Editor
Elisabeth Checketts
External Editors
Ross O’Donnell
Internal Editor
Annabelle Vincent
Arts and Features Editor Liyah Ali Khan
Sports Editor
Callum Smith
Emily White, Srivishnu Ramachandran, Flurina Briner, Lojaine Yaakoub, Ross O’Donnell, Nina Nair, Natalie Chan, Raabail Khawaja, Ashima Mugibar Raghman, Annabelle Vincent, Millenia Parinduri, Hannah Consunji, Faye Hashim, Keyona Fazil, Zubia Faisal, Syed Comali Ali Rizvi, Sienna Valdez, Arunima Srivastav, Callum Smith, Rayyan Khan, Ella Hudson, Amir Abdeldayem, Amin Arabo
Designers
Dena Al-Dasooqi, Nabila Isham, Kieran Robinson, Rakshana Gopinath, Prabhav Pradeep, Ghufran Ahmed Khan, Antonia Heidel, Pranav Pradeep, Amin Arabo, Rayaan Siddiqui, Srivishnu Ramachandran, Arunima Srivastav, Pauline Mabulay, Anjaneya Suden, Danielle Monique Arugay, Matthieu Heynes, Nurul Hannah Abdullah
Head of photography Teachers
Butool Rizvi Mrs Fairley, Mr Jadeja,
Head of Business Sara Tomerak
Mr Cattell, Miss Haddon
Head of Design Kieren Robinson
Deputy Head of Design Rakshana Gopinath
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