Student Views Volume One by James Ellis

This volume is dedicated to the HKIS student body, to the students who persevered through the many challenges presented to them and did not let them suppress their voices.

Table of Contents

5 Editor’s Letter James Ellis

6-7 Extracurricular Activities: A Waste of Time or a Life Saver? Connor Decatur

8 The French Revolution Gordon Ho

9 Blackpink: Light Up the Sky Review Alyssa Luk

10-11 What Does Being 'Normal' Really Mean? Petra Stamenovic

12-13 The Light in the Window Zara Rashid

14-15 Waves Eva Roukema

16 Wilderness Eva Roukema

17 Why a Good Sense of Smell Just Stinks Liam Quinn

18-22 Ms. Smith Shares Her Wellbeing Advice James Ellis

23 When Will the Time Stop? Madison Margolin

24-28 Prejudice and Discrimination Anonymous

29 Fake Face Minjae Chun

30 Ocean Sanaa Rupani

31 The Tree of Life James Ellis

32-33 Beautiful Creatures Anne Ellis

34 Light Show Ada Hornung, Alexandria Park, Jaden Vangorder, Jane Poon

35 Sketchbook Ava Wright, Jennifer Li, Kyra Quinn, Rina Kobayashi

36-37 Windows Jane Poon, Julia Soenoto-Wright, Max Liu, Megan Au

38-39 Miscellaneous Collage Ada Hornung, Ava Parekh, George Kirk, Jasmine Bai, Jennifer Li, Lily Chaney, Lorraine Lee, Max Liu, Sophie Cheng, Tyler Chow, Will Mi

40 Texture Evana Jung

Cover Artwork by Leisha Bhatnagar

Editor’s Letter As we return to campus and finally begin to get a taste of normalcy, numerous changes have occurred. Some are quite noticeable, while others slip under the radar. Those affecting you the most may be protocol adjustments, schedule modifications, or even your best friend growing an inch or two. Change is everywhere. It's in the news; it's in our minds; it's happening all around us. Adolescents our age often find that the most significant shifts are in our belief systems. Since HKIS students share a home and an academic environment, it's crucial we also respectfully share our opinions and voice our concerns. As teenagers, we live at a critical stage in our development, and we live during turbulent times in a world constantly in flux. Before long, we'll be the world's decision-makers, and we must decide who we are and what we want. In this premiere volume of Student Views, contributors offered impassioned views concerning the environment, social justice, and confronting identity stereotypes. Many others were compelled to express their outlooks through purely visual media or poetic verse. I want to personally thank all those who helped bring this project to fruition. Student Views will continue as a platform allowing your voices to be heard. We hope you will join the conversation in our second volume.

Happy reading, James Ellis Editor-in-Chief

Extracurricular Activities: A Waste of Time or a Life Saver? Connor Decatur Think of not knowing how to do your homework and your parents are not there to help. Yes, there is technology to help you, but in this case, you do not know what unit you are on and the strategies in which it takes to solve these specific math problems. Therefore, you are full of enigma. You can tell that this student cares very much about his or her education, but what would you do if you were put in their shoes? This is why the Homework Club is essential; or in other words, extracurricular activities are critical. Here are three reasons why.

As a starter, I am convinced that extracurricular activities are essential because they increase your creativity. To give you an example of what I mean, conceptualize a kid at a coding club after school. The project he is currently undergoing is about a new code that can create a robot to dance any dance move. He or she brainstorms and finally comes up with an original code, later forming the robot to do a backflip and some cool spins and side steps. “Scenarios similar to these increase kids’ creativity,” according to RoboGarden, a verified science website. As a result of the process of motivating learning outside the school’s curriculum, students will nourish immense creativity. So for the first reason, I firmly believe that extracurricular activities are significant because of the creativity involved.

Clearly, some people maintain the view that too many extracurricular activities may take your time away from studying as well as revising. However, as far as I know, I strongly disagree. I strongly disagree because if you think your kid is barraged with a lot of activities, therefore causing him stress and time taken away to study and revise for an upcoming test, then it is your job as a parent to discuss with your child if you want to pursue these extracurricular activities or not. Another way to think about extracurricular activities positively is the fact that they are actually improving your child’s grades and

results. For example, think of signing your kid up for a debate club or any other academic club; they are actually gaining a vast majority of knowledge that they can apply to specific tests. So if you are worried about your kid’s grades, extracurricular activities are here to help your child cherish academics.

Finally, I have every reason to believe that extracurricular activities are very important for students because it embraces diversity. To illustrate this point in a deeper context, imagine going to Beijing and knowing how to speak basic Chinese, think of going to Barcelona, and having a talk with a local. When you learn other languages and have some knowledge of some countries, you can go to some countries knowing some of their amazing traditions and culture and how they have been shaped up to where they are today. This is what extracurricular activities can promote. We’re not done yet; think of learning history about the United States, including how Martin Luther King Junior was a pacifist and his famous and unique “I have a dream” speech. So you might ask, how is embracing diversity useful? Well, John F. Kennedy once said, “If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.” I personally think this quote means that we are who we are and that there is so much out there in the world to discover. So as an ending, extracurricular activities are vital because of the factor of embracing diversity.

To sum up, what has been stated, extracurricular activities are important because of three reasons, it increases creativity, the fact that you can choose to pursue extracurricular activities within your own choice, and the factor of embracing diversity. As the future lies ahead, that means extracurricular activities are developing, whether or not it is the new subjects being researched upon and the promotion of technology. I believe that it is the teacher’s responsibility to work hard and teach his or her students everything she knows. I also believe that parents should support and sign their child up for extracurricular activities, and last but not least, I believe kids should try their best to nourish their learning, as well as having fun and trying their best.

The French Revolution Gordon Ho While the French Revolution is often associated with the uprising of the urban poor and the pheasantry living in the countryside, it really began inside of coffee houses all over Europe and North America. Sentiment against the French Monarchy began when ideals of liberty and democracy began to seep into the mindsets of the European upper-middle-class. While the ideals of democracy and liberty were making their way into the upper echelons of French society, the farmers and urban poor were becoming increasingly unhappy. The people in the third estate of France were over-taxed, and they were being affected by deficiencies in the transportation sector, and the agricultural sector just couldn’t keep up with the demand for food. As a result, food prices rose by 65% between 1770 and 1790, while real wage growth only managed 22%. Furthermore, massive population growth in urban centers led to mass poverty and generally poor living conditions for the increasingly angry urban poor. Another blaring concern was the rampant corruption and mismanagement of funds within the government. This caused dangerous amounts of government debt to pile up. This resulted in the Monarchy not being able to spend money on public services and infrastructure if they wanted to. Due to these factors compounding, the French Revolution started.

The eventual goal of the French Revolution was to replace the French Monarchy with a republic that valued life, liberty, and property. The revolution’s secondary goal was to improve the lives of all French people and reduce the nobility to the level of the people. Lastly, they were also aiming to inspire people in other monarchies to rise up against their rulers and establish republic’s similar to theirs.’

Work Cited: The French Revolution." Wikipedia, 15 Nov. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ French_Revolution. Accessed 18 Nov. 2020. 8

Blackpink: Light Up the Sky Review Alyssa Luk

★★★★☆ Reporters and interviewers’ voices overlap, introducing Blackpink. The screen changes into a montage, displaying Blackpink on stage; their energy felt even through the screen. Suddenly, it changes to a quiet road, and “SEOUL, EARLY 2020” in bright pink capital block letters appear along with four girls in a car. They are Blackpink.

This Netflix documentary gives viewers a better and more in-depth understanding of the sacrifice and behind the scenes of how the quartet live and their journey to success. It also offers non-Kpop lovers a peep into why so many people are interested and have an interest in it.

While it may not be as thrilling as certain other Netflix documentaries, “Light Up The Sky” will bring tears to eyes. There are clips from when the girls were still mere children and clips from their training period. It starts with Blackpink’s producer Teddy Park giving a brief introduction to each of the girls. Jisoo Kim, a street-smart girl who rarely ever cries; Jennie Kim, a girl who knows exactly what she wants; Chaeyoung Park (stage name Rose), whose songwriting is like a diary; Lalisa Manoban (stage name Lisa), whose emotions change immediately to fit the song.

“Light Up The Sky” is one of the most bittersweet and heartwarming documentaries I have personally ever watched, and it gave me a greater appreciation for Blackpink and even other Kpop groups knowing how hard they worked to get where they are today. It is a must watch on Netflix, and it’s perfect for getting into a feel-good mood.

What Does Being 'Normal' Really Mean? Petra Stamenovic What does being ‘normal’ really mean? Think about it; it is a question I used to always ask myself. There seem to be the ‘normal’ people, then there is me—feeling nowhere close to normal. Does being ‘normal’ mean having a certain amount of followers? Or does it depend on what family you were born in? Do you have to look a certain way to be ‘normal’? These thoughts swerve in my head non-stop but just make me realize that we all spend too much time worrying about ourselves and how we present ourselves to the world.

Some people believe that popularity is the key to success and label them as being ‘normal.’ Studies show that people want to be popular because they might be more likable in a way and more well known. However, there are some negative effects of becoming ‘popular’ just to fit in. Being known by everyone usually means you have control over everything. Sometimes we use this power in a negative way. Some people become bullies and make fun of people just for pleasure. Others might be intimidated by these people, deciding not to help the victims of the bullying. Popularity can be a good way to gain power; however, it is always important to understand that this power should be used in good ways, not in bad. So, does being popular define whether you are ‘normal’ or not?

Another attribute that might fit into the question of what being ‘normal’ really means is the family you were born into. Personally, I’m very lucky to be born into a family that has access to a lot of resources. However, do you have to come from a certain family in order to be ‘normal’? No, in my opinion, I believe that it doesn’t matter what race, gender, belief you were born in. It 10

doesn’t matter if you were born in a poor or rich family. This doesn’t mean that others don’t get bullied depending on where they are from. In fact, according to GPE and connecting to bullying, poor youth are the most vulnerable to bullying. Do you have to belong to a certain type of family to be ‘normal’?

Finally, I feel that a lot of people think you have to look a certain way to be ‘normal.’ This leads me to a whole new topic of body image. There is a positive body image—looking at yourself in a way that makes you feel happy, considering all the positives. However, there is also a negative body image. I feel that, especially now in middle school, a lot of people are starting to worry about the way they look, influenced by social media. Girls want to become more thin and beautiful, and guys want to become more lean and muscular. Teens will start to skip meals, fast, smoke, vomit, and more to try and ‘fix’ themselves. According to the National Eating Disorders Organization, by age 6-12, 40% of all children start to worry about body image, which is insane to me. Especially now, with social media, teens are comparing themselves to highly edited photos. Are these edited photographs the ‘normal’ way to look like?

I’ve written this piece to write about what I used to ask myself about what being ‘normal’ really means. However, through lots of research, I’ve realized that there really aren’t any ‘normal’ people. Everyone is unique and different. It is hard to be comfortable with being different; society shuns people that are. But honestly, what would it be like if we were all the same, copies of each other? How would we define beauty, goodness, or popularity then? It would be impossible. A quote that I think summarizes this essay well is this quote, said by Alfred Adler—“the only normal people are the ones you don’t know well enough.” My answer to what does being normal really mean? Just don’t ask the question because there really are no ordinary people.

The Light in the Window Zara Rashid I see the lights switch on in the house across the street I see the street lamps click on with a certain beat The lights are bright yellow They shine through the window where I sleep Waking me from my dreams at 6 o'clock in the morning The lights look like stars Shining in the darkness of the little city in which I live Flooding the streets with starlight I think about the stars All of them Shining in their place where they are supposed to be Who put them there? I wonder as I fall asleep They are amazing things Turning on and off Staying on for a while and then dying Not in a sad way though, Oh no They have a way of flying Through the sky And falling into the lightest pit That gives light to the sun in the day And causing the sun to become a little bit brighter I also see the cars turning their lights on and off while I lie on my bed I see the shadows on the wall moving I see them on the ceiling When one passes overhead, another comes around Like you’re being chased 12

By a scary nightmare ofs the little child Like the big black hound I hear the honking when there is a traffic jam I hear the sound Of the angry voices that travel around Coming out of angry people Trying to get back to town So they can see their families as I lie down To go to sleep in my comfortable bed And rest my tired head

Waves Eva Roukema The crash of waves was like thunder, like a million hooves pounding down on the beach. I gulp, aware that my little 3-foot tall self could be eaten alive by them. “Theresa, you coming? We are going to go play in the water!” Danielle shouts, sprinting out through the waves. How come she can always do everything! It’s not fair. “Yeah, C-c-coming!” I shout back, stuttering. I take a deep breath, preparing for the impact of the waves. Dashing full speed to Danielle, I power through the waves, and- whoosh! I land flat on my backside, legs pushed out from underneath me. I get up, rubbing mine behind. How rude, I think, scolding the petty waves. Getting back onto the shore, I take up a runner’s position, “On your marks,” I whisper to myself, self-determined. “Get set,” I dig my feet farther into the rocky sand, “GO!” I dash into the waves, tasting the salt on my tongue as I break through the first but struggle with the next. Stumbling through the vicious currents, I push at the water that shoves me under. Looking up, I see the sun filtering through the waves and water above me in perfect serenity under the chaos. The salt in the water stings my eyes as I think about going back to the shore. It would be easier than trying to get through these waves. I think about the waves crashing down on me, but then I imagine all the fun I could be having with my cousin. No, I’m not ready to give up yet; I stand powering through the tide fending off the descending waves. Finally, I get out to the third wave- where the bully of a tide kicks my feet out from under me, pushing me into the waiting water below. I sulk back up the beach edge, water dripping from my swimsuit, and flop down onto the picnic blanket with a dramatic hmph. “What’s wrong, Tess,” I hear my Mum say as she plops down beside me, pushing the wet trendles of hair out of my eyes. “The water is being mean, pushing me down and all around. I didn’t even do anything wrong; the sea is just being rude,” I pout, sticking out my bottom lip and crossing my arms. “It’s not fair. Why can’t I get out onto the water to play with Danielle?” “Well, Danielle is a lot older than you; she can do things that you can’t yet,” Mummy says, wrapping a towel around my shoulders, rubbing my arms to warm me up. 14

“But she never struggles with anything,” I whine, holding the towel close. “You know,” Mummy starts, speaking with her story voice, “Danielle used to have the same problem with the waves being nasty.” “Really!? How did she make the waves nice, Mummy?” I gasp, astonished, my eyes as wide as saucers. Danny never has any problems. If she had issues and was able to work past them, then why can’t I? “She kept trying,” Mummy says, kissing me on the nose and leaving to go talk to the adults. I ponder this for a moment, looking out at Danielle’s silhouette playing the waves with the others. I want to play too; I hear the voice in my head pout. But then, the voice of my mother responds back to my unspoken sulk. “Theresa, what’s stopping you from going out to play with your cousins?” What is stopping me? It’s not the bully waters or the pain that I feel after falling splat onto my behind, so what is it? The answer hits me like a 12-foot wave. I remember popping up from my blanket, tossing my towel off my back and sprinting right back into the waves, ready to try again. That day at the beach, I realized that the only thing and person to tell you that you can’t do something is yourself. You might make mistakes or fall down a couple times, but you have to pull yourself back up off your behind and try again.

Image by Jennifer Li

Wilderness “Inspired by Carl Sandburg’s ‘Wilderness’” Eva Roukema There is a cat in me… lazy and demanding with a hunger for attention that can never be fulfilled… snuggly and sweet but only when I want; otherwise mean and rude… a long lanky tail that waves sassily as I walk—this is my gift from the wilderness, so stay it must as the wilderness has spoken. There is a raccoon in me… curious with big eyes staring in wonder at the world around… marked as mischievous with big black paint blinding the world to true intentions… misunderstood struggling to thrive as the world around is so full of the uncertain—this is the gift from the wilderness not wanted, yet welcomed all the same, as the wilderness has spoken. There is a wolf in me… a tired beta needing an alpha to take charge… long, sharp fangs hidden behind the soft upper lip unleashed with a slash only to be regretted… the look of a dog but the fight of a mighty warrior—this is the gift from the wilderness, so a part of me this wild creature shall stay. Far or near, wanted or hated, the animals are a part of me planted by the wild deep into my heart. The wilderness has spoken once again, so who am I to say no?

Why a Good Sense of Smell Just Stinks Liam Quinn In the past, whenever I thought about a good sense of smell, I would think of dogs that could smell cancer with their noses or the main character of the Netflix show who could recognize what clothes a person owned just by smelling them. As a person who has a decent sense of smell, I would say that it really isn’t that great.

Centuries ago, a good sense of smell could mean the difference between life and death. Being able to tell if the food was rotten or that someone was sick was essential. Now though, regulation and overall maintenance do a good job of stopping food poisoning. We just don’t need a good sense of smell to be successful.

Today, having a good sense of smell doesn’t really mean anything. While, yes, there are going to be people that have an extraordinary sense of smell, the vast majority of people with a good sense of smell will be able to smell trash from next-door neighbors, but not Parkinson’s disease. For most people, it is a nuisance, something that makes them gag in the morning.

While there is research coming out discussing the possibility of humans being able to smell as well as dogs most people don’t have the time or money to train their sense of smell. Therefore, a good sense of smell really just stinks.

Ms. Smith Shares Her Wellbeing Advice James Ellis I had the great pleasure of speaking with one of the Middle School’s most respected teachers, Amy Smith. The interview was conducted over Zoom, during the Chinese New Year break, on February 12, 2021. In the interview, Ms. Smith covered a range of topics, from her personal life to her wellbeing tips and so much more. Please enjoy!

[Her life as a student] As a student, I was very into activities, so I was quite active in student government, loved going to football games, and demonstrating school spirit was a huge part of who I was. I even had custom-made Vans, the shoes, with our school colors. I was also quite active in musical theater, which is what I majored in for college. Somewhere around college, though, I also started getting really passionate about my personal health and wellbeing and realized that I hadn’t really learned a lot of this stuff that could’ve helped me make healthier choices from a younger age. When I started substitute-teaching, after college, I substitute-taught for a health class. I was quite young at the time, and I remember going to the teacher’s guide and thinking that this is not relevant at all. I needed to learn about healthy coping skills and things like that, and so that kind of all shaped what I do. The theater stuff I’m not into at all anymore as an adult, but it was where I found my people. Also, it has been very beneficial, as far as a lot of the work I do with consulting and doing presentations for other teachers and schools, I think that training has helped.

[What she found surprising and different last year] The most surprising thing, and teachers say this all the time, was the resilience of the students and being able to bounce back and forth between schedules and so many different reiterations of the same thing; 18

it was changed all the time, and everyone was pretty adaptable. I also think that international school kids are always a lot more empathetic than, say, the kids I taught at a school in the States. I think that’s simply because a lot of international students have been the ‘new kid’ at some point, and so they’ve had to learn how to adapt and are a little more empathetic. I noticed, even more so, a difference in several students, who I would’ve been concerned about in normal situations for exhibiting exclusionary behavior and the ‘mean girl’ stuff that sometimes happens in middle school. I feel like the experience of having to be isolated helped a lot of students be even more adaptable and kind. I do feel like that has been a big surprise, just what the positive social impact has been on people. You are able to appreciate the different connections you are able to have. That’s been good. It’s been a tough year all around, and I think that has got to be hard for kids, too, not seeing family back wherever they are from. Lots of the milestones that were so important to me as a student, like school spirit, going to football games, pep rallies, and assemblies, things that really marked my high school experience, it’s tough to see kids not be able to have those.

[How students can put their health first] I think it comes down to self-awareness about your healthy coping skills and not so healthy ones, which is why in sixth grade, we really focus on stressbusters. I think that asking for help is really important, reaching out to your parents and siblings, nurturing the connections you are able to make. So maybe you can’t be in a situation where you’re with fifty kids at a party or something, but you can take this time to nurture stronger relationships, which I think has been a blessing for me, just as a person, too. I also think to balance your wellbeing is a constant question that everybody has, even as adults. At any given point, there’s some part of our wellness wheel that’s not thriving. So I would say just being aware of what

that is and making actionable goals around that. I was just talking about this with a friend of mine, who’s quite an avid hiker. We were on a hike, and we thought that after a day of Zoom, it’s like an object at rest stays at rest; it becomes even harder to become motivated. Your parents might be like, “You need to go for a walk, or you need to do something.” It is really important to do that, to find some balance, away from the screen and to explore your passions and hobbies, and still find ways to expose yourself to different interests that you might have, even if you can’t do that in-person. A huge part of making healthy choices as an adolescent comes down to forming your identity and figuring out who you are. Once you have that sense of identity, then you’re a lot less likely to make risky decisions around things like alcohol and drugs because you know who you are, and you are confident in that. A big part of that identity formation comes from exploration, and so finding ways to still explore and try out different things is really important. Specifically during the pandemic, as well, trying to find time every day to be active and taking advantage of the extra time used to commute is important. You guys are also having lunch at home, so making healthier choices around food and trying to get into those habits, and we’re seeing this post-traumatic growth, I think that is huge. Also, hugging your parents is really important because oxytocin is released when we’re reaching out to others and through touch, and without being able to hug and high-five with your friends, it can have a noticeable impact on you. So, give your parents a hug when you can or your siblings. That’s really important too, and people underestimate that.

[Her own wellbeing] I’ve been doing a lot more hiking because the gyms are closed, and the yoga studios are closed. So, trying to take advantage of the awesome scenery we’re in, that’s been my thing. Also, I see a therapist, and that’s been really helpful during this time. Again that self-awareness, and also being aware of what my unhealthy coping skills are, like procrastination or maybe stress-eating,

and finding other things to replace that with has been important. I’ve been really making a concerted effort to connect more with people, to make plans with somebody every day, and explore new friendships because all the other teachers are here as well. You may hear your parents say this, as well, like, “We should hang out sometime,” and it never actually happens. I’ve been making sure that happens, so that’s been good for my well being.

[Helpful resources for students] There’s a few very good resources, even from using something as simple as an Apple watch, I think is so important, especially on days when you’re doing home learning, knowing how many steps you’re getting. What I can say, on the days I work from home, even if I go on an hour and a half hike, I still will just get above a thousand steps. On a day when I am on campus, at school, I get to seven thousand five hundred steps, even if I don’t hike. We forget how much movement there actually is in our day when we’re stuck on Zoom all the time, so I think trackers are very important for physical activity. Also, I’m quite analog in the fact that I journal a lot, so gratitude lists and things like that. There are a few different apps; Smiling Mind, of course, is free, with meditation and all sorts of options with that. Also, using the social media apps that you have for connections and for that exploration is important. There’s a lot of things we can’t control right now, but one of the things you can control is who you follow and how that makes you feel. So if you are using apps like Instagram, making sure that you’re following people that are a good influence, or someone who inspires you, is better than the other way around. I think those are the most useful ones. There are some other tracker ones for your mood, Mood Tracker I think is one, and teenmentalhealth.org, I think has a tracker for your mood, as well. A lot of companies that normally charge for these things have been offering free memberships for people. There’s also one called Down Dog, which you can do yoga and

meditation and different workouts, and it’s a little bit pricey, but they’ve been offering it free for anyone who is a student or a teacher right now. That would be a good activity to do for eighth grade health, I think, to explore different apps and programs because that’s what we use as adults.

[Gratitude] I think that gratitude is really important right now. That’s a tough thing to hear as an adolescent because of your parents, especially when you’re coming from a privileged background. Parents are always like, “You should be grateful for what you have,” and you’re like, “I know, I know.” It’s hard because you are, during the inevitable turbulence of adolescence, tend to be more self-focused, and that’s a natural part of human development. So taking the time to write down things you’re grateful for can be really beneficial. Even if you’re not in health class, just once a week, making a gratitude list can be helpful. If I’m feeling stressed, a lot of times, I just have random gratitude lists in my notebook. Like, if my wi-fi is being laggy, these lists can help me put things in perspective; I’ve got a laptop; I can connect with people; I’ve got a phone. There’s a lot I can be grateful for, and when I discovered gratitude as a practice, even for myself, personally, about ten years ago, and started bringing it into health class, it really was life-changing for me, something as simple as that.

[Response to the following quote] “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts” - Eleanor Roosevelt I’m really pumped for the new year. When we watched the video about the ox and the rat in PCG, I was like, “That’s awesome!” It goes back to that TED talk we watched at the beginning of eighth grade about post-traumatic growth. I really hope we keep those healthy habits and go into this new year with gratitude. I wish that instead of focusing on all the things we missed last year, we focus on ways we can appreciate them even more going forward.

When Will the Time Stop? Madison Margolin Tick tock, tick tock Under the tree But in the light I’ll be here again Later tonight Tick tock, tick tock Pulling water Salty sea It takes me under I can see Tick tock, tick tock Up to the clouds So high and steep Under the blue blanket I slowly creep Tick tock, tick tock A tiny gem A priceless jewel Slowly but surely I am the fool Tick tock, tick tock An endless clock Back and forth Again I ask When will the time stop?

Prejudice and Discrimination The writer of this article chose to remain anonymous. Through reading this article, let us learn to show kindness and view the world with an open mindset. Take a look at what you can do for those around you in your community to prevent prejudice and discrimination. – James Ellis

M. Scott Peck said, “Human beings are poor examiners, subject to superstition, bias, prejudice, and a profound tendency to see what they want to see rather than what is there” (1). This tendency leads to inequality and injustice, yet discrimination is fixable. To enhance society, there are two aspects of reality that need to improve significantly; communities need to recognize the cause and effect of racism, and people all need to participate in the struggle to change gender norms.

The first way society can improve is by realizing that they all deserve equity and equality no matter what people look like. The day after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, teacher Jane Elliott put together a simulation in her class. The social experiment would help the children understand unjust racial discrimination by letting them experience discrimination firsthand. The experiment illustrates what happens if people were more knowledgeable of discrimination and its cause and effects on society. In the article, the children with brown eyes, the “inferior group,” spoke out against the injustices, as the students noticed they were getting less than the blue-eyed students. The “inferior” group’s resistance wore down as the brown-eyed children were falsely informed that a gene that makes a person’s eyes blue made the blue-eyed children more intelligent, just as people once said white made you smarter than those of color (CommonLit Staff 1). As the student’s resistance fell away, the article stated that the “superior” children “...became arrogant, bossy, and otherwise unpleasant to their “inferior” classmates.” Another effect on these students, as the article informs us, “Their 24

grades also improved, doing mathematical and reading tasks that seemed outside their ability before” (CommonLit Staff 2). Nonetheless, this report additionally states, “The “inferior” classmates also transformed—into timid and subservient children who even during recess isolated themselves, including those who had previously been dominant in the class.” Unfortunately, the “inferior” groups’ demeanor was not the only thing to change. Further, “These children’s academic performance suffered, even with tasks that had been simple before.” However, the next day, Elliot switched the roles and made the brown-eyed students the “superior” group. Although the previously “inferior” classmates were unpleasant to their former “inferior” classmates, they were not nearly as malevolent to the blue-eyed children as when the blue-eyed students were “superior” in this experiment. It became evident, depending on what you tell a person or how you treat a person, you can change how they act and feel about themselves (CommonLit Staff 2). If society learns the cause and effects of discrimination, as these children did in this experiment, they would realize segregation between humans is infinitesimal, no matter how significant it may seem. Empathy also plays a part in this, as if society can genuinely understand and feel what it is like to be marginalized, empathy could prove a significant deterrent to discrimination.

The second point of how communities can improve society is by understanding people. We are all affected by bias one way or another; one commonly noticed is gender inequality. In 2014, Emma Watson gave a speech to support the HeForShe movement. Watson discusses how she was influenced by gender inequality as a child, from being described as “bossy” at a young age to growing up and being “sexualized by certain elements of the press” (Watson 2). In her speech, she also spoke of when she became aware that some of her male companions were having a hard time with norms, as they felt they could not express their feelings. Her emotions are made evident in the speech as she states, “If we stop defining each

other by what we are not and start defining ourselves by what we are..” in talking about how confronting the gender norms was a dispute freeing all genders from expectation (Watson 3). Some might argue Watson is a feminist and only has women’s interests at heart. Although she is a feminist, Watson shows this is a struggle for all humankind. Watson describes being a feminist as not hating men but, as she put it, “The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes” (Watson 2). Watson talks about how these things are now “normalized” are hurtful, “I’ve seen young men suffering from mental illness unable to ask for help for fear it would make them look less “macho”...” and how this mental illness kills more men between the ages of 20-49 in the UK than road accidents, cancer and coronary heart disease combined (Watson 2).

It is often thought humans’ brains are hardwired for prejudice as an instinct to protect themselves. Millet states, “Prejudice evolved in humans because at one time it helped us avoid real danger. At its core, prejudice is simply an association of a sensory cue… to an innate behavioral response… The rub in all of this is that our brains have inherited the tendency to erroneously deem something dangerous… It is safer to make false-positive assumptions… than to make false-negative assumptions…” (2). However, while this might be true, it does not mean we need this instinct anymore. In the same article by Caitlin Millett, it states, “In today’s world, people are more connected than ever – from social media to the never-ending news cycle – people are exposed to increasing diversity. It’s become a human imperative to transcend divisive impulses that no longer serve our survival” (Millett 5).

Enhancing society seems like an enormous task. Yet, everyone can all help out a little by recognizing the cause and effect of racism and changing gender norms that entrap communities

globally. The next time there is prejudice or bias in the society, will “you see what they want to see rather than what is there,” just as Peck says in his quote (1)? Or will “you to step forward, to be seen to speak up” as Watson (2) asks people to come forward and join the struggles mentioned in her speech?

Works Cited: Brookshire, Bethany. "A Teen and a Trolley Reveal Society's Dark Side." CommonLit, 2015, www.commonlit.org/en/students/student_lessons/ 7103301. Accessed 29 Jan. 2021.

Cole, Nicki Lisa, Ph.D. "Emma Watson's 2014 Speech on Gender Equality: Celebrity Feminism, Privilege, and the United Nations' HeForShe Movement." Thought Co., 10 Feb. 2020, www.thoughtco.com/ transcript-of-emma-watsons-speech-on-gender-equality-3026200#:~:text=On%20Sep.,fe minist%20fight%20for%20gender%20equality. Accessed 29 Jan. 2021.

Colón, Jesús. "Little Things Are Big." CommonLit, 1961, www.commonlit.org/en/ students/student_lessons/7172823. Accessed 29 Jan. 2021.

CommonLit Staff. "The Blue-Eyed, Brown-Eyed Exercise." CommonLit, 2014, www.commonlit.org/en/students/student_lessons/7077436. Accessed 29 Jan. 2021.

Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "An Obstacle." CommonLit, 1884, www.commonlit.org/en/ students/student_lessons/7172828. Accessed 29 Jan. 2021.

Grimes, Nikki. "Jabari Unmasked." CommonLit, 2017, www.commonlit.org/en/students/ student_lessons/7081063. Accessed 29 Jan. 2021.

"Humans Are Wired for Prejudice but That Doesn't Have to Be the End of the Story." The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2015, theconversation.com/ humans-are-wired-for-prejudice-but-that-doesnt-have-to-be-the-end-of-the-story-36 829. Accessed 4 Feb. 2021.

quotefancy. quotefancy.com/quote/46950/ M-Scott-Peck-Human-beings-are-poor-examiners-subject-to-superstition-bias-prejudi ce-and-a. Accessed 29 Jan. 2021.

Watson, Emma. "Emma Watson's United Nations: 'HeForShe: Gender Equality Is Your Issue, Too' Speech." CommonLit, 2014, www.commonlit.org/en/students/ student_lessons/7182081. Accessed 29 Jan. 2021.

Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet. – Maya Angelou

Fake Face Minjae Chun I remember when he first walked in A quirky smile plastered on his almost pale face. Many people had questions such as: Who was he? Or Where did he come from? No one knew Until one day I saw Saw the quirky smile on his face die Saw his almost pale skin turn grey It was a menacing sight as his body shifted and changed The screams and the howls The slight movement and creak of his body was like Nails on a chalkboard The creaking The screeching And blank Back in my room

Sun shining Thinking Who is that boy with the quirky smile plastered on a fake face?

Ocean Sanaa Rupani Beautiful Blue Calm Ocean Relaxing Fun Excited Ocean Peaceful Clean Loving Ocean Brave Bright Brilliant Ocean Dazzling Marvelous Joyful Ocean

The Tree of Life James Ellis from the very dawn of my life ‘twas my fate to climb that tree ascending through gain and strife, the pinnacle i hoped to see

though brittle branches snapped and my limbs faced defeat though at times i felt so trapped the obstacles i pledged to beat

some trees are low; some are tall some are easy; some severe like their leaves, some may fall and fail to meet the life they fear

when you finally reach the top from its canopy, you will sigh this journey up the tree shall stop you will spread your wings and fly

Beautiful Creatures Anne Ellis

Light Show

First Row: Alexandria Park, Ada Hornung; Second Row: Jane Poon, Jaden Vangorder; Third Row: Ada Hornung

Sketchbook

First Row: Jennifer Li, Ava Wright; Second Row: Rina Kobayashi, Kyra Quinn; Third Row: Rina Kobayashi

Windows

From Top to Bottom: Julia Soenoto-Wright, Max Liu, Jane Poon, Megan Au

Miscellaneous Collage

First Row: Ada Hornung, Max Liu, Lorraine Lee; Second Row: Max Liu, Lily Chaney, Jennifer Li; Third Row: George Kirk, Ava Parekh; Fourth Row: Lily Chaney, Jennifer Li; Fifth Row: Sophie Cheng, Tyler Chow; Sixth Row: Will Mi, Jasmine Bai

Texture Evana Jung

Student Views is a literary journal providing students of all grade levels a platform to express their views. We are looking for opinion pieces, short stories, poetry, and any other form of literature and art. To be considered for publication, send your submission, name, and grade to 250454@hkis.edu.hk. Submissions should be well-written and address topics of interest to the HKIS community. Feel free to submit as many times as you like! Submissions for the second volume of Student Views will be accepted until May 9th. The second volume will be published on May 21st. We hope you will take advantage of this excellent opportunity to share your work with a larger audience!

Student Views will also form a website or blog that will allow students to access individual articles in a new format. The website’s release date will be announced on a future date.

Important Dates: Submission Deadline: May 9 Publishing Date: May 21

Founder: James Ellis Editor-in-Chief: James Ellis Design and Layout Supervisor: James Ellis Teacher Supervisor: Natalie Hamilton Teacher Contributors: John Lee, Amy Smith Student Contributors: Megan Au, Jasmine Bai, Leisha Bhatnagar, Lily Chaney, Sophie Cheng, Tyler Chow, Minjae Chun, Connor Decatur, Anne Ellis, James Ellis, Gordon Ho, Ada Hornung, Evana Jung, George Kirk, Rina Kobayashi, Lorraine Lee, Jennifer Li, Max Liu, Alyssa Luk, Madison Margolin, Will Mi, Ava Parekh, Alexandria Park, Jane Poon, Kyra Quinn, Liam Quinn, Zara Rashid, Eva Roukema, Sanaa Rupani, Julia Soenoto-Wright, Petra Stamenovic, Jaden Vangorder, Ava Wright Contact: 250454@hkis.edu.hk Address: 1 Red Hill Rd, Tai Tam, Hong Kong