Teachers enjoy lunch away from students
The clock ticks to 12:40 p.m. After waking up at the break of dawn and surviving morning classes, it is finally time for lunch—a precious break from hard work during which talking with your friends is no longer taboo and roaming around the hallways is normal. It is the only window of hope and fun… for teachers.
Niko Lambert, Chris Bracciano, and Glen Monaghan’s faces light up as they race to meet each other for lunch. It is often the time for Mr. Lambert’s first real laugh of the day—a relief from the smile plastered across his face for students constantly asking whether or not a question
will be on the test.
“Lunch is certainly one of my most cherished moments,” Mr. Bracciano, AP Psychology teacher, said. “It’s a time for rest, community, and a celebration of deliciousness. Sitting with my besties Mr. Lambert and Mr. Monaghan, I can feel the sweet vibes of the Korean menu as all the stress of the day melts away in rich conversation.”
The teachers love this small period of freedom, reinforced by their love and appreciation for one another. This textbook-definition of friendship has been going strong since they first met.
“I really enjoy my lunchtime meetups with the teachers because we get to discuss all the students and how they’re doing in depth,” Mr. Monaghan, Chemistry & Physics teacher, said. “We meet for lunch together every single day, and it’s a regular routine.”
This lunchtime enthusiasm also stems from their adversaries: students. With bright faces and enthusiastic attitudes, they are perfectly equipped to pester teachers all day long, asking excellent academic questions and understanding all content, which is often an annoyance for teachers who must give more in-depth and complex feedback. Seeing them every day, every period, and every hour is a serious threat to the mental wellbeing of the teachers, and they seem to be waiting for the not-so-far day where they teach stoic robots instead.
Class of 2025 exerts high intellectual capabilities
It is no secret that the Class of 2025 is renowned for its strong academics—as well as its overloaded roster of talented students. With the highest average GPA ever recorded, the current juniors are surely on their way to crafting stupendous applications and garnering the best college results in the history of SIS.
“I think our grade excels so well academically because we are all very close to each other,” Alex Cho (11), studious individual, said. “We all aren’t afraid to help each other out with assignments or studying, so our collective intelligence is relatively higher than other grades.”
The grade demonstrates their high level of academic achievement most prominently through their performance in school courses. Ever since freshman year, the grade has been known for their strength in academics. AP Biology and AP US History were a cruise for the Class of 2025, despite often being considered quite difficult AP courses. This year, students are notably excelling in AP Physics I, AP English Language and Composition, and AP Seminar.
The grade also continues to do well in academically rigorous courses even with new teachers, as juniors are particularly performing great in AP World History and AP Chemistry.
“I took four APs (Physics I, World History, Chemistry, English Language & Composition) that are considered difficult, and I was scared about my
layout by Eric Kim
first semester in junior year,” Andrew Kim (11), one of the Class of 2025’s top students, said. “However, I’m glad I’m able to balance my grades and school with my daily life while still being able to meet high expectations.”
Most notably, Pre-Calculus, often regarded as an extremely difficult course at SIS, seems to have been a piece of cake for the juniors so far. With their academics at such a high level, it is no wonder that they are expected to attain the best college results in SIS.
The Class of 2025 is also extremely mature as individuals. They have never been rowdy or disturbing during grade and schoolwide meetings, even telling off seniors for being the loudest. Individuals have never damaged school property because they wanted to “touch the ceiling.” They have never acted deranged before tests, and they have certainly never conducted any irresponsible behavior outside of school.
“I think our grade’s maturity really comes from the hardships that we experienced,” Chloe Cho (11), self-proclaimed academic weapon, said. “COVID-19, online learning, and other difficulties we faced allowed us to mature rapidly at an extremely young age. Our behavior should be the goal and role model for all underclassmen.”
The Class of 2025 demonstrates their talents outside of the classroom as well. The juniors have been carrying the load for all of the sports teams
“After dealing with students day in and day out, sometimes we need a break from their shenanigans and some fresh air away from them,” Mr. Lambert, AP Biology teacher, said. “Lunch time is the highlight of my day!”
There are some particular students who annoy them more than others, however—students that follow them from office hours to activity period. Teachers desperately hope to escape from their constant talking, laughing, and questioning, whether in the classroom or cafeteria.
“I like how we all hang out together because they have a good dynamic—Mr. Bracciano is the cutie patootie, Mr, Lambert is the cat lady who bakes apple pie, and Mr. Monaghan is the grandpa,” Stella Eu (10), committed student, said. “We balance each other out because we’re weird!”
These students, in turn, have shown exuberant joy whenever they encounter such teachers. They continue to hunt them down by dropping into their classrooms at times of their choosing and asking questions about tests, seemingly oblivious to the pain they suffer.
Even now, many other teachers discretely enjoy the time away from the annoyances of students and nurturing academic environments, continuing to meet in their secretive lunchtime hideouts.
BY: Jian hong
so far. Notable athletes of the grade include Kristina Kang (11), who was awarded Female Athlete of the Year in her sophomore year, and Isaac Lee (11), who has garnered multiple awards from the PE department. Additionally, many juniors have shown prowess in their musical achievements; an incident like a junior being cut from the High School Orchestra while being the only student to play his instrument can only be imagined for this exceptional class.
As the Class of 2025 continues to succeed throughout their academic
careers, expectations for their future college matriculation only grow higher. Combined with their active participation in extracurricular activities like clubs and sports, the class has great things cut out in front of them.
BY: Yoon Choi
Photo by Sean Kim (10)
Photo by Yeonjae Kim (10)
Work Study and Pathways Hub destroys students’ GPAs
Desperate cries and panic for help have become a common sight for Work Study and Pathways Hub students. These courses, which stray from the traditional path of subjects in SIS, have sparked significant controversy for thwarting students’ abilities to attain high grades due to their extreme difficulty.
dent, said. “It is one of the few courses I’m failing. And I would advise any other people from taking that course. The deadlines are so hard, so stringent and strict. I’m planning on unionizing with all students in Work Study, especially those students that have gotten a low score in the unfair and strict deadlines that Work Study imposes.”
to be student-directed so in that sense the students have to be very intrinsically motivated. It’s a unique torture device.”
Summative assessments for Work Study and Pathway Hub courses are also infamous for being far more difficult than those of AP subjects, with many even considering the difficulty of these assessments to be on par with the AP Exams themselves. The combination of a colossal 250 word-count requirement for submissions and the outrageously early 5:00 p.m. deadlines are a deadly concoction, crushing students’ overall GPA and leaving many longing to take AP Calculus BC tests instead. As a result, Work Study and Pathway Hub classes have been branded as a “landmine,” with many upperclassmen desperately warning underclassmen to avoid taking the class.
While traditional courses allow students to learn in the safety of their classrooms and share a clearly defined academic syllabus, Work Study and Pathways Hub classes have been criticized by many for offering too much freedom and being far less academic—thus posing the ultimate challenge.
Part of the controversy stems from alleged in-class difficulties in the Work Study and Pathways Hub classes. Students have complained of stress from slaving away at the printer for their Work Study supervisors’ errands abound as these classes have become dreaded by all who take them. In particular, students who have these courses at the start or end of the school day have been disgusted over its suitable environment to sleep and study unrelated subjects. Meanwhile, students who have had relatively less work during the class have found it difficult to fill the remaining time with appropriate productivity, forcing students to work on other tasks.
“Work study is such a hard course, it is one of the hardest courses I have ever taken in my life,” Eric Kim (11), Work Study stu-
“The content of the course is determined by the students themselves, making them their own worst enemies,” Megan Mannell, a Pathways Hub and Work Study teacher, said. “The students have created an impossible workload for themselves. The deadlines in the course are so few and far between as to be as crushingly difficult. It’s meant
School faces various technical issues
The SIS community faced several technological issues at school from Nov. 10-17. Printers, Wi-Fi, and PowerSchool were all inaccessible, preventing many teachers from working over the weekend and all students from accessing their grades.
Teachers faced numerous struggles as they were unable to upload students’ grades, access the Internet at school over the weekend, or print class materials. As a result, many of them had to work from home, hold off on uploading grades, and even resort to preparing class materials and worksheets by hand. However, some teachers felt this forced them to step away from technology and tested their ability to come up with innovative solutions.
“It was obviously an inconvenience because I spent many hours typing in grades and comments, but I will not post everything again,” Chris Blendheim, English teacher, said. “Because PowerSchool was not working, it required me to get things done earlier and improvise. This was a reminder that we live in a technological world, and we are controlled by and depend heavily on technology. PowerSchool not working was an exercise to test our adaptability and patience.”
Though many teachers struggled to follow their regular schedules of uploading grades and preparing for classes, some
were able to find unique solutions to the tech outage. For instance, Angelika Lin, Chinese teacher, was able to give students a summative assessment even without using the printer.
“The second day after the printers stopped working, one of my classes had a summative,” Ms. Lin said. “Instead of not having the test, I decided to hand write it and photocopy it. You know the quote, ‘If the Mountain won’t go to Mohammed, then Mohammad must come to the mountain.’”
Students also faced challenges and anxieties over the weekend due to PowerSchool being offline, with many waiting over the weekend to access their scores. The nonfunctional printers also affected a large number of students who could not finish their assignments or take their summatives. As summatives were carried out anyway, some students found it more difficult to take their tests as it was different from previous testing formats.
“Because it was the first time I took a handwritten test, it was a little inconvenient because I am used to seeing the Chinese font rather than handwritten characters,” Lucy Park (10), Chinese III student, said. “I definitely think that taking the handwritten test was a good alternative, but I think a better one would have been to postpone the test. That would’ve
Peer mentors host Secret Santa
“My junior year, I was concerned whether I had picked a schedule too difficult,” Gyusung Lee, a Pathways Hub student, said. “Though I had selected facile courses such as Calculus BC and AP Economics, I had ambitiously decided to take Pathways. It has been the most challenging class I’ve taken in highschool, second to none, and I would advise all juniors to stay clear from this monstrosity of a course.”
been more fair as the other classes got the printed version.”
As the IT and Admin were occupied with this issue over the week, they refused to comment on the cause of the problem or how it was resolved. While many are still unaware of the cause of these recent tech issues, students and teachers were
schedules.
BY: YeonJae Kim SophomorE,
Photo by San Schwede (10)
In celebration of the upcoming festive season, the Peer Mentor program planned a Secret Santa among themselves, as well as a white elephant gift exchange between both peer mentors and their mentees. This event is one of many that peer mentors and the school counselors have put together to strengthen relationships between students of different grade levels. Exchanging gifts based on an online wishlist, students worked to spread some festive spirit before the long holiday.
The peer mentors gathered in the atrium for the event on Dec. 5 to exchange their gifts and finally find out who their Secret Santa was. The event was also held in celebration of the mentors’ efforts during the first half of the school year. Though most previous peer mentor
events had focused on establishing connections and bonds between peer mentors and mentees, events like these also help establish friendships among the mentors themselves. Because it takes place during the SBE period, Secret Santa serves as a relaxing event to be looked forward to for many.
“The first year of high school can be overwhelming,” Yvette Choi (9), peer mentee, said. “The program makes the high school environment feel a bit more opening because of how they’re not teachers but students who have been in the same situation. I am looking forward to the gift exchange because I like gifts, as long as it’s not a book.”
The Peer Mentor program planned a similar event that included the men-
tees—a white elephant gift exchange— which happened at the same time as the Secret Santa event on Dec. 5. It involved the exchange of impractical yet amusing gifts, bought to entertain the participants instead of focusing on purchasing valuable or meaningful presents. The owners of the gifts remain anonymous, as gifts are randomly distributed and swapped as the game progresses.
“The event’s purpose is to foster connection and friendship among the mentees,” Tyler Castaño (11), peer mentor, said. “I would say we have made much progress. We’ve all gotten to know each other a lot better and come a long way in terms of our connection between mentor and mentee, as well as among the mentees themselves.”
Closing off the first semester with fes-
tive spirit, peer mentors will continue to run events for their mentees, constantly working towards their goals and duty to guide new high school students toward success and a happy school life.
“It’s really nice to have an event like this during a stressful time.” Alex Lee (11), peer mentor, said. “I was hoping to get this cheap Lego set for Secret Santa. Since we don’t know who has who, I can’t wait for the day when who got what is revealed. I think next semester we will have even more opportunities to organize fun events for peer mentors and our mentees.”
BY: san sChwede Junior, rEportEr
still able to overcome this situation and eventually return to their regular class
rEportEr
BY: Jason Jihoon shin Junior, rEportEr
Photo by Chloe Kim (10)
Photo by Carey Kim (10)
SPORTS & LIFESTYLE
Rockstar Games teases highly anticipated ‘GTA VI’
Since its inception, the “Grand Theft Auto” (GTA) series by Rockstar Games has been known to be a pioneering force in the video game world, captivating audiences with its immersive worlds, intricate storytelling, and groundbreaking gameplay.
The series began in 1997 and has evolved significantly over the years, with each installment setting new benchmarks in the gaming industry.
“I’m excited for GTA VI, and I can’t believe that Rockstar Games finally announced in early November that an official trailer is going to be released in early December,” Justin Park (11), GTA V fan, said. “Gamers have been meme-ing that GTA VI is never going to drop since it’s been over ten years since GTA V came out, so it’s kind of surreal.”
“GTA VI” is rumored to offer realism and interactivity unlike any of its predecessors. While official details remain scant, leaks suggest a more expansive and dynamic world, possibly spanning multiple cities and offering an even richer narrative experience. The game is expected to push the boundaries of openworld design, creating a living, breathing environment that
For context, each “Grand Theft Auto” series installation takes place in a metropolitan area and contains a narrative of inner-city criminal activity. The series is aimed at mature audiences over 18 but has become immensely popular with teenagers around the globe. Now, as whispers and rumors about GTA VI grow louder, the gaming community is buzzing with anticipation over what could be the next big revolution in interactive entertainment.
Universal Pictures releases long-awaited FNAF movie
On Nov. 15, the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (“FNAF”) movie, a long-awaited adaptation of the game series of the same name, came to Korean cinemas after its earlier release in the US.
The first video game was released on Aug. 8, 2014. Since then, the series has added multiple other games. The game’s creator, Scott Cawthon, also wrote and monitored the film’s production. As of Nov. 13, the film has grossed a worldwide total of $252.9 million.
When the movie was officially announced on April 6 by producer Jason Blum, many fans were surprised. Rumors of a possible adaptation circulated in 2015, but, after the lackluster performance of the last two games of the series, many had become skeptical about the future of the “FNAF” franchise. Another point of concern was the incorporation of the games’ extensive lore, which would be hard to translate and condense for a good viewing experience as a non-fan.
“I couldn’t relate to the film,” Teresa Chang, viewer of the “FNAF” film, said.
“I didn’t get that nostalgic response because I hadn’t been a fan of the games in my childhood. I was expecting a horror movie, but it had little to no horror elements. It was hard to follow along and understand with no prior knowledge. I obviously did not feel the same amount of excitement people usually felt during some key scenes.”
Some say the movie relies too much on fan service, while others commend the directors for taking a nostalgic and less horror-centered approach. There were many exciting cameos of popular “FNAF” gamers, such as MatPat and CoryxKenshin.
layout by Jian Hong
responds in real-time to players’ actions.
Central to this evolution is the introduction of a new video game engine. This advanced technology is poised to redefine the visual and interactive experience of GTA VI. With enhanced rendering capabilities, the game is expected to showcase hyper-realistic graphics, bringing the virtual world to life with unprecedented detail.
“I grew up watching YouTubers play GTA online, which is the online version of GTA V, so I’m really excited for GTA VI,” Edward Chang (11), avid video game player, said. “Honestly, though, I’m a bit worried about how the game’s going to turn out. Recently, video game studios have gotten quite lazy, and really hyped games like ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ were super glitchy and just
all around terrible on launch.”
The potential of GTA VI extends beyond its technological advancements. The series has a track record of being a critical success and a commercial juggernaut. GTA V, released in 2013, set records for its sales, and its online component, GTA Online, continues to be profitable. However, the pressure is on Rockstar Games to deliver a product that lives up to the high expectations set by its predecessor. The gaming industry has recently seen bigbudget titles like Cyberpunk 2077 struggle at launch due to various issues, underscoring the challenges of developing complex, large-scale games.
However, many fans comment on the absence of Markiplier, a notable figure in the “FNAF” franchise, who was not in the movie due to scheduling conflicts. Additionally, the cast for the film, consisting of many well-known actors like Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, and Matthew Lillard, was unexpected for the viewers.
“The film was pretty good,” David Kim (11), long-time “FNAF” fan, said. “There are things that could’ve been better, and the most disappointing part would be that Markiplier wasn’t in the movie. I like how the movie created even more memes for the ‘FNAF’ community. The best part of the movie was the character of Vanessa, who was played very well.”
Once the movie was released, Emma Tammi, the film’s director, announced that she hopes to do a sequel and even a trilogy if audiences respond well to this movie. Furthermore, Matthew Lillard confirmed that he signed a three-film contract for the “FNAF” movies. The specifics for the following films are unclear, but fans expect the incorporation of more lore and the coverage of more games in the franchise.
“It wasn’t really worth the wait, but that’s not to say that I didn’t have fun watching it,” Alex Lee (11), film fan, said. “Though definitely more YouTubers that helped ‘FNAF’ rise to its fame should’ve been included as well. For future movies, I hope they get into the crazier and more nuanced part of the lore and aren’t too scared to dip their toes into the story of ‘FNAF.’”
BY: san sChwede Junior, rEportEr
GTA VI is one of the most eagerly awaited games of the 21st century. Its promise of groundbreaking technology and narrative depth has set the stage for what could be a landmark moment in gaming history.
However, the true test will come upon its release, when players worldwide will decide if it lives up to the monumental expectations set by its illustrious lineage. The question on every gamer’s mind is: will GTA VI redefine the gaming landscape, or will it be another case of high hopes meeting harsh reality?
“I played GTA V a few years ago on my gaming computer, and the game’s mechanics and size completely blew me away,” Raymond Kwon (9), GTA V player, said. “GTA V was pretty much better than any other game I’ve played. I’m super excited for the next game and hope it lives up to my expectations.”
BY: Jason Lee Junior, Copy Editor
South Korea’s T1 wins League of Legends World Championship
On Oct. 10, the 13th annual League of Legends World Championship took place amid great excitement in Seoul, South Korea. The championship continued until the finals on Nov. 19. The finals were hosted in the Gocheok Sky Dome, and this year’s prize was about $2.2 million. The championship was especially meaningful for South Koreans because South Korea’s famed T1 team took home the victory, together with its star player Faker.
“This World’s is especially a big deal because of the story behind the current T1 team where they lost in the finals last year and Faker’s legacy of having three world titles,” Ryan Jung (12), League of Legends enthusiast, said. “To add on, T1 was the only Korean team out of four teams, so this final is a big deal. I support T1 also because they have a legendary legacy that I admire.”
For a month, players from more than 20 teams battled tournament-style in Summoner’s Rift, a magical map on League of Legends, to win the Summoner’s Cup. The teams of five aim to destroy their opponent’s base, called the “Nexus.” The tournament was split into three stages before the
finals between two teams: the Play-In stage, the Swiss stage, and the Knockout stage.
Eight teams from regions like Southeast Asia and South America competed in the Play-In stage. The two teams that succeeded in the Play-Ins moved on to the Swiss stage, which took place in the KBS Arena. Here, they competed against 14 other qualified teams. Over five rounds, the teams with the most wins moved on to the Knockout stage, where they had to win in a single elimination bracket. South Korean teams T-1, D-Plus KIA, Gen-G, and KT Rolster qualified for the Championship.
“I predicted that Gen-G would win,” Seungwoo Oh (10), League of Legends enthusiast, said.
“It’s unexpected to me that they lost because I thought they have the strongest players and have previously won the League of Legends Championship in 2017. But I expected this number of teams because South Korea usually has strong performances in the Championship.”
South Korea is no stranger to the Championship and victory.
South Korea holds a record for the most titles at seven World Championship victories, and
South Korea’s T-1 team is the most decorated in the history of the Championship, holding a record of four championship wins including the 2023 World Championship title. South Korea has also previously hosted the Championship in 2018 and 2014. However, this year’s championship is more significant to South Korea: this is the first time T-1 will play at home because they previously could not qualify. South Korean players were also dominant in the pool of players, comprising around one-third of the contestants in the Championship. Fans believe that the home game will serve as a positive influence to South Korean players and T1.
“As Korea already hosted the championships twice in 2014 and 2018, I deeply appreciate the special opportunity for us to be hosting the championships again this year,” Winston Chen (10), e-sports club member, said. “Since T1 made it to the finals, many Korean fans seem very excited. This will motivate the players to give their best effort and showcase their skills.”
The Korea Tourism Association and Riot Games has been actively promoting the Championship across South Korea. From October to November, e-sports fans were provided with engaging activities, such as gaming and merchandise booths across Seoul. Additionally, there were concerts by prominent artists like NewJeans and other festivals in Gwanghwamun Square.
“I’m glad South Korea is actively promoting the event,” Luke Seo (10), League of Legends enthusiast, said. “There are a lot of gaming enthusiasts in South Korea who would really enjoy being able to experience such events and activities themselves since this is quite a rare opportunity.”
BY: CareY Kim SophomorE, rEportEr
Seoul Metro Labor Union workers go on strike
On Nov. 9-10, the Seoul Metro Labor Union conducted a twoday strike against Seoul Metro’s plan to reduce 13.5 percent—or 2,200 employees—of the subway operation workforce by 2026. Workers claim that this reduction was unexpected and that it will pose a threat to the safety of the workers. Furthermore, these strikes resulted in commuter worries over subway delays.
“I find it difficult to show support for either side,” Geunhyung Hong (10), subway enthusiast, said. “It is understandable that the subway workers want Seoul Metro to keep its workforce as is; thousands of citizens, including myself, use the metro on a daily basis, and it is vital that passenger safety comes before all else. However, Seoul Metro is currently saddled with an astronomical cumulative deficit exceeding 18.4 trillion won, and downsizing is inevitable to normalize management.”
A group consisting of members from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the nation’s biggest union, and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) have been negotiating with Seoul Metro, the subway operating company, for months. But on Nov. 16, the Union declared a
temporary breakdown in negotiations because of the request for Seoul Metro to hire an additional 780 employees. However, Seoul Metro has been hesitant to accept this condition because of its deficit.
“Not only does Seoul Metro have a debt of 18.4 trillion won, as I previously stated, but they continue to lose money because they do not have the authority to raise or lower train fares; they have to charge whatever amount the government tells them to,”
Geunhyung said. “The fares the government enforce are simply too low. Seoul Metro charges a mere 1,250 won per ride, and Experts have determined that the fares must be 2,000 won at the least for them to break even, but the government has not allowed for such raises.”
As negotiations continued, a pressing issue has been commuters’ worries about the lack of workers during the strikes because the strikes have impeded subway operations, causing substantial delays. However, as part of the union’s strike plan, there were enough workers to be working the subways at 75 percent capacity during the last strike, resulting in only minor inconveniences in wait times
and seat openings. “I did notice that the wait time between subways was slightly longer this past week,” Elena Kim, regular subway rider, said. “But it was still an insignificant difference and barely affected my travels. I hope that this conflict is resolved because future protests could become more severe, and the resulting delays in subway trains would not only affect people’s commute time, but it would clog up the streets with those who are now traveling on the streets instead of the subway.”
The union had also planned a strike on Nov. 22, where the subways would operate at 50 percent its original capacity. However, on Nov. 21, they withdrew their plan after reaching a compromise to hire 660 new employees this year. Further discussions around Seoul Metro’s future restructuring plan will continue; but for now, subways will resume functioning at 100 percent capacity.
Convenience store attack sheds light on gender inequality
On Nov. 6, a Korean man in his 20s attacked a female convenience store worker. According to the man, the main reason for the attack was her short hair, which indicated potentially feminist beliefs. The attacker kicked and punched the worker and only ceased once the police arrived, leaving injuries on her ears and ligaments.
BY: sean Kim Sophomore, reporter
Omegle, a popular online video-chatting service, was finally shut down on Nov. 8 following the settlement of a $22 million civil lawsuit in which the site was sued for enabling the grooming and sexual exploitation of minors. The decision was a result of 14 years of controversy and over a dozen criminal cases and lawsuits involving indecency on Omegle. As a result, Leif K-Brooks, the founder of Omegle, decided to shut down the website—an outcome that was allegedly coerced by the myriad of false accusations.
“I’ve used this platform a few times because of the trends and viral memes in popular social media,” Jiyoon Lee (12), an old Omegle user, said. “The random pairing of different users and the unpredictable nature of these interactions was
what intrigued me the most. However, this spontaneity can cause some concerns and safety risks. I believe these problems are inevitable for a platform that has no age verification or any system that attempts to block any dangerous content.”
Over the past decade, Omegle has been notorious for being a haven for sexual crime, as the site allowed users to anonymously talk to anyone without community guidelines. While this feature was meant to provide a comfortable environment for strangers to freely interact, several users have reportedly used the platform for predatory purposes, affecting children and teenagers who make up the majority of the platform’s users.
“I’ve been on the site once in 4th grade and got traumatized by the
things I witnessed there,” Alex Lee (11), previous Omegle user, said.
“People were generally racist. When I gave it another try in a call with my friends in 2021, we actually had some genuinely deep conversations with strangers, although we still encountered a lot of strange people. I actually even encountered someone from a different international school once and we still talk to this day. But I’d say it’s generally a very surface level substitution for face to face interactions.”
The lack of regulations has also garnered a wide range of supporters for Omegle, who have resonated with K-Brooks’s claim that the situation represents the growing oppression of the Internet—an explanation that is provided in a letter on the nowempty site. In fact, many supporters
An arrest warrant was approved on Nov. 7 by a local court. Yet, the attacker has reportedly denied some of the charges, claiming that he could not remember what he had done due to being severely drunk at the time.
“I feel like incidents like these reflect what is currently going on in our society,” Minseo Kim (11), avid follower of Korean news, said. In general, Korean society has a tendency to be very aggressive towards each other due to tensions related to gender inequality issues going on in the country.”
Angered by this latest incident, many women have contributed to raising awareness and advocating for equality through online campaigns. Challenging the misconception that having short hair is indicative of being a feminist, thousands have posted pictures of their short hair with the hashtag “women_ shortcut_campaign” on X.
South Korea has long struggled to address gender equality, ranking 105th out of 146 countries in 2023 in gender equality according to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.A common characteristic of many South Korean men in their 20s is their aggressive misogyny, which has recently been stimulated and embraced frequently
have actively protested the decision, claiming that Omegle was the only platform that properly allowed social interaction on the Internet.
“When I first heard of Omegle, it sounded like a creative platform where people all over the world could communicate,” Joonho Kim (10), an old Omegle user, said. “In my few times of trying Omegle, I, overall, had a fun time meeting different people. However, I was also met with profanity and people who used the platform inappropriately. I was able to withstand the inappropriateness, but I worry that this might happen to someone who is not mature enough to handle this situation.”
While controversy around Omegle’s face-value persists, many concede that Omegle has transcended its purpose of social interaction
during the past several years due to Lee Jun Seok, the previous conservative leader of the People Power Party, and his anti-feminist discourse.
South Korea’s feminist movements have become more prevalent since the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment in 2018 and the Cut the Corset movement in 2019, and many women have used a short-cut hairstyle as a medium to break free from conventional beauty ideals. Due to this, many associate a short hairstyle with feminism, a term that has often been related to a man-hater, and women with short hair have been targets of attacks in the past as well.
Anti-feminist trends have resulted in women with short-hair often being a subject of contention in public events as wellIn 2021, archer An San, who won two gold medals in the mixed team and women’s team events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was targeted by slander originating from male-dominated online groups that questioned her short hair and the fact that she was enrolled in a women’s university.
“Even though I am still a student, I sometimes do worry about how this severe gender equality will affect me if I ever start working in Korea as a woman,” Grace Choi (11), said. “I think since the country has had a history of prioritizing men in many circumstances, this culture remains to some extent today, but I also think that Korea is making efforts to try and address the issue as well.”
BY: LuCY Jang
reporter
and acted as an Internet icon for 14 years. Many SIS students have shared nostalgic experiences on the website from their childhood, with various online references that kept Omegle popular.
“I’ve had experiences from Omegle in middle school with my friends during a sleepover,” Minho Chun (9), an old Omegle user, said. “I remember meeting a lot of diverse people around the world for a short period of time. I’ve seen Omegle used a lot in social media, and I guess it was really easy to see people’s reactions with pranks that content creators would do. I think I had a lot of fun watching it.”
BY: Jason shin Junior, rEportEr
Omegle shutdown sparks outrage
Junior,
Of all the festivities and holidays celebrated around the world, it is an undeniable truth that the Festivus pole reigns supreme. Festivus is a satirical holiday celebrated on Dec. 23 that originated from an episode of Seinfeld, the sitcom that disciples of the holiday often quote as their holy text. Both the pole and holiday itself were first mentioned in “The Strike,” the Seinfeld episode in which “Father Frank Costanza,” as referred to by his followers, created the holiday. Unlike the horrid lights, crass ornaments, and overly expensive price tag of the Christmas tree, the Festivus pole is simple and rather elegant. In fact, Festivus celebrators actively denounce other followers who choose to have any kind of decoration on the pole, as they believe that such blasphemy opposes the original significance of the tradition. As a singular pole with a crossed wooden base, Festivus followers believe that its simplicity perfectly represents the values of the holiday. The pole’s modesty makes it far more accessible than the Christmas tree, which requires a significant amount of planning to set up.
Festivus consists of numerous traditions, but two are deemed most important: the miracles and the pole. The miracles of Festivus are what many claim to be the most unique, as every Dec. 23 seems to bring a multitude of seemingly impossible surprises to celebrators. The first miracle was recorded in Seinfeld, when Cosmo Kramer, the neighbor of Jerry Seinfeld, astoundingly discerned that Seinfeld was cheating on his girlfriend despite having little to no evidence on which
he could base his claims. Perhaps more significantly, however, is how Festivus and the pole itself represent the holiday’s battle against consumerist culture and the rampant commercialization of Christmas.
The Festivus pole in particular stands as a powerful symbol of hope for the holiday’s many followers. As other religious holidays like Christmas and Easter have become consumed by commercialization, celebratory practices that still hold their original religious value seem to now be in constant decline. Followers of Festivus believe that their secular religion is one of the last holidays that have not been overtaken by consumerism, representing a source of hope for other similarly uncorrupted religions including Buddhism or Hinduism. Many Festivus followers believe that those who succumb to the commercial holiday of Christmas are weak and foul individuals, who do not have the moral consciousness to recognize the gradual decline of their religion.
“Festivus strikes the heart as to what holidays have seemed to become,” Gray Macklin, Festivus observer, said. “Whatever reverence they used to bring has died out. What’s so sad is that the values of a capitalist-driven, technology-obsessed culture have destroyed all other values. Taking [holidays] that originally built community are now used for selling products. Festivus strips away all of the traditional ceremony and shows it for what it is, an excuse to buy stuff.”
Commercialism has also obstructed Christmas’s traditional familial values. No longer are these holidays celebrations
The Festivus Pole: A symbol of hope
By YOON CHOI (11)
with reunion dinners and festival games; Christmas has lost its focus to merely a day in which children get to rip open wrapping paper, hoping to get the toys that they asked for. The start of Christmas has altered from the festivities of a holly, jolly December to a rancid, barbaric Black Friday where people are rampaging through stores for the largest discounts.
Even legendary figures in Christmas folklore have lost their magic. Santa Claus is now a mere excuse for children to ask for the most expensive gifts, Rudolph has transformed into an industrial machine hauling hundreds of presents, and Santa’s elves are the sweatshop workers staying overtime to package LEGOs and Barbie dolls. The devilish tunes of Christmas carols continue to fill up the malls merely days after Halloween, and large corporations extensively focus on hitting the “gift-giving” market—attempting to substitute holiday traditions with capitalistic greed. Ultimately, followers of Festivus are fighting a constant battle against the goliath of capitalism, hoping to achieve victory through sheer grit and persistence.
The Festivus pole is a great sign of hope that significant efforts are being made to battle consumerism that is so deeply rooted in capitalistic societies. As a symbol of rebellion, freedom of thought, and individual mental strength, the pole is a beacon of hope for those who are fighting for similar humanitarian ideals.
layout by Amy Cha
Consumerism of Christmas
By CARSON PARK (10)
At the forefront of Christmas’ commercial success is the iconic white-bearded Santa Claus on his magical sledge led by Rudolph. Originally based on Saint Nicholas, a 4th century bishop who was known for giving presents to the poor, industries soon began employing Santa Claus as a marketer encouraging consumers to purchase gifts. Perhaps most famously, Coca Cola used Santa Claus in their advertisements depicting him as a merry, portly man in a red suit. This popularized image of Santa Claus has since been uniformly adopted by all industries, further seeping into popular culture.
With the first recorded celebration of Christmas in Rome in AD 336, Christmas has often been recognized as a time for family gatherings and commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Throughout the 19th century, however, Christmas moved away from its religious roots to become a more secular national holiday. Today, while nine out of ten Americans celebrate Christmas, only 30 percent of them perceive it as primarily a religious holiday. This cultural shift was partly propelled by businesses recognizing the holiday’s commercial potential, marketing Christmas time products such as gifts and holiday-themed clothing to a broader audience irrespective of religious beliefs. Christmas today is a multi-billion dollar industry, often synonymous with commercialism and mass consumerism as families and friends exchange costly, sometimes exorbitant gifts. Rather than
commemorating the arrival of Jesus in a humble setting, the festive season is now dominated by a barrage of advertisements and sales, urging consumers to purchase expensive presents to show appreciation for loved ones. As December approaches, millions of Americans will line up in department stores to purchase apparels, toys, gift cards, electronics, and a long list of other gifts.
In 2021 alone, a staggering $886 billion dollars was spent on Christmas, a number that has steadily been climbing for the past two decades. In the upcoming months, it is expected that this figure will top over $900 billion, with the average American shopper expected to spend $1503 on a combination of travel, entertainment, and holiday gifts.
The commercialization of Christmas has long been a topic of concern for many. One survey showed that 62 percent of American adults believed Christmas is over commercialized. Some raise the concern that the constant barrage of Christmas advertising can form unhealthy expectations regarding what gifts we should receive. Moreover, this obsession with material gifts can make it difficult for people to appreciate the non-material aspects of Christmas, such as spending time with their loved ones. Studies show that many people suffer from stress and anxiety during the Christmas season as they feel pressured to spend more than they can afford on holiday gifts. Those concerned about the commercialization
of the holiday call for the revival of the religious aspects of Christmas, the giving of gifts that are meaningful rather than expensive or the donation to charities instead of buying gifts at all.
Of course, an uptick in consumerism during the Christmas season boosts the economy. The holiday shopping season is a major source of job creation as businesses strive to meet the increased demand for goods and services. In 2022, approximately 1.4 million seasonal jobs during the Christmas season were created, mostly in retail stores, shipping and logistics and customer service centers. It is without doubt that this high-volume selling season has become a crucial quarter for the global economy, connecting suppliers and service providers all across the world.
The commercialization of Christmas resulted in the emergence of two distinct ways of celebration: one rooted in religion, and the other in secularization. Whether it be celebrating the arrival of Jesus or spending time with family and friends, the essence of Christmas lies in the spirit of giving and appreciation.
Regardless of whether someone chooses to buy a gift or not is up to their personal choice. But even if one does, we ought to be conscious that gifts are no more than ornaments to the more profound gathering. They can make Christmas all the more meaningful; but even without, Christmas can be just as memorable – it all depends on how people decide to spend it.
8 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Vapors and perfumes—the new scents of SIS
“I went into the bathroom during class and I saw someone walk out,” an anonymous witness said. “As soon as I opened the door, I noticed a light fragrance of strawberry. I didn’t realize that the school had installed new compact diffusers. I guess the janitors are working hard. I’m so grateful that I no longer have to smell the pungent odor of the bathrooms.”
It is common to hear such comments praising the newfound scents of the bathrooms. While many mistakenly attribute this benevolence to the school, these new aromas are not the work of the administration nor the janitors. Rather, a mysterious, anonymous group of students can be accredited for this act of kindness: the Jeremy Fragrances of SIS.
Though many believe this scent to originate from a diffuser, it is better defined as a portable perfume. As such, after unknowingly passing by one of these expert perfumists, the sweet flavors cleanses the artificial odor of graphite that permeates the
layout by Jason Lee
hallways from all the overachieving students studying during Office Hours. In fact, the strong, natural scents ranging from mango to grape are an express ticket to the tropical forests, instilling a newfound sense of comfort and serenity within the SIS atmosphere.
Though these compact perfumes’ strong smell is their most obvious appeal, insinuating that their purpose is limited to their aromatic scent, they also seem to serve academic purposes. This is evident by the fact that whenever one of these devices is dropped, these perfumists are quick to clarify that they are highlighters.
“I saw an upperclassman drop one of these perfumes. But they claimed they were highlighters. I didn’t know about this two-in-one highlighter-fragrance. It was such a good-smelling perfume, too. But I tried searching it up on Daiso but I couldn’t find it. I should ask them next time where they got it.”
Many find this to be evidence that 3M has broken yet another frontier in the stationary industry, introducing scent-producing highlighters. Carrying these advanced highlighters around at all times, ready to underline class notes and key ideas, these aromatizers seem to be one of the most academically rigorous groups in SIS—a true fit for even the illustrious Valedictorian position.
Although both of these functions are particularly useful for students, applying this unique cologne seems to be a comparatively difficult process with clear drawbacks. Specifically, with its high-tech gear, instead of dense drops of scented molecules sinking to the ground as would be expected for a normal perfume atomizer, this cologne has been shown to produce vapor when sprayed, leaving behind a frumpish cloud of white gasses.
Especially in the school bathrooms—where much of the perfumes have been sprayed to
counteract the bathroom odor— comes with major consequences. With the majority of the school building being equipped with smoke detectors, these scenters constantly endure the risk of inadvertently activating the smoke detectors and fire alarms, causing widespread panic and disrupting classes.
Despite these downsides, many students even hail these perfume artists as heroes, as the vapors’ ability to sometimes activate fire alarms can force all students to evacuate onto the field—a 10 minute break from all the academic stress that piles upon them. Despite all their altruistic work, these scent producers often disappear for days at a time following such events, taking lengthy hiatuses during which bathrooms remain odorous and the school atmosphere becomes bland.
The advent of these scented acts of generosity have spawned numerous speculations as to who this new group could be. Some hypothesize that their actions perfectly fit the
Random Acts of Kindness Club or some other organization, whereas others point toward certain individual students who seem to frequent the bathrooms and HS office more often than others. Regardless of who it may be, it is safe to say that a vast majority of the student population fully appreciates the newfound smells and fragrances brought to the school.
“Thanks to these masters of fragrance, I’m able to use the bathroom more peacefully. I think the whole SIS body appreciates their work, as my friends and I always talk about how wonderful the school atmosphere has become. Many of us want to show our gratitude and appreciation, but it’s a pity that we don’t know who this group is. Everyone’s been asking each other—who could they possibly be?”
BY: Eric Kim Junior, Copy editor
Graphic by Amy Cha (12)
The Three Gods of Aesthetics
“Get it son, 18. Get it son, 19. Get it son, 20.” Those who know the context of this motivating quote know David Goggins is pushing himself to the limit while bench pressing, counting his reps. But for SIS students, the ever rising number that once symbolized the number of reps has rather turned into the number of hours they spend on academics. With a heavy emphasis on academics in SIS, working out is not exactly at the forefront of many students’ priorities. As such, the culture of working out has been faint, a battle assigned to the strongest, most committed souls. Truly, working out is only for those who can endure the sensation of blood gushing into their heads, the piercing odor of dead skin and metal bars, and the NewJeans songs being blasted by the gym. But no need to look far and wide, because they have found us. Within the freshmen grade, three students have taken it upon themselves to create Instagram accounts that post aesthetic pictures and videos of themselves working out: Evan Kim, Jaeho Lee, and Ray Roh.
Evan Kim (9)
When did you start working out and why?
Jaeho Lee (9)
Evan Kim: “I guess I started working out in mid 6th grade. I guess I like the burning sensation. It’s pleasurable. It’s hard when it burns but as time goes by it gets better, especially when you have a motive. For me it’s swimming. To be #1 in swimming, it’s always important to have a great physique. So even though it is hard pushing through, eventually getting that physique has been satisfactory, which is why I workout every single day.”
Jaeho Lee: “I started working out only about 5-6 months ago. It’s really not that long. I specifically like working out because I like seeing the progress. It’s satisfying. Also, working out is enjoyable too. That’s my motivating force. When I first started, I just decided to try working out. But then I realized I enjoyed it a lot. So I kept going to the gym. I now go to the gym around six times a week.”
Ray Roh: “I started going to the gym in April. I had experienced being fat and also being skinny, and I wanted a change, aspiring to be consistent. I started going to the gym then and I made progress thanks to the gym. So now, I work out 4-6 times a week, depending on the amount of summatives that week, since I want to balance a student-athlete life.”
What is your least favorite body part to exercise?
Evan Kim: “I don’t really like leg days but I still do them because I need to. It’s not like I totally hate leg days, but they’re more uncomfortable than doing arms. It’s satisfying at times when you finish a hard day of legs.”
Jaeho Lee: “I hate to exercise legs. It’s kind of painful, not gonna lie. It’s more painful that all the other exercises. Especially the next day, when you wake up, it’s sore and you can barely walk.”
Ray Roh: “My least favorite part to exercise is my legs. Whenever I hit legs, I have a very bad cramp when I sleep.”
Ray Roh (9)
What is your favorite body part to exercise?
Evan Kim: “Of course, I have to do all types of exercises. But I mostly like my triceps and lats, and I base my exercises mostly on that. They help the most in swimming and they become very visible once you train. That’s why I like tricep extensions.”
Jaeho Lee: “My favorite body part to work out are my shoulders. Specifically, I like lateral raises because they really burn and build my shoulder. I like that. I used to be really skinny so I guess growing my shoulders really helped me grow my build and frame. That’s why I really like lateral raises.”
Ray Roh: “My favorite exercise is shoulder dumbbell press/deadlift. I like deadlifts because I recently hit 225lb, which is my first PR. I like shoulder presses because I can lift more weight on this exercise than others and it gives me confidence. I like training shoulders because I believe the key to a good physique is big shoulders.”
Why did you decide to start an aesthetics Instagram account?
Evan Kim: “I literally have no reason for why I started my instagram account. It’s just that others and a lot of other people encouraged me to do it, so I just said ‘ok, I will try it.’”
Jaeho Lee: “My aesthetic instagram account started as a joke. So I just posted 3 or 4 times and it’s kinda over now. It was just a joke. I didn’t really intend that many people and my friends to find my account .”
Ray Roh: “I started posting on Instagram because I have seen different creators who have started posting on Instagram, and getting support from others. I wanted this type of support… There were different reac- tions… There are people who compliment me and tease me… I realize that my posts may come off as a little attention-seeking and a little weird, but that is definitely not my goal. “
BY: Eric Kim Junior, Copy editor
Wishing you a self-helpful holiday
by Junseo Lee editors-in-chief
Ask any SIS student for their plans for winter break, and you will likely be met with either a groan followed by a list of every test, competition, and application they need to prepare for, or a short and succinct “sleep.”
While these responses may seem hyperbolic at first glance, they often accurately reflect what winter break is to many students—a chance to catch up on some work, as well as some rest.
But for a vast majority of the SIS community, devoting time toward self improvement comes with far greater benefits than limiting themselves to just work and rest.
It is no secret that students at SIS are significantly privileged—far more than the average student attending a Korean or American public school. However, what many students often learn too late is that this privileged background offers substantial long term disadvantages.
Most SIS students exiting high school will n ver have felt the need to learn essential life skills, including cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, riding public transportation, or fixing home appliances. This is often because there has always been someone in their lives completing these tasks for them so they could live more comfortably and afford to spend more time on their studies.
This bubble of privilege often fosters the mindset that academic achievements should be valued above all when, in reality, students will be judged based on a far more diverse range of aspects and characteristics once they enter adulthood. Being unable to perform basic life skills will put students at a major disadvantage after graduation as they struggle to balance both college academics and taking the time to learn these skills.
As such, it is necessary to take advantage of times when academics is not at the forefront of students’ priorities and when they can afford to make mistakes by learning to be independent and practicing these skills.
Looking past more practical abilities, winter break is also a valuable time to practice hobbies and discover new interests. SIS students will often be surrounded by a similar group of friends and acquaintances throughout much of their lives—an environment full of tightly-knit cliques and pre-established friend groups that often denies them the ability to develop their social skills in meeting new people.
With the amount of diversity that college life will offer, simply being an interesting person with a diverse array of hobbies outside of extracurricular activities can greatly benefit students when breaking out of their shells once they can no longer rely on the same group of high school friends for company.
Of course, none of this is to say that students should be hyperfocused on productivity and self-improvement over the entire winter break. Relaxation and stress relief are both valid and effective ways to use time spent away from school, and sleeping is particularly essential for many hard-working students.
However, research conducted by the Harvard Business Review has revealed that learning new skills is also a practical method to cope with stress. Not only can learning new skills protect students from negative emotions and burnout, but it can also foster their sense of competence and self-efficacy, developing a growth-oriented mindset that will only further benefit them in their future struggles.
So, amidst your AP class academies and 16-hour naps, find something to work on this winter break. Ask a parent to teach you how to cook. Read a book or practice a new sport. Perhaps then you will be able to go into the new year as a truly new you.
Let yourself be heard. If you have any responses to articles published in the Tiger Times or original contributions, please send them to tigertimes@gmail.com
layout by Sean Kim
Freshmen should care more about colleges
As freshmen, it is common to seek advice from upperclassmen regarding their college applications, only to be told that 9th graders should play and “enjoy the fun while it lasts.” Many may waver, trusting the sagacity of those who have been through it all… but no. The list of prestigious Ivy League colleges awaits, and listening to the guidance of the juniors and the seniors is an express ticket to Sunshine Community College.
“Freshmen should try to just have fun,” Alyssa Lee (12), wise mentor, said. “But of course, all that advice is a trick to harm the chances of freshmen to get into good colleges. So when they follow that advice, they should know that it affects their college admission rates.”
Though many colleges have established on their homepages and admission Q&A pages that freshman year matters significantly less, the very competitive atmosphere of SIS says otherwise. Got a 99 on Geometry? Goodbye Harvard. Forgot to sign up for Forensics? No more Stanford. As the proverb states, the early bird gets the worm. Many studies have followed up with such claims that those concerned with college admissions earlier have a significant advantage over those who do so later. In fact, getting an early lead on drafting and preparing for colleges in freshman year gives students a whopping 0.01 percent higher chance than their peers who typically start in junior year.
“My freshmen peers think a 0.01 percent GPA upgrade is the secret to getting into Harvard,” Chris Ahn (9), observant freshman, said. “They spend tons of hours chasing that 0.01 percent GPA boost, all while forgetting that life exists beyond
those textbooks. They believe that the most thrilling moment is getting the tiniest upperhand in GPA.”
In fact, many freshmen may have already begun caring and studying for college. If so, why not begin consulting with Ms. Edwards as well on the tips to getting into those prestigious schools? In fact, beginning to fill out the Common Application in 9th grade in spite of its yearly reset every August will definitely be of help—after all, “practice makes perfect.” Beginning to research previous supplements and writing as many essays will craft a stellar essay that even Harvard admissions officers will appreciate.
Freshmen must spend little time on activities that do not contribute to their college resume. Sure, you might have a passion for badminton, but badminton is too stereotypically Asian. Ignore your desires and join Cross Country instead. Besides, Cross Country does not include all those technical skills that require strenuous effort—reroute that effort into studying instead.
And for the college application, instead of submitting to just any major, focus on building your resume around a major that has a higher chance of acceptance: how about East Asian Studies, Gender Studies, or Agriculture? Any consulting group would advise against majoring in Political Science or Economics. Choosing a major early on from 9th grade and remaining attached is important: for if you spend time on one major and only choose later on, all the effort you had put in will crumble. Following your passion and applying to the major you want to study will result in an immediate rejection from the Ivy
For math-inclined SIS students, the AMC is a well-known rigorous annual mathematical test made for grades of 8, 10, and 12. This year’s test, however, was markedly different— the answers to all of the questions on both the AMC 10 and 12 were leaked internationally on several online platforms like Discord.
After spending countless sleepless nights and fretful hours studying for the AMC, many students were relieved that they could now be at peace by shamelessly copying off answers. By easily attaining good scores without studying in the days leading up to the test, students preserved their mental wellbeing—a lesson often emphasized at school.
“I was very glad to see the leaked answers because I wouldn’t have been able to do it myself,” Brian Ji (10), AMC 10 test-taker,
said. “It was very stressful to study and it took a long time when I prepared for it myself as the test is known to be rigorous.”
This pursuit for an alternative to studying, combined with the high interest surrounding test leaks, is a good indicator that tests should be made easier in other subjects as well to alleviate the stress of exams and extracurriculars. Because students at SIS adopt ideal habits like procrastination, leaked answers are apt for avoiding studying as a whole.
The leaked test allowed many under-qualified students to choose correct answers, potentially offsetting the cutoff score and rightfully undermining the efforts of other hard-working students. Although some claim that this could negatively affect all students
Leagues.
However, a small minority of students have expressed their disagreement with this attitude toward college admissions. They prioritize fervor, believing that in the process of pursuing passion, they will be able to build a better career than the artificial ones freshmen seek to create—in turn, getting into better colleges.
“If you follow your passion, that means you have something to consistently do,” Jason Lee (11), avid debater, said. “Having something that is fun yet helpful alleviates the feeling that just this number on my GPA defines me. Also, a lot of students have no personality, just sitting in the back of the class, taking notes and trying to get good test scores. But when colleges ask about what defines you, you’re not gonna say taking notes in the back of the class. Having something that you are truly passionate about is an organic way of showing who you are, and that is what colleges are looking for. Not just someone who has a good GPA.”
This college application obsession from freshman year will definitely pay off. Remember that statistic. Sacrificing blood, sweat, and tears from 9th grade will yield an astronomical 0.01 percent higher chance at the Ivy League. With that, surely you will distinguish yourself from all the other students who are defined by their GPA.
BY: Eric Kim Junior, Copy Editor
by raising the standard for tests, the potential benefits of being able to confidently answer all the questions and get an ego boost are a fair trade-off. Such decision-making signifies that academic institutions should factor in the voices of young generations speaking up for their beliefs.
Students now look forward to more possibilities of leaked answers, tests, and information—anything to craft the perfect college application. Exposing such test answers could allow a much higher cutoff score, a phenomenon that is regarded as clearly beneficial for students that support cheating and are against studying.
Many teachers with mathematical backgrounds have given their opinions, though, much to the dismay of students renowned for not being hard-working. They have shown concerns for the structural integrity of certain testing methods too.
“I feel like the real issue here, and this kind of thing really frustrates me as a teacher, is a sort of situation where people who are genuinely excellent are indistinguishable from people who do not make as much of the effort to be excellent,” Nathan Warkentin, AP Calculus BC teacher, said.
“It’s an issue that’s amplified due to the narrative that students must be excellent at all fields, a myth pushed by the competitive atmosphere of Korean society. A big part of the issue is that people aren’t using the AMC for its real purpose, qualification to participate in the International Math Olympiad.”
Experts have also condemned this joyful practice by highlighting the very small side effects such as chronic avoidance of studying, loss of academic integrity, and unfair advantages in admissions. Yet, these common side effects also arise from other insignificant issues such as dropping out of school, being highly unmotivated, and not pursuing any goals in education, proving that it is not of concern.
With effort from educators, students can look forward to the day when all test answers are freely available to the common people.
BY: Jian Hong SophomorE, rEportEr
It’s time to rethink international club trips
Few other club events are more enticing for members than overseas travel. Free from the burdens of school, overbearing parents, and stress, international trips were once the rare staple by which club membership lived or died. However, following a return to international trips post-COVID-19, member participation in club trips has significantly declined to the point where trips that were once club highlights have become widely canceled.
School clubs must realize that international travel has become increasingly inaccessible for most students and should instead prioritize domestic projects as an alternative.
“Across the two clubs that I’m an advisor of, we’re getting less international trip participation than before,” Phoebe Borst, UYSC and GIN advisor, said. “I think that one of the reasons why this is the case is because of the lengthy pandemic-induced hiatus students took from international travel… anyhow, even though we went to Thailand last year for GIN, we just had enough members to go on the trip. One of the people who went also wasn’t in the club at the time, but we didn’t have enough club members.”
The attendance rate of Global Issues Network’s (GIN) trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand, dropped dramatically once the trip was moved from spring break during the second semester to Thanksgiving break of the first semester. This change decreased senior students’ participation, who were preoccu -
pied with their college applications. Beyond seniors, members across the high school body also chose not to sign up for the first-semester trip, leading to its cancellation as not enough members signed up.
Another important cause of declining student participation in international trips lies in the oversaturation of trips across different clubs and organizations.
“Right now, SIS has too many international trips across AISA for sports, MUN, and other clubs,” Gray Macklin, high school principal, said. “The thing is, SIS has a finite number of students that are part of multiple clubs, so you’re often asking the same pool of students to go on multiple different trips. How many more than two international trips will parents let their children go on in a year? The answer is probably not many.”
On one hand, the reduction in international club travel has led to a noticeable decrease in the impactful and enjoyable events traditionally associated with club activities. International trips offer unique opportunities for cultural exchange, personal growth, and global community service.
However, the absence of these trips has not been all for the worse. In lieu of international travel, school clubs have steered toward more localized projects, emphasizing geographically proximate ventures.
For example, the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) club attended a seminar at Daegu International School hosted by
Viewpoint Feature:
For many clubs, international travel was once the rare stable by which membership lived or died. However, as clubs like GIN, MUN, UYSC, and HFH return to international travel post-pandemic, fewer students are signing up to go abroad than before. In fact, the severity of this phenomenon resulted in the cancelation of GIN’s November trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Why are fewer and fewer students participating in international club trips?
Are international trips even a worthy endeavor for most clubs? If not, what would alternative projects look like?
Stanford alum and activist Jessica Wei Huang. KASA also volunteered community service at an animal shelter, and the community service club KSF participated in food drives at Anna’s House. These projects may well be a direct result of the diminished emphasis on international travel.
Furthermore, these domestic projects often align more closely with the educational objectives of the clubs. Working in diverse areas of South Korea would expand student knowledge beyond the urban bubble of Seoul—a goal for many clubs centered on Korean issues and service. As clubs pivot toward more sustainable, locally-focused projects, these initiatives mitigate the logistical and financial burdens associated with international travel and better foster a sense of local community engagement and responsibility.
It is also worth noting that international club trips require extensive planning over the course of months, often at the expense of other projects. Alternatively, domestic activities can be planned relatively quickly and executed inexpensively over a shorter time frame. They are also more accessible for members unavailable for international travel. As a result, replacing dying international trips with more domestic projects could drastically increase the efficiency and output of clubs—less time delegated to trips unlikely to attract enough participants would naturally induce more successful endeavors within the geographical
proximity of the school.
The best way to plan more effective club trips might be to adopt a more condition-based approach, where members must confirm their availability before the school year begins. This method could facilitate better communication ahead of time, addressing some of the logistical challenges previously hindering such trips of students pulling out at the last minute. Admittedly, clubs may also need to reassess the cost-efficiency and practicality of these trips in the current educational context—most students do not have the time to go on multiple trips a year.
The evolving landscape of school club activities contains a diminishing focus on international trips and a more pragmatic focus on local engagement. As clubs navigate this transition, they must balance the aspirational appeal of international travel with the practicality and inclusivity of local projects. The future of international club trips hinges on a balance between the feasibility and the evolving priorities of student-led clubs.
BY: Jason Lee Junior, Editor
Cartoon by Amy Cha (12)
Cartoon by Grace Lee (12)
Cartoon by Jason Jihoon Shin (11)
layout by Katelyn Oh