STUDENT VOICES

Revisiting the narrow hallways of the school and waking up to the hint of sunlight in the morning might be more difficult than what was presumed. Grade eleven student Sarah Cornelle acknowledges the confusing state she and her peers had to adapt to with the sudden alteration in schedules mid-year. First-year university student, Henry Li, carries a similar perception as her. “My schedule during the pandemic has shifted. Usually during school days, I would wake up at 7:30 am, but during the pandemic, I have been waking up at 9 am instead”. Sarah Cornelle’s view draws attention to the transition brought by the pandemic and how it hindered her “motivation”. “ It is difficult to remain motivated when there aren’t teachers constantly giving you new tasks. Because of the pandemic related stress, it has also been harder to concentrate on homework.” Henry Li holds similar reservations believing that “having my first term at UBC being completely online will be a struggle since so much about university is a social experience. It’s going to be hard forming connections with my professors and meeting new friends at school.” He notes that his inability to use the facilities at UBC is something hard to process as well. However, some find this process to be less detrimental to their routine. There lies continuity and growth in the schedule of grade ten Tamia Parmar, who will “ wake up and work out, study or write” and allocate her time to benefiting her physical health, along with relationships with family members through movie nights.

Tamia Parmar also acknowledges that although flexible her schedule’s void is now quenched with the addition of various extracurriculars. This notion is shared by grade eleven Joey Zhou and Anna Yu, who find their extracurriculars navigating their way through online platforms such as “Zoom or Microsoft teams.” Despite the best intentions these new platforms don’t seem to contribute the same effect as in-person means. “While I would say the replacement is fine, the quality of lessons is not comparable to face-to-face learning. Most of my other extra-curricular activities have been canceled due to the closure of many public sites.” Others like Felix Lu adopted a new activity such as “tennis” to maintain their health and sense of activity during this time.

However, others like Sarah Cornell and Henry Li were met with the cancellation of activities. Along with volunteer opportunities, and the aspiration of having a summer job, Henry had to detach himself from his plans with his friends this summer.

With the hardships involved in adjusting to the new set-up, now redeems an opportunity for the building and recovering of relationships with others and oneself. Like Patricia Gujaltos, Anna Yu found being “home all the time to have been a good time to catch up with family”. This time also added opportunities for introspection. Tamia Parmar found that “the pandemic has changed my values, it’s almost like the saying- you never really appreciate what you have until it’s gone. As I said before, I am very used to going out and doing activities with my family. Being in this experience has taught me to appreciate the simple things in life and take advantage of the situations I’m in.” Felix Lu addressed his experience with the pandemic similarly, saying that “at first, I felt like the pandemic had negatively impacted myself, but as quarantine carried on, I realized that there is more time to focus on not only myself but also my hobbies. I found quarantine to be quite enjoyable.”

The presence of school slowly lured over the minds of students during the month of September. Each, with their perception of how and on what platforms the school year should commence. People like Sunny Zhang believe that an online version would contribute to a more “flexible schedule and would save a lot of time commuting to and from school, as well as saving some unnecessary class time”. The notion of a face to face interaction instills worry in Tamia, as she like others would ponder on “whether people are sick or not” and would find the transition difficult to approach, after 6 months of online school. These ideas are contrasted by the ones shared by Henry Li, who finds an online platform to invite “distractions” and a lack of motivation in many students. Online means would lend itself to a more difficult environment for IB students to learn, as Felix Lu conveys. “If the school has determined that it would be online, in my opinion, both the quality and efficiency of education would be significantly hampered. Especially for IB students who are under a more intensive workload and pressure”.

Now, as school commences with the balance of both online and in-person interactions, students will have to adapt to a set of alterations in their routine. However, with the need for adaptation, comes an opportunity for students to integrate the valuable lessons that were learned through the course of the time. Newfound relationships with their loved ones and themselves, are some souvenirs from the pandemic that students can take with them into the next chapter of their lives.

Sanjana Karthik is a grade eleven student from Semiahmoo Secondary. She dedicates her time to volunteering, where she has accumulated over 500 hours and spends time playing badminton and attending choir practice. She tutors, and provides her leadership services to Volunteer Club, Study Circle, and Medhopeful at her school. She created her organization called Your Words Matter To Us, co-founding an upcoming mental health app called myEsprit.

WHERE TO TRAVEL IN 2021 : MUST VISIT CITIES

Deciding that you want to travel in Asia in 2021 is a pretty broad starting point. In this blog we give you the low-down on which of the continent’s cities are set to become must visit cities next year, to give you a helping hand in picking your next travel destination. JAIPUR – Placed in the heart of northern India. Jaipur is only a fivehour drive from Delhi yet provides a completely different view of the country. Known as India’s “Pink City”, its colourful historic architecture displays how the beauty of India’s past has not been lost amidst its industrialisation. The city is home to various hilltop forts and palaces plus, perhaps most famously, bazaars and markets. Like most of India, it’s a city full of brilliant street food markets- join a food tour to get the full experience. If you’re unsure about how to eat safely in India then be sure to have a read of our guide on that.

SHANGHAI -– China’s always been a bit of a maverick’s choice when it comes to travel in Asia. It’s home to some of the most famous tourist sights on earth, yet some travellers are intimidated by the cultural shock. For those who remain hesitant, Shanghai offers the chance to dip your toe in the water before traveling the rest of the country. It’s a buzzing cosmopolitan hub, becoming more akin to the likes of Hong Kong in mood and culture, the city offers a fantastic blend of old and new China. Around every corner you’ll still find traditional, often family run, Chinese restaurants yet walking along the city’s famous Bund can often feel as if you’re in central New York or London. Like many cities in China, it’s developing by the second so visiting in 2021 will be very different not to mention 2022.

SEOUL – South Korea continues to be East Asia’s hidden gem when it comes to travel and tourism, so Seoul has a well earnt place on our list. Visit the Gangnam district, the home of K-pop and a fantastic nightlife; spend some time at the DMZ, bordering North Korea; head to a restaurant to try one of the country’s famous Korean BBQs; and experience traditional South Korea in the historical Bukchon Hanok Village. If you’re reading this list because you want to find an incredible travel destination before everyone else, Seoul is where to go. OSAKA – Within the space of a couple of years Japan has rocketed to being one of Asia’s most popular destinations to visit. Tokyo and Kyoto are the two cities which remain on everyone’s list when paying a visit but it’s well worth taking an extra few days to visit Osaka. It’s a city famous for its coastal location, its buzzing nightlife and its giant mechanical crab. If you’re looking for where to go after dark, head straight to the Dotonbori district, packed with restaurants and bars lined alongside one of the city’s canals. If you’re a history buff, the city is home to Osaka Castle, one of Japan’s most famous landmarks and (even if you’re not interested in history) it’s a stunning sight to see. For that modern edge when you’re visiting the city, try your hand at surfing. Japan’s 2021 Olympics will be the first year surfing will be recognised as an Olympic sport and its popularity has exploded in the country as a result. Isonoura beach is one of Japan’s surfing hotspots: it’s an hour’s drive from Osaka and makes for a great day trip if you have time.

HO CHI MINH CITY – If Hanoi is viewed as a city that’s home to Vietnamese history then Ho Chi Minh City is home to its future. Placed at the forefront of a rapidly changing nation, Ho Chi Minh City currently offers a fantastic balance of a bubbling cultural scene, famous sights and stunning natural scenery. If you’re looking for the modern flare head over to one the city’s trendy arts districts. More of a history fan? Pay a visit to its markets dating back to the 17th century, including the famous Ben Thanh Market. Ho Chi Minh city is placed upon the Mekong delta and if you’re looking for nature’s compliment to its urban edge then take a boat tour out into the Tra Su Forest and weave your way through the greenery.