Wynpress Term 2 2017
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR School: 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, feels like 52 weeks a year. It is an inescapable part of life. This term we sat down and looked at the good, the bad and the ugly; from stress relief to lunch boxes to the sisterhood we share at Wynberg (no school related anything would be complete without that). Even though it takes up all this time, it is so important to remember to keep yourself sane and take a step back every now and then to take a look at the bigger world around you. I hope you enjoy what we've written for you this term!
Zayyaan Esau
My Sisters
I walk along the school passages, And look upon all the familiar faces of my sisters They come from different creeds, colour and culture but we care for one another all the same And when one of us feels sad or Alone Or lost We all become menders, ever ready to save our flightless bird. And in this startling world filled with Wonder, beauty, loss and danger It is only fitting that we should walk alongside one another, arms linked as tightly as rope and our heads held as high and unyielding as a graceful lion in the Karoo. And in us, this bond will forever remain, as a reminder of those that once were and those who are yet to come.
GLORIOUS FOOD Ciara Birch
What we consume affects our lives and has a knock-on effect in the world around us. On a personal level, the food we eat affects our moods, energy levels, and our physique. Let's be honest - no one wants to be tired or feel run down constantly. Schoolwork doesn't need help with that. Now you're probably thinking - this is all dandy to tell me - but what is your point? The point is that before we become healthy, we need to understand that what we put into our bodies matters. As much as we dread to admit it, all of those crisps and candies and even some carbs negatively affect us. And it's not just the sugar. The sugar is not the scariest thing on the list. All of the preservatives and the MSG wreak havoc on our bodies. They aid in our pimple count, scratchy voices and tiredness. But enough doom and gloom on the evils of preservatives and sugar. How can we change our food so that we feel better on a general basis? Let us first look at how our bodies digest food. Things like carbohydrates, proteins and carbohydrates all require a specific pH level so that they can digest. When you eat a meal with complex carbohydrates and proteins the one food item sits in your stomach, while the other finishes digesting. This can lead to poor digestion, experiencing gassiness and stomach cramps. It is, therefore, ideal to try and keep some carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice) and proteins (meat proteins) separate and only eat one per meal. This is easiest to do when packing one's school lunch:we can make some incredibly helpful changes so that we feel better for the day.
Fruits and vegetables are key. Easily digestible, they contain lots of energy and nutrients. By placing some fruits and vegetables into our lunch will help give our bodies easily accessible energy. This will also help us feel full faster. The problem with eating only complex carbohydrates or proteins is that they not only take long to digest, but they may also contain similar types of nutrients. Our brain tells us that we are hungry if we are lacking something in our diet (for example vitamin C which is found in citrus fruits). Even if we are full, our brains may still tell us that we are hungry in the hopes that we will consume the much- desired nutrients. Eating fruits and vegetables with our meals is, therefore, ideal as it helps our bodies receive many types of nutrients. This ensures that we do not overeat. By eating many kinds of foods, separating complex food groups, while trying to steer clear of overly processed items, we will begin to feel better about ourselves. We will have more energy because our bodies do not have to digest many complicated things. By eating many kinds of different foods we will gain different, important nutrients allowing our bodies to be healthier and less hungry all the time. All of this will help us feel better and we'll have the energy to deal with school.
H E R E W E G O A G A I N ! Aqilah Regal T E R M 2 E X A M S H A V E S P E D U P T O U S , Y O U A R E A G O O D S T U D E N T Y O U P R O B F E W W E E K S A G O A N D H A V E N O C A R E P R O C R A S T I N A T O R S D O E X I S T A N D W E L O T S O F C O F F E E .
W I T H O U T M A N Y O F U S R E A L I S I N G . I F A B L Y A L R E A D Y S T A R T E D S T U D Y I N G A I N T H E W O R L D . U N F O R T U N A T E L Y , A R E D O O M E D T O L A T E N I G H T S A N D
B U T B Y N O W , E V E R Y O N E I S R E A L L Y I N T H E S W I N G O F T H I N G S . G R A D E 8 ’ S A C T U A L L Y K N O W T H E S C H O O L A N D A R E W O R R I E D A B O U T T H E I R F I R S T H I G H S C H O O L E X A M S . G R A D E 9 ’ S A R E W O R R I E D A B O U T S U B J E C T C H O I C E A N D T H E G R A D E 1 0 ’ S A N D 1 1 ’ S A R E T R Y I N G T O B E C O M E M O R E I N V O L V E D A N D A R E B E G I N N I N G T O S T U D Y W I T H N E W V I G O U R W I T H T H E P R O S P E C T S O F L E A D E R S H I P A N D U N I V E R S I T I E S L O O M I N G C L O S E R . A N D , T H E N , T H E R E A R E T H E M A T R I C S : J U S T S T R E S S E D A B O U T E V E R Y T H I N G . T H I S C Y C L E I S R E P E A T E D E V E R Y Y E A R A T O U R S C H O O L A N D T H E R E I S N O W A Y O U T O F I T . H O W E V E R , I D O B E L I E V E I T I S T I M E F O R T H I S S C H O O L T O T A K E A B R E A K A N D R E L A X . S T O P W I T H A L L T H E S T R E S S I N G A N D E N J O Y T H E “ G O L D E N Y E A R S ” O F Y O U R L I F E , A S M Y P A R E N T S L I K E T O C A L L I T . A L L T H I S S T R E S S H A S B E E N W E I G H I N G U S D O W N A N D W E H A V E B E E N U N A B L E T O L O O K A T T H E O T H E R T H I N G S T H A T A R E I M P O R T A N T I N O U R L I V E S . S O M Y O N L T H A T E V E R P E R F E C T D Y O G A D A Y , O F W A V E S
Y T I P F O R E X A M S I S T O S T O P S T R E S S I N G , A N D O N C E Y T H I N G W I L L B E M U C H C L E A R E R A N D E A S I E R F O R Y O A Y T O C E L E B R A T E I S O N T H E 2 1 J U N E W H I C H I S I N T E S O G R A B A P A R T N E R A F T E R E X A M S A N D D E T O X T O T C R A S H I N G O N T H E S H O R E A N D B O N E S C R A C K I N G .
Y O U D O U . A R N A T I O N A L H E S O U N D S
The Female of the Species Mu'minah Salie
AUTHOR: MINDY MCGINNIS GENRE: REVENGE-THRILLER, FEMINIST, RAPE CULTURE ALEX CRAFT KNOWS HOW TO KILL SOMEONE. AND SHE DOESN’T FEEL BAD ABOUT IT. WHEN HER OLDER SISTER, ANNA, WAS MURDERED THREE YEARS AGO AND THE KILLER WALKED FREE, ALEX UNCAGED THE LANGUAGE SHE KNOWS BEST. THE LANGUAGE OF VIOLENCE. WHILE HER CRIME GOES UNPUNISHED, ALEX KNOWS SHE CAN’T BE TRUSTED AMONG OTHER PEOPLE, EVEN IN HER SMALL HOMETOWN. SHE RELEGATES HERSELF TO THE SHADOWS, A GIRL WHO GOES UNSEEN IN PLAIN SIGHT, UNREMARKABLE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAYS. BUT JACK FISHER SEES HER. HE’S THE GUY ALL OTHER GUYS WANT TO BE: THE STAR ATHLETE GUNNING FOR VALEDICTORIAN WITH THE PROM QUEEN ON HIS ARM. GUILT OVER THE ROLE HE PLAYED THE NIGHT ANNA’S BODY WAS DISCOVERED HASN’T LET HIM FORGET ALEX OVER THE YEARS, AND NOW HER GREEN EYES AMID A CONSTELLATION OF FRECKLES HAVE HIS ATTENTION. HE DOESN’T WANT TO ONLY SEE ALEX CRAFT; HE WANTS TO KNOW HER. SO DOES PEEKAY, THE PREACHER’S KID, A GIRL WHOSE IDENTITY IS ENTANGLED WITH HER DAD’S JOB, THOUGH THAT DOES NOT STOP HER FROM KNOWING THE TASTE OF BEER OR MISSING THE TOUCH OF HER EX-BOYFRIEND. WHEN PEEKAY AND ALEX START WORKING TOGETHER AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER, A FRIENDSHIP FORMS AND ALEX’S PROTECTIVE NATURE EXTENDS TO MORE THAN JUST THE DOGS AND CATS THEY CARE FOR.
CIRCUMSTANCES BRING ALEX, JACK, AND PEEKAY TOGETHER AS THEIR SENIOR YEAR UNFOLDS. WHILE PARTYING ONE NIGHT, ALEX’S DARKER NATURE BREAKS OUT, SETTING THE TEENS ON A COLLISION COURSE THAT WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER. MINDY MCGINNIS-- AUTHOR OF NOT A DROP TO DRINK-- JUST WROTE A POWERFUL NOVEL WHICH BATTLES WITH THE CONCEPT OF PREY AND PREDATOR. MORE SPECIFICALLY: MALE AND FEMALE. WHEN ALEX’S SISTER IS RAPED AND BRUTALLY MURDERED, SHE HUNTS DOWN THE KILLER. BECAUSE HE HAD GONE UNPUNISHED, SHE SERVED HER OWN JUSTICE. SHE THEN GOES UNDER THE RADAR, TRYING TO BE ANONYMOUS. SHE LIVES WITH HER ALCOHOLIC MOTHER, AND INTERACTS WITH NO ONE; FOREVER FEARING HER VIOLENT SIDE. YET, SHE EVENTUALLY MAKES FRIENDS: JACK AND PEEKAY, AND THAT'S WHEN THE STORY STARTS. THE BOOK IS SET IN A SMALL TOWN, WHERE THE CHARACTERS ARE IN THEIR LAST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL. NOW, WITH THE AGES OF THE STUDENTS, COMES THEIR PREDICTABLE ACTIVITIES: MAINLY SEX, DRUGS, AND PARTIES. THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF THE CONFLICT TAKES PLACE. WHILE MINDY WRITES SO WELL THAT THE PAGES TURN THEMSELVES, THE CHARACTER, JACK, HAS ITS FLAWS. DURING THE CHAPTERS REVEALING JACK’S POINT OF VIEW, I FOUND THE CONSTANT IDEA OF SEX ON HIS MIND A LITTLE OVERDONE.
AN ACCURATE ASPECT OF THE BOOK IS THE RAPE STATISTICS: STUDENTS WERE GIVEN THE TALK, AND LEFT STUNNED BY THE FACT THAT SOME OF THEM COULD BE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT ANY POINT. THE EMOTIONS WERE CONVEYED CORRECTLY, ESPECIALLY THE THOUGHT THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT IS A SEPARATE SITUATION AND “IT WON'T HAPPEN TO ME.” ANOTHER THEME THAT MINDY PUTS INTO WORDS WAS THE STRENGTH OF WOMEN. WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS, MANY THINK OF WOMEN BEING HURT BY MEN. THIS IDEA IS THROWN OUT OF THE WINDOW WHEN JACK MEETS ALEX. SHE IS CONSTANTLY ALERT, SHE IS ABLE TO DEFEND HERSELF AND HER FRIENDS, AND SHE BENDS TO NO ONE. SHE IS THE ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRY FOR STRONG. AND NOT JUST IN THE PHYSICAL SENSE. IN THE BOOK, WE LEARN JUST HOW DEADLY THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES CAN BE. NOW (THE BLURB PROBABLY GAVE IT AWAY) JACK FALLS IN LOVE WITH ALEX, AND, CONSEQUENTLY, ADDS A WHOLE LOT OF NEW DRAMA INTO THE STORY LINE. THE CHARACTERS DEVELOP: SOME IN A GOOD WAY, AND OTHERS, SADLY, IN A BAD WAY. YOU MAY HAVE EXPECTED A REVENGE THRILLER TYPE OF BOOK, OR A HARD-CORE FEMINIST TYPE, BUT,DEAREST READER, YOU WILL BE SURPRISED. THE AMAZING WOMAN DOESN'T RUN AROUND KILLING MEN UNTIL THEY ACKNOWLEDGE HER POWER, BUT RATHER PROTECTS THOSE SHE CARES ABOUT. THIS IS THE TYPE OF BOOK THAT WILL KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT AND WILL HAVE YOU SCREAMING AT THE END. IT WILL STAY IN YOUR MIND FOR QUITE A WHILE. I THINK YOU SHOULD TRY IT.
LEADERSHIP: THE LURKY WORD - JADE DE KAIZER IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN. THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN STRESS BURNS YOUR SOUL AND YOU FEEL AS IF THE EXAMS MIGHT JUST DEVOUR YOU. HOWEVER, FOR GRADE 11’S, THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR US. YES, WE’RE ALSO CRYING BECAUSE OF THE EXAMS THAT ARE COMING UP, BUT,WHAT IS ALSO GIVING US SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, IS THE FACT THAT EACH AND EVERYONE OF US IS THINKING ABOUT LEADERSHIP. GOSH, IT FEELS LIKE JUST THE OTHER DAY WHEN I WAS IN GRADE 8, AND A GRADE 11 WAS SAYING TO ME THAT HIGH SCHOOL WOULD FLY BY, AND, BEFORE I KNEW IT, I WOULD BE THINKING OF LEADERSHIP, TOO. TO BE HONEST, I THOUGHT THAT GIRL WAS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY. HOW WOULD FIVE YEARS “FLY BY”? NOW THAT I’M IN GRADE 11 AND I’M REFLECTING ON MY HIGH SCHOOL CAREER SO FAR, I’D HATE TO ADMIT THAT SHE WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG. HIGH SCHOOL HAS FLOWN BY AND NOW MY PEERS AND I ARE ALL APPLYING FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. MATRIC IS AT OUR DOORSTEP AND IT’S FRIGHTENING! THIS LEADERSHIP PROCESS THAT WE HAVE UNDERGONE THIS YEAR HAS BEEN EXTREMELY NERVE-WRECKING. OUR ‘LEARNER LEADERSHIP’ PROJECTS REQUIRED US TO DO SO MUCH IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD AND OUR WORLDS SEEMED TO FALL APART. THEY DIDN’T, OF COURSE. IN FACT THAT EXERCISE TAUGHT US HOW TO COMMUNICATE AND TO RESPECT OUR TEAMMATES EVEN WHEN THINGS DIDN’T WORK OUT SUCCESSFULLY. OUR GRADE 11 CAMP WAS A SUCCESS:WE LEARNT SO MUCH ABOUT OURSELVES (AS TO WHO WE WILL BE AS UPCOMING LEADERS) AND ABOUT OUR PEERS IN THE MATRICS CLASS OF 2018. BUT NOW THE TIME HAS COME FOR US TO STEP FORWARD AND TO APPLY FOR LEADERSHIP ROLES AND TO BECOME REPRESENTATIVES OF WHO PEOPLE WANT. THIS, FOR ME, IS THE SCARIEST PART. WE ARE NOW PUTTING OURSELVES OUT THERE, TO BE LEADERS OF THE SCHOOL IN 2018. TO BE SISTERS TO EVERY GIRL IN OUR SCHOOL, BUT, MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO UPHOLD THE MOTTO HONOUR BEFORE HONOURS. MY ONLY HOPE THAT THROUGH THIS SCARY AND NERVE-WRECKING SELECTION PERIOD THAT THE GRADE 11 GIRLS REMEMBER THAT WE ARE NOT JUST PEERS OR FRIENDS, WE ARE SISTERS WHO SHOULD BE PROUD OF OTHERS’ SUCCESSES JUST AS WE ARE PROUD OF OUR OWN. I HOPE THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS FRIENDSHIPS WON’T BE DESTROYED. I HOPE THESE FRIENDSHIPS WILL BECOME STRONGER. AS SCARY AS THIS TIME IS, I CAN’T DESCRIBE HOW EXCITED I AM TO SPEND MY MATRIC YEAR WITH THESE GRADE 11 GIRLS.
Drama Behind the Drama Juliet Stromin
THE HYPE AND BUZZ OF WYNBERG GIRLS' AND BOYS' MAJOR PRODUCTION, THE CRUCIBLE HAS COME AND GONE. SOME WOULD ARGUE THAT THIS IS FOR THE BETTER WHILE SOME WOULD ARGUE THAT IT IS FOR THE WORSE. DURING THE TIME OF PRODUCTION, WE, AS THE CAST, WORKED HARD TO PROMOTE THE PLAY TO THE SCHOOL AND TO THE PUBLIC. WE OFTEN PORTRAYED A BOOSTED IMAGE TO ENSURE IT SEEMED POLISHED AND WOULD ATTRACT A POTENTIAL AUDIENCE. BUT THE HONEST CRUX OF THE MATTER IS THAT IT WAS NOT ALWAYS SMOOTH SAILING, RESULTING IN MANY HARD-EARNED LESSONS. SO MANY TIMES I WAS PUSHED TO THE BRINK OF TEARS, DOWN TRODDEN AND CHALLENGED IN A WAY THAT WAS ONLY DESIGNED TO BREAK ME DOWN AND BUILD ME BACK UP AGAIN. AS ACTORS, THIS IS A PROCESS WE KNOW ONLY TOO WELL. WITH EACH EXASPERATED BREATH AND PAIR OF HANDS THAT COVER TIRED EYES, THAT PULLED AT UNKEMPT HAIR AND AT LOOSE STRANDS IN OUR COSTUMES, WE ROSE AND FELL AS A CAST TOGETHER. LEARNING AND GRAPPLING AT THE CONTENT OF THE PLAY, WE DESPERATELY TRIED TO FILL THE BIG SHOES WE HAD MADE FOR OURSELVES IN OUR PURSUIT OF PERFECTION.Â
AS INTENSE AND DRAMATIC AS THAT CONTENT WAS, WE WERE FORCED TO MATURE AND DEAL WITH CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT MATTER WHICH PROMPTED US TO THINK ABOUT HOW THE THEMES APPLIED TO TODAY'S SOCIETY. WE WERE ENGAGED; SO ENGAGED THAT IT CONSUMED US. IT TESTED OUR ABILITY TO INTERNALIZE ANOTHER'S EMOTIONS AND PORTRAY THEM AS OUR OWN. THESE WERE TO BE REAL AND GENUINE AND NOT ONLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF OURSELVES BUT ALSO FOR THE REAL PEOPLE UPON WHOM ARTHUR MILLER'S CHARACTERS ARE BASED.. THERE WERE NIGHTS WHERE I WATCHED MY FELLOW ACTORS CRUMBLE THE SECOND THEIR FEET LEFT THE STAGE AND THE LIGHTS COULD NO LONGER BURN THE EXHAUSTED EXPRESSION PERMANENTLY INTO THEIR FACES. BUT THERE WERE ALSO NIGHTS WHERE WE HUDDLED TOGETHER AND DANCED IN CELEBRATION AND HOPED THAT THE HEAT OF OUR BODIES WOULD BURN JOY PERMANENTLY INTO OUR SKIN. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WERE ALSO MOMENTS WHEN WE REALISED THAT THE ONLY REASON WE HAD SHOWN UP TO REHEARSALS WAS TO RECEIVE OUR 8PM MCDONALD’S DINNER OR TO PLAY HIDE-AND-SEEK IN OUR HALF - HOUR BREAKS, WHILST OTHERS FURIOUSLY PAGED THROUGH THEIR SCRIPTS, DESPERATELY INJECTING THE NEXT SCENE'S LINES INTO THEIR HEADS BEFORE THE 'CURTAIN' ROSE AGAIN. SUFFERING QUIETLY, OUR SIGHS FORMED CLOUDS WHICH DEPICTED THE PERSONAL SACRIFICES WE HAD MADE FOR THE GOOD OF THE PLAY: A SPORTS MATCH, A DISTINCTION ON A MATHS TEST, A FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY PARTY. IT WAS THESE MOMENTS, HOWEVER, THAT REMINDED ME WHY I WAS DOING IT. IT WASN'T JUST FOR THE LOVE OF THEATRE ,BUT ALSO FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT COME WITH IT.
THE CLOSER WE GOT TO SHOWTIME, THE CLOSER WE BECAME AS A CAST. EACH ONE HELD THE OTHER UP:PATTING ONE ANOTHER ON THE BACK AS WE PASSED. EACH SMILE WAS ENCOURAGING AND COLLECTIVELY THE POSITIVE ENERGY PREVAILED THROUGHOUT THE PRODUCTION PROCESS, RESULTING IN DEEPLY ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS AND SUPPORT FROM OUR SECOND FAMILY. IT IS THESE EXPERIENCES AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT PROCEED MUCH FARTHER THAN THE FOUR NIGHTS WE WERE ON STAGE IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE. FARTHER THAN THE STRESSFUL NIGHTS THAT WERE EASED BY LAUGHTER OR THE TIGHTENING TENSION WHEN THE WRONG LINE WAS DROPPED BY AN ACTOR'S SORRY LIPS. IT IS THE GROWTH IMAGINED BY AN IMPRESSIONABLE YOUNG GENERATION THAT LEARNT THE CRUCIAL LESSON TO LEAN ON ONE ANOTHER TO ACHIEVE A SHARED GOAL. LESSONS WHICH CANNOT BE TAUGHT IN A CLASSROOM.
NAMHCIW ARAZ
lavivruS
Survival. It sounds harsh, doesn’t it? It feels foreign on the tongue: sharp and too cold. It’s a word you wouldn’t normal use to describe your daily life. It’s too primitive, too blunt for the polished lifestyle we lead today. Yet, it’s the instinct that kicks in right about this time of year. With the ever-present exam term looming over our heads, our bodies start to make the shift into survival mode. Our hearts beat faster, our senses sharpen up. We push ourselves to the extremes, attempting to stay afloat on a sea of tension that appears deeper, more bottomless with each day. Some might say that this survival mode helps them achieve peak performance, motivating them to work harder and do better. However, with the effect that it has on our bodies, is that extra motivation really worth it? The negative effects of stress on the human body far outweigh the positives. It is downright unhealthy for us to allow our bodies to reach that level of tension, and the effects can be felt all over. Aching bellies, throbbing migraines, overly-taut muscles and flat-out exhaustion are just a few of the most obvious effects of survival mode. We were not made of that kind of pressure, we are too delicate.
It’s important to consider the manner in which you deal with this kind of stress: the most significant factor being that you do deal with it instead of allowing it to saturate your life entirely. Physical exercise helps loosen up and relax the body, and meditation and mindfulness calm the mind and soul. While survival mode may appear to give you that extra push you need to get through the hard times, always remember that you are not always threatened, that you can actually allow yourself to relax and leave that state behind you. Rest is necessary to reach the optimum performance your body can achieve. This means physically and psychologically. So whether your body is sore or your mind is rushing too fast, remember that you need to take the time to calm yourself down. You should be your own first priority, and your health comes before your achievements. HEALTH before Honour Before Honours. You will survive, as long as you take care of yourself.
Stacey Goliath
Another Day I know it’s been a while since this issue was on the top of your feed on Facebook or a while since people have been using #PrayForSyria . It’s not a surprise really. The media is structured in such a way that things come and go. If something is an issue that is continuous it slowly slips away from the front pages as it is considered “old news” or if something doesn’t seem to be getting better and the same old thing keeps on happening, it is rare that journalists will keep on reporting it because that is simply not how the world works. This, however, does not mean that, because something is no longer on your newsfeed or on the Explore page on Instagram, that it has stopped. “Out of sight, out of mind” may apply to us here, but it certainly does not to the people of Syria. Just a week before this article was written, 1500 people fled Damascus. A bus carrying civilians was bombed in Aleppo. A constant back-and-forth has been taking place between the Islamic State and the Syrian army in order to reach some kind of peace agreement. But that doesn’t make up for the hundreds of thousands who have been displaced; those who have made the treacherous trek across the uncertain ocean or those who tragically lost their lives in the chaos and violence. It does not make up for the fear in the eyes of a child because of a trauma so deep her life will never be the same again.
We live our lives so caught up in the things that are important to us that we often forget to spare a thought for the people who are suffering unimaginable hardships. I am certainly guilty of this. It is easy to get caught up in the looming essay due date or the Maths NBT. It is harder, however, to sit and think about the Syrian children and the fear that must course through their veins at the uncertainty of not only their lives,but their futures as well. I wish I could personally go and save every single Syrian child and person and allow them to stay in my house. I wish I could give all my clothes and food to all the children seeking refuge in countries that are not their own and caught in a web of languages they don’t understand. I wish I could strip the blankets off my bed and give it to the mother holding her screaming, tired and scared baby in her arms while she tries to make do with the little she has while trying not to think where the food will come from for tomorrow. I wish, most of all, that I could give the Syrian people the safety and security they need more than anything. With every passing day our world becomes scarier, bigger and faster. So I am making it my responsibility to stop and spare a thought for not only the people of Syria, but for everyone anywhere who is experiencing a kind of hardship I will never understand. We are more indebted to our fellow human beings than we realize and it’s time to start taking our responsibility towards each other seriously.
Books better than Netflix??
CARIS GERTZEN
Do you really need to boost your marks? With something just as enjoyable as Netflix on your luxuriously comfy bed? Well, working at school subjects has never been easier! With this helpful list of popular books, you will be able to immerse yourself in a world of thrills, romance and whatever you can imagine! Believe me. It’ll be better than Netflix any day. For those who enjoy the deep philosophy of the times, “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins will keep your mind wondering at the new angle it portrays of our society. It will also make you think how you would respond by having 11 other teens chase you with weapons. Always something important to think about. Many enjoy our fantasy sector of writing which will ensure the enjoyment of the book series “Dorothy must die” by Danielle Paige. This book leaves you in suspense for the following stories: you will realise that chewing your fingernails might just be a habit of yours when you get into a stressful situations. This book gives you a chance to practise self control. For our more science - fiction lovers, such as those who enjoy movies like “The Lord of the Rings” or the unforgettable “Marvel” movies; the “Percy Jackson” Series by Rick Riordan will grip you until the last page; make you (literally) laugh out loud, and understand that books are way more entertaining then sleep.
A lighter read for those who have had their brains stretched by long days of school work., “Geek Girl” by Holly Smale is recommended. This book will make the reader laugh in spite of the awkwardly cringing situations in which the main character finds herself. These are just a few excellent books belonging to our very own library at Wynberg. If these books are not to your specific taste, a convenient list of superb books is displayed on the door inside the library. Any librarian will be more than willing to oblige by offering assistance. No-one will be able to resist the hilarious, heart - wrenching or thoughtprovoking worlds created by our own minds and only a few simple words on a page.
IT'S ALL GONE
ERIN BARHAM
Six months ago, belting out the chorus to the Lion King’s, the Circle of Life, while the acoustics of the shower made that off- key note sound halfway decent, was a cherished activity. But, with the water crisis growing worse every day, and recommended shower lengths decreasing every day, the rehearsal schedule of our amature singers has had to take a backseat. As students in South Africa, currently, the water crisis has affected our lives in ways that continue to shock and surprise us. We’ve had to become adaptable and creative to keep our water consumption low. Here are some of the changes we’ve had to face at home and at school. Due to the lack of planning from our government, and the fact that rain is currently avoiding the Western Cape like an ex at a party, these are the changes.. 1. Before the crisis, time in the shower was lengthy, but it was put to good use. Ideas that would never have occurred to you otherwise, suddenly popped up as you were washing your hair. Practising orals while looking at your reflection in the shower door; singing the few words you remember from the song that played on the radio that morning ( and sounding fabulous), where all normal shower activities. Now, you’re lucky if you get through one song before your allotted time is up. 2. We all have that one friend who is a bit of an eco -monster. They urge you to recycle at home, and some days, break is filled with a lecture on the negative impact palm oil plantations have on the rainforests, accompanied by suspicious looks at the packet of Lays you bought from the tuckshop.
Somehow, as the water levels lowered, so did your friend’s sanity. They take super short showers, only flush the toilet with grey water and find ways to re-use every drop. 3. Nowadays, you can’t help but hear the water running at home when someone else is showering. And, yes, when you don’t hear the sound of water stopping periodically, you get judgemental, and a little angry. Don’t they know that it’s only 100 liters per person per day? Like “hello”? I’m trying to do my part by getting in, wetting my body, switching off the tap, washing, then opening the tap to rinse, and here you come taking a five minute shower with no water breaks in between? Angry? You should be. 4. Hearing people flush the toilets at school after they only did a number one? The posters around school asking if you want to be a part of the lowering dam levels? Mr. Burrell throwing down some good pointers to save water in assembly? Your teacher then reminding you to follow those tips?
We’ve all had to become semi -creepy water- watchers, because, let’s face it, not everyone is really making an effort to conserve water. None of us would like to face what happens if one day, when we open the tap,only a few drops plop out. So the next time you see someone being really “excessive” in their water usage, how about gently laying some knowledge on them?