The Blue & Gold: Volume XXVIII, Issue 2

Taipei American School | 800 Zhongshan N. Rd., Section 6, Taipei, Taiwan | blueandgoldonline.org | VOLUME XXVIII, ISS. 02 | May 23, 2022

NEWS

FEATURES

OPINIONS

COVID-19’s impact on Lunar New year plans

How seniors deal with senioritis

Ukraine-Taiwan political analysis

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THE BLUE & GOLD SEMESTER TWO HIGHLIGHTS

REDEFINING NORMAL:

ENTERING A POST-COVID WORLD

ILLUSTRATION BY: ARIEL LEE

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the blue & gold may 23, 2022

How has COVID-19 impacted us?

By Lana Lee

More than two years have passed since the start of the pandemic, yet we are still grappling to cope with and adjust to the “new normal.” In response to the recent marked rise of anxiety, The Blue & Gold surveyed a total of 363 students, recent alumni, teachers, faculty and staff to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on our community’s mental wellbeing. Visit blueandgoldonline.org to view the full article.

are more stressed than pre-pandemic times

61%

Inability to

51%

Biggest challenges Inability to travel Restricted social interactions Disruption of immediate future plans Increased health risks Online instruction

are more pessimistic about the next 5 years

94% 39% of people changed their next 5-year plans

have less motivation towards previously enjoyed activities

Instruction setting preference Students & Alumni Teachers, Faculty & Staff

50%

Online

have someone close who has been infected

In-person

No pref.

2 of every 5 families were physically separated The data is accurate as of March 31.

COVID-19’s impact on TAS community’s Lunar New Year plans

By Ashley Tseung

Lunar New Year is a commonly celebrated holiday across Asia and within the Taipei American School (TAS) community. Many celebrate the Lunar New Year with their own traditions, such as gathering for feasts with families on Lunar New Year Eve. However, due to the increasing COVID-19 cases in Taipei and with the omicron variant spreading, these plans may have changed.

TAS community members are being more cautious with social gatherings. Chloe

Lau (‘24) plans on attending her annual family dinner gathering, although some relatives will not attend.

Unfortunately, with quarantine restrictions, many families will be missing relatives this Lunar New Year for the second year in a row.

“COVID-19 sucks. I wish I could make a teleportation device to see my family and see how they have grown this Chinese New Year,” Chloe said.

Others with smaller gatherings during the holidays are happy to remain in Taiwan

with relatives who are on the island. Ms. Ann Ho, an upper school math teacher, usually travels during the break. However, she has not been able to do this for two years.

“Before COVID-19, I would travel outside Taiwan, but because [of COVID-19’s spread], I haven’t left Taiwan. I’m okay with that since I still get to see my relatives and have a nice dinner with them,” Ms. Ho said.

Few members of the TAS community are fortunate enough to celebrate the new year with their entire family. Audrey Leu (‘25) feels lucky that she still has a big family

in Taiwan accompanying her during this holiday.

“It’s nice knowing that I can still spend time with my family on one of the most important dates of the year,” Audrey said. “I can’t imagine not seeing them especially for Chinese New Year. It feels like the one day everyone needs to see each other.”

Lunar New Year is a special holiday for many TAS students. During times like these, we learn to cherish time together, especially knowing that COVID-19 could separate us at any unexpected point.

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the blue & gold may 23, 2022

Exploring how seniors deal with senioritis

By Aaron Soong

Feeling constantly tired and wanting to fall asleep in class? Feeling a lack of motivation to do homework? Flunking tests left and right?

Well, you might just have a case of senioritis.

Senioritis is an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences and lower grades. Although not a seriously dreadful issue, it is still quite damaging for seniors’ final semester performance. Three seniors, Miles Haynes (‘22), Vincent Chu (‘22) and Alex Tuan (‘22), discussed their own experiences with senioritis.

Miles believes that lack of motivation is central to senioritis. Most seniors have completed their college applications and received acceptance letters, providing less incentives to be motivated. To combat this mindset, Miles suggests that students should find hobbies that motivate them, such as

extracurricular activities or clubs. “If you don’t find something that motivates you, you end up finding things boring and not finding the point in doing anything anymore,” Miles said.

Alex first noticed the detrimental effects of senioritis when his grades began dropping due to a lack of focus in school. He often felt pressured to complete his assignments to the utmost perfection which caused a great mental strain for him. However, Alex also recalls, “Many of my teachers tell me to stay strong.”

This advice helped support him through his final semester.

Vincent recalls his past mentor, a camp counselor from a leadership camp in Colorado, and admires his experience and attitude toward senioritis. “I won’t say I love studying, but because of this man, I give my best to what I dedicate to,” Vincent said. Vincent especially admired his ability to recognize his own faults

and worked to overcome them. He encourages other seniors to follow his example of dedication when trying to overcome senioritis, enduring hardship to triumph over a flaw.

While students may suffer from varying degrees of senioritis, these three seniors’ experiences indicate that setting personal goals to maintain motivation is central to combating senioritis. Seniors, keep your determination to overcome obstacles and defeat your flaws.

Otherwise, the lack of motivation and determination could cost a senior student a good final semester grade. It is always good to turn to a teacher for support. There is no shame in admitting to having senioritis; after all, senioritis is a common phenomenon among many senior students. No matter what the case may be, do not let yourself get bogged down by this affliction—struggle to overcome this weakness, and you shall succeed.

Senioritis typically manifests itself in the spring of senior year as seniors lose motivation. [AARON SOONG/THE BLUE & GOLD]

The Archivists build a lively community in the library

By Sharon Lee & Victoria Hsu

The Archivists is a new student group created by Ms. Cassy Lee, one of the new upper school librarians at Taipei American School (TAS) this school year. Inspired by the library advisory committee from her previous school, Ms. Lee gathered a group of students who were all passionate about reading so they could give input on improvements for the library.

The aim is to make the library as inviting and welcoming for students as possible.

“For me, it’s very important to give students [a voice] and choice in the library and to make it their space, so making this student group was one of my first priorities when coming here,” Ms. Lee said.

According to Alexia VanPelt (‘22) and Jonathan Chen (‘23), the student leaders of The Archivists, members of the student group are in charge of a process called “weeding books.” “Since there is a downstairs library... we take books that haven’t been checked out or are outdated and we replace them with books that

students are interested in, so that students can have more of a selection to read from,” Alexia said.

Besides organizing books, The Archivists give suggestions on what resources and books the library should purchase. They also organize activities in the library to celebrate different festivals and holidays. Additionally, The Archivists hosted the author’s visit with Abigail Hing Wen. “We’re trying to build a community of people who love books or just enjoy the atmosphere in the library,” Jonathan said. “We are also trying to reestablish the culture of reading at TAS.” The Human Library, which started on Apr. 14, invited faculty from around TAS to share their unique stories about identity or hardships growing up. “It gives a chance for participants to experience the vast diversity of the Human Library we are all a part of and build empathy and understanding as they ‘read’ another’s story,” Ms. Lee said.

Some of the participants’ stories included “Taiwanese Born American” by Mr. Weston Cooper, middle school history teacher, “One of infinite pans” by Ms. Kendra Ing, upper school dance and performing arts teacher, “Refugee”

by Ms. Katarina Safradin, lower school teacher and “What’s in a Name” by Mr. Value Huang, the mail room clerk. The majority of the stories were centered on finding one’s own identity and coming to terms with change.

The team also worked on a reading initiative called the Valentine’s Book Match, which went on from Feb. 14 to 18. Participants submitted a Google Form with their book preferences and were matched with book recommendations.

The Archivists team encourages all interested students to join them. “Everyone is always welcome, and we would definitely love more people to show up and give input,” Ms. Lee said. “It’s not only a planning and advisory group, but a community, so we definitely want to have a place where people feel welcome and like they belong.”

The Archivists hosted a calligraphy session in the library to celebrate Lunar New Year. [SHARON LEE/THE BLUE & GOLD]

At a Glance: Spirit Week

[THE BLUE & GOLD]

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the blue & gold may 23, 2022

Season 2 Athletics Recap

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, students were still able to finish their season. [PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT]

By James Hau Athletes faced various challenges as season 2 neared its end. After students received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at Taipei American School (TAS) on Oct. 1, the second dose of vaccines was administered on Jan. 14. A month before the second dose of vaccines were administered, season 2 athletes were notified that those who received their second doses at TAS would have to end the season early as a response to government protocol regarding the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.

On Jan. 19, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that sports teams could no longer host interscholastic competitions.

According to Ms. Kim Kawamoto (she/ her), the athletics director at TAS, the boys

tennis team was severely impacted by the vaccine policy. Only three players were eligible to play on the varsity and JV boys tennis teams.

Ms. Kawamoto, who is also the head coach of the varsity girls basketball team, said that the girls team was not severely affected.

“Many of our girls were able to receive their vaccines during the summer when they went home or received their vaccines during winter break, which allowed them to rest for two weeks before returning to competition as the government suggested,” Ms. Kawamoto said.

The MOE policy that canceled all interscholastic competition was more disruptive. Boys Tennis Co-Captain Luke Lee (‘22, he/him) did not hide his disappointment when he saw the email giving the team the

most updated politcy.

“In addition to not having [Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools (IASAS)] and having our season cut short, it was also sad that we couldn’t go through with a tournament that we originally planned on going to as our replacement of IASAS this season down in southern Taiwan,” Luke said.

The JV boys basketball team was unable to complete their season. Initially, the team had planned two consecutive weeks with two games each, one on Thursday and one on Saturday.

The team played one week of two games after winter break, but those ended up being their final games due to the new policy, according to Mr. Mike Corsini.

Nevertheless, not all teams had their

seasons affected by the new MOE restriction.

Many of the changes made to the Varsity Girls Touch Rugby team’s practice regiments and plans this season came before the updates and were made as a result of the pandemic.

“Since we didn’t have competition, we combined the JV and varsity teams. We also focused a lot more on personal technique and skill development instead of team tactics,” co head-coach Mr. Anthony Joe (he/him) said. “We typically don’t get much outside competition anyway, so we weren’t affected that much,” Mr. Joe said.

Although the season was cut short for many season 2 teams, the hard work that the athletes and coaches put in made this season a memorable experience.

Season 3 Athletics Recap

As COVID-19 restrictions began to loosen, students participated in a variety of competitions. [PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT]

By Ariel Lee, Daphne Wang & Ashley Tseung and I felt like even though we did not have Boys Track & Field: Max Lin (‘23, he/him) How do you think this season went?

Without Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools (IASAS), we might think we were all running in circles without getting anywhere, but we managed to overcome a lot of the hurdles presented by COVID-19 and got further than I anticipated.

Girls Track & Field: Jia Anderson Salo (‘22, she/her)

How was this season different from seasons in the past?

Our team felt a lot smaller than in past years, which is sad. But I think this allowed everyone across all events to become close.

The overall support from everyone was huge.

Girls Softball: Angelina Chen (‘22, she/her)

Overall, what are your thoughts and feelings for this season?

I am very proud of the unique bond that the softball team created with each other

a big competition like IASAS that we could participate in this year, the team was always ready to bring their best performance and leave no regrets on the field.

What was the most memorable moment this season?

The most memorable moment of this season is definitely the Tainan hotel trip that we had during our short season. Our first bus bonding and “bath robe cult.”

Boys Baseball: Easton Liaw (‘22, he/him)

What do you think was accomplished for your team despite the COVID-19 situation in Taiwan?

The COVID-19 situation was very disappointing as we have grown so much since we’ve played in an IASAS tournament. We’ve managed to compete in local tournaments with teams perhaps even better than other

IASAS schools and we brought home a third place trophy from an important tournament this year.

Boys Golf: Jack Teng (‘23, he/him)

Miaoli, eating Emily’s homemade cookies, watching Miria dance on the course and being completely honest here, golfing in the pouring rain.

Girls Golf: Lola Wang (‘22, she/her)

What do you think was able to be accomplished for your team despite the Covid-19 situation in Taiwan?

When Covid-19 was less severe, the team had bondings after games, which brought boys badminton further together as a team. Everybody shared their passion for badminton with their hard work and attitude every practice and game.

Overall, what are your thoughts and feelings for this season?

I feel very proud that we brought home double gold. As a captain, watching the team grow feels phenomenal, especially on the last day where so many people went all out and broke personal records. Being able to win individual bronze [will always] be a special moment in my life.

What was the most memorable moment this season?

There are so many memorable moments I had with my team but here are some I will always fondly look back on: ordering tofu from T.H.E (golf club we played on for IASAS tournament), playing mahjong in

Boys Badminton: Guan Chen (‘23, he/him)

Girls Badminton: Chi Chi Wang (‘22, she/her)

What are your thoughts and feelings for this season?

Even though this was a short season, we were still able to improve a lot as individual players and as a team. We also bonded very well.

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the blue & gold may 23, 2022

Let’s revisit our press freedom rights at The Blue & Gold

By Audrey Hwang In 1988, the Supreme Court of the United States granted public schools the right to censor school news and student safety in the case Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier. For public schools in the U.S., this was a pivotal moment, shifting from almost complete student press freedom to a much more limited exercise of First Amendment rights.

However, the extent to which student-journalists may exercise their press freedom varies among private and public schools in the U.S. as well as at Taipei American School (TAS), a nonprofit, American, international and private school in Taipei, Taiwan.

The Blue & Gold does not have any First Amendment rights for the reason that in Taiwan, we do not have the United States Constitution. Thus, without the U.S. Constitution, we have no amendments allowing us additional freedoms.

As student journalists at an American school, we are taught about such freedoms without full possession of them.

It is true that the Republic of China (ROC) does have a general provision for freedom of speech in its own constitution (Chapter II, Article 11), but it does not have the same historical precedence as the American constitution has and there are other laws that temper its enforcement in Taiwan.

Additionally, the press regulation and libel laws in Taiwan are curated to protect the subject of the story, not the journalist. In contrast, in the U.S., if a journalist could prove that the story was true, then they would not be found guilty. Hence, reporting in Taiwan requires an added layer of sensitivity, which often prompts self-censorship as journalists decide not to pursue stories that, though true, may damage their own reputation, finances and even safety.

Some Blue & Gold stories deemed potentially controversial go through the school administration before publication.

This is true in U.S. private schools as well and is not uncommon. In this process, there are times when the administration advises the writer or editorial board to prevent certain parts of the article from being published. Reasons include the administration striving to protect student privacy or to avoid promoting legal disobedience.

Given this, The Blue & Gold (and most American private schools) faces complex layers of restrictions, regulating our news flow and oftentimes constraining our content. We must uphold the sensitivity standards set by our administration and the newspaper’s bylaws.

As journalists at an American school, we are taught to report with American values of press freedom, but it is hard to uphold that American education in a legal context that does not align with U.S. First Amendment rights. We recognize this legal barrier by practicing careful reporting, and we hope that you all, as readers, can dissect, analyze and consume our journalism with that awareness.

Russia-Ukraine, Russia-Ukraine, China-Taiwan: China-Taiwan: Separate Separate entities entities with with shared shared concerns concerns

By Amber Wu & Audrey Hwang Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, questions concerning China’s potential invasion of Taiwan have been brought up by domestic and international media. Despite both countries being constantly threatened with a potential invasion, Taiwan’s situation largely differs from that of Ukraine’s.

History

Russia and Ukraine relations trace back to 1783, when Ukraine was annexed

by Imperial Russia. Throughout the 19th century, Russia strengthened control over the region by attempting to assimilate Ukrainians into Russian culture. However, with growing nationalist sentiment, in 1917, the Ukrainian Central Rada (council) issued the “Universal of Ukrainian People,” declaring Ukraine’s autonomy.

Fast forward to the 20th century.

Ukraine is now industrialized and still independent. In 2004, a surge in political protests known as the Orange Revolution pervaded Ukraine. Protestors claimed that the presidential election of Viktor Yanukovych, who was supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was a fraud, hence escalating tensions between the two countries.

As for Taiwan, in 1895, Japan won the First Sino-Japanese War, and the Qing government had to cede Taiwan to Japan after ruling Taiwan for centuries. After World War II, Japan surrendered, and China began ruling Taiwan again. In the next few years, a civil war broke out in China, where then-leader Chiang Kai-shek’s troops were beaten back by Mao Zedong’s Communist armies. With Chiang Kai-shek, the Kuomintang (KMT) fled to Taiwan.

Since the 1980s, China and Taiwan have operated under a “one country, two systems” formula. The same order was also established in Hong Kong, where in the past years, protesters have demonstrated against China’s increasing influence. Taiwan watches this closely.

Taiwan’s domestic politics largely construct public opinion regarding the “One China” policy, which refers to the recognition of Taiwan as a part of China.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) steers towards relative independence, while the KMT party gravitates toward relatively peaceful relations with China.

International Recognition

Ukraine has been recognized as an independent nation since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, when it officially gained independence. Since then, the country has

taken part in the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other intergovernmental organizations globally.

Taiwan, on the other hand, is not recognized as a nation by most countries in the world, with only 15 countries officially recognizing Taiwan as an independent country. Despite the recent efforts by the DPP in creating unofficial alliances with countries like the US, Japan, Lithuania and more, Taiwan is barred from entering various intergovernmental organizations, such as the UN and WHO.

Trade relations

Taiwan’s international trade is largely dependent on the U.S.-China trade war, forcing Taiwan to diversify its trade policy, shifting away from reliance on China. In September 2016, President Tsai Ing-wen created the New Southbound Policy, allowing Taiwan’s exports and investments to Southeast Asia to rise significantly.

Taiwan’s tumultuous relations with China, followed by the U.S.-China trade war, make its strategic industries central to its economic development.

The semiconductor industry has allowed Taiwan to strengthen its ties to the U.S. through outbound investment, with Taiwanese foundries accounting for 63% of the global market. With its globally widespread semiconductor industry, Taiwan’s shift from heavy reliance on the Chinese market shows its growing economic independence and diplomatic detachment (or expansion).

Unlike Taiwan, natural resources and the defense industry have been central to Ukraine’s economy. China has demonstrated its economic interest in Ukraine’s barley and iron ore supplies, replacing Russia as Ukraine’s largest trading partner by 2019.

Ukraine’s arms supply is also central to Chinese economic interest; its arms supply is second to Russia.

U.S. Strategic Ambiguity

The U.S.’s diplomatic stance on Taiwan is essentially based on its ties to China.

Although the U.S. has declared “strategic ambiguity” with regard to Taiwan’s independence, the U.S. claims that it will be militarily involved if China attacks. In the case of Ukraine, the U.S. has decided not to intervene militarily. This may prompt Taiwan to reconsider and strengthen its self-reliance.

Geography

As the second largest European nation, Ukraine borders Russia on its east and

through its southern region, Crimea, which has been annexed by Russia since 2014. Since then, the Russians have the ability to enter Ukraine by land through two directions, one from the east and one from the south (Crimea). Russia controls most of the Black Sea as well, without any interference from international navies, allowing it to gain access to most of Ukraine’s trade economy in the Black Sea. By cutting off one of Ukraine’s biggest economical ventures, Russia can devastate the Ukrainian economy and weaken the country, allowing an invasion to take place.

Furthermore, as Ukraine was part of Russia until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has familiarized itself in understanding the geographic situation in Ukraine, allowing Russia to utilize its knowledge of the terrain to create well constructed and strategic plans to invade the country.

Taiwan stands alone as an island, separated from China through the Taiwan Strait. Since Taiwan does not border China, a particularly strong naval power from China would be necessary for China to cross the Taiwan Strait and get to OR and reach the island. Despite having the most warships in the world, many of China’s warships are of smaller classes and therefore not commonly used in major combat operations. Not only would China need to invest in building and preparing a powerful and durable navy, it would also need to face the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet, which is stationed in the Taiwan Strait. Crossing the Taiwan Strait and invading Taiwan would cause China to interfere with the U.S. Navy, which would escalate to a greater conflict.

International support has proven to emerge as a central factor in supporting Taiwan’s fate.

With rising conversation and hysteria among the Taiwanese people regarding a potential invasion from China, Russia’s attack on Ukraine hits closer to home. As tensions in the Strait continue to rise, it is no surprise that Taiwan’s self-awareness prompts it to draw parallels with Ukraine.

However, as Taiwan closely watches the situation in Ukraine unfold, international support has proven to emerge as a central factor in supporting Taiwan’s fate.

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the blue & gold may 23, 2022

You failed? At least you are featured in a museum

The sticky note wall allows visitors to write their “failures” and add it to the collage. [ANNIE HUANG/THE BLUE & GOLD]

By Abby Chang, Annie Huang & Victoria Hsu The Museum of Failure displays failed products and services from all over the world, including unsuccessful innovations from popular companies. It provides visitors with an interesting perspective on the different roles of failure and encourages everyone to learn from and embrace failures.

The museum was displayed in Taipei from Dec. 25, 2021 to March 13, 2022. It was located at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Xinyi District.

As you enter the museum, you see many different failed projects set up in organized rows. Each product has a card next to it, explaining the goal of the product and why it failed. There is also a “fail-o-meter,” which rates the extent to which a specific product failed from a range of one to 10. Not only that, the museum also features older failed products through TVs displaying commercials.

The failed Oreo flavors wall was especially captivating. Some of the

unfortunate flavors include “watermelon oreos” and “firework oreos.”

The museum also includes a “Trump section,” where they featured failed Trump products, such as the Trump University, Trump steak and Trump vodka.

The interactive portion of the exhibit features a “sticky note wall,” where visitors can write takeaways or share their own failures. The interactive portion of this museum acts as a tribute to failed ideas and gives inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Beyond showcasing interesting and

never-before-seen items, this museum influences its visitors by encouraging them to think about failure and what it means.

There were quotes posted throughout the museum such as “you haven’t failed, you just haven’t succeeded yet.” The goal of this exibit in showing these failed products is to show that all innovation has gone through a process of failure, reminding us that failure is inevitable and essential to growth.

Although this museum is now closed, it was a very popular attraction for all ages.

“The Matrix Resurrections” leaves many fans disappointed

By Laura Hsu

[PHOTO COURTESY OF VILLAGE ROADSHOW PICTURES]

After waiting 18 years since the third Matrix film, fans have returned to the theaters with high anticipation for the fourth film, “The Matrix Resurrections,” which was released on Dec. 22. Like the prior movies, this movie was also directed by Lana Wachowski.

Despite the film starring famous returning actors, such as Keanu Reeves, who plays a computer hacker Neo, and rebel Trinity, played by CarrieAnne Moss, the film presents itself as a non-innovative science fiction action thriller that leaves fans disappointed.

“The Matrix Resurrections” continues the Matrix trilogy by introducing the main character, Neo, who was once the star protagonist of the previous movies but is now a game programmer as well as a depressed middle aged man living as Thomas Anderson.

Bugs, played by Jessica Henwick, is a rebellious gunslinger who was previously a window cleaner. After she witnessed Neo jump off a roof, she believed that the key to freedom from controlled reality would be to save Neo from the imaginary world. Many praised Henwick’s acting in the new movie as the

most memorable ones, especially during action fighting scenes.

The movie itself left the impression of a mundane scientific thriller, and after watching the previous Matrix films, Director Wachowski did not succeed in continuing her very own Matrix trilogy. Overall, I would not recommend watching this movie, as the story plotline was predictable and the acting by the main leads of the movie was subpar.

While the previous three films had been innovative and creative of its time, the fourth film seems to be focused on initiating a newer upcoming series.

“Turning Red”: an authentic coming-of-age film

By Sharon Lee

[PHOTO COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY PICTURES]

“Turning Red” focuses on 13-year-old Chinese Canadian girl, Meilin Lee, who turns into a giant red panda whenever she feels too excited. This film celebrates teenage girlhood and embraces the chaos of adolescence.

Directed by Domee Shi, and starring Rosalie Chiang, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Sandra Oh, and more, this movie is the first Pixar film solely directed by a woman and with a predominantly Asian cast.

Set in Toronto, Canada, the movie features diverse Toronto landmarks and a detailed portrayal of the ChineseCanadian community through impressive

animations.

With many humorous and heartwarming scenes, the film is appealing to both children and adults containing many important lessons. I enjoyed how the movie portrays adolescence in an authentic and relatable way, not shying away from anything. Intense emotions, feelings of insecurity, fear of standing out and pressures from both family and peers are some of the topics covered in this film.

The movie encourages teenagers to learn to express themselves and to break away from societal standards. It depicts the complexity of intergenerational relationships in a lighthearted but realistic

way, and can help parents approach their children with more compassion and understanding.

However, I was a bit disappointed by the movie’s portrayal of Chinese culture, as it overemphasizes many stereotypes such as the “tiger-mom” and the passive father, the superstitious grandparents, and the Chinese temples. Although these elements set the cultural atmosphere, they come across as over-the-top in certain instances.

Despite the stereotypes on Chinese culture, “Turning Red” has wonderful animations that mix Western and Eastern art styles, and is overall a charming film for families to watch all together.

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the blue & gold may 23, 2022

B&G SENIORS REFLECT

The Class of 2022’s anticipated high school experience was disrupted by COVID-19 at the end of sophomore year. The tumultuous transition to living with the pandemic led to unexpected journeys of self-discovery, as students redefined what high school meant for each of them. Here, our B&G seniors reflected on their own high school experiences.

Don’t choose “normal”

By Lana Lee Merriam Webster defines “normal” as “conforming to a standard.” We naturally tend to conform because it provides us with a sense of comfort and stability.

However, when the pandemic started, the norm was absent for the first time.

As a result of unending cancelation of programs and even a lockdown, I lost what used to seem like a concrete future plan. The level of agitation I had never experienced before led me to realize just

how much my expectations and goals had relied on others.

With the easier option of blindly following the long-polished path taken away, I was forced to pioneer a new one which I can proudly call my own. While startled at first and faced with numerous unexpected challenges, I am, in fact, glad that I was challenged to do so. With or without the pandemic, I will not go back to being “normal.” And I hope others won’t either.

Rediscovering passions

By Sharon Lee When I first entered high school, I felt pressured to abide by our community’s expectations of what it means to be a “successful” high school student. In my mind, I thought that there was a template of activities I have to join and classes I should take.

Therefore, although I encountered many new experiences, I did not truly understand when others said that high school is for discovering and following

your passions.

However, when COVID-19 hit, the system that I established for myself was destroyed, and the sense of normalcy that I had disappeared. Despite the challenges that came with adjusting to this new normal, the transition also forced me to reevaluate my goals and gave me a newfound clarity of my passions.

I learned to take more initiative and to break past the limitations that I unconsciously set for myself.

Build meaningful relationships

By Laura Hsu I had a less than typical high school experience. In December of 2019, the pandemic began, school shifted online, events like travel trips, prom and graduation were canceled and my highschool experience was taken from me.

While the constant cancelations of events and uncertainty that looms in the future was discouraging for both me and my peers, I tried my best to make the most out of high school. I found that the best

way in doing so was to build meaningful relationships. The key in building these relationships was to actively seek opportunities in doing so. Hence, I believe engaging in proactive communications with others is the first step towards establishing meaningful relationships. While the “new normal” of high school may be difficult to navigate, I learned that by actively seeking opportunities to build bonds with others, it has made my high school experience a lot more enjoyable.

Please define difference

By James Hau The first semester of my sophomore year is when my high school experience hit a golden cross. What was supposed to trend upwards suddenly hit an end, and then changed directions after a momentary hiatus. Unlike most others, I came into high school with relatively more knowledge about navigating life because I had three older siblings that graduated from TAS. Hence I came in knowing the dynamics of life in high school better.

With this being my final year, I am glad that to some extent, I dared to be different. Despite the fact that I was going into journalism class alone, I enjoyed the plentiful new experiences and connections from the class.

While it is not the same for everyone, I do believe that daring to be different will benefit everyone’s high school experience. I was glad that I dared to be different, which redefined my normality. Our differences make us better as a whole.

Pushing through isolation

By Aaron Soong The COVID-19 pandemic has plagued the world ever since the beginning of 2020.

Since then, sitting in front of my desk at home had became an on-and-off constant in my life. Whenever a lockdown is announced, I would often have mixed feelings about it.

On one side, I enjoyed having to not wake up as early in the morning as I need to regular school days, all the while enjoying home cook lunch. On the other hand, I felt a strange sense of being stuck taking zoom

classes, like I am submerged in a swamp as I stared at my laptop screen.

My advice is to push through these low times— go do some home exercise, take a nap, have a snack, and refuel yourself. Then give your best, tough yourself up and deal with the odd situation that is in the world today. And remember one important thing.

All of this strangeness is only temporary.

There will always be hope for the day when the world is no longer plagued by COVID-19.

800 ZHONGSHAN N. RD. TAIPEI 11152 TAIWAN EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LANA LEE (‘22, she/her) MANAGING EDITORS SHARON LEE (‘22, she/her) LAURA HSU (‘22, she/her) SOCIAL MEDIA & MULTIMEDIA AMBER WU (‘23, she/her) ARIEL LEE (‘23, she/her) COPY EDITOR AUDREY HWANG (‘23, she/her) SECTION EDITORS FEATURES EDITOR ABBY CHANG (‘24, she/her) VISUALS EDITOR VICTORIA HSU (‘24, she/her) STAFF WRITERS AARON SOONG (‘22, he/him) JAMES HAU (‘22, he/him) ANNIE HUANG (‘23, she/her) DAPHNE WANG (‘24, she/her) ASHLEY TSEUNG (‘25, she/her) ADVISER MS. JEI-JEI TAN (she/her) MISSION STATEMENT The Blue & Gold is a student-run publication dedicated to sharing stories from the Taipei American School community. Produced and distributed free of charge regularly during the academic year by staff writers at TAS, The Blue & Gold strives to showcase and interrogate the community it serves.

CORRECTIONS We take all measures possible to report accurately and seek to bring professional, thorough reporting to our readers. Please report any inaccuracies in The Blue & Gold content to our email, blueandgold@tas.tw.

OP-EDS AND EDITORIALS Editorials collectively represent the opinions of The Blue & Gold’s editorial board, while op-eds represent the opinions of each writer. Opinions in The Blue & Gold do not necessarily reflect the views of the TAS student body, staff, faculty or administration.

THE BLUE & GOLD ONLINE The Blue & Gold runs an online edition that publishes articles frequently when school is in operation. Find the website at blueandgoldonline.org.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We welcome letter submissions from all readers. Email your signed letter of under 500 words at blueandgold@tas.tw.

FIND US ONLINE Website: https://blueandgoldonline.org/ Instagram: @tasblueandgold Facebook: @tasblueandgold Spotify: The Blue and Gold Podcast YouTube: TAS The Blue & Gold

8

the blue & gold may 23, 2022

LETTER FROM THE SENIOR CLASS GOVERNMENT Dear Class of 2022, We did it! We’ve graduated high school!

And we are so proud of you all <3 A lot has changed in the past few years.

When the pandemic first hit, masks, social distancing, and regular temperature checks were introduced. Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine a pre-COVID world without them.

But as the world changed, we changed alongside it. We’ve discovered passions, overcome challenges, formed relationships, and created lasting memories. It’s hard to imagine us just four years ago, struggling to find our first-period classroom in the D (now H) block. Indeed, we have come a long way.

Now, as we all go our separate ways, it’s time to ask, what unites the Class of 2022?

There’s no denying the looming presence

the pandemic has had these past few years, but it does not define us. In the end, what unites our class is our resilience: how in the face of obstacles, we nonetheless found a way to laugh, to find joy, and to support each other. It is against this backdrop that we found our momentum, and now, it’s time we charge forward at full speed. We hope that as you all begin the next chapter of your life, you remember and reconnect with the classmates who have supported you throughout high school, and continue to create memories and preserve relationships with your fellow ‘22 alumni in the future.

This is not a goodbye, but a see-you-soon :) With love, Your class presidents, Enoch & Emma

CLASS OF 2022 COLLEGE LIST

This list is based on information provided to the Upper School College Counseling Office as of May 15. It is not representative of the entire Class of 2022.

Barnard College

Fordham University

Purdue University

University of California, Santa Barbara

Berklee College of Music

George Washington University

Queen’s University

University of Chicago

Boston University

Georgetown University

Reed College

University of East Anglia

Brigham Young University

Harvey Mudd College

Rhode Island School of Design

University of Illinois at Urbana-

California Polytechnic State University

International Christian University

Santa Clara University

Carleton University

James Madison University

Simon Fraser University

University of Manchester

Carnegie Mellon University

Johns Hopkins University

Sophia University

University of Maryland, College Park

Case Western Reserve University

KAIST - Korea Advanced Institute of

Southern New Hampshire University

University of Michigan

Stanford University

University of Notre Dame

Chapman University

Science & Technology

Champaign

City University of Hong Kong

Maastricht University

Stony Brook University (SUNY)

University of Oregon

Columbia University

New York University

Syracuse University

University of Pennsylvania

Cornell University

Northeastern University

Temple University Japan

University of Rochester

DePaul University

Northern Arizona University

Toronto Metropolitan University

University of Southern California

Denison University

Northwestern University

Tufts University

University of Texas, Austin

Duke University

Nova Scotia College of Art & Design

University of British Columbia

University of Toronto

Eastman School of Music

Occidental College

University of California, Berkeley

University of Washington

Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne

Pepperdine University

University of California, Davis

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Emory University

Pomona College

University of California, Irvine

Wellesley College

Fashion Institute of Technology

Princeton University

University of California, San Diego

Yale University