The Furen Press - The 1st Edition, June 2022

Copyright

FIS 2022

First Edition

June 2022

THE FUREN PRESS Write Above the Ordinary

STUDENT PROFILE

Suzie Gets In: Cambridge Opens its Doors to FIS Graduate

By Zhan Zeqi Furen International School (FIS) graduate, Myat Thuzar Kyaw (Suzie), who received a place at Cambridge University and Jardine Scholarship Award in January 2022, looked back on her high school life and shared her journey to becoming a student at one of the world’s most prestigious institutions.

She came from a modest financial background in Myanmar and without a scholarship, she would not be able to realise her dream of studying at Cambridge. While she described receiving the Jardine scholarship as a relief, her aspiration went beyond entering Cambridge University and was reflected in her interest in Education.

She recalled that

CAMBRIDGE-BOUND: Suzie gains admission to a top university. PHOTO | FIS

reading the works of several educational philosophers fueled her curiosity for the field of education and that she was especially inspired by the visionary educator, Theodore Brameld, who was known for his emphasis on social reform as the aim of education.

Acutely aware that the political situation in her country was not promising, Suzie chose Education Policy and International

Development as her track in order to be able to apply her knowledge to make a difference in Myanmar.

Regarding the paths after

university, Suzie expressed her desire to be actively involved in projects to help

GIVING BACK: Suzie hopes to give back to her community.

PHOTO | FIS

TO WANT IS TO BE ABLE TO: Suzie encourages students to take small steps when learning a new language.

PHOTO | FIS

communities.

"Volunteer at a sector that you’re interested in,” she said when asked what students should do to raise awareness and address social issues, “that kind of experience may help you become more connected to people from different walks of life and raise awareness.”

Suzie shared her learning experience in an interview with The Furen Press.

While she was preparing for the ‘A’ Level examinations, Suzie actively asked teachers for help and stated that she was fortunate to have met them, as they helped her gain more insight into her life goals and academic path, and gave her more confidence in herself.

Suzie also shared her study tips. She advised students to firstly identify their strengths and weaknesses and assess which areas need improvement, and then set a clear plan on what they would need, such as a timetable or to-do lists.

Like many FIS students, Suzie had to learn English as a second language.

GRATEFUL TO BE GUIDED: Suzie looks back on her academic journey.

PHOTO | FIS

Copyright

On being asked how one can achieve fluency, she suggested, “If you immerse yourself in an English environment and start to think in English, that would be very useful.”

She also emphasized that students should cultivate their skillset in English by catering to their interests.

For example, watching movies in English or articles are activities that she recommends students to use so as to make the learning process more enjoyable.

“You do not need to put pressure on yourself,” Suzie added, “And understand that you want to learn more about it not just for exams or university. Take every small step towards your goals.”

FIS 2022

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." ― Benjamin Franklin

FINANCIAL PAGES

Covid-19: Can the World Recover?

By Liu Yanchen Our reporter from G1219 asks a question that is on the minds of many

With the spread of coronavirus worldwide, it has had a significant impact on the world economy, causing significant volatility in global financial markets.

In general, the growth of global trade has slowed significantly over the past few years across the board, not only because of the accelerated spread of the epidemic globally and the increased risk of investment, but also because of restrictions on the movement of people and transportation, which have stalled production schedules and logistics transportation.

According to world bank statistics, the relationship between the number of confirmed cases per million and the country's GDP

LIVING WITH COVID-19: Is recovery for the global economy possible? PHOTO | Unsplash

is positively correlated. As of 25 May 2022, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States exceeds 83.6 million. Under these circumstances, the U.S. airline industry, tourism, manufacturing and other industries have been hit hard.

For instance, more than 750,000 airline personnel across the United States face layoff crisis, which directly led to the U.S. unemployment rate to rise.

"The only constant is change itself." ― Spencer Johnson

To better understand the impact of the epidemic on the lives of locals in the U.S., Helen, a 17-year-old high school student in Los Angeles whose family moved to the U.S. three years ago, sat down for an interview with The Furen Press. She had been taking online classes for two months at the beginning of the epidemic.

"The epidemic has caused inconvenience to our lives to a great extent," Helen stated. "It's so frustrating to walk into a supermarket and see the shelves are empty. I can hardly buy fresh fruit and vegetables, and the shelves are too slow to update. It lasted for about two or three weeks, many large malls were closed, most people flocked to one store, and small stores did not have enough clerks leading to crowding, so it led to less efficiency.”

Based on the above information, we can draw a conclusion that due to the global spread of the epidemic, companies that rely on global supply chains may be unable to obtain the parts they need for production. It not only has a big impact on major industries, but more specifically reflected in the restrictions and inconveniences of people in all aspects of food, job and transportation. The main support for the U.S. economy in 2019 comes from the export of goods, but with the weakening global economic situation, it is significantly more

difficult to continue to boost the U.S. economy by exporting goods. For the U.S., the top priority for the economic crisis is to contain the epidemic in the shortest possible time, while the rest of the policies are made to alleviate the economic crisis and mitigate the damage it causes.

NEW STRIDES: New forms of communication arrived.

PHOTO | Unsplash

A NEW NORMAL: Life as people knew it has changed dramatically due to Covid-19. PHOTO | Unsplash

The Federal Reserve System is the first line of defense against the economic downturn.

Currently, the Fed has cut the funds rate twice, eased regulation and encouraged banks to lend, which reveals that the government has an important role in allocating economic resources. From my own perspective, it is their responsibility to ensure the basic necessities of life, especially during this difficult time. China's economy suffered a lot of trauma in the early stages of the epidemic, but the Chinese government actively helped individuals and companies to resume work and production, implemented adjustments to the country's economy in response to the problems that emerged from the epidemic.

Although it is considered as a crisis for traditional industries, it is also an opportunity for new media.

As a Chinese student, I have felt the importance of online classroom software during the epidemic closure. This new form of instruction has made our classrooms more flexible and improved students' ability to learn on their own. For me, this change in learning format has given me more time to plan on my own. As an example, in a national online survey conducted by UNICEF Support, 85% of respondents said they were satisfied with their current state of learning at home, with more than half of them saying they were no less effective at home than at school.

With an unprecedented number of downloads of various online office software, promoting the improvement and development of related industries, which boosts the process of digital transformation of the industry.

While the epidemic has had many negative impacts on global trade and economic exchanges, it has also given rise to new models of global cooperation. New ways of working, collaborating and communicating have emerged including new technologies such as artificial intelligence; big data and teleconferencing have facilitated cooperation between governments and businesses during the epidemic substantially.

HOPE EMERGES: The issues that arrived proved to be challenging, but not unsolvable. PHOTO | Unsplash Copyright

For instance, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the afternoon of Feb. 25 2022. This indicates that the more difficult the moment, the leaders of all countries need to maintain close communication and cooperation. From this perspective, technological development has made the actual connection between national economies and enterprises closer. As far as I know, many countries have expressed their views on strengthening international cooperation. France supports initiatives conducive to peace, cooperation, prosperity and development. China has called for more political consensus among countries under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Currently, economic globalization is experiencing ups and downs, but the overall development trend will not change. Problems arising from globalization need to be solved through cooperation and development.

FIS 2022

"A common cause, a common struggle, can give people the strength to endure everything." ― Ostrovsky

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE The Essence of Education: Guiding or Dictating?

By Li Yitong Our reporter from G1113 looks at the importance of education in our society

Recently in Singapore, being aware that mid-year examinations for primary and secondary students in MOE schools will be scrapped by 2023, many are concerned: "How will this affect learning experiences in school?"

It's not the changes with policy, but the obsession with doing well in exams that is problematic, which points to a genuine educational issue around the globe.

In modern society, people have been discussing the essence of education―how should we learn and teach, and why is that?

To be specific, the perspective on, "what is effective education" can be generally divided into two sides: to guide and to amend.

MOTIVES: ACTIVE VS PASSIVE Guiding is a process to inspire the internal motivations of selves.

As a result, people are able to think and plan

APPROACHING EDUCATION: What is the best way to learn? PHOTO | Unsplash

EFFECTIVE EDUCATION: What is the best way to educate? PHOTO | Unsplash

independently before the real action. In other words, it creates rather an initiative view to foresee than a fixed path to follow. For instance, in secondary schools of most developed countries, there are career guiders who not only teach students to behave well on academic grades, but also tell them how to familiarize themselves, become visionaries, and make great use of their potentials. While numerous people who did not

INDEPENDENT LEARNERS: Guiding encourages students to forge their own paths.

PHOTO | Unsplash

receive this kind of guidance turned out to regret choosing the wrong occupations in the future.

"Education is not an affair of 'telling' and being told, but an active and constructive process."

— John Dewey

Picture having a coach who only desires for championship and scolds players every time when there is a failure.

The athletes could practice hard every day and win mountains of medals, but overtime those players will lose their passion and retire within short durations, because no one wants to be a "gold medal machine."

Mr. Marcus Clayton, Vice Principal of FIS, states, "We have established a separate department for the school ECG (Education and Career Guidance) in which the teachers in charge facilitate students' future plans.

And I hope that students would become. increasingly aware of the significance of planning so as to behave more proactive in those lessons."

"The word "education" is derived from the Latin word ēducātiō (bringing up, leading forth)."

— Britannia Encyclopedia

STUDENT-CENTERED: Equipping students with moral lessons is essential PHOTO | Unsplash

BEING PROACTIVE: Learning to take responsibility for their future is an important step for students. PHOTO | Unsplash

"As a matter of fact, career plans are responsibilities of the students themselves. It is better for them to possess the sense of their inner potentials in order to complete an awesome personal statement while applying for universities."

— Mr. Marcus Clayton, Head of Education and Career Guidance at FIS

In a dictating procedure, teachers generally act like dominant administrators, thus students become loyal followers rather than curious explorers. Once education loses its creativity, it will violate its original purpose.

Comparing to dictating, guiding in advance benefits independent thinking of students,

ESSENCE OF EDUCATION: To teach is to guide.

PHOTO | FIS

generates a proactive future plan, and cultivates the long-term relationship between students and teachers. In a nutshell, guiding is the real essence of education!

GUIDING: Nurturing creativity is essential.

PHOTO | Unsplash

Copyright

FIS 2022

"Education is our path to change." ― Galit Breen

INVESTIGATION

Are We Spending Too Much Time on Social Media?

By Wei Elizabeth Our reporter from G1114 asks a relevant question for the digital age

Tom is a high school student. He watches videos on TikTok or YouTube for three or four hours a day, and neglects his studies, which has led to a decline in his academic performance.

His parents are worried about him, and Tom himself knows that he shouldn't be spending so much time on social media, but he just can't seem to control himself.

What made him so addicted to the Internet?

Nowadays, many people have entertainment applications like TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter on their mobile phones, and many people spend a certain amount of time online every day. But now people unknowingly spend more and more hours watching videos and immersing themselves in the online world. What is the reason for this?

First of all, people secrete dopamine when they watch short videos.

While social media may seem casual and lighthearted, it actually has a major impact on your brain.

A DEEP DIVE: Study looks into social media addiction.

PHOTO | Unsplash

Whenever you watch a short video or content you like, your brain releases dopamine to make you feel happy, but the happiness you feel in social media is temporary.

As your dopamine slowly fades, your brain starts to actively to actively reinforce the pleasure you feel, prompting you to keep getting more information on social media.

Secondly, the effort and time spent on social media doesn't seem as important. In a 2012 study published in Psychological Science, by Wilhelm Hofmann of Chicago University's Booth Business School, researchers found that social media was even harder to resist than smoking and drinking. The participants with the highest rates of failure in self-control were those who attempted resisting social media, compared with

people who were relatively successful in resisting athletic and spending tendencies.

Hofmann said that it may be because the cost of social media seems to be lower than that of cigarettes and alcohol, and it does not seem to be that important.

Moreover, software operating companies are trying to make players addicted to their software. There is a systematic and rigorous arithmetic behind the popular social media. They would recommend videos you like based on how long you usually watch different type of videos.

The videos are typically very short, just about ten seconds so when viewers watch it, they won’t feel like they are spending that much time on it, which makes them more likely to watch more.

Also, it is very convenient and easy to watch next video as they can access content with the click of a button.

These tricks seem to make those apps more captivating and difficult to get rid of, but media itself wasn’t made to sow the negatives but to provide something good.

"The question of positive vs. negative effects relates to your relationship with social media, not the media itself." ― Ted Richards

Even TikTok, for instance.

Teens and young adults have developed large platforms where they are able to reach thousands or even millions of people on a daily basis. This can help individuals build confidence, gain new communication skills, and quickly spread positive and important messages, which help significantly in the mental developments of adolescents. Like each coin has two sides, media is judged by everyone based on its users and managers, no wonder it has maintained controversial all this time.

The point is: are we addicted to social media?

If so, we are the only ones to blame.

People, as social creatures, need to interact with others meanwhile social media facilitates the interaction.

Copyright

FIS 2022

A CLOSER LOOK: Does social media do more harm than good? PHOTO | Unsplash

It gives users a platform to voice their opinions and share them with other people.

You may not know it but during that process you’re creating some usergenerated content for that social media.

It’s a win-win game. It looks good at the start but there are some worries about its negative impact on people especially its impact on young adults like us, and it's not totally groundless.

In conclusion, social media is unavoidable, but we can control it as we can control our habits. We should use social media in a balanced and healthy way. That’s the only way that we can compromise with technology.

FINDING A BALANCE: The key is to utilise control. PHOTO | Unsplash

FEATURE

Life After High School — What Comes Next?

By Zhan Zeqi Our reporter from G1218 poses a question that is on the minds of several students

Knowing where you are going after high school is like having neatly aligned teeth, it’s nice when you do, and it’s especially appealing when there are so many stories of success in which the youthful protagonists often do have perfect teeth.

Sometimes I wish the solution to pregraduation anxiety is as simple as orthodontics. It is easy for soon-to-be high school graduates to feel overwhelmed and stressed out, because our fear is real: What if I pick the wrong future? In order to address this concern, I’d like you to take a look at

WORDS AND DEEDS: Mr. Hafiz opens up about his life journey.

PHOTO | M. Wonder

Mr. Diego Riano has been “on the road” over the past few years.

After graduating from Universidad del Rosario with a double major in Finance and International Business Management, he did not very much enjoy the life of sitting in an office working overtime.

two life paths of our teachers at FIS. Mr. Hafiz Ismail, a living embodiment of kindness and perseverance, scored six As in GCE A-Level when he was in junior college and completed his degree in Chemistry at National University of Singapore (NUS).

Just by looking at his resume, one might assume that he had the dream to drive him all along.

However, Mr. Hafiz did not find his passion in Chemistry until he was inspired by his subject teacher in junior

KNOWLEDGE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM: Mr. Diego shares how he evaluates success. PHOTO | M. Wonder

college.

Despite coming from a financially

When the opportunity to study in China arose, he left his job to

average family, he believed that

travel to a country that he barely knew anything about. To his

material success was not essential to

surprise, he was doing great: he got his master’s degree, and while

him. While Mr. Hafiz spent his time

he was accomplishing that, he discovered his passion in teaching.

studying and working in his hometown

The decision to fully commit to being a teacher, however, was not

Singapore, the equally dedicated

made easily.

He went back to Colombia to

Back to the fear we spoke

Mr. Hafiz suggested that

work in Finance again before

of at the beginning — the

students should do sufficient

returning to China to teach in

fear of “not getting our

research and pick the ones

a high school. A few years

future right”. It is totally

they are passionate about

later, opportunities took him

okay to be afraid but you

which is the most concrete

here in Singapore, where he

should know why you feel

advice in a digital age.

was able to continue having a

that way. Is there really a

positive impact on the people

right future for everyone

around him. He described

like there is a right answer

himself as a kaleidoscope,

to every exam question?

which was “constantly evolving”

It seems that it took Mr.

and always looked to “learn

Diego a while to find his

and do the right things”.

passion, but does that

The experiences of the two

make him feel less happy

teachers may be worlds apart,

going to the classroom

but they both said the same

every day and imparting

thing in their separate

knowledge? We are

interviews—they enjoy being

influenced by preconceived

teachers because seeing

notions of “the path of life

students making

is too narrow to make a U-

breakthroughs and achieving

turn” as if changing one’s

their goals is deeply

mind is lacking conviction

satisfying.

and, thus, is to be branded

"Put in consistent effort. Do not procrastinate. Go for your passion one hundred percent and don’t listen to other people saying which course is difficult or not.”

— Mr. Hafiz Interestingly, my favourite quote came from Mr. Hafiz’s mother, a quote which I believe also summed up his philosophy quite well, “Being smart is what you become, not what you are.”

Mr. Diego took an approach that seemed to me to be very

a failure.

much in tune with the education he had received, “I think what

"We’re living in a society where we actually have the privilege to do other things and still make a living from that, but we still think we need to be architects, doctors, lawyers… Right now in the world, some didn’t realise even after university that the paths you can take in life are so many that you can't even imagine all the possibilities."

needs to happen is that the students that don’t get the drive or don’t get to have the exposure of experiences, they should try to put themselves in situations where they actually experience something new." He encouraged us to “put yourself in motion to discover what [your interest] is.”

And he pointed out, “As long as you’re in motion, things will come up eventually… It might take a few years, but as long as you’re

CROSSROADS: Uncertainty is normal, but it's important to be open to trying new things.

PHOTO | Unsplash

— Mr. Diego

moving forward and exploring, you’ll have a better chance of

Copyright

FIS 2022

making a decision for yourself.”

ANONYMOUS OPINION SERIES

Choosing a Career - Does Passion Trump Practicality?

TOUGH DECISIONS: How should we choose a career? PHOTO | Unsplash

Andie likes baking and wants to be a baker in the future, her father is a teacher and thinks she should be the same.

Her father told her that being a teacher is respectable and more practical, so Andie felt unsure which path to choose.

If you had to choose between being passionate or practical when choosing a career, what would you decide to do?

Nowadays many people are faced with the dilemma of not knowing what job to choose, because they would sacrifice something when they make a choice. If you choose something practical, you may not have enough free time to enjoy your hobby. In my view, practicality trumps passion when it comes to choosing a career.

“Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

First of all, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, published in Abraham Maslow's 1943 paper, “The Theory of Human Motivation” states that the priority needs for humans are meeting physiological needs, food and water. The motivation for survival is inherent within every biological species, and then followed by safety, belonging, esteem and self-actualization.

This means that it is hard to achieve the last one without basic needs.

Moreover, for people who don't have any established interests, choosing to be practical is suitable and rational. Hence, people could earn money first and then chase their passions. The advantage is that they will have enough money to support what they want to do.

Supporters of choosing passion over practicality would argue that people should choose a job based on their interests. The idea is that when people pick jobs that they’re passionate about, they would be able to enjoy their work and be motivated, which seemingly makes them more likely to have successful and fulfilling careers. However, in a 2018 study published in Psychological Science, researchers from Stanford University and Yale-NUS discovered otherwise. There are two theories. People with a “growth theory” are more likely to take on new interests and believe that interests can be developed and cultivated. While those with a “fixed theory” think their interests already exist and just need to find them.

Researchers have found that a fixed theory can limit a person's potential. For example, in one study, researchers took two groups of undergraduate students

who are interested in Arts and Science respectively and asked them to read two academic articles, one from each field. They found that people with a fixed theory showed less interest in the article unrelated to their interests compared with a growth theory. In another study, it was found that those with a fixed theory tend to give up a new interest when it became difficult.

So it just has to be the case that people who just chase their passion for their job would be limited.

Andie could keep an open mind and consider being a teacher and perhaps she could still bake in her free time.

“Hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard.” ― Tim Nokte

What can we do? The first of these is to explore. Learn what you can about the world and test yourself out in different things.

Firstly, develop some skills that are really in demand and can be used. I might pick computer programming as an example of a useful skill for the next decade.

It seems that the practical thing to do would be to grow your interests instead of searching for your passion. All in all, we should be practical when choosing a job, so that you are able to acquire things such as a stable income, a house and status. As such, Copyright

FIS 2022

EXPLORE: See more of the world. PHOTO | Unsplash

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING: Be open to new ideas. PHOTO | Unsplash

EDUCATION PAGES

How to Choose the Right CCA for You

By Wang Haiqi Our reporter from G0909 poses the question that is on the minds of students when choosing a CCA

What happens in a CCA? At Furen International School (FIS), we have CCAs (Co-Curricular Activity) that are The Furen Press (school magazine), the Drama Club, the Green Club (Eco Club), the Media Club, Business Club as well as the Football Club and Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade (BBGB).

GOING GREEN: The Eco Club values teamwork. PHOTO | M. Wonder

Firstly, we have the Business Club. The teacher is Mr. Diego who leads this club, who is an Economics teacher. Mr. Diego shows his interest in exploring different areas of business through the club. As he puts it, entrepreneurship is not only for the people who are interested in business; it’s for everybody. For instance, one of the activities in the Business Club included watching commercials from America, Japan and China to learn about advertisements across different cultures.

Secondly, the Eco Club also known as the Green Club. This club’s motto is ’do more, talk less, protect the environment.’

Mr. Marcus is in charge of this club. He is our school’s Vice Principal. At the Eco Club, they usually do some crafts; the most recent example would be making mosquito traps. They also go out to learn.

Previous trips included visits to the ArtScience Museum, and Singapore Botanic Gardens to observe Singapore as a Garden City.

Students also looked at buildings with eco elements and discussed why there are plants in the building.

Secondly, the Drama Club. Mr. Matthew Jasper runs this club. He is an English and Drama teacher who graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. When asked about how his club is different from a typical Drama Club, he stated, "It's different in

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: A learning process.

PHOTO | FIS

SPORTS

An Inside Look in the Life of a National Athlete

By Jin Weifeng Our reporter from G1111 looks into the life of our school's discipline master

All About Teamwork: Members of the Football Club learn essential skills such as passing and dribbling. PHOTO | S. Guanchen

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a national athlete? Meet Mr. Anand. He used to be a national athlete for Singapore and is now a Discipline Master working in Furen International School.

According to Mr. Anand, it was his father who developed his interest in

playing football. When he was young, his father trained with him for a few hours per day.

When asked how students can improve their football skills, he said, “You need to train every day. It’s hard work and you have to sacrifice a lot of time.”

While he was training, the time was really pleasant. His friends encouraged him and

the sense that the students are learning drama for the first time and so for them, they react differently.” He also added, “I worked as an actor, so the students get the benefit of having someone who was working as an actor.” When I observed the Drama Club, the students were learning about stage fighting, and practised with one another.

Fourthly, the FIS Football Club. The teacher is Mr Anand who leads this club.

He is our discipline master and was a professional footballer. He played for Balestier Khalsa in the Sleague and he was called up for Singapore Under-16, Under-18, Under-21 and the Olympics team. He currently teaches students how to play football. His training program consists of various drills such as passing, dribbling, and shooting followed by a two sided match. Being proactive allows students to be disciplined, focused and stay fit.

HANDS ON LEARNING: BBGB members participating in an activity. PHOTO | FIS

NEWSPAPER CLUB: Contributing Editor Zhan Zeqi shares her point of view. PHOTO | M. Wonder

Then, we have the FIS Media Club, where students learn valuable skills such as how to film and edit videos.

The club is student-run and led by FIS student, Su Guanchen.

Next, we have the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade (BBGB), and the club is ran by Mr. Dachuan. The group aims to develop good values in all its members.

Lastly, The Furen Press, the school magazine. Ms. Myrah

Wonder from the Education and Career Guidance department runs this club. When asked about how the school magazine is different from a typical one, she stated, “The students are learning English as a second language, so the club provides an opportunity for students to expand their vocabulary and write articles."

Copyright

FIS 2022

helped him to overcome certain difficulties by talking and trying to understand each other. When anyone was feeling unwell they would look into the situation of that person. Their team was a united team and each of them supported each other.

Additionally, there are also fans who supported them a lot.

They would cheer for them and that gave everyone a huge encouragement.

ATHLETE TURNED COACH: Mr. Anand uses his professional experience to guide his teaching PHOTO | S. Guanchen

Copyright

FIS 2022

NEWS

Project Week Ends with a Bang

By Li Zhuoxuan Our reporter from G1113 covers the FIS activity week

Students participated in a project week after they finished their Promotion Examination in March 2022. The project week lasted for five days and included two parts — drumming and making a water purifier.

When making the water purifier, FIS Physics teacher Mr. Wu Kai first explained to students the structure and principle of the water purifier and how the water is filtered. He also introduced the materials for making simple water purification devices, such as filter paper and sand.

Mr. Wu Kai understands the physical principle of water purifier; by contrast,

TO THE BEAT OF THE DRUM: Students make drums out of recycled materials for the second project week of the year. PHOTO | FIS

FIS English teacher Mr. Matt has the experience of joining the army. He knows how to obtain the raw materials for making simple water purification devices in the natural environment, such as how to find suitable materials in the forest to drill wood for fire, and obtain the most important material in the water purifier - charcoal. As the main purpose of the water purifier was environmental protection, all the materials

were reused. Nowadays many people don’t have clean water to drink. There is a large water shortage in Africa.

Consequently, we made the water purifier is although the lack of water resources in Africa is a difficult problem to solve. Hence, the activity focused on ensuring that the water is clear and safe.

Another activity during Project Week was playing drums. Many FIS students haven't been in touch with this activity before.

NEWS

Graduation Ceremony Celebrates FIS Students' Achievements

By Li Zhuoxuan and Wang Aoxue On 29 April 2022, Furen International School (FIS) held a graduation ceremony to commend the graduating class of G1217. The theme was Resilience. The Honours Roll students who achieved excellent results in the last exam were commended during the event. If a student wants to join the Honours Roll, they must first get three A's and above

in the exam, and have more than 95% attendance. But academic record is not the most important thing. The students who enter this list should also have a good quality. This means that students should pay attention to their words and deeds. If students violate the school rules, the school will deduct the the student's conduct score, and the

RESILIENCE: Graduation ceremony highlights the achievements of the G1217 students. PHOTO | FIS

Learning a new skill is a very novel thing. The students have a strong interest in this musical instrument.

In order to make this activity more successful, the school invited professional music teachers for the students, Mr. Arthur and Mr. David. After much practice, the students organized a small concert.

They actively performed several rhythmic pop songs at the concert.

PERFORMANCE READY: Students make drums out of recycled materials for the second project week of the year. PHOTO | FIS

LEARNING EXPERIENCE: Students learned how to make their own water purifier. PHOTO | FIS

When interviewing the students' about their reaction to the drumming activity, many students reported that playing drums helped them to release pressure and increased feelings of relaxation and happiness. As the activity was conducted after the Promotion Exams, students could benefit from the event and enter the next stage of learning in a better state.

It is worth mentioning that the drums used by students Copyright

students who are deducted will not be allowed to enter the list.

The school advocates for allround development of students, so students should actively participate in various activities in the school as well.

As the year 2022 marks the 22nd anniversary of the founding of Furen, the school held an EZLink Card Design Competition and announced the winners during the ceremony. Each student could submit up to three designs. After the deadline, staff and students voted online to choose their favorite and could pick up to three works.

in the activity were waste paint buckets, which was also the theme of the event - environmental protection. The performance received praise from students and teachers alike.

The upcoming project week will be held in June 2022 and will take place in Cambodia. It will be open to members of the FIS Boys' Brigade and Girls' Brigade (BBGB) CoCurricular Activity (CCA).

FIS 2022

The competition gave students an opportunity to appreciate and create art. "It was hard to think about a creative design, but I made it by myself whole-heartedly, so I feel very glad and satisfied," said Li Zhuoxuan, who won second place in the competition.

In the FIS campus, students need to use the school card in all aspects, as it is needed to enter various places of the school. The current design of the school EZ-Link card depicts the third-floor library of the campus.

FIS HONOURS ROLL: Top students receive recognition. PHOTO | FIS

Copyright

FIS 2022

ADVICE COLUMN

Ask A Counsellor: Talking Helps!

By Lam Chong Tip Our reporter from G1012 asks a volunteer counsellor for advice

Have you ever felt stressed out and unsure who you could turn to? If you have, did you ever seek professional help? We bring you some advice from a volunteer counsellor, Ms. Joey Liang, that might put you at ease.

1. "What advice do you have for students who find it hard to sleep at night?"

The importance of getting enough good-quality sleep is very important. Research done by The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and Sleep Reach Society (SRS) recommended sleep time for adult should be seven or more hours per night per night, for adolescents should be getting eight to ten sleep per night.

Tips for improving sleep disturbance (insomnia): Abstaining or avoid taking caffeine twelve hours before sleep Taking a hot bath Keep a regular sleep schedule Avoid stimulating activities before sleep, such as playing games, watching television, violent exercise.

Relaxation before falling asleep: such as listening to soft music, practicing mindfulness, medication, breathing, exercise, etc. ·Set your sleep schedule: Have a fixed wake-up time.

Prioritize sleep.

Make gradual adjustments Don’t over-do it with naps If you are having chronic insomnia (more than three months), it is recommended to seek for a professional for help.

2. "What advice do you have for students who drifted away from their friends and experience loneliness?"

First, understand why friendship is important for adolescents. Teens want more independence and more emotional distance. Their focus often shifts to social interactions. Secondly, be aware of unhealthy relationships. Sometimes, friendships just are not healthy anymore, examples of unhealthy relationships are such as full of stress, highly

TALKING HELPS: Looking into ways to manage challenges that are on the minds of many.

PHOTO | Unsplash

controlling friends; constant bickering; pressuring you to do things that you are uncomfortable with or that they know will get you into trouble; they are mean to you (e.g. makes fun of you, call you names).

Improve essential skills: Showing an interest in others Taking part in a two-way conversation Listening to somebody’s response and building on it; taking turns.

Things you can do if you are lonely: Help others Reconnect with old friends Try something new (e.g. a new sport, skill, go to a park you have never been before) Watch something that makes you laugh Turn activities you do alone into group activities Write down five things you love about yourself 3. "What advice do you have for students who experience physical and mental burnout when they're trying to study?"

Burnout describes as a severe stress condition that leads to several physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion.

Tips to prevent burnout: Exercise – studies have shown that a regular exercise routine often decreases symptoms of depression and stress.

Eat a balanced diet Practice good sleeping habits Ask for help – during stressful times, it is important to reach out for help. you may reach out to schoolteachers, close friends, or family members.

Time management – create a schedule to help you manage your academics and personal activities more efficient.

Always have something to look forward to everyday. This helps to have a reason to anticipate the next day.

Understand your academic capabilities – what is expected of you and try not have unreasonable expectations.

Copyright

FIS 2022

ONE STEP AT A TIME: Finding an outlet is an important tool to overcome stress. PHOTO | Unsplash

4. "What is a reasonable and healthy way to destress?"

Research shows that stress can lead to the development of many mental health conditions. It can also introduce physical conditions like chronic pain.

Tips to manage stress: Track your stressors Take time to recharge Get enough sleep Eat regularly and healthily, try not to rely to coffee and energy drinks Set realistic expectations Avoid procrastination Identify a stress outlet (such as exercise, spending time with friends, talking with family over phone).

Use positive thinking and affirmations 5. "What advice do you have for students who don't know who they can turn to when they're feeling stressed?"

Isolation can be led to negative impact on happiness.

Accepting that you need help and talking to someone is often the first step to feeling better. Speak to your friends and family, as they know you best and care about you the most.

Alternatively, student may approach to schoolteachers or student wellbeing service at school. They will provide a listening ear and can signpost you to specialist service who can offer specific support if needed.

From the given response, we know that mental health problems are common in our society. In our world, we all wear scars.

However, don’t repress your emotions. If you face a problem that has been bothering you for a long period of time, please seek help whenever possible.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

Physics is All Around Us — Here's How You Can Spot It

By Yang Yifan Our reporter from G1012 shares two examples of how Physics can be found in our daily lives

You might be startled by the title—Physics is all around us?

How can that be? You’ll find out that Physics hidden in normal life is quite interesting after reading through this article.

1. LED Flashlight in smartphones. Whether we are taking pictures or walking through the night,

the shiny dot behind your mobile phone can’t be ignored. However, its working principle is much more complex than a normal flashlight.

When electrical potential is loading on either ends of the PN junction (semiconductor that is made up by combining a P type

AN INSIDE LOOK: How Physics is all around us. PHOTO | Unsplash Copyright

FIS 2022

and N type material together), the PN junction creates an energy banding with a Schottky barrier with controlled charges density.

And using the physical phenomena of difference in energy gap, electrons are continuously excited leading to the promotion of the electrons to a higher energy level and the relaxation to the lower energy level gives rise to the emission of a certain wavelength. This is what we observe as a glow.

We would have never thought that inside this tiny luminous dot millions of electrons are moving vibrantly!

2. Door handle.

Have you ever wondered why the door handle is designed to be on the edge of the door? We tend to assess/evaluate inertia by the mass criterion, but when it comes to the turning effect, moment stands out.

Moment is a product of the force and its perpendicular distance from the pivot, referring to the length from the door handle to the shaft. In order to save your strength, the designer puts the door handle on the edge of the door to acquire the longest distance so that you are able to open the door in the most laboursaving way.

NEWSPAPER Word Search

6. Press:

1. Headline:

Coverage in newspapers and magazines

A heading at the top of an article or page in a newspaper or magazine..

7. Editor:

2. Review

A person who is in charge of and determines the final content of a newspaper, magazine, or multi-author book.

A critical appraisal of a book, play, film, etc. published in a newspaper or magazine.

3. Column:

8. Feature: A newspaper or magazine article or a broadcast programme devoted to the treatment of a particular topic, typically at length.

A vertical division of a page or text.

4. Lead: The opening sentence or paragraph of a news article, summarizing the most important aspects of the story.

5 Byline:

9. Reporter: A person who reports, especially one employed to report news or conduct interviews for the press or broadcasting media.

10. Deadline: The latest time or date by which something should be completed.

A line in a newspaper naming the writer of an article.

-

BONUS WORD 11. Font A complete assortment of type of one size and face.

THE FUREN PRESS List of Student Writers

Contributing Editor ..................................................................................................................... Zhan Zeqi, G1218 Managing Editor

...................................................................................................................... Wang Haiqi, G0909

Writer .......................................................................................................................................................... Li Zhuoxuan, G1113 Writer ......................................................................................................................................................... Jin Weifeng, G1111 Writer ........................................................................................................................................................ Wang Aoxue, G1012 Guest Writer ....................................................................................................................................... Liu Yanchen, G1219 Guest Writer ..................................................................................................................................... Li Yitong, G1113 Guest Writer .................................................................................................................................... Wei Elizabeth, G1114 Guest Writer ....................................................................................................................................... Lam Chong Tip, G1012 Guest Writer ......................................................................................................................................... Yang Yifan, G1012

"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader." ― Margaret Fuller.