November 2019
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 3
PIN TREE POS
REMEMBRANCE DAY: HONOURING OUR VETERANS
BODILY IMAGE:
A STUDENTS BATTLE WITH EATING DISORDERS AND SELF-IMAGE
THE GREAT WAR:
REFLECTING AND ANALYSING THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
SELF-PERCEPTION:
WHERE OUR SELF-PERCEPTION STEMS FROM
NOVEMBER
2 FIRST GLANCE P.4: WORLD
P.8: SCHOOL
The Pinetree Post
STAFF
FOUNDERS Russell Kim, Felix Guo EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Briana Ho, Raymond Gao ARTICLE EDITOR Briana Ho
The Great War
P.14: FEATURED
A Month of Reflection
P. 16: OTHER
CONTRIBUTORS Peter Peng, Sophie Zhao, Harim Chang, Jerry Chiang, Parsa Basirian, Florin Lee, Cosmo Sun, Julia Ye, Bryan Chen, Stanley Yu, Amy Lee GRAPHIC DESIGN Raymond Gao ONLINE CONTENT Raymond Gao SPECIAL THANKS TO The Pinetree Administration, Rachael Pan, Mr. Lau, Ms. Hopkin, Ms. Browne
Relationship Advice
Comic of October
GET INVOLVED IN THE PT POST! Although we at the Pinetree Post try our best to represent the voice of the everyone at Pinetree, we are only a small group of students. To find the most pressing topics and interesting avenues to explore, we rely on input from readers to curate relevant content only. Anyone is welcome to suggest a topic or provide an opinion for Pinetree Post writers and
contributors to look into further. Do you have something to say that needs your voice? The Pinetree Post also welcomes guest content, any time, of any kind. Feel free to submit an article on a topic you are passionate for, a comic you think everyone deserves to see, maybe even a letter to the editor! You can submit your original content to us at thepinetreepost@gmail.com.
Have a question or a request? Contact us at: facebook.com/thepinetreepost
3
First Glance EDITOR’S NOTE
Let it go
Can’t hold it back anymore Briana Ho, Raymond Gao Editors-in-Chief
Hi there! Are you surviving this dismal abyss between Halloween and Christmas, where there aren’t even any extra days off? I know my brain feels like it’s melting. Anyways, with Remembrance Day far behind us, we decided to work with the theme of forgiveness (just… go with it). Not only of other people, like friends or family that have eaten all the blueberries before you could have some or never given back your pens, but also of yourself. Especially in these dreary days, studying and other issues can feel draining. Frustration with yourself and others can come easily. If you’re too hard on yourself, everything can feel like a battle! Why make life harder? We’ve got quite a few opinionated articles this month. Lots of personal accounts and some heavy stuff, so a few of our writers have chosen to go anonymous. We ask that you respect their wishes and don’t try to pry! One of our members was brave enough to write about her personal experience with eating disorders (Journal of a Sufferer, page 10), and another about her view on self-perception (Self-perception, page 12). A member also wrote about the controversy around war crimes (The Good, the Bad and the Conflicted, page 6). Not as emotional, but still personal, are articles about relationships (When should you forgive and forget about a past relationship?, page 14) and cross country experiences (Pinetree Cross Country, page 11). We also turn the microphone to the public, and survey students about topics such as Remembrance Day and forgiveness (Students’ Month of Reflection, page 8). We haven’t totally veered off the journalistic path, though! This month we also investigate national and international issues such as the effects of World War I in modern day (Reflections on the Great War, page 4), Donald Trump’s possible impeachment (Trump Impeachment, page 13), and the current daylight saving issue (Daylight Saving Time, page 7). If you’d prefer something lighter, we have a fun comic (Forgiveness Comic, page 16) and monthly events calendar (2019 December Calendar, page 15) so you can look forward toward the holidays! Hope you enjoy this issue of the Pinetree Post! Remember to like us on Facebook, check out our website (https://pinetreepost.wordpress.com/), and email questions to be answered in our new advice column “Ask Tommy” to Pinetreepostasktommy@gmail.com. Keep it spicy, Briana Ho and Raymond Gao Editors-in-Chief
Thank you WIlliam, ily
4 WORLD NATIONAL INTEREST
Reflections on the Great War
Wounded British, 1916
Bryan Chen Writer
The Great War of 1914-18 that had ravaged the world, most particularly in Europe, came to an end some hundred years ago. Since the inaugural commemoration in 1919 (under the name ‘Armistice Day’), every year on 11 November has been celebrated as ‘Remembrance Day’ (in the Commonwealth) and as ‘Armistice Day’ (in the United States). As the devastation associated with this event has for the most part been cleaned up, one tends to regard the effects of the conflict to be of no impression at least today; this can be at least said about the younger generation of people whose nations were involved with the conflict. The amount remaining veterans of those who personally saw conflict in World War I are diminishing every year. I am inclined to believe that extremely few if any families of those attending the school remain personally affected by the effects of the war
even to today, even though it is equally as conceivable that there are families in the school and community who have indeed participated in the war. Certainly, this war was quite horrific in terms of the events and effects it had on the nations and the people involved, which can be said about those on both sides of the conflict. There are innumerable detailed accounts of the hecatombs of soldiers’ mental trauma as result of the terrible things witnessed as well as that of the post-war public disorder stirred up in Germany, Italy, and France, as well as the continuing civil war in Russia. The effects of this war which shaped the events that were to occur not long fuelled the Germans’ desperate desires for revenge from their defeat, as well as the pacifistic desires in the old Entente and the United States to avoid another war on their hands. Thus, World War I had shaped the path that the modern world would take, and its effects were almost entirely decisive of the way the map is drawn today. Interestingly, the past has not been more eventful
WORLD than the present, though it may seem so. The reason that this seems to be the case is because of the almost endless sources of reports and literature created during or about the events of the past, and the fact that we are more likely than we were twenty years ago to have blown each other to pieces, have given us the quality of life that we lack the eventful, epic traits describable to those of the preceding century. As unheartening as it may sound, the advancement of civilisation (as well as its surrounding politics and societal reformation) was heavily impacted by the development of weaponry and warfare. It may not be entirely possible for humans to avoid murdering each other for what would be in retrospect quite trivial, given how often this has happened in history. The events of the post-modern era in which we are currently living in seem somewhat reminiscent of that of the Interwar period (with ongoing civil conflict in the Middle East and political tensions stirring in various parts of the world), and I would not put it beyond ourselves not to start another great conflict like the one we saw some seventy years ago. Strictly speaking, the soldiers who fought on the Allies’ side (at least in our case) are typically portrayed as heroic young men, ready to gladly lay down their lives for the sake of their country. Of course, it remains a universally known (but mostly unspoken) fact that some perhaps showed cowardice or would have preferred not to be sent off to their death to kill some other young German or Austrian that they have never met, let alone felt personal enmity towards, just because some young Serb blew the powder-keg in Bosnia by shooting the Archduke of Austria. Still, quite a large amount of propaganda was utilised by both sides of the war, with the British accounts having given out reports of the Germans practising horrendous atrocities in Belgium and France, and the Germans producing propaganda not too different from that about the British. You will certainly see examples
5 of such propaganda as well, meant to toy around with the guilt of those not enlisting, especially with that one notable poster, “Daddy, what did you do in the Great War?� (depicting a child asking her ashamed father this very question), and other posters which were common as two a penny at the time. Not so long ago I was quite interested in the events of the Great War and their effects on the world. At least compared to the great conflict that happened twenty years later, the soldiers of the First World War were certainly more chivalrous. World War II saw much more brutal massacres and death tolls compared to that of World War I, mostly driven by the salting on the fresh wound that was the Great War, hatred between the combatants of these wars managed to reach further than it already was in World War I. Afterwards, when the tensions of these two wars lessened up, did we begin to really reflect on a much deeper level than how we did before. It has always left me to wonder how adequately humanity will be set on surviving the coming centuries with the arising tensions around the world and growing environmental impacts. Perhaps life will always find a way, for better or for worse.
6 WORLD NATIONAL INTEREST
The Good, the Bad and the Conflicted
The winner takes it all Florin Lee Writer
We are always taught that in war, there are the Good Guys, and the Bad Guys. During World War One, the Allies were the dutiful heroes who fought the Bad Guys in the name of international peace. In World War Two, we were the Good Guys, while the Nazis were the racist extremists that murdered six million Jews. However, when thousands of Jewish refugees sought asylum from persecution in Europe by coming to Canada, we, the Good Guys, turned them away. Many had no choice but to sail back to their deaths. When today, we read in our textbooks about governments willingly handing over their Jewish population to the Nazis, we gasp in horror and declare that our own would never, when in fact Christian Canadian society embraced the anti-Semitic views that Hitler and his National Socialist party promoted.
Canadian stretcher bearers in Flanders fields, 1915
This mould of Good Guy vs Bad Guy is completely biased towards the victor of the conflict. Who decides what is recorded in the history books? Who decides what is taught in classrooms? Who decides what was a War Crime, and sentences the individuals responsible? General Douglas Haig, a British officer during World War One, organized battles that killed tens of thousands of his own soldiers, but not a single charge was laid upon him for his disregard for the human lives he played like pawns. My message here is that modern society as a whole views wars through numerous generalizations – possibly due to their sheer scale – when because so many players were involved, we cannot, nay, must not accept stereotypes to be accurate representations of those people. Many soldiers who fought, whatever side of the trenches they were on, did not participate in those conflicts because they were truly devoted to their corresponding government’s policies. Some needed the money to support
greatwar.nl
7
WORLD their family, some were victims of societal pressure, and others were stolen from their homes and forced to take up a gun. We must also keep in mind that the Front-Line changes even the kindest soul. When thousands of bullets are whistling past your face, every next one intent on landing a killing blow, what would you not do in order to survive another day?
Soldiers mobilizing for war.
© IWM
Many of us living in Canada today were never touched by war. We only know of it from textbooks, films, and veterans’ accounts; we have never personally experienced its all-consuming terror and ability to transform people in unthinkable ways. Therefore, is it fair for us to decide what is Right and what is Wrong in a world where it is acceptable to authorize the deaths of thousands of people? Yes, there were those who were devoted to controversial ideologies, but there were so many more whose only wish was to return home mostly intact. To forgive someone who has killed another, whether willingly or reluctantly, is difficult, but can we perhaps, as citizens of a world that is not composed of predetermined black and white truths, begin to understand their decisions?
NATIONAL INTEREST
Daylight Savings Plan to keep the clocks fixed Sophie Zhao Writer
Canada has been using Daylight Saving Time (DST) for over 100 years. However, the province of British Columbia (B.C.) is considering staying in DST starting in 2020. From June 24 to 4 p.m. July 19 in 2019, the B.C. government ran a public survey. Respondents chose to either support the current bi-annual time change or the move to a permanent DST. Individuals could complete an online survey, and experts and organizations could provide formal submissions to the government. The results saw that over 93 percent of respondents supported a permanent move to DST. DST is defined by “springing forward” one hour for lighter evenings in summer months then “falling back” one hour for autumn and winter. The purpose of DST is to match the hours of when people are awake with daylight times. The benefits of DST include an increase in natural daylight as well as a decrease of artificial lighting. Studies have proved that the increased amount of daylight improves road safety, increases profits in tourism industries and decreases the number of robberies. Furthermore, people are encouraged to go out more in the evenings as they would have an extra hour of light outside. These are not the only benefits of DST. However, it has many disadvantages as well. DST does not save energy as one might expect. The amount that it might save becomes quite insignificant in light of society’s use of screens and air conditioning. Moreover, even though DST causes people to gain an hour during the fall, the lack of sleep that comes with “springing forward” has seen negative effects on their physical and mental health. The time changes disrupt biological clocks and circadian rhythms. They have also lead to car accidents and more.
8 SCHOOL Companies and businesses even see decreases in productivity during the start of DST when people lose that hour of sleep. Groups in B.C. have been advocating for getting rid of the bi-annual time changes for a long time. B.C. Premier John Horgan supports ending seasonal time changes as well. Wanting to listen to the public, he talked to the premier of the Yukon Territories and the leader of Washington State to collectively stay in a permanent DST. Both other leaders are in favour of this permanent DST. However, the United States requires approval from its Congress. The delays from their side are due to their constant having to manage questions of charges against US President Donald Trump. As they are about to enter their election cycle of 2020, the topic of changing to DST permanently has currently been pushed aside. Some are upset by this delay and believe that B.C. should take leadership in this situation and that others will follow afterward. However, John Horgan has already introduced legislation to observe DST year-round and expects that 2019 is the last year that B.C. would have a bi-annual time change. The next time the province “springs forward” in 2020 would be the last time that people change their clocks. B.C. would then remain in a permanent DST called Pacific Time.
STUDENTS
Students’ Month of Reflection
Read how students reflected on their past and present in the month of November Jerry Chiang, Parsa Basirian Writer, Interviewer
On Nov. 15th, some students were surveyed about their deep, thoughtful reflections for the month. Specifically, they were asked about their harsh past experiences in life and overcoming these experiences. Students were also asked about Remembrance Day and what it means to them. Each of the answers received from the students were unique and true to themselves.
Jayni Chang (Grade 12)
PTP: What are some hard times or experiences in your life that you don’t mind sharing with us? J: I felt kind of hurt by my friend Andrew just now. He tends to say things that are kind of mean, but I don’t think he realizes it. PTP: How have you recovered, or have you recovered? J: I think that recovery is not a linear process, you know like some days you might feel down. But just because you have one bad day, it doesn’t mean that all your progress was for nothing. Just to clarify, I’m just speaking in general terms. I think I’m on my way to recovery, but I’m still better than before. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m recovering. PTP: What does Remembrance Day mean to you and how did you pay your respects? J: So for Remembrance Day, my friend Jerry and I went to the cenotaph to see our friend Andrew direct his cadet squadron. I think it’s a day of remembering the people who served our country, and I think that’s really necessary in a society because… [pauses]. I think a society best functions when people are willing to sacrifice
9
School themselves for others, and Remembrance Day acknowledges that. PTP: Any final words for the Pinetree Post? J: Check out the Me to We Club. Our Instagram is @ pinetreemetowe. And also, check out the One Blood for Life Club @obfl.pinetree. Parsa Jodyri (Grade 11) PTP: What was a hard time or moment in your life that you wouldn’t mind sharing? J: So a hard time was when I immigrated here to Canada. I didn’t know English but umm… PTP: How did you recover from that? J: Uhh I didn’t really recover, but… I just practiced my English, I got better. PTP: What does Remembrance Day mean to you and how did you pay your respects? J: Remembrance Day was paying respect to the veterans that fought the war for us so we could chill at home and stuff.
Andrew Lee (Grade 12) PTP: What was a hard time or experience in your life that you don’t mind sharing with us? A: Primarily in middle school but in grade nine, I had a really hard time relating to people and I find that nowadays, I can more because of my experiences and other activities like joining air cadets helped me a lot… with my struggles. I was unmotivated and would constantly procrastinate in grade nine but now I’m not so unmotivated. And I feel like the air cadet program or any type of activity that you enjoy can people through difficult times or maybe when you’re feeling bad. PTP: Would you say you’ve recovered? A: If my “injury” was like not being able to be expressive and communicate effectively with others and I feel like I have improved and recovered. Yeah, I’m pretty open and I procrastinate less these days. PTP: What does Remembrance Day mean to you? A: Remembrance Day to me… when I think of Remembrance Day I think of my grandfather. Although he was not a Canadian citizen, he fought in the Korean war. He was very brave and every time I think of Remembrance day I just think of him, even though I’ve
never met him. It’s just, wow… Even in my lineage, you know... a fellow lowly Korean like me has people that went to war, and I think of the sacrifices made. I think sacrifice and the need to protect what you love is universal and I find that truly inspiring. PTP: How did you pay your respects on Remembrance Day? A: I’m a part of 777 Neptune Squadron’s band. My parade position is drum major, or like the commander. And so this Remembrance Day, I marched down the streets of Poco and paid my respects at the Poco Cenotaph. PTP: Any final words for the Pinetree Post? A: Yes umm… I would like to just apologize for hurting Jayni’s feelings. I’m sorry Jayni.
Eric Lazcano (Grade 12) PTP: What was a hard time or experience in your life that you wouldn’t mind sharing? E: So I’ve been going to the gym lately because it’s one of my goals. The other day for fitness testing in gym class, I benched thirty-fives for the first time. That’s equivalent to one hundred fifteen pounds. Then I went home and slept to build and recover my muscles. PTP: What does Remembrance Day mean to you and how did you pay your respects? E: So normally, I have block two off and that was the same block the Remembrance Day assembly was. So I showed my dedication by not skipping the assembly and actually going to it. And it’s like really important for me because I feel more Canadian than my native nationality at this point. These interviews demonstrate the thoughtfulness of Pinetree students along with the amount of dedication and respect they have for this country. The unique part of these interviews was that the answers given were all diverse. Most have overcome difficult past experiences and it brings forth the diligence found within Pinetree students.
10 SCHOOL STUDENTS
Journal of a Sufferer
A student’s battle with eating disorders and body image Anonymous Writer
My story began with a voice. Inaudible arguments like “Do I deserve to eat that toast?,” “Did I eat too much?,” and “Was I exercising enough to gain the food?” deprived me of happiness and the ability to appreciate my body. I had never considered my body image until high school. With the rise of social media and lowering of self-esteem, a voice was born in my head, constantly mumbling in my ear: “You look fat, you need to lose weight.” Thus, in grade 9, I took a gradual and gentle approach to weight loss. However, to my disappointment, I did not become skinnier nor did I “glow-up” at the end of the school year. Therefore, in grade 10, I became dependent on a habit of starving and binging that deprived me of my physical needs and pressured me as if I were breathing in a smog-filled room. In the summer before grade 10, I went back to China and ate my parents’ healthily cooked food while exercising daily. I looked up more information on diets, nutrition, and how to work out properly on the internet. I thought my desire for a healthy lifestyle would put things on the right track. However, it all got worse when I left my parents for school. Comparing myself with all the girls with lean long legs, I kept yelling at myself in the mirror: “Why on earth can’t you look like that?!” I felt jealous, resentful, and worthless. Consequently, I went on an extreme diet, and unlike in the summer, no one was there to control what I ate. When I cooked for myself, I would only have an egg in the morning, salad and chicken in a palm-size container for lunch, and half of a plate of food at night. Everyone was asking me why I was eating so little. Ashamed of my thoughts on my body, I lied to everyone, saying that I was not hungry because I ate a lot when I was alone. There were
times when I would stay out until eight o’clock in the evening and tell my homestay that I had already eaten in order to skip dinner. The most frightening thing was that I was proud of my behaviour. I felt happy and controlled when I held back my desire to eat even if I felt hungry. In addition to having a dangerous diet, I exercised almost every day. I did not want to go on the trend mills for half an hour or do squats and planks repeatedly, but I felt I was obligated to do that. When my heart rate was under 130, I felt pressured to exercise even more. After physical exhaustion pushed me to realize that I could not maintain this unhealthy lifestyle, I began to eat more but still resisted my cravings for calorie-dense food. Then, this change of mentality along with my discovery of mukbangs and cheat-day videos replaced my terrible eating habits with another. Allowing myself to eat more, I tried to find more new food to try by researching on YouTube. Typing “eating” in the search engine, thumbnails with colorful tongue-dazzling foods such as donuts, crepe cakes, and seafood tempted my craving for calories. I started clicking on cheat-day videos, which were clips of people eating whatever they wanted for one day whereas they restricted during other days. Slowly accepting the idea that consuming a lot of food in a day while limiting my caloric intake during the rest of the time would not make me gain ten pounds, I made up my mind that I would eat whatever I desired for a day. Then, after an early dismissal, I returned to my empty house and looked forward to enjoying food by myself. I started pulling out peanut butter, crackers and chips from the cabinet. I savoured my food at first because I missed their tastes so much. However, even after 20 minutes of filling my mouth, I could not stop myself from eating despite the fullness of my stomach. I kept stuffing food into my mouth like a monster: fruits, ice-cream,
11
School ham, leftovers, and everything that was visible and tangible. I felt like a failure because I could not even finish a simple task of feeding myself and was trapped in a cycle of self-destruction. I finally ended my binge-session when my body took in so much food that it was going back up through my throat. I even wanted to purge because of guiltiness, but I thought that if I did, there would be a next time and I would never be able to eat normally. Fortunately, the true me was able to fight over the devil in my body. Until now, I still feel ashamed of my body at times. I still want to lose weight, but from my past terrible experiences, I have learned that I need to do it healthily and gradually instead of going on the extreme sides of the spectrum. The thoughts of terrible eating habits never fully go away - they still linger in the darkest, deepest parts of my brain. They will always be there, but I will continue to fight back to not fall into the same trap. Am I suffering from an eating disorder? Eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, are mental illnesses that are characterized by irregular eating habits and being severely obsessed with body image and weight-loss in a negative way. No, I do not want to be categorized by it. However, if you are also struggling with weight loss or are trapped in the same situation as I have been, I want to let you know that you are not alone. People like you and I are fighting back together. If you are trying to improve your body, the number on the scale does not matter as much as your health and happiness. Weight loss is a long journey, so please do it by exercising and beginning a balanced diet instead of starving. However, if you want Jam Jam cookies rather than salad, it is ok to treat yourself. Life is too short to be harsh on yourself all the time; after all, you are amazing, wonderful, and you are the only version of you.
STUDENTS
Cross Country The benefits of joining
Stanley Yu Writer
Every student and their dog has probably been asked to join the cross country team at one time or another and as someone who actually did, I can say at least for me, it was definitely worthwhile. With the 2019 cross country season coming to a close, it will be the last one for me, but I hope not for many newer students. I joined Pinetree’s cross country team in eleventh grade and have done my best to attend every meet and practice. Each practice is just as hard, if not harder than the meets and although I am not the fastest of runners myself, I give every practice my best. I think the commitment to attend practices is not for everyone and I have seen many people skip out on them. Long runs around Coquitlam River or all the way up the crunch usually leave me cramped and worn out, so I can see why some people don’t show up to practice. However, the way I see it, joining a sports team and ditching all the practices isn’t really joining the team at all. From my experience, pushing through each run is quite satisfying and pushing past my personal limits during each meet makes it all the more worthwhile. Pinetree’s cross country team is still going strong. We had many dedicated new runners this year and many of the new juniors were faster than me. For those who were thinking about joining the team this year (as well as those who weren’t), I encourage you to do so next year. Whether you are a quick runner or a slow one like me, be prepared to commit yourself to each practice and at the end of the day, it will be a very rewarding experience.
12 SCHOOL EDITORIAL
Self-perception
Where does our self-perception stem from? Anonymous Writer
Pinterest Most people tend to look at themselves through the same eyes that judge them - their own. Don’t let society make you feel any less than what you believe. Make your own judgements and live life to the fullest!
Disclaimer: Self-perception is different for everyone. People live different lives and have different experiences. Self-perception… what is it? According to ScienceDirect.com, self-perception itself is more of a theory than an action. Self-perception theory suggests that people “make judgements about [themselves] using the same inferential processes and errors that we use for making judgements of others.” This basically means that the way people may subconsciously or consciously judge others is the same way they judge themselves. So how does self-perception affect someone’s ability to forgive themselves? And how do we realize that there are factors contributing to how we view ourselves?
Oftentimes that way people see themselves is harsher than when looking at others. It’s influenced more by personal characteristics, though, and not the situation itself. When judging oneself, more flaws and mistakes can be seen, simply because the only person who knows you the best is yourself. This month, take time to not only self-reflect, but forgive yourself. For example, just because a boy is not strong or “manly” does not mean that he is less than what society makes him out to be. These “norms” pushed onto the younger generations by society can have negative effects on their view of gender and self worth. A boy can cry, and a girl can be physically strong - these views have been seen as “abnormal” for the longest time. Self-perception is not something that is manifested by itself, instead, it is brought up through life experiences. These influences can come from family, friends, and/or social media. The more people see and receive toxic thinking, the more it begins to take effect on their way of thinking, their perception not only of themselves, but also others around them. In fact, self-image is a view of the self, “derived from experiences of success and the content of social interactions” according to ScienceDirect. This means that most of our self worth and image is influenced by how successful we are within our social circles and interactions - but it doesn’t mean that these social interactions define our capabilities as a person. Self-concept itself is drawn from various characteristics like gender and age, with the most stereotypical “concepts” being traits like females being sensitive, and males being dominant. These concepts have been ingrained since the very beginning, not because of social media, but because way-back-when, our ancestors had certain roles to fulfill. Times have changed since then, but the same principles have been passed down throughout generations, and have impacted society today. Self-perception theory, put simply, is how people develop opinions and conclusions about themselves based on their own behaviour and attitudes. While this theory has its strong points, it still does not take into account the role of emotions and thoughts. The topics of self-perception, -image, and worth are
13
School tricky by themselves, but I believe that once someone understands why they think the way they do, it can help them better themselves and gain confidence. Not only that, but the next time you receive a bad grade, try not to over-generalize it! Most people tend to get a one bad grade and think that they’re incapable of becoming better or smarter, but no one is born smart. In fact, the smartest people made the most mistakes. These mistakes were an integral part of giving them the experience and mental fortitude that allowed them to become the way they were. For example, take people like Bill Gates. Imagine how many Microsoft prototypes were created before he finally got the first revolutionary computer that would change history. If one thinks about it, then they can realize that these external factors and pressures are temporary moments in time, while the effects it can have on one’s brain is long-term. All in all, this is all just a theory - if anything, the only one who should get to decide what you perceive yourself as is yourself, not anyone else. Just remember, there are always people who can help. There is your family and friends, and if needed, there are professionals who can give great advice and moral support as they help you along your journey.
washingtonpost.com
NATIONAL INTEREST
Trump’s Impeachment Its meaning and significance Cosmo Sun Writer
“The term ‘impeachment’ is commonly used to mean removing someone from office, but it actually refers only to the filing of formal charges” (NBC News). When a decision is made to impeach someone in the parliament, the senate then holds a vote that decides whether the member of the parliament will be removed. Ever since the beginning of US, “The House has [only] impeached 19 people, mostly federal judges” (NBC News) So if Donald Trump was to be impeached, he would be the first president to do so. Of course, the parliament would not impeach a president for no reason. After further investigation, Trump was found to have entangled himself in serious business. He was accused of having an exchange with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, via a phone call. During the exchange, Trump supposedly threatened Volodymyr Zelenskiy by withholding 400 million U.S. dollars worth of foreign aid, unless the Ukrainian president agreed to launch an investigation with the purpose of damaging Joe Biden’s reputation. For those that are not aware, Joe Biden is a prominent political foe for Trump and very possibly his opponent for the 2020 U.S. election. If the rumors are proven legitimate, then Donald Trump has crossed the fine line of democracy. It is ruled unlawful if presidents abuse their power for their own good, which is exactly what Trump would be doing. Donald Trump is intervening in US foreign affairs for his own benefit rather than the people’s. This puts another layer of doubt on Trump’s eligibility as a president. However, up to this point, there still isn’t any convincing verdict on whether Trump will be impeached. As arguments on both sides keeps coming up, hopefully, a fair and satisfying result will emerge.
14 FEATURED BRUH (RELATIONSHIP ADVICE)
When should you forgive and forget about a past relationship? How long should it take for you to stop reposting Juice Wrld Simpsons edits? Peter Peng Writer, Juul Master
time that it takes to forget and forgive is completely dependant on what they’ve done to you in the first place. Let’s say that for example, they accidentally crush your Relationships are a lot like the Hindenburg airship. One minute you’re peacefully flying through the sky. best friend under a two-thousand pound rock after a And in the next? You and every single little thing that fight to the death in an abandoned hotel. Well, that’s not THAT serious of a mistake, is it? Anyone would you’ve ever valued is on fire, and falling towards the ground at a rate of sixty-two meters per second. Just get over that in a very short period of time. But let’s like a breakup or something, the Hindenburg disaster say they did something so sinister, so unforgivable, so was a pretty big deal. However, time moves on, and heinous- such as calling your pet bird an “ugly ball of so should people. You can’t get stuck on one thing feathers.” Under this context, it could take literally forforever, after all. But how much time should one ever to forgive them. Maybe you’ll never forgive them. take? Everything changes from case to case. Back when I was a small child in the first grade in 2009, there was this one girl that had a crush on me. I know, incredible, right? I too was surprised that they instantly didn’t try to file a restraining order on me. But back to the point, it’s first grade again. For whatever reason, at least for girls, chasing someone that you like during breaks was considered socially acceptable. As a result, during nearly every lunch, she and her friends would literally chase me like a pack of hungry wolves. Pun intended, the breaking point came when she not only dislocated my elbow, but also snapped parts of it in half. After spending several nights at a hospital, it would be a total lie if I were to say that I didn’t have something against them at that point. Back to the present dayI’ve completely forgotten about this incident. In fact, the only reason I remember it now is because I’m writing this article. So personally, I would say a minimum of ten years would be somewhat sufficient, although this may fluctuate depending on who it is. However, Jerry Yim, another senior at Pinetree, begs to differ. According to Jerry, the amount of Jerry Yim is very hot (marry me pls)
15
Other Calendar by Julia Ye
SCHOOL
TRACK SCHOOL EVENTS AND TRI-CITIES ACTIVITIES
1-29
19
KARAOKE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TROLLEY TOUR
BUSINESS FAIR
@ 200 - 110 Cambie Street
JAZZ NIGHT
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
1-31
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Vancouver Canucks vs. Vegas Golden
Knights 7:30 PM
@ Rogers Arena
7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
TALENT SHOW
91st British Columbia Youth Parliamentx
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM @ 200 - 110 Cambie Street
TRI-CITIES
CHRISTMAS CONCERT 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
FIRST DAY OF WINTER BREAK
14:00 PM – 4:30 PM @ 2750 Granville Street
12
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
22
11:30 AM – 9:30 PM @1055 Canada Place
@ 210 - 318 Homer Street
17:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Vancouver Christmas Market
1
Granville Flea presents Black Sunday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
@ 881 Granville Street
Gastown Not-So-Silent Nights
COQUITLAM CHRISTMAS night market
@ Lafarge Lake
WINTER FORMAL
25
CHRISTMAS!
16 OTHER Comic by Amy Lee
Let us know what you think or submit guest content at thepinetreepost@gmail.com Like our page and follow for extra online content at facebook.com/thepinetreepost Visit our online archive at http://pinetreepost. wordpress.com/ or at issuu.com/thepinetreepost