Back To School Issue

The

THE

BACK TO SCHOOL ISSUE

MR. LUC LEMLEY

OUR PRINCIPAL PAVES A NEW WAY

A NIGHT TO

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1

DEAR READER Ready or not, here we go again- another school year now sits right in front of us. This school year begins, once again, with a torrent of endless ‘stuff’. Whether it be panicking to finish an assignment at three in the morning or downing our fourth can of coffee at daylight, we should constantly allow ourselves time to breathe.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

In this perennial myriad of work, we often forget to take the time to deeply ponder about the greater good life has to offer us. We become so engrossed within our own microcosmic lives that we fail to recognize the wonderful opportunities presented to us. Yet, once a month we get the golden opportunity to observe the world around of us - especially through the eyes of students just like ourselves through The Quill.

In this issue, we (PunPun and Keshav) bring to you, along with our dedicated and diligent team of writers, editors, designers, and photographers, the first issue of The Quill for the 2015-2016 ICS academic year. This issue features articles ranging from the new BISAC rules, to an Alumni Interview to E-Sports, and much more. Undeniably, this issue is the most diverse issue published yet.

Now, we recommend that you put aside your other ‘stuff’ and pamper yourselves with this issue of The Quill, a beverage of your choice, and a comfortable position as we showcase to you some of the most exquisite pieces of writing! God Bless.

Keshav and PunPun C. (Editor In Chief’s of The Quill)

CONTENTS AROUND ICS 4 5

A Letter From the Principle Senior Session

Pang Vongsrirungruang

Eye 6 Eagle Jingjo Withayarukson

8 Alumni Profile Putt Rodchareon

ATHLETICS

8 Bisac Redifined 10 New Rules 12 Rags to Riches

AROUND THE WORLD

14 Explosions Shock

China to the Bone

15

MH370 Lost and Found?

16

Eagle Travels Istanbul

LIFESTYLE 18 The Rise of 20 Getting Into Your Dream School

22 Fame, Money,

OUR OPINION But Not 24 Gay, Happy

26 Timely Advice 28 Inner Beauty Shines

29 ASEAN

STATISTICS

30 New Students Enrollment

ARTWORK 30 Artwork of the Month

Volume 3 Issue 1 August 2015

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LAYOUT DESIGNER

ADVISOR

EDITORS

Punpun Chaiyakiturajai Keshav Garg Ms. Lissa Scott

PHOTOGRAPHERS Surawut Withayarukson Time Chaiteerath Erng Pawat Tanapoom Sermchaiwong

ART MANAGER Anna Chen

Coleman Weimer Surawut Withayarukson Koch Kasemsantitham Haripoom Prasutchai Tom Choi John Kim

WRITERS

Koch Kasemsantitham Haripoom Prasutchai

Tom Choi Anvi Mehta PunPun Leelamanthep Andrea Kwon Daniel Ha Yuho Su Gino Lin Amy Limtrajiti Arjav Sanghavi Ja Suvarn Andrew Justice Win Leelamanthep Bill Achariyasoonthorn

A LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL Dear high school students, Welcome back to the greatest school on the planet! If

you are a new student, I hope you find ICS to be a warm, welcoming environment full of teachers and students

who really do care about you! Returning students, it’s

been great to see your faces back in the halls of ICS, you really do make this place better! As most of you know, I

am the new High School Principal. I had the privilege of

spending five incredible years as a Social Studies Teacher, where I got to know most of you (except Freshmen,

sorry, I’ll learn your names ASAP!) in class. It was a very

different start to the school year for me this year as I was not planning lessons and getting a classroom ready for

the first time in many years. However, I can’t tell you how excited I am to undergo this journey as a principal with a student body as amazing as you all! I truly feel blessed.

I have always loved the beginning of each new school year, there is something about new beginnings and a

chance to start fresh that is so liberating. As you begin

a new school year, I encourage you to remember that a new beginning offers you a chance to start anew with

any aspect of your life. Whether you want to spend more time investing in building relationships with people or

working towards academic, theatric or athletic excellence, I urge you to set personal goals and work with

all of your mind, body and spirit to achieve those goals.

May this year be your best ever at ICS!

God Bless, Mr. Luc

SENIOR SESSION

by Ja Suvarn

Pang Vongsrirungruang

I heard that you just finished your student exchange program. Where is it that you studied?

Oakwood High School, Ohio

to eating alone. Most of the friends I made are from PE class, since there are more interactions in that class than any other class.

What types of culture shocks did you experience while studying abroad?

There’s no taxi. People often wear their sweatpants outside and their pajamas to school. Also, families don’t dine together that often.

What would you say is a notable difference between ICS and the school you attended?

ICS is more academicoriented while Oakwood is more centered around activities and social interactions. At Oakwood, there are more dress-up days and spirit weeks. The first three months is football season, so everybody would go to the watch the football games.

How is the community in the states?

They didn’t really care that I was a new kid, so I had to find my own friends.

Sometimes, I get annoyed because I’m not really used

What is the most significant lesson you’ve learned while studying there?

I used to think that my life was centered around ICS, but now that I’ve been outside of ICS and experienced a different community, I’ve learned to see the world in different perspectives, like how different people have different beliefs and worldviews.

Lastly, any words of advice to current exchange students who might be reading this right now?

Go on an adventure! Don’t hesitate to try new things!

What is your dream job?

EAGLES EYE Jingjio Withayarukson

by Ja Suvarn According to a lot of people, you are one of the fastest soccer players in our school. When was it that you joined the soccer team and which teams have you joined?

I joined the ICS soccer team when I was in 5th grade. I used to join the BCC soccer team when I was younger.

How long have you been playing for?

Around 5 years.

Why did you decide to opt for soccer in the first place?

My friends back at my old school all played soccer, so I basically have no choice and I joined them.

What was it like when you played soccer for the first time?

I felt excited and it was a memorable experience.

Do you recall any specific memorable moments when soccer comes to mind?

Every time I step on the field is the best moment.

Who is your favorite professional soccer player?

Ronaldo.

Lastly, do you have any tips or strategies that you would like to share?

Just work hard and remember why you started. ed the ICS soccer team when I was in 5th grade. I used to join the BCC soccer team when I was younger.

Q: How long have you been playing for?

Jingjo: Around 5 years.

ALUMNI PROFILE

by Bill Achariyasoonthorn

As sophomoric students, we join ICS as wild, crazy juveniles; we leave, however, as matured men and women. ICS has nurtured countless quality leaders. This column is to appreciate these alumni’s hard work and have them become our role models. The feature for the August Alumni Q & A is Putt Rodchareon ‘12. Putt graduated from ICS almost 4 years ago, and since then has been studying in Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Let’s see what he’s got to say.

It has been a while since you graduated from ICS. What are the things that you miss the most about this school? What are the things that you miss the least?

What do I miss the most? My friends. I’ve been here second grade and my friends have been with me throughout my years. What do I miss the least? The required classes.

If you had the choice to time travel back into your high school years at ICS, would you do it? Why? I would not. I don’t need to go back and change all of my mistakes, because mistakes are to learn from. All the mistakes that I’ve made—I’ve learn from them and applied everything in college.

As an alumni, you had the experience of being a senior. Do you have any advice for this year’s seniors to make their year even more memorable?

Take advantage of all the classes, even though in senior year you might slack off. Keep strong relationships with your friends and especially the teachers since they can help you in college.

You got accepted into Johns Hopkins, one of the most prestigious schools in the world. Many of our students would want to emulate your accomplishment. Do you have any tips for them?

Be yourself. Be proactive. If there is something you want to do it, go out and do it; don’t wait for someone else to do it for you. For example if there is something you like to do that the school does not provide, go out there and start a club. Constantly ask your teacher for feedback. Do it so that you could improve yourself and develop a good character.

Almost four years have passed since you went to college, this means you are about to attain a Bachelor’s degree. What are your near future plans?

I will be working in finance for Goldman Sachs next year. I also want to travel to all 7 continents.

Thanks for the time Putt, we honestly appreciate people like you uplifting ICS and its core values!

BISAC REDEFINED

by Koch

Kasemsantitham

What exactly do the new BISAC changes mean? Do they simply allow schools to give opportunities to less-skilled players to play in younger teams? Or do they suggest that schools with a larger body of students will secure dominance in various sports? These changes in rules for the BISAC tournaments leave questions for athletes, coaches, as well as the fans themselves.

From the perspective of a football player for ICS, I view this rule change as a challenge. It’s true that the lives of athletes from smaller schools will face opponents of the same skill level, but just an increase in their number.

Simply put, if you come from a small school you will likely face tougher opponents, and your opponents will be facing easier ones. The power struggle between the BISAC schools will become more evident, as we are able to see which players are being put down in play.

The next questions appear as why this rule was implemented? The current system of BISAC in which the respective players had been placed on a tryout where the best made it, and the worse players were simply cut. Now these players, who should be of older age than the rest, have the chance to make up for their skill and play in the Junior Varsity sides.

Although the rule has yet to seen any action or response, I feel like it has been a bad step towards the balance between the schools’ athletic teams. Fortunately, no impacts have been seen yet, and only time will tell.

0 4

New Rules During last week, tryouts for various sports occurred, including soccer, basketball, and cross country. With these sports coming about, students have prepared themselves and trained themselves for the endof-the-season BISAC tournament. These tournaments have received new changes to their rules, which will affect many aspects of

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Koch Kasemsantitham

the game.

Announced to the athletes during their tryouts as well as during the introduction to the academic year, the news of removed age-limits have received polarizing responses.

The new rule goes that players participating under the Junior Varsity category do not need to be under the age of 17 anymore.

Previously, the

Varsity and Junior Varsity sides had been known as the U-19’s and U-17’s.

This year, these age limits have been removed.

The new rule allows older players to join the younger sides.

“I think the new rules give an unfair advantage to the bigger schools...but I do believe that sports competitions come back to the simple dilemma of who wants it more,” says Mr. Esteban,

coach of the Varsity and Junior Varsity soccer teams.

Despite the addition of these rules, ICS athletes have continued to train hard in their respective sports and push forward for their first game of the season.

ICS’s first football game will be held on August 28th, against Wells International School. Be sure to bring your friends and support the school as it is also Spirit Day!

RAGS TO RICHES PunPun Leelamanthep

Mr. Jack Barr and his wife, Mrs. Jana Barr, immigrated from North Carolina to Bangkok 10 years ago. Their motive: to humbly serve our community here at ICS. In addition, they both are dogmatic proponents of ICS’s school mission: “Based of the bible, in partnership with parents, we teach the whole student to know and apply wisdom for the good of our world and the glory of God”. Today, Mr.Jack Barr serves as our Athletic Director as well as the weightlifting and lifeguarding coach for high school students.

Furthermore, Mr.Jack participates as a regular varsity basketball and varsity volleyball coach.

We were very fortunate to find ourselves a brief interview with him, considering his hectic schedule.

As the coach of a 4 time BISAC winning girls varsity basketball team, what are a few criterion to be accepted into the team?

I first and foremost look for girls that are determined to become better players. Next, I want players that believe in a team concept. Finally, I encourage all my players to use basketball to become better people.

What are expected of the athletes in terms of sportsmanship?

Sportsmanship must be a constant in their life, not just while playing basketball at ICS.

How does it feel to be coaching sports and seeing talented people in this school work together to achieve something bigger?

It is one of the most fulfilling things I do at ICS. Speaking of achieving something bigger, what inspired you to start writing the book “Failing at Fatherhood”?

My daughter and my wife. When Marley was born, I went through a very difficult time. Friends and Jana encouraged me to share my story with other fathers, so I could support them during their own difficult times.

How does it feel to have a daughter diagnosed with Down syndrome?

It has changed my life. It was not something I wanted, but God had used it to teach me many things. I am thankful that God has given me Marley because she has shown me my many deficiencies in my own faith.

Many people feel sorry for us because Marley has Down syndrome. But we often look at “ordinary” families and realize they will never experience the many triumphs and failures we encounter with Marley. If nothing else, Marley has made our lives exciting. The greatest thing God has taught us through Marley’s birth is we must trust His plan for our lives and not our own.

Check the Barr’s out @jackandjanamarley / www. iftheyhadavoice.org / www.mybigjesus.com https://jackbarrauthor.wordpress.com / http:// edition.cnn.com/2013/06/27/health/down-syndrome-father-essay

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Tom Choi

Explosions Shook China to the Bone

A warehouse erupted in flames on August 12 in the world’s 10th largest port city, Tianjin. Response to a report of fire was swift, as firefighters reached the area by 22:50 local time-and all seemed to be fine, save for the inferno that was rapidly brewing.

Then everything went awry.

Ruihai Logistics, the privately held company that owns the site of the warehouse, had been storing various chemicals, purportedly exceeding 10 times that of permitted amounts, leading to a chemical fire at the site.

The first responders, aged 18 to 24 and largely inexperienced, did not identify the contents of

the warehouse and began to spray water. This caused the fire to grow massively, leading to what happened next.

An explosion, then another.

The first recorded explosion that occurred sharp on 23:30 local time, was the equivalent of detonating 3 tons of TNT simultaneously. 30 seconds later, the second explosion would record a mind boggling 21 tons of TNT. The blast sent a shockwave that was recorded from up to 160km away, and caused seismographs to shift, recording a 2.3 magnitude on the Richter scale.

Initial casualties

included 50 people dead, most of them firefighters, and a further 170 injured.

A later government report issued on the 17th of August stated that 114 people had since died and a minimum of 700 were injured, while local and independent sources claim the number to be much higher. Furthermore, the explosions had lurched immense amounts of rapidly fatal chemical substances, and concerns grow as fear brews for further damage to come.

When day had finally broke, Tianjin met the world charred and cratered, with toxic fumes looming lofty above.

MH370 lost and found?

Recently there has been a massive spark of interest towards the disappearance of MH370. On March 8 2014 the Boeing 777 with 289 people on board vanished into thin air. 26 nations scrambled to recover the missing plane, and it was considered the “largest search in aviation history.�The search was believed to be a lost cause until recently plane wreckage floated onto the beaches of French Reunion Island. The wreckage discovered was concluded to be a flaperon of a boeing airplane. Searchers were amazed that the wreckage had travelled more than

3,700 kilometers away from the main search sites. When confirmation was made from authorities that the wreckage was truly part of the missing Boeing 777, the Malaysian authorities immediately declared that the missing airplane was finally found. This was met with criticism from French authorities over this hasty proclamation. French investigation department is still attempting to match the serial number of the debris to the missing malaysian airline. Aviation experts claims that matching the airplane would be harder, due to the amount of time the wreckages have been

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Gino Lin

under water (17 months).

With the only solid evidence being a flaperon, experts cannot clearly declare that the wreckage is indeed flotsam of MH370. Experts criticised the Malaysian government for poorly handling the sensitive case, for it was a desperate attempt to consolidate the grieving families. While this debate still continues, search teams have moved on towards the Reunion Island in a desperate bid to lay the dead to rest.

EAGLE TRAVELS: ISTANBUL Fayfay Prasutchai by

The Quill would like announce a new column on the magazine called “Eagle Travels”, where fellow readers can enjoy travel guides written

by ICS students for ICS students. We would like to first extend our assurance to all of you readers that the guide will try to be free of disappointments and pesky tourist traps (the only ones are probably really worth a

visit, though. Don’t worry.) What really matters is that all of you have wonderful inspirations of destinations to visit during breaks with family or friends.

This month’s featured destination is Istanbul, Turkey. Those of you who are taking or have taken AP World History may know it as Constantinople, where all

the trade-stuff happens, kind of. If you have heard about that, you will immediately be aware that Istanbul serves as the melting pot of the east and the west, where elements of both hemispheres of the world can be easily witnessed. So, why not take a look at this wonderful concoction of

1

Europe and the Middle East?

Known as the City of Two Continents, Istanbul is said to be one of the few locations where one can go from Asia to Europe in less than a minute. Tourist Trap Alert: One of the most world-renowned wonder is the Hagia Sofia Mosque. Once a Greek Orthodox Church, the Hagia Sofia contains remnants of the glorious days of the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire.

One can take a cruise on the Bosphorus Straits, the border between

“Asia” and “Europe” where one can have a glimpse of a very different perspective of the city. One will probably wonder if one is still in the Middle East. During the time on the cruise, picturesque palaces and mosques can be best viewed from the deck of the cruise.

After disembarking the boat, definitely take a visit to the Dolmabahçe Palace, a site that truly substantiates how well European and Middle Eastern Cultures have merged. As a palace modelled after the Versailles in the Parisian suburbs, the Dolma-

bahçe Palace is no less grandiose than the Versailles Palace.

Whilst you explore these wonders, forget not the exceptional cuisines that are embedded in Turkish culture. Don’t bother bringing English Tea or other snacks, for the Turkish Delight’s sweetness and Turkish Tea’s bitterness will, undeniably, freshen you.

Don’t forget that to travel is to widen your horizon. Let your wanderlust take control and start exploring!

Bon voyage!

The Rise of eSports

Pfft. ESports can’t be a real sport...can it?

Daniel Ha

Photo by: online.brescia.edu

Over the years, eSports have achieved publicity on an international scale. eSports did not gain popularity until Blizzard Entertainment released the iconic game StarCraft II (2010), which paved the way for the eSports scene.

Small competitions were held before eSports got into the public scene. When it was seen that eSporters were gaining serious amount of fortune, that was when the ball started to roll. As the eSports scene grew, one country popularized the gaming industry among ardent players with extraordinary talents. South Korea embraced gaming and the government funded gaming organizations.

South Korean players dominated StarCraft II until

other players, Europeans and Americans, also stepped up their games and joined in the competition.

This made StarCraft II a significant competition at an international level.

Competitions kept arising, and organizations worked to add aspects to eSports.

Many organizations and professional players saw a great potential in eSports, but could never attain the success they wanted. This all came to a change when Riot Games and League of Legends came into being.

By this time, DotA 2 had already been successful.

Despite that fact, Riot Games tried to corner the market, a strategy widely deemed to be impossible. However, Riot Games found a solution to nurture a competitive side to

League of Legends. Instead of requiring users to pay for the game, money was only used to buy characters and enhancements in the game (or “champions” and “skins” as called in the League of Legends jargon) if the user desires to. This allowed a steady flow of income which was strategically allotted into the competitive scene. Riot Games created a league of eight teams and paid the players to compete against each other, similar to the Premier League in Football.

There are competitions out in the eSports scene for a multitude of game titles, not only are those previously mentioned here, such as Dota2, StarCraft II, StarCraft: Brood War, or League of Legends. Some noteworthy mentions also include

games from every genre and for every liking, such as Counter Strike: Global Offensive, WarCraft II, Smite, Hearthstone, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Vainglory (a recently introduced game played on mobile devices). eSports is a million-dollar industry with a rapidlygrowing fan base. According to Twitch, up to 100 million viewers watch video game competitions online. Newzoo insists that these numbers will increase to 145 million by 2017. CEO of Unikrn, a site providing live streams of game competitions and allowing viewers to place bets, Rahul Sood, has stated that the amount of people who watch eSports is similar to those who watch NHL

Hockey. He also believes that by 2017, the number of views will on par with that of the NFL. eSports took a step further in its legitimacy due to Riot Games’ efforts. The League of Legends Championship Series was officially recognized as a sport by the U.S. Government.

The U.S. Government acknowledges professional League of Legends players as professional athletes and grants visas to work in the U.S. Not only is there eSports on the professional scene, it also has prominent position in American universities. A New York Times article published in December 2014 has revealed that some universities

have given out athletic scholarships to students who compete in games like League of Legends and Starcraft II. “Although ESPN president John Skipper dismissed eSports as being incomparable to “real sports,” more people watched the 2013 League of Legends World Championship (32.0 million) than did the BCS Championship (26.4) or Game 7 of the NBA Finals (26.3).” -Justin C. Wong, Harvard Crimson.

So next time when someone says eSports is not a real sport, they can look at figures and think again.

Getting into Your Dream School - Part 1: A Guide to Getting into University No. 1

Win Leelamanthep

Truly, in our contemporary world, getting admitted to one’s top choice university is an imperative priority. An introspective question, however, arises: are universities really that important? And if they are, what are some things one can do to increase one’s odds of getting in?

University, as most people will agree, is important.

Although dropouts, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg all went to

university.

But before you apply, you should stop. Stop. And Think. Ask yourself—what is your true passion? I believe that every one has, to an extent, something that they are passionate about. This passion isn’t limited to merely an academic field, but rather extends to the fine arts as well as to sports.

According to me, not having a passion is simply

walking blindly towards danger. Thus, finding a passion is essential. For me, it is medicine, and I simply have always known so. However, for those of you who are unsure, spend some time on the topic! Stuck and can’t find one? Try writing down things you would normally do in your free time. From the pointless conversations you have with your friends to the genre of YouTube videos you enjoy, they all

should have something in common. Then, extrapolate! Try finding the common theme amongst all those activities, and that should be an indicator of your passion!

Now, that you know what you know what you enjoy, it is time for a career search! Like the step above, some of you will be spending much less time on this part than others.

It begins by considering the careers related to your

passion, and thinking about which one you will enjoy.

Unsure of how to begin practicing your passion?

Don’t be afraid to try things out. Ask your local hospital or engineering firm for a week of work experience over a break!

Contact parents or their friends who work in that field, and talk to them about daily lives, roles, and responsibilities! Or even easier, use your

friend Google! Just search: “what is it like to be a civil engineer, a doctor, or any career of your choice.

After you know a career that you wish to pursue, a large part of getting into an A grade university is done.

Read the next volume to find out more about choosing your university and initial preparations!

Fame, money, Youtube

Andrea Kwon

Youtube has become one of the top social media outlets to date.

Many famous or controversial videos, whether it be music, political debates, or just plain comedy, have started from the homepage of Youtube.

Part of its incredible rise to the top of social medium has something to do with its special interaction with the viewers.

It gives a wide portal for the normal audience behind the screen a chance to suddenly be the star on the screen.

With that kind of oppor-

tunity, many new doors have been opened and chances handed out.

A click on a thumbnail, a thumbs up or a comment, a “publish” sign has never been more weighty. You never know what kind of new ideas will result from your actions.

While I have never been one to look down upon the fantastic chances Youtube has handed out to us, I do believe that the job opportunities have gone out of hand. Being an avid fan of many different youtubers, it’s very dis-

appointing to see them be eager to please their viewers one day, and then to be too busy making videos the next.

Busy because of what?

Participating in photo shoots, out advertising, or visiting movie premieres. Opportunities have been handed out by fans who’ve taken enough liking to a situation to shoot certain youtubers to celebrity status. Now, the same fans from the beginning of their internet history are being put in the backseat . The humble origins of many youtu-

bers fade throughout their fame. Without their viewers, they would still be… well, ordinary.

Some people like to argue that it’s unfair for youtubers to make millions by simply shooting 7 minute videos, doing “silly” things for entertainment purposes. But to those who moan and groan, I hope we all realize there’s a backstory to everything. If we think that we know it all because we saw one or

two videos and decided they were lazy people who swindled money off of the innocent, the intentions of the criticism is off by a long shot.

I’m not bashing on the haters, and I’m definitely not bashing on anyone’s success or fame. In fact, I think it’s a great example of how the 21st century has changed life for the better. Making money by sampling things behind a camera would not be possible just ten

years ago. But taking the success and the money and leaving behind the fans that made it all possible? That’s a little perturbing. And it’s not the million dollars or the celebrity friends that should be the focus of our evaluation, so to speak. The focus should be on whether or not the genuine crave for new innovative, creative thinking is still being put into videos.

Gay, but not happy Gay marriage. People all around us consider themselves as having strong opinions on this subject, especially after the controversial court case. However, when asked about it, most people realize that they actually don’t think much about this topic. People simply join bandwagons, rather than rationally approaching such a sensitive and paramount issue. Society has made gay marriage such a shunned, hushedconversation topic that

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Arjav Sanghavi

we only know tidbits of information. And what kind of opinion do you have on something you don’t really know? A highly prejudiced one.

Whether it be Nico di Angelo from the Percy Jackson series or Alec Lightwood from the Mortal Instruments, there is usually at least one gay character in every contemporary movie or book. This “celebration of gay rights” has completely perverted people’s views of the LGBT community.

NO! Gay people are not attracted to everyone of the same gender. NO! Being around gay people does not make you gay. I can’t begin to understand how one can have these views, even though I have seen them in my own life.

I was forced to quit Boy Scouts due to the fact that some of the leaders believed that staying (even at a one-night camp) in the proximity of a gay homosexal person would make one gay. The sheer irony of this makes me want to crack up, but

instead leaves me in a fit of sobs.

A few weeks ago, the court passed a longoverdue verdict that finally legalized gay marriage in all 50 states of the United States of America. This is big, but not as big as people have made it; so stop, you annoying rainbow freaks who have no interest whatsoever in legalities or actual gay rights. First of all, this law is only in the USA, not in the rest of the world.

Although, that’s probably going to get other countries to also legalize gay marriage. Secondly, the LGBT society is still and will probably not be accepted by the “regular” people in the near future.

Hate tales are coming in from all over the globe: houses being burnt down, people refusing to treat homosexuals like humans, as well as people committing murder. In the end, all this “new phase” in gay marriage rights winds down to being a big show by the US government.

I believe that we haven’t moved an inch forward, rather have taken a leap backward in the gay rights issue. This might seem like overstating things, but to me it seems like we are just hurting them (LGBT community) all over again in newer, more diverse, more subtle ways. All in all, we have a highly stereotypical view on the gay society, whether we believe it or not.

Timely Advice Andrea Kwon

Every since graduating primary school and stepping (horrified) into the hectic world of homework, I’ve found myself using one very specific excuse to wiggle out of situations, sometimes without meaning to. I sigh it to my mom as I sit at my desk. I groan it to my friends over the phone.

I cry it to myself as I go through heaps of homework or while I stare at my loaded planner.

Often times, I say it out loud just for self-pity’s sake.

“I don’t have time for

this.”

As in, I don’t have time to be meddling with thisand-that. I’m a busy person with many things to do, stressed for the lack of time to do so, and I have the absolute right to use the sassy excuse.

There is no room for nonsense.

Or is there?

The truth is, there is a time and place for anything and everything.

The little snippets of time I spend tapping out hearts on Instagram, or getting sidetracked taking 8 second snaps of “how busy I am” are all

simply excuses. Those small snags of minutes can collect into hours that you and I could spend doing much more productive things, or things we would much rather be doing. Summer has been a great two months for molding time to fit our happy whims, but now school schedules are slowly seeping back in through the cracks of reality.

Many of us students struggle to get back on track with the balancing act that comes with the new year.

Or perhaps you strug-

gle to tighten your reign on time. Perhaps your desires to do what you want and your obligation to do what you need conflict, and the want wins the need every round. In that case, self-control is a problem that needs to be fixed. And as hard as it sounds, turning yourself into the hands of a

responsible person to keep you accountable is the right thing to do.

If we keep grinding out the same ol’ sentence every time something unnecessary to our life comes up, then careful investigation to our time management must take place.

Time is an essential to the base foundation of

juggling school and social life. I’m no pro, but if 12 years of gripping a pencil has taught me one thing, it’s to take scheduling seriously.

Don’t wound yourself up too tightly or too loosely, and you’ll find that having fun and giving thought to your future can both be within your grip.

Inner Beauty Shines Amy Limtrajiti

When flipping through magazines, I never come across an overweight person on the cover. Instead, the media portrays either stick thin, curvy women or muscular, well-built men.

This has influenced many men and women around the world to believe that the only way to be to be beautiful is to look the way the magazines portray us.

Many women and men all over the world are harming their bodies and health to look like the ‘flawless’ models in magazines. But what they don’t understand is that real people aren’t perfect and perfect people aren’t real.

The notion of owning an ideally perfect body is an impossible standard of beauty that has been increasingly bombarded on us. Unfortunately, it has also lead to many serious eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia.

Society’s portrayal of our bod-

ies has caused us to become pressured to look a certain way in order to be accepted. However, truth tells that we can never naturally reach those standards, because the models on the magazines have been contrived to quite an extent. The images are deliberately edited and photoshopped by professionals.

As an anonymous person once stated, “Beautiful, in my opinion, has nothing to do with looks or weight. It’s how you are as a person and how you make others feel about themselves.”

One can be skinny, curvy, or muscular, but have the worst personality.

No matter what, one will lose true inner beauty if kindness, selflessness, and forgiveness aren’t present.

The outside, unlike the inside, cannot tell one’s personality, values, or characteristics. No individual is born to be perfect;

all are born with flaws. That is what makes us humans.

Despite what the magazines portray, one does not have to be a size 0 to be considered beautiful. Being kind and helpful is far more charming.

“A pretty face gets old, a nice body will change. But a good person will always be a good person.”

I challenge you- don’t think about the short term happiness by focusing on only outer appearances. Good personalities last, while outer beauty will age with time, and a ‘perfect’ body won’t stay forever.

Instead of focusing on your appearance, start nourishing your personality and character.

A number on a scale does not define your worth or who you are. Remember: beauty is only skin deep.

SPOTLIGHT

ASEAN Andrew Persons

If a person has lived for long enough in a Southeast Asian country, chances are that he/ she knows the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Ironically, however, it is highly unlikely that that person would know the importance of ASEAN. In this first edition of Spotlight, ASEAN will not only be explained, but it will also be shown relative to the ICS student body itself.

nial relations within nearby countries. Since its formation, the ASEAN organization has been responsible for improved relations between Southeast Asian nations, most notably Indonesia and Malaysia. There are now 5 additional members in ASEAN, including Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Singapore, bringing the total member states up to ten.

ASEAN was founded on August 8, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

ASEAN was formed under the motto “One Vision, One Identity, One Community,” with the goal of developing better economic and political relations within the regions as well as maintaining ge-

One of ASEAN’s most recent and controversial projects, which has the potential to impact ICS, is the ASEAN Economic Community. With this policy in place, there will be increased deregulation of needed border crossing documentation between ASEAN nations. While this

would be a promising idea for international diplomacy, it exposes enormous human rights threats.The policy is ideal for labor to transition from nation to nation, but taking into account the issue of human trafficking, reconsideration is necessary. The direct effects of the ASEAN economic community are all speculation at this point, but the policy will come into effect at the end of 2015.

When that happens, what will the ramifications be for Bangkok as an economic hub? ICS students, parents, and faculty alike should keep a close eye on these developments, and if any Juniors need Capstone projects in the months to come, the problems presented by the ASEAN Economic Community may just offer golden opportunities.

New Students

Enrollment

These three graphs may not seem like ICS is growing in the new number of students. But, did anyone know how to build a snowball? Even though the growth of the new students do not increase consistently year after year, the total amount of the new students per year exceeds the total amount of the students that leave ICS. So, that is why ICS has more and more students each year.

b y Yu h o S u

School Year Elementary Middle School High School

2005~06 2006~07 2007~08 2008~09 2009~10 2010~11 2011~12 2012~13 2013~14 2014~15

97 98 81 85 80 67 103 75 79 65

43 36 38 24 32 42 31 34 45 46

14 37 15 26 30 17 22 20 32 20

Total

154 171 134 135 142 126 156 129 156 131

ARTWORK OF THE MONTH

by Winnie Thaitrakulpanich

acrylic painting depicts the delicacy “ This and beauty of hummingbirds. She uses principles of design, specifically repetition and variation, for unity and aesthetic appeal.

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