Commencing 2016

“Time flies– value it!”

-John Kim

ISSUE 5

As we struggle to write the correct year on our school assignments, we realize that we have already infiltrated into 2016. What a journey! For the past thousands of years, we have progressed from stone/clay tablet journalism to premium e-magazines such as the Quill. This month we bring to you an amalgamation of novel perspectives, whether that mean meticulously rating the 2016 US presidential candidates, or correcting contemporary “educational� systems.

The Quill stands for quality, integrity, and profundity; this year, however, we will dedicate ourselves to introducing freedom. Our 2016 vision is to achieve a sense of candidness. We want our writers to tackle byzantine issues, we want our photographers to capture bold moments, we want you as readers to feel engaged by our contemplative subjects. Ranging from the questioning of popular social media norms to reporting unjust H bomb tests by North Korea, our first January Issue of the Quill is a small step forward towards our goal this year.

Our request from you readers? Join us on our journey this year. Take excursions in the Eagles Travel sections, daydream in our Book Review section, appreciate fellow community members through Senior and Eagle Eye sessions, immerse yourselves in philosophical analyses of our everyday lives in our Opinion and Editorial sections. Welcome aboard dear reader, and cheers to a new start!

Quillfully Yours, Titapa C. and Keshav G.

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TRAVEL

INTERVIEWS

Senior Session John Kim Eagles Eye Emily Person

SPORTS

Eagles Take Home Silver

OPINIONAIRES

Unpopular Opinion: Netfix But First, Instagram

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Education Systems

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Merit Based on Academic Performance

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Wanderlust -

Ho Chi Minh City

GLOBAL NEWS/POLITICS

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North Korea Big Boom

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Outlooks Shattered s US Primaries Edge Closer

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BOOK REVIEW Carry On

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ARTWORK OF THE MONTH

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Titapa Chaiyakiturajai Keshav Garg ADVISOR Ms. Lissa Scott PHOTOGRAPHERS Surawut Withayarukson Teerawat Chaiteerath Pawat Wirawan ART MANAGER Anna Chen LAYOUT DESIGNER Surawut Withayarukson Phatsawut Achariyasoonthorn

EDITORS Koch Kasemsantitham Haripoom Prasutchai Tom Choi John Kim WRITERS Koch Kasemsantitham Haripoom Prasutchai Tom Choi Anvi Mehta Chanaradee Leelamanthep Yihyun Kwon Jin Ha Yuho Su Gino Lin Satida Limtrajiti Arjav Sanghavi Naran Suvarnpradip Andrew J. Person Win Leelamanthep

JOHN KIM

By Daniel Ha Photos By Teerawat Chaiteerath

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Interview

Interview

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Congratulations on being accepted into Vanderbilt University! What major and career do you have in mind?

I applied for Biological Sciences, but I have no idea what I am going to do. However, there’s one thing I do know– I’m definitely not going to be a doctor.

Graduation is just around the corner (May 21, 2016). What are some of your favorite moments you’ve experienced so far, and what are some things you look forward to?

I really enjoyed hanging out with my friends, which would relieve a lot of stress for me. I also loved playing in the basketball team during my sophomore year. Mr. Tim was not only a good sports coach, but he was also a great coach spiritually and morally. I look forward to going to college.

What is your dream?

Visit ALL the countries.

What is your philosophy towards your work?

Work is important, but never forget about other priorities.

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Interview

What are some of your hobbies?

Basketball, badminton, piano, composing music, watching movies, league of legends, texting, texting in class, eating, eating in class…?

What is your greatest strength or weakness?

My greatest weakness is that my greatest strength is my greatest weakness of my greatest strength.

What is one embarrassing thing you’ve done?

I told my kindergarten teacher my stomach hurt because I did not want to eat my veggies. It turned out the part of the stomach I had pointed to was where my appendix was, and I had to get a full check up at a hospital.

What is your favorite quote?

“Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down. Never gonna run around and desert you” - Rick Astley Do you have any advice for the underclassmen?

Time flies. Value it.

“My greatest weakness is that my greatest strength is my greatest weakness of my greatest strength.�

Interview

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Interview

EMILY P ERSON

By Naran Suvarnpradip Photos By Teerawat Chaiteerath

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n 16 January 2016, the girls’ varsity basketball team accomplished an astounding feat of bringing home silver from BISAC. Today, we are here from the Quill to interview one of the star players of ICS’ varsity basketball team, Emily Person. Let’s see what she has to say about her experience as a basketball player, and how she got to where she is today.

Interview

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How does it feel to be a freshman on the varsity basketball team?

It’s been fun to be able to grow and challenge myself with amazing teammates and coaches.

This year, there have been a lot of younger players, but it is still cool to get to spend time this and last season with older people who know what they’re doing.

How long has it been since you’ve started playing basketball?

When I was around 10 years old.

Who or what would you say is the reason you started playing basketball?

When I was around 10, my parents sent me to an Upward basketball camp. In 6th grade, I just decided to try out and made it, and really enjoyed it so I kept playing.

Can you describe your early years with basketball?

I joined U13 during my 6th grade year. At first I was sort of nervous and unsure of what to do at practices. In 7th grade, I played in JV and we had practices with the varsity team.

Coach Jack [Barr] really helped me to develop my skills

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Interview

Do you tend to play offensively or defensively?

I’m an average scorer, but I feel like I contribute a lot with assists to other players and setting them up to score.

What is your favorite memory of being with the basketball team?

One of my favorite memories is definitely winning BISAC last year by playing alongside strong captains and with the team supporting each other. Going to tournaments in Chiang Mai and Hong Kong is also a favorite memory. When we were in Hong Kong last season, we played against a team from a sports academy in China who had trained since they were children to be future national players. I made a basket and then an assist to McKenna, although we knew we had no chance of beating them in the end.

Would you say you excel the most in basketball out of every other sport?

I’d say probably.

Other than basketball, what other sports do you play?

I started playing soccer this year, and really enjoyed it. I did tennis, swimming, and badminton when I was younger and I also have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, but I have not done those activities since 6th grade

“I’m an average scorer, but I feel like I contribute a lot with assists to other players and setting them up to score.

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Eagles Take Home Silver

By Koch Kasemsantitham Photos by Jordan

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n 16-17 January, ICS was represented by the Varsity Girls Basketball Team in the annual BISAC Tournament. The girls, playing at RIS, managed to bring silver home from the 2 days there. Beating the likes of RIS and HIS, ICS suffered defeats at the hands of ISB and long time champions - ASB.

This year’s ICS Varsity Girls team had to undergo large transitions because some of the best performing players that had done well in past seasons left as they graduated last year. Sierra Sinclair-Peters, Yelly Pornvisawaraksakul, and Praise Kittipol, 3 seniors, were co-captain for this year’s team.

Early in the season Praise suffered with asthma, being hospitalised for about a month during the season. At this tournament she supported the team on the bench, watching her teammates play the final game.

As the day began, ICS had group games against Harrows International School, International School Bangkok, and the host Ruamrudee International School. ICS got a victory over Harrows, easily bypassing them. The team then faced the host, playing for the position in the finals The ICS vs RIS game was driven into overtime as the final scoreboard for the 4 quarters showed a tie of 41-41. Three minutes were added and ICS got the edge, securing their place in the finals.

During the girls’ final against ASB, freshman Jordan Alexis Epley (JoJo) and junior Ji Woo Park suffered injuries in their knee and hand/foot, respectively. Jordan had to stop playing due to the injuries, but Ji Woo fought through her injuries.

“I was willing to sacrifice anything for my beloved team,” Ji Woo Park said, on playing through the injuries.

Despite their best efforts, ICS lost to ASB in their final match of the 2015-16 BISAC tournament.

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Sports

“I was willing to sacrifice anything for my beloved team.�

-Jiwoo Park

Unpopular Opinion:

By Anvi Mehta Photo by Pawat Wirawan

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fter millions of illegally downloaded episodes and movies, finally, Thailand has introduced the American provider of on-demand Internet streaming media, Netflix. Although it has been highly anticipated by the hoi polloi, I highly doubt that it will change much in the realm of entertainment.

Often I heard people complaining about not having access to Netflix unaware that they were soon going to have access to it. Majority of those people still have not made any sort of effort towards purchasing a Netflix account. Why spend that extra 280 to 420 baht when you can watch the same material in the same quality without any charge whatsoever, right?

On the other hand, there are still a large

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Opinionaire

amount of people that have subscribed themselves to Netflix. Although they are finally watching the material legally, they are streaming at a faster pace than when they were streaming illicitly. Eventually, they will be enticed to their screens and will choose staying in and watching a movie or watching another episode of a series rather than hanging out with friends.

Although most people are excited by the arrival of Netflix in Thailand, how many have actually gone through the effort of subscribing? And if they have already done so, how many have not become addicts? This number is extremely minimal. Instead, we need to have a balanced amount of both, so don’t refuse to hang out with a friend. However, that still doesn’t mean that you can’t have a little time to yourself by Netflixing.

But First, Instagram

By Yihyun Kwon Photo by Teerawat Chaiteerath

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nyone who's sat on the internet for long enough is fully aware that for the most part, there is far more to a picture than what meets the eyes. With aesthetics coming in strong as the new major point for approval, people are beginning to look for places to unleash their want of a hip community. While Tumblr and Twitter are super powers of the social media industry, there’s a new king in town: Instagram. Boasting 300 million active users, it clearly dominates the media field.

But like the other applications, Instagram is only a platform for us to build upon. The responsibility for the direction of this social media outlet falls solely on the users themselves, I myself included.

So what’s the big deal? For one thing, it’s not bad to want to know what’s going on in the lives of others.

I mean, who doesn’t like looking good for a shot? Who doesn’t like scrolling through the approval hearts, responding to comments about the seemingly picture perfect life you lead? (Pun intended.) But when a few pretty photos and a few likes costs you more time than you're willing to admit, causes you to sit working your thumbs to paint the right filter onto the right picture, there is a problem.

Granted, it does seem minor in the grand scheme of things, but it’s the small issues that collect to make the greatest impact in daily life.

There will always be good and bad to both sides of the argument, and I’m not here to shun the use of social media. But on more than one occasion I’ve sat down for a social gathering, only to realize that the social gathering is happening online. I’ve gone to parties where the only real thing happening is the glamorous pictures being taken to be shipped off to Instagram, where everybody who didn’t go will be faked into understanding that the event was amazing. A picture is worth a thousand words, and often not all those words are genuine.

That’s the biggest flaw to this new generation of “Instagramming”: there is no more honesty behind the pictures. The filters, the overfixed descriptions, the poses and all of its deliberacy has bittered the flavor of genuinity. Living life means more than an app on a phone, folks.

The next time you stop for a chat with your friend, resist taking that hip shot of your coffee for Instagram. Instead, leave your phone in your pocket and invest in the life of the person sitting in front of you.

Education Systems

By Amy Limtrajiti Photos by Pawat Wirawan

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t’s banal to find students spending most of their time cramming for assessments, which ironically results in the pupils forgetting all of the material directly after the assessments.

This ritual contrasts with the fundamental motive of an educational institution: to learn. Instead of learning the material, the majority of students are

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Opinionaire

solely rotely memorizing required information for these tests and exams. I, along with most students, contend that school should be a hub for learning and applying knowledge into practical areas of life, rather than cramming combinations of obscure definitions.

Left: Elementary classroom’s scenario Bottom: An empty classroom

All over the world, the value of education seems to have shifted. Originally, these institutions of higher learning were built as places to educate using profundity. However, contemporarily, the pressure for grades is far more overwhelming than the original premise of learning. Definitevely observable, the current main goal of a student is to achieve good grades. Rather than wanting to learn about the topic in order to increase their perspective of the universe, students now aim for A’s. Ergo, the students plainly memorize the given information for the test. After the test, no information has been gained, which defeats the entire premise of these “educational” systems.

However, the student isn’t the sole constituent of the debacle. Schools and education systems have also slowly shifted their values to lean toward grading (not to mention grade inflations). The impetus, today, has become the grade rather than knowledge. Although grades can be an efficient way of helping to motivate the student towards learning, it should not be the highlight in learning.

In conclusion, the focus on grades and cramming in information for tests is a burgeoning fiasco and it needs to be controlled. In my opinion, one possible panacea is to relate the subject with everyday surroundings.

Explaining how students can use the topic in their day to day affairs can strongly influence them to want to acquire more information about the topic. After all, give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Opinionaire

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Merit Based On Acad

By Chanaradee Leelamanthep Photos By google.com, cloudcatamaran.com

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n every school, there exists a place for everyone, whether they are exemplary scholars or just an ordinary student.

Should a sponge and a paper towel be used for the same matter? If those objects were utilized for similar purposes, what problems would they encounter?

Should a school organize classes by student ability? By ability grouping, the brainy students will be able to examine the lesson

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Opinionaire

at their own pace, without having to wait for others like a sponge absorbing 10 milliliters of water in a twinkling of an eye, while mediocre students can study in their preferred pace. Also, students can be challenged when they are grouped within similar potential. By comparing, it motivates them to bring their A game. Although it seems like a win-win situation, tracking students can bring discomfort to some

demic Performance individuals.

By segregating classes, it emphasizes the cognitive abilities among students, possibly making the lower level experience inferiority and scorn. Not only that, lower level students who are too relaxing can prevent themselves from attaining their true potential.

detest the idea because being recognized as a minor sabotages my self-respect. By having just three levels: standard classes, honorable classes, and Advanced Placement classes, it is the best alternative for a school to ensure everyone’s comfort.

Personally, I prefer the idea of ability grouping, but considering if I were to be in the shoes of the lower level student, I would

Opinionaire

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Travel

Wanderlust : Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

By Haripoom Prasutchai Photos by: silverlandhotels.com & Tonten Photography

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nce named Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City was the setting of many historical theaters such as the French Imperialist period, the Indochina Wars, and finally, the Vietnam War, which all enriched the cultural and historical value of this city.

Travel

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named Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City was the setting of many historical theaters such as the French Imperialist period, the Indochina Wars, and finally, the Vietnam War, which all enriched the cultural and historical value of this city. Given its former capital status of the French Indochina, the city is clichédly, yet aptly, nicknamed the “Paris of the Orient.” However, the city’s beauty lies not only in the occidentally-styled buildings, but also its world-renowned cuisine– from the French baguette à la vietnamienne--bánh mì, to the quintessentially Asian noodle phở (pronounced fuh).

Among an abundance of Parises of the Orient, the nickname travel magazines gratuitously give to a myriad of cities in Asia, Ho Chi Minh City is undoubtedly most deserving of the title, which is apparent in its history and the prestigious monuments that stand conspicuously as attractions of the wonderful city and One of the most outstanding attractions is the Independence Palace. Once functioned

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Travel

as the presidential residence and workplace of US-backed South Vietnam, the Palace was the site of South Vietnam’s last surrender to the communist North Vietnam. A visit to the Palace is comparable to a visit to the White House, only abandoned, as it was designed by the country’s best, Paris-educated architect.

If the city itself does not give the French ambiance promised by its nickname, the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica definitely will. Its bricks, materials, architects, and priests were all directly shipped from France. So here could be a challenge: find something that does not appear French there. The cathedral was also the site of an interesting phenomenon, in which its Statue of the Virgin Mary had tears flowing down its right cheek that caused a freeze in surrounding traffic.

Ho Chi Minh City, as mentioned, has been the setting for many conflicts, one of which is the Vietnam War. The War Remnants Museum and the Củ Chi tunnels will make a history aficionado’s day.

The former exhibits aspects of the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese perspective, a fresh one as opposed to the American one presented at ICS, while the latter gives a hands-on experience of how the Communist Viet Cong, through building underground tunnels to avoid US detection, ultimately flourished under US attacks during the War. Both of these will help understand the psyche of the nation of Vietnam in general.

Definitely, if history becomes tiring, food never fails to reenergizes. Forget expensive meals at posh restaurants with “innovative” east-meets-west cuisine, because Vietnam has been doing it for more than a century, and it costs no more than 50 baht. Introducing the bánh mì, French baguette stuffed with Vietnamese fillings and condiments. A bite of it will yield a savory, coriander-laced Southeast Asian taste, marvelously complemented by the salty baguette.

Moreover, unsurprisingly, phở, simply the Vietnamese version of guay-tiao, is omnipresent. Is any more explanation needed?

Though Ho Chi Minh City’s mall-style shopping is not renowned as its Southeast Asian counterparts, the city’s ecstatic Bến Thành Market offers all the souvenirs a tourist looks for in Vietnam: the aó dài (Vietnamese traditional costume), local handicrafts, and textiles. But don’t be tricked by its touristic outlook. Bargain if you need to--this is where everybody can become a Saigonese.

These unique characteristics of this amalgam of different cultures make Ho Chi Minh City no less interesting than other cities in Asia. With the ASEAN Economic Community already in place and a more open and barrierless Southeast Asia around the corner, a visit to this neighboring potential economic powerhouse is a must as a residence of Thailand.

Various airlines offer flights throughout the day every day from both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang Airports to Ho Chi Minh City. Flights normally last 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Travel

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North Korea Big Boom

By Gino Lin Photo by Associated Press

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ast December, North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong Un claimed that his country possessed a hydrogen bomb (H-bomb). The country goes further on by declaring that they have successfully detonated the H-bomb. This bold move was immediately frowned upon by the international committee and the sternest coming from the United Nations. North Korea had previously signed an agreement regarding the development of nuclear weapons with the UN. Despite multiple warnings and economic sanctions, North Korea now apparently has made great leaps and possibly truly possess a H-bomb.

Further alarms were raised when North Korea’s news agency proclaimed the successful detonation of the H-bomb, a feat that could possibly be related to the 5.1 magnitude earthquake. South Korea has turned on their mega speakers in retaliation for the H-bomb testing. K-pop songs and international news were broadcasted towards North Korea through their specially modified speakers despite North Korea’s threat of obliterating them. The North Korean have attempted to drown out the South Korean speakers with their own, but it is often unheard of because of their inferiority.

Outlooks Shattered As US Primaries Edge

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By Tom Choi

n the Democrat camp, Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) appears to have risen over Hillary Clinton to become Iowa Democrats’ top choice, a Quinnipiac University poll reports.

According to the poll, Sen. Sanders received 49% support from Iowa’s Democratic caucus-goers.

Mrs. Clinton received 45%. Iowa is the first state to elect its candidate of choice, in what is called the US presidential primary. Iowa’s primary is held on Feb 1.

Compared to a previous poll in December which projected 40% for Sen. Sanders and 51% for Mrs. Clinton, this January poll is a large shift.

This highlights a sharp generational divide between voters aged above and below 45. Those whose age was below 45 favor Sen. Sanders with a roughly 2:1 ratio, while those above favor Mrs. Clinton. Experts are also citing multiple new endorsements for Mr. Sanders as another likely cause for these shifts.

Nationally, 48% of Democratic primary voters support Clinton, while 41% back Mr. Sanders, the poll found. This is also a shift from December’s poll where 52% supported Mrs. Clinton while 32% supported Sen. Sanders.

Despite the competitive poll numbers, 7 in 10 Democratic voters still believe Mrs. Clinton will ultimately win the nomination.

In the Republican side, major shifts are yet to be seen as Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz (RTX) continue to lead opinion polls. Mr. Trump has yet to fall from the lead as he maintains 35% support from Republican primary voters. Next is Mr. Cruz with 20%.

The last shift within the GOP was last November, when Dr. Ben Carson briefly took the lead over Trump with 24.8% support. Since then, Mr. Carson has experienced a sharp drop, currently hovering at 9%.

Photos by Associated Press

Politics

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Book Review: Carry On

By Arjav Sanghavi Photo by Associated Press

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can still remember my anguish when I got to the 607th page of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This was when I realized I would see the last of Hogwarts and the Wizarding World.

Many other books soon started coming out, but reading them just turned out to be a disappointment, as nothing could come close to the standard J.K. Rowling had set. But don’t you Potterheads worry, because there is an equally amazing book out there. Introducing (epic music), Carry On by Rainbow Rowell.

The first time I picked this book up, I was highly skeptical about it. The synopsis on the back was highly pathetic, and it seemed like this book was just some lame Harry Potter fanfiction. As I slowly delved into this book, I was surprised to find not only one of the most driving, compelling plots of all time, but also a unique love story that I had somehow fallen in love with. The book felt too good to be true at times, and I endlessly caught myself rereading pages, wishing I were somehow in that book. I was so addicted, that I, for the first time ever, searched up some actual fanfiction of this book, and am still reading it as I write this.

The story was mostly narrated by the two main characters: Simon Snow and Basilton Pitch; however, there were also several other characters who narrated in between: Penelope Bunce, Agatha Wellbelove, the Mage, Lucy, and many more. Unlike most authors

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Book Review

who tend to create a shared thought bubble between characters, Carry On makes each character unique.

Through this maverick style and puzzle-like character descriptions, we readers obtain an epic finale. There are way too many books that build-up wonderful storylines and then drop readers off at a highly unfaithful endings. Thankfully, this story does the complete opposite, making the ending very memorable, while keeping it completely logical (and highly unpredictable).

Although this book was not primarily a love story, the tension between the two main characters Simon and Baz was very tangible.

The final quirk that had me laughing my butt off: the magic. You’ll understand.

Critique by Anna Chen Artwork by Arb Kasensamtitham

In this still-life drawing, Arb depicts an array of items that don’t usually come to mind when people think of Thailand. The subtle shading and details are achieved through graphite pencil.