The Quill Volume 2 Issue 4

Quill The

HELPING FELLOW FRIENDS

FRESHMEN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT BY

FAYFAY PRASUTCHAI

February 2015

Quill The

Letter from the Editor

Dear readers,

The start of a new calendar year is supposedly a fanciful notion of a fresh

beginning and a clean slate, with infinite possibilities from the choices we are about to make. In reality, it’s one of the most demanding times of year for most of us, as we return from holidays and dive back into an overflowing schedule. As I talk with friends and teachers regarding their plans, the word “chaotic” keeps popping up. No matter how exciting this may be for the select few, it is a certainty that the exhaustion will catch up and crash into us.

Our first issue of the year is a call for us to take a breath and realize what it is that we’re doing and why we’re doing it. You won’t encounter any New Year’s resolutions, but you will discover various angles on the ideas and positions in which success is built from such as the 9th graders’ community service project during the Christmas break and Panpan’s success in getting into Parsons. Clearly, we don’t often find time to ponder over the hidden conceptions that form our character, meaning, and work of our own volition. However, I hope that in light of any significant choices you will be making in the upcoming year, we at the Quill hope we can help you find some time to look back and recognize the little things that got you this far.

Quill-fully yours,

Will Leelamanthep Editor-in-Chief

The

Contents

Quill

AROUNDICS

OUROPINION

4 Troubled Teens

18 Waikay’s Corner

Triple T 8 Helping Fellow Friends 10 Senior Session and

February 2015

Volume 2 Issue 4 February 2015

4

Sexism, Feminism, and Christian Conservatism

Punpun Supatchapichai

18

agle Eye 11 E Community Service

ATHLETICS 12 Onto The New!

AROUND WORLD the

14 Defiance and the

Troika 16 Boko Haram: “disturbances in Nigeria”

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LAYOUT DESIGNER

Will Leelamanthep

Pann Sermchaiwong Surawut Withayarukson

ADVISOR Ms. Lissa Scott

SECRETARY Poom Sethabutr

PHOTOGRAPHERS Pann Sermchaiwong Surawut Withayarukson Time Chaiteerath

EDITORS

Young Kwang Shin Poom Sethabutr Prim Thientanakij Khem Somsak

WRITERS

Keshav Garg Win Leelamanthep

Fayfay Prasutchai Poom Chiarawongse Poon Vorapanyaskul Kitty Rodchareon Grace Hsieh Tom Choi Poom Sethabutr Khem Somsak Young Kwang Shin Gid Jiranuntarat John Kim PunPun Chaiyakiturajai Koch Kasemsantitham

Trouble Teen Triple T

by ChaeYeon Kim

AROUNDICS

February 2015

Over the past week, ICS students have had classes shortened by ten minutes and were rushed into their respective Triple T sessions at the end of each day. Triple T, which stands for Truth, Temptation, and Transformation, is ICS’s yearly seminar week where students focus on different issues and concerns they face as teenagers. It is led by the ICS teachers and seminar leaders from outside of the school. The purpose of this seminar is to help students find the true values of their lives through the discussions of a myriad of 0 temptations and dilemmas 4

they face and lead them to a healthier transformation.

All students, divided up by gender, attended Sex Education I : Body Talk on the first day and Sex Education II, III, and IV, focusing on the topics of abstinence, statistics about sexual activity, sexually transmitted diseases and the importance of setting our own boundaries regarding sexual activity.

What was notable for this year’s Triple T was that, unlike the past when the students were divided up by their genders and grade levels, this year they had choices on which teacher they want to hear from and on

which course level they wish to take. This allowed students to avoid listening to the same lectures from last year.

Moreover, ICS has extended the Triple T week several years ago from a three-day to a five-day seminar as more topics were included. From Wednesday to Friday, the students also chose options from numerous seminars offered on each day. This year, ICS added several new classes such as ‘Pressure for Success and Success Under Pressure’, led by Mr. John, ‘The Supernatural and You’,

by Mr. Tim, and ‘Fairy Tales, Fables, Prince Charming and You’ by Mrs. Jana, which

our lives and being reluctant to talk about them are myopic attitudes that will result only in a temporary comfort that will later cause an inevitable dead end where students feel helpless about what to do because they have never heard or thought about it before. At that point in time, it is too late. An open discussion in school about what is actually happening in students’ lives and practical advice are necessary for a productive and healthier transformation.

Many teachers and students feel thankful and blessed that ICS is willing to talk about such sensitive yet crucial topics and say that they are already looking forward to the new seminars next year.

February 2015

survey responded that they were glad to have attended Triple T.

Although some would say that ICS, as a Christian school, is still reluctant to discuss the sensitive topics regarding the realities that teenagers face, ICS has come a long way from its former state, such that students are now more free to express their ideas on topics such as sex, pregnancy, and abortion that are regarded as taboos.

Where there is sex, there is often pregnancy and perhaps even abortion.

We no can longer pretend that we do not know what is happening when we all know that teenagers are out there making life-changing mistakes. Pretending that they are not happening in

AROUNDICS

elicited positive responses from girls.

As with the addition of new courses, ICS has always been improving the quality of seminars every year, in regards to what people should talk about and what needs should be addressed by taking account of the feedback from the teachers and students. The students’ evaluations were mixed.

Whereas some students say that the seminars were beneficial, others say that some were boring because they have heard it all before.

Nevertheless, most students say that they have gained important lessons from the seminars as reflected in last year’s survey. According to Mrs. Sheila, 85% of the hundred students who participated in an evaluation

Helping Fellow Friends by

During the past Christmas break, we ICS students have spent our wintertime in different ways.

Of course, many of us spent the time to temporarily flee from the arduous school sessions and enjoy ourselves.

Some of us exploited the valuable time and enriched their knowledge and skills to perform better in school or in other interesting talents.

However, in times when most of us were reposing or

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Fayfay Prasutchai

improving ourselves, there were people who were willing to sacrifice their break time to improve the wellbeing of less fortunate peers in their societies. Not only this act of service and sacrifice is admirable, but it is what ICS wants us to be: a responsible citizen.

“In Christmastime, being the time of giving and loving, I’d like invite ICS kids to be a part of witnessing the students

receiving the shoeboxes, not only packing them,” said Dr Ben, ICS English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, also who committed himself to spread the joy and the true meaning of Christmas to children in primary schools and health centres. Part of his initiative is simply making children happy by singing, dancing, entertaining them, giving them gifts in shoeboxes. Dr Ben’s community service

who needs us. One small act of kindness from us, who have enough, can make a huge difference to someone,” added Jean, a 10th grader who participated in both of these community service projects.

These exemplary initiatives should be motivations for other members of the ICS community to concern about the welfare of those who do not have the sustenances and luxuries to live easily as we do. Because we happen to share this land where we live, we are naturally obliged to help those who need our help. Not only it will satisfy them, but it will fulfil our hearts like never before.

February 2015

help improve the conditions of a school’s decrepit facilities, teach English to the younger students, and have fun with the students there. The 4-day trip was a memorable trip for students as not only a voyage to enjoy themselves, but also spend time helping other people enjoy themselves.

“I’ve really enjoyed the community services I did over the past Christmas Break. At the end of each day, seeing the kids’ smiles is the most awesome reward after a long tired day. I never see community service as a challenge. I see it as an opportunity to change this world and to help people

AROUNDICS

projects had up to 10 students to help with this endeavour to shed happiness in such a happy occasion.

The services took place at schools in the Phraeksa Area in Samut Prakan area, where population with restricted opportunities still reside.

Other words of applause would have to go the Class of 2018’s freshmen and their parents, who organised a service trip to Wat Nong Bon Daeng School in Chon Buri province, approximately one hour and half from Bangkok. This service project amassed up to 60 students from both high school, not only 9th grade, and also Middle School, to

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SENIOR SESSION with Punpun

Supatchapichai

BY

Poon Vorapanyasakul

Q: An ICS planning to study fashion design is a rare sight. Do you have any suggestions for underclassmen who wish to go down this career path?

Punpun: Start your portfolio as soon as possible. Find your style. Find yourself.

Don’t force it. Don’t follow other trends. Be yourself, follow your instincts.

Q: Why did you decide to become a fashion designer?

Punpun: Because I want to.

Q: What is your favorite part about being a fashion 0 8

designer or fashion itself?

Punpun: Fashion is the most powerful art there is.

It’s movement, design, and architecture all in one. It shows the world who we are and who we’d like to be.

Q: Who inspires you the most in fashion? Anyone who stands out?

Punpun: Mary-Kate Olsen.

Wannasiri Kongman.

Q: What is your favorite thing about their designs?

Punpun: There designs are effortless and can be used in everyday life. It’s classic,

elegant, and “sur-sur” Q: Is that what you want your designs to be like?

Punpun: At this point I’m not sure. I’m still in the process.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Punpun: A designer in New York or a housewife.

Q: Who initiated this trip?

Sam: Some of the parents got together and planned the trip.

Q: What did you do on this community service trip?

Jasmin: We taught kids some English terms like the numbers and colors.

Sam: We painted the whole cafeteria like the chairs, tables, and many other things.

Koch: We also taught them to play football.

Q: In addition to teaching and painting, did you do anything else?

Jasmin: On the last day, we had a lucky draw and gave away so many things like shirts, water bottles, and school supplies.

Q: How many days was this project?

Jasmin: It was four days, from January 5-8.

Q: What would you say is your favorite memory/most memorable experience from this trip?

Jasmin: I would say that my favorite memory is from the time I spent on the bus. It was very fun and we were playing music the whole ride long.

Sam: My most memorable experience was when I had to comfort a kid. I looked at their point of view and kinda had a nostalgic moment reminiscing about my own childhood.

Koch: It was when I was teaching soccer and a kid scored. He was so happy and

had a huge grin on his face.

Q: What is an important lesson you learned?

Jasmin: Patience. I learned to more patient when the kids don’t listen to me when I’m talking.

Koch: Sometimes things that seem small and unimportant to us may be a big deal to other people.

Sam: I learned to appreciate differences. I understood the differences between my lifestyle and theirs and apply what I learned to my own life.

EAGLES EYE Freshmen Community Service BY

Poon Vorapanyasakul with

Sam, Jasmin, Koch

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Onto The New! by

ATHLETICS February 2015

The second sports season is coming to an end, with the seasonal BISAC coming up on the weekend.

Over the course of a few months, there have been various sports that have received significant attention, including badminton, swimming, and soccer. This second season opened up opportunities for the younger ones in popular sports like soccer.

Satisfying many of the boys, soccer became a choice for the Under11’s, 13’s, and 15’s. Most of the teams faced multiple victories throughout the matches leading towards

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Koch Kasemsantitham

BISAC. The Under-15’s had a winning streak throughout pre-BISAC, only losing to RIS 3 to 2 during their second to last match before the final weekend.

“Overall it was a great season. As a manager I enjoyed watching all the players have fun on the field and try their best even though they had the chance of losing.

In my perspective the team performed well throughout the season with a few minor problems!” reviewed Junior Kampmann, the Under-15 Boy’s team manager. The team will be kicking off

BISAC this coming Sunday.

Of course, with the second season coming to an end, the final sports season of the 2014-15 year is approaching. Recruitments are happening, currently for the Junior Varsity and Varsity Badminton teams.

There will be singles and doubles just like usual, and various age groups will be trying out for both. The tryouts for the badminton varsity teams have been rumored to be hard, and the player recruitment is reportedly very strict. The JV team, though, seems to be a much easier route.

AJ Busabok, 9th grade

ATHLETICS February 2015

badminton player, made some comments earlier after his tryouts for the Junior Varsity badminton doubles with 10th grade Trevor Robertson.

“It was fun to play with some of the seniors! The tryouts were pretty enjoyable because we had the exact number of players to form a team. I’ve played doubles with Trevor since 7th grade!” he explained.

Furthermore, there will be the Under-15 volleyball girls and boys tryouts very soon, as well as the Intramurals sports approaching.

Grab your ICS kit and get prepared for the upcoming season!

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AROUNDTHEWORLD

Greece: Defiance and the Troika

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by

Tom Choi

Greece has rejected any further dealings with the troika, sparking fears of major tensions in negotiations with Europe in the weeks ahead and potential financial upheaval.

The new government does not plan to deal with the troika – the EU Commission, ECB and IMF – the country’s finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, told the head of the EuroGroup of Eurozone finance ministers on Friday. He also said that Greece will not seek an extension of its current bailout programme, due to run out at the end of February, and

instead called for a debt deal negotiated between Europe’s governments.

The move raises questions about Greece’s ability to make debt repayments after the bailout programme runs out. It also threatens the future of ECB funding for its banking system, which is reliant on its agreement with the troika.

Speaking at the close of a tense press conference with the head of the EuroGoup, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Greek finance minister announced that while his government would seek the “best possible

agreement” with the “statutory, legal institutions” of the EU and IMF, it would not deal with the troika as a group.

“We do not aim to work with a tripartite committee whose objective is to implement a programme which we consider to have an anti-European spirit and that according to the European Parliament is a committee built on shaky foundations,” the Greek minister said.

Mr Varoufakis, an economics professor who has written extensively against his country’s memorandum since it was signed in 2010, said his

February 2015

situations and stakes, it is highly unclear whether Greece and the Eurozone as a whole will emerge unscathed from this financial crisis that had been pounding on their door for years.

Quill

of debt burdens in Europe.

Confirming his speculations, the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has ruled out cancelling more of Greece’s debt, saying the country has already received billions of cuts from bankers and creditors.

“There has already been voluntary debt forgiveness by private creditors, banks have already slashed billions from Greece’s debt,” Merkel told the Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper. “I do not envisage fresh debt cancellation.”

With the current

The

government had to respect its winning election platform.

He said that Greece did not want to extend its current bailout programme.

Instead Greece wants a wider agreement with European governments, involving a writedown of some of its official debts.

However, German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble said yesterday that Germany would not be subject to “blackmail” from Greece and Mr Dijsselbloem rejected its calls for a debt conference to examine the wider question

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AROUNDTHEWORLD

February 2015

Boko Haram:

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by

John Kim

“disturbances in Nigeria”

A vicious battle that transpired Sunday, 25th of January, saw more than 200 combatants killed, when Islamic extremists clashed with Nigerian troops in Maiduguri, the biggest city in northeastern Nigeria.

Boko Haram fighters launched multiple raids on villages in the southern Adamawa state, slitting throats of unarmed residents, and abducting dozens of trapped women and children.

Legislator Adamu Kamale is known to have appealed

for security forces to protect civilians in Michika, where six villages are heavy siege.

The manifold attacks came as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, to encourage peaceful elections on February 14th. Kerry met with President Goodluck Jonathan and his chief opposition candidate, the former military director Muhammadu Buhari.

Kerry later confirmed in a press conference that he won pledges

from both sides to refrain from any involvement of violence.

The U.S. Secretary of State also promised increasing U.S. support in the struggle against Boko Haram if the elections take place democratically, devoid of violence.

John Kerry’s concerns come as more than 800 people were killed in northern protests after Buhari, a Muslim northerner, lost 2011 elections to Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the south.

February 2015

said that counterinsurgency campaigns were active in the region, survivors from burntdown villages said there was no fighting between major forces and that Boko Haram still retain control.

Maiduguri is the birthplace of Boko Haram, and has been seiged innumerable times in the five-year insurgency that bereaved 10,000 souls from their families last year.

AROUNDTHEWORLD

Boko Haram has denounced democracy and wants to found an Islamic state of Nigeria, whose population of about 170 million is divided almost equally between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south.

Analysists say that the Maiduguri attack was not entirely unexpected. Boko Haram had seized a key military base earlier in the month, slaughtering hundreds of civilians, slowly advancing towards Maiduguri. Although the military has officially

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OUROPINION February 2015

Note: I CANNOT stress enough that this is in no way an attack against ICS or evangelical Christianity as a whole. It is an opinion piece meant to engender reflection, not to provoke controversy. If my words are harsh, it is because I believe that ICS is an environment in which one is freely able to speak his or her mind. It should be an indirect compliment, not an offense.

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Politics are a big deal.

In modern democracies, it is a talking point of not only the socioeconomic elite but also the disadvantaged. It serves as an awkward reminder that you and your friends are not genetic xeroxes and a perfect reason to dump your man in the café you promised to meet.

I’ll be completely honest here: in that spectrum, my feet are planted in the left. No matter how much conservatives might complain about the federal government as the Orwellian Big Brother and praise the virtues of the self-made man, their ideology always seemed naive at worst and

disturbing at best. Like it or not, there is a place for federal oversight. There is a place for comprehensive social security, an affordable health care plan, federally enforced economic equality measures alongside personal and civil liberties. But what is really repellent about the ideology is their bizarre ideas about women.

Feminism gets a bad rap nowadays by those who don’t know. And those who do know rave on about Emma Watson or #HeforShe and how revolutionary (and smoking hot) the actress is for hashtagging such wisdom. No disrespect for Ms. Watson, but feminism

has a far longer history than Hermione Granger and is far more profound than a Twitter trend. It is a reaction against more or less all of history as the narrative of a male-dominated system that has systematically stripped women of opportunities and rights. They have become the dedicated sandwich-maker, the demure, soft-spoken counterpart to the outgoing ferocious husband. Worse, they are the idealized virgin, the princess in another castle (princess in general), the alpha male’s trophy, the ‘hunted’.

And anyone who does not fit into these two categories

YOUR SADNESS, YOU SELFCENTERED FOOLS’. Probably not as explicit, but all the more dangerous for it.

February 2015

and virginity.

Modesty is often proposed as the antidote to objectification. I argue it too can be a method of objectifying women as ‘untouchable’ and ‘noble’.

Some extremists even blame the woman in cases of date rape for ‘asking for it’. What do they mean? They mean that the woman donned an outfit that was too revealing. What was the man supposed to do?

Not sexually harass her? Of course not. It’s disgusting.

Women deserved to be treated better than either form of sexism. Feminism is and has been the movement to liberate women from these trappings. Bigger problems already face women around the world: unequal pay, lack of educational opportunities, female genital mutilation.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t fight against the problems we can tackle here and now. So in fact, most people who rally against feminism by saying, ‘Well, men get abused too.’ ‘We don’t need feminism anymore’, or ‘What about women in Kenya, don’t they suffer more?’ are dead wrong. It’s the equivalent of busting into a stranger’s funeral and declaring, ‘I TOO HAVE FELT LOSS. WHY ARE YOU SO ENTANGLED IN

OUROPINION

of maternal caregiver and bland goddess has been labeled a misfit, a floozy, or, nowadays, with vomit in the mouth, ‘feminist’. Christian conservatism is usually much nicer. But it is curious to see these stereotypes ingrained into the mindset.

For the record, not all Christian conservatives are sexists out to oppress women.

Countless fight for women to be dignified people in a society that could care less. But let’s talk about ‘dignified people’.

According to traditional Christian doctrine, the woman is to be the man’s support, a receiver of love and a giver of consent. Many times, it is discouraged for women to lead men, (Paul explicitly tells women to cover the heads) explaining why female preachers are rather rare in every Christian denomination.

Now, when many Christian conservatives rally to save women from objectification from the media, they do so because such an action does not mesh with their conception of women (they are tainted by sin, but you get the idea) as locks of purity whose only key is heterosexual courting.

That is their idea of ‘dignified’.

But again, it is a conception that doesn’t stray from the stereotypes of motherhood

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