The Quill: Volume 6 Issue 6!

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THE TEAM 2

THE QUILL

Mr. MARK COOPRIDER Advisor

punpun leelamanthep & AMY Limtrajiti editor-in-chiefs

pawan wirawarn art director

Editors

Arjav Sanghavi Erica Kim Pumpanchat Suthisamphat Serumi Yoon Karuna Khatri Kharis Fullington

writers

Allan Rubio Amy Jain Arjav Sanghavi Charlotte Muehleck Daniel Shin Emily Rubio Hayoung You Hyunwoo Koh Joseph Ha Jessica Shah Jooyoung Kim

Mckenna Sanchez Minki Kwon Nate Ronnakiat Pam Rangchaikul Pollisa Tien-iam-arnan Tawan Petpaiboon Tayida Chaiyakiturajai Vichida Phisitkul Yeji Park Joey Chao Pann Sripitak Matthew Muehleck

photographers

Ruchipat Kumpusiri Apichaya Sethaudom Artch Dechpokked Chayut Srirungrojana Joanna Pinsuvana Nutthun Tulayathun Thaam Limwattananon

Werawut Withayarukson Cherry Choi Beam Yongphiphatwong Apitta Thaveeprungsiporn Sanata Wangpattanamongkol Thapakorn Yongphiphatwong Pawan Wirawarn

layout designers

Ruchipat Kumpusiri Kantapat Jungpaibul Napatsorn Chadanuntakul Natuchkamon Ngammuang Sirinda Vongsrirungruang Beam Yongphiphatwong Nikunta Piyaket Plaifon Ruengarak

Thananun Kanchanachayphoom Teerach Songwatana Prakhun Wongmahapaul Burapon Wasusopon Haeun You Hannah Kim Clara Park Pawan Wirawarn

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contents 4

THE QUILL

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TEDxYouth@ICS

Senior Session: gunn tanaratpinun

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Eagle’s Eye: PIM UNhasuta Eagle’s Eye: Debate team:

polly, nala, tayida Fin, tenny, art Guy, PAnn, peam

SALT TRips: freshmen sophomore junior

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senior trip capstone project fair: NUNO Yemi tanapoom kandel serumi

saran yeji pun paenG eddie

the importance of sleep

Poem Analysis:

the lamb - william blake waste management: the tragedy of the 21st century

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THE QUILL

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INTERVIEW WITH AMY LIMTRAJITI

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THE QUILL

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO DO TEDXYOUTH@ICS? I wanted to do a TEDx conference at ICS since I attended ServICE in junior year, but I just didn’t know who to host it with. Later in the year, Allan mentioned he wanted to host TEDx here too, so we decided to invite Arjav and give it a try.

IF YOU WEREN’T AN ORGANIZER WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT? I’ve thought about this a lot. I really admire the speakers for having the courage to go up there and share their stories despite all the pressure. If I were in their spot, I probably would’ve talked about the same topics I talked about in my Common App essay: my struggles with scoliosis and readjusting to Thailand after living in the States for half of my life, and how writing and my family helped me through both.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TED TALK ON YOUTUBE? It would have to be Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator. I procrastinate a lot, so I could really relate to the instant-gratification monkey.

WHOSE SPEECH DID YOU FIND THE MOST INTERESTING AT THIS EVENT? I thought everyone did a great job on their speeches, but if I had to choose, I would say either Tayida’s or Pann’s.

Tayida’s speech had such a strong, powerful, and moving story, while, as someone who also enjoys writing, I could really relate to Pann’s. I can’t choose between the two; both of them did such a great job writing and presenting their speeches.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE EVENT? The planning process was my favorite part. Though it was insanely stressful and we all almost died, I still appreciate being able to get closer to my co-curators and bonding together through this event. We had so many problems to work through, but working through them together made it much easier to manage and deal with.

I’m so thankful to have worked with my close friends for the event because we probably would’ve epically failed otherwise.

WHAT WAS THE GREATEST OBSTACLE YOU FACED, AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT? Preparing the speakers for sure. We had a few difficult seeds. We also had to work with our speakers’ procrastination. I remember the rehearsal before event-day, only a few speakers had their speeches memorized. It was hectic and stressful, and we were all super anxious for the real event.

HOW DID YOU MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE? We basically worked together and had six-hour calls on Discord. We split up the roles: Allan was the nice “bro” guy who managed event planners and stage crew, Arjav was the guy behind the scenes who kept us sane, and I was the mean one who managed the art crew, critiqued people, and told them bad news. Perfect system.

We basically stumbled our way through the planning process and tried to learn from our mistakes while making new ones.

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INTERVIEW WITH TAYIDA CHAIYAKITURAJAI

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THE QUILL

Why did you decide to join TEDxYouth@ics?

I have been watching TED speeches online for as long as I can remember knowing that I was the chattiest in my family. I have always told my parents it would be a dream of mine to be up on stage sharing my stories as well, but I never took what I said seriously. It was odd how the day before I even found out ICS was going to have a TED event, I vividly remembered telling my parents that within this year, I actually wanted to do one. When the application form was released, I didn’t think that such an opportunity would come within days, but I immediately knew I wanted to give myself a shot. Thanks, Amy, Allan, and Arjav!

What was your speech about?

Through sharing about my grandmother’s life back in China and how she immigrated to Thailand, I talked about the cultural norm of favoring sons over daughters and its lasting effect in today’s society. Furthermore, it was also about how simply listening to these stories may not be enough. Instead, we should listen to stories to ponder on their lessons, connect, love, learn, and grow through them.

What motivated you to share your story at TEDx? The cultural norm of favoring sons over daughters affects my family on a daily basis. It’s something I constantly have to talk and listen about every day, and I knew I was passionate about the topic.

Although I understood that it was a personal story, I’d much rather pick a

difficult story I strongly believe in than an easier story I don’t care about as much.

What was your takeaway from the experience?

I usually dislike putting myself in risky positions, and I considered picking this topic as one.

I’m glad I challenged myself to do so in this experience.

If you could change one thing about your speech, what would you have done differently?

I’ve always had a vision of how I wanted my TED speech to go, and in all honesty, it was nowhere near the vision I had.

Although I ended up memorizing my speech, I wish I had started memorizing earlier so that I could perfect it the way I had envisioned it.

What was it like onstage?

I felt like my time on stage was the shortest thing ever. While presenting it, the only thing I was capable of doing at that time was questioning whether or not I was forgetting a major paragraph, but other than that it was pretty cool! march-april 2018

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INTERVIEW WITH PANN SRIPITAK What motivated you to apply for TEDxYouth@ICS? I’ve always loved public speaking; I’ve debated countless times, done speeches to run for class rep, and have even spoken on behalf of my grade during the 8th grade graduation ceremony. I also felt like I have stories I want to tell – my hidden passions, the struggles I face that not many people know about, and how these struggles have taught me many lessons.

TEDxYouth@ICS just felt like the perfect opportunity to be able to share these stories.

Props to Allan, Arjav, and Amy for making this event possible!

Are there any backstories as to why you chose to talk about writing?

Well, I just love to write. I’ve written countless stories ever since I was seven years old and through my writing, I was able to reflect upon my values and my own struggles. It’s just such a big passion for me, and I wanted to share more about it.

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THE QUILL

What was the most challenging part of this entire process?

Memorizing the speech for sure. I mean, its not easy to memorize a 15-minute speech!

Did you have solutions for getting rid of the anxiety?

Yeah, when I get nervous, I would talk to people to distract myself from thinking of the worst possible thing that could happen during my speech.

What was something you took out of this process of both crafting the speech and presenting it?

I definitely learned how difficult the process to write, memorize, and present a 15-minute speech is, but along the way, I also got to work with a lot of great, talented people, whether it’s my script editor, the TEDx organizers, or the art crew. march-april 2018

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SENIOR SESSION GUNN TANARATPINUN Interview by Hayoung You Photos by Thaam Limwattananon

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THE QUILL

PLEASE BRIEFLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT KNOW YOU! My name is Gunn, and I’m a senior graduating in a few months assuming Capstone goes well. I like math a lot and I play soccer and badminton.

HOW DOES IT FEEL LOOKING AHEAD INTO COLLEGE? It’s great knowing you’re getting to a milestone, graduating and looking forward to the next. On the other hand, things will change, and leaving friends and teachers is just scary!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE SENIOR YEAR SO FAR? Literally a rollercoaster, lots of events and activities making up the ups and downs.

Facing the fact that time goes so fast also makes us want to use the rest well.

WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO AFTER LEAVING ICS? After ICS, I’ll be studying in the engineering field and see where my heart takes me from there. Who knows what I might build? There are lots of hobbies I want to do as well, so I’m still open to other possibilities.

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THE QUILL

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL MEMORY? I would still say Senior Trip. Of course, the highlight was during the last night, seeing all the walls fall and chains break. It was so heartwarming to see my class closer together than ever.

ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR SOON-TO-BE SENIORS? It’s your last year, so live and enjoy the moment.

Don’t do anything stupid while you’re so close to graduating though! Spend your time wisely, make great memories, and work hard in class at the same time. Above all, finish Capstone.

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THE QUILL

EAGLE’S EYE

PIM

UNHASUTA Interview by PollY Tien-iam-arnan Photos by Mina Wangpattanamongkol

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Could you give a brief introduction about yourself?

Hi, my name is Pim! I’m currently a sophomore and I’ve been here for about 5 years now, since sixth grade. I actually grew up in Phetchaburi but moved to Bangkok in 2014 to come to ICS. I’m an only child, but I have four cats that I weirdly consider to be my siblings. One of the few ways someone could recognize me is probably by my backpack. Yes, I’m that weird girl with the Captain America backpack you see running around the school.

How has sophomore year been for you?

This year has been… interesting to me. I’ve learned many things that may or may not be useful for my next year as a junior. Things such as Mr. Will gives hard quizzes and if you’re persuasive enough, your teachers might take your class to the Sweetie Shop.

I’ve got to know a lot more people in and out of my grade as well. It’s also been a great joy to hang around my group of friends, especially when one of them always has an interesting fan-fiction story to share with the crowd.

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THE QUILL

What’s the best part about being a student at ICS? I don’t think there is a best part about being a student here. Being accepted into this school is one of the best things that had ever happened in my life. Of course, there are always ups and downs here and there, but when you’ve got an awesome group of friends and a handful of teachers, who you may have annoyed, but still loves you, it really doesn’t matter.

Years from now, when we look back at our time here, all of those things that make us feel like it’s the worst day of our lives probably wouldn’t matter anymore, but those who helped us overcome them do.

WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY DOING DURING YOUR FREE TIME? When I have free time, my first priority is to watch the latest episode of The Good

Doctor and enjoy the handsome face of Freddie Highmore for about 45 minutes.

After that is done, then I usually move on to the less exciting things like stalking and sewing. Not a lot of people know, but I can operate a sewing machine quite well. Oddly enough, I actually enjoy sewing, but I don’t usually have plans for any specific sewing projects, so sometimes, I don’t sew anything for months. But still, sewing is something I hope to get more into when the school is out.

What motivates you to pursue those passions?

I have a lot of ways to motivate myself to study or pursue my passions, but they don’t always work. One of them is to make a deal with myself; I usually use this when going through the painful process of studying for AP Biology.

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THE QUILL

I would make a deal such as, if I get through this specific chapter, then I can have a quarter of a bag of Cheetos. But I often just end up eating the whole bag after reading the first paragraph because Cheetos is just too good to put down.

Another way is to google and stare at a picture of your celebrity crush for a while and think of the future you might have together if you get a good score on your exam. Just a warning though, Freddie Highmore is mine.

Banquet dress. It took me a week to make it, which is probably why it didn’t look so professionally made, but I was fine with the results. I’ve learned a lot through the process though, which is a big help for me, because I’ve also made another dress for this year’s Banquet as well. Fortunately, this year’s dress turned out a whole lot better, partly because I’m not stuck on the same mistakes anymore.

However, there’s still a lot of room left for some more improvements next year.

How was the process of creating your own dress for Banquet last year?

So for last year’s Banquet, I’ve decided that it would be fun to make my own

Any advice for future sophomores?

Yes, enjoy life before you get to the point when you realize that it’s too late. Carpe Diem, guys. Go for the person you have a crush on! Spill the tea!

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EAGLE

DEBATE

Interview by C

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THE QUILL

E’S EYE

E TEAM

Charlotte Muehleck

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ICS 1: Polly, Nala, Tayida WHAT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? Polly: My most memorable moment was seeing all my friends support and fight for one another.

Even though we faced many surprising challenges, we received a lot of support from all of our teammates and coaches. We couldn’t have won Rookie Grand Champion without everyone’s help. It’s just so amazing to grow together as debaters and also friends.

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THE QUILL

Favorite speech?

Nala: It was not ICS’ speech, but the speech that stood out to me was from PDS’ second speaker during the boy’s quarterfinals. The mannerism he had while talking was extremely concise, polite and to the point. It really left an impression and I was able to pick up bits and pieces of his speech to integrate into my own speech!

Another speech I also liked was Pann’s reply speech during the 3rd debate. Since I was new to replying I didn’t really know what to do it but Pann basically enlightened me with his speech and after him, my reply scores immediately improved.

Any important takeaways?

Tayida: I came into this tournament expecting the worst performance from myself, but this tournament has really changed my perspective on expectations. I never knew I could laugh hilariously with a bunch of sophomore guys sending random memes every few seconds, cry about the most stupid thing ever, choke on boba tea while faking intelligence, look up the dictionary to find out what “provide” actually meant, and most importantly, make new groups of friends from other Thai schools.

These geniuses were some of the most humble people I’ve ever met, and I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to do so. This tournament has truly defied all of my expectations prior to thinking how boring Debate tournaments must be. Maybe I actually like debate?

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ICS 2: FIN, TENNY, ART How did you prepare for the debate competition?

Tenny: We had the usual everyday practice on Sundays for 2 hours and also printed out some opening lines to say as intros throughout the tournament. I also thought of arguments and how to solve them.

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THE QUILL

Art: I just basically did what the coach asked me to do in class and tried to get my mind in competition mode. Right before each round or tournament day, I tried to give my mind some rest by doing something to get my mind off the competition for a while until the round actually started. I also had my notes in my folder and a few pages of opening-lines lists. I also have some fact books such as on almanacs or some topic I don’t really know about.

Most memorable moment?

Art: My most memorable moment for me was the round where we went up against PDS 3; they were the best team from Patumwan Demonstration School.

We were really scared as they had the former Thai National team debater named Ken, slayer of dreams, destroyer of hopes, drinker of tears. We debated about how the government should give out free stuff that limits the effect of pollution.

Any important takeaways?

Tenny: I took away that winning isn’t always the most important thing but actually gaining something is what really matters; every competition I

attend I will make sure I improved by the end. I’m naturally not a competitive person, I don’t usually care about the glory, I mean, it’d be nice but I’d be happy to give it to someone else. I also learned that competitions can be unfair; it’s debate and a part of debating is to feel loss, unfairness, and doubts. Realizing these things and being able to deal with them as truths are key to improving for me. There may have been some things during the tournament which were unexpected and I was unprepared for, and I may see it as outrageous at first, but learning to deal with them helped me a great deal and gave me better expectations for future tournaments.

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ICS 3: GUY, PANN, PEAM Most memorable moment?

Guy: My favorite moment was after the results were announced and everyone was taking photos. I was in my suit, just like any proper debater should be wearing (although it was pretty hot). Two girls appeared and wanted to take a picture with me, and they were gripping my biceps in the picture.

I would say that my face made it awkward because I couldn’t control it, so I just grinned like crazy in almost every picture.

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THE QUILL

Favorite speech?

Pann: Funny story, actually.

My favorite speech was actually during a round that was unfortunately canceled due to errors made by the judge (I can’t blame him though; he’s new to debate). I think that that speech was the beststructured speech I’ve ever delivered with very fresh and interesting arguments.

Unfortunately, it didn’t count.

That made me sad.

Something that (un) pleasantly surprised you?

Peam: Though I wouldn’t consider it overall an

unpleasant experience, due to miscommunications on how an adjudicator acts in a debate, one of our debate rounds had to be canceled. Not only that, we had to have a makeup round that started at 7:30 in the morning.

The thing that surprised me the most was that I didn’t feel that it was an unpleasant experience.

First of all, I was able to actually to debate more, honing my skills as a debater. But I was also given an opportunity to create friendships with the opponents of the round. Though we both went through tears, confusion and generally feeling tired, we weren’t blaming each other for causing the debate to be canceled. Rather, we were able to connect, because we went through this negative

outcome together, opening the opportunity to create new friends.

Any important takeaways?

Pann: Of course, I want to win these tournaments, but to me, debate has always been about trying to improve, in which I got a lot of feedback on how to debate better. I also made so many friends along the way in this tournament (especially those who had to suffer with us in debating 7 rounds instead of 6 due to an error) as well as strengthen the friendship with my teammates and coach (despite some minor arguments, it’s through our struggles that we learn from each other best). march-april 2018

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freshman SALT TRIP Although we are only freshmen, our SALT trip was the best we have ever had. We were not given much information before we left — we were not even told what our room assignments were — so we did not know what to expect.

On the first day, we did not go to an army camp like freshmen usually do. Instead, we went to Pakchong Camp. When we got there, we lined up to have our faces painted.

Then we proceeded to an area where we played some games with punishments like doing weird dances and singing weird songs if we lost. After lunch, we went to test out some obstacle courses. The most exciting activity was the zipline that dropped you right into a pond. It was a bit nerve racking because we were not strapped into any harness — we were just sat in a tire and was pushed down towards the water — but I really enjoyed it.

On the second day, we went to do community service at a local school. In the morning, our task was to repaint the entire assembly room, both the inside and outside. First, we scraped the walls, and once we finished all the prep work, we painted the walls green. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to finish, so some painters had to come and finish off the job for us. In the afternoon, we split into different groups to teach kids about recycling. In these groups, we did different activities like coloring worksheets, sorting out garbage, and planting trees. In the evening, we had a bonfire, where we were given far too many snacks, making everyone energetic and sugar high that night.

On the third day, we went hiking at Khao Yai National Park. Many of us were exhausted by the end of the long day, but we still had a talent show in the evening.

There were various performances involving singing, dancing, and comedy acts. My favorite was definitely the finale performance, where Petch did the “Tao Gyoi” dance.

On the last day, everyone was tired and wanted to go home to the comfort of our own beds. We went to Farm Chokchai to fill our hungry tummies with burgers and ice-cream then returned home.

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THE QUILL

“We become the values we feed.”

- MR. gersom “The most insignificant person makes a “grace is when you significant difference.” get what you don’t - Ms. Aimee deserve” - Mr. zach

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sophomore SALT TRIP The three words, “We’re almost there”, were repeated relentlessly to the extent that those words almost lost their meaning. Regardless, it was hopeful, it was positive, and it gave our aching limbs a reason to keep going. So, we did. Nobody told us we had to climb up to the seventh level of the waterfall. We did not have to, but nonetheless, we did. We had just stepped out of the crowded buses, thrilled to suck in lungfuls of fresh air that the name, Erawan Falls, brought to our minds. We were met, instead, with the acrid smell of smoke of the burning of crops from a large field nearby. But our spirits remained strong and with our will to make a memorable trip amplified (arguably louder than the karaoke on the bus), we dove right into whatever awaited us in the next four days of the Serving And Learning Together Trip.

On the first day, there was a palpable buzz and excitement in the air whether it was from the appeal of finally being surrounded by nature or from the postponement of tests and projects. Either way, as students lugging colorful suitcases trickled into the line busses, with an “Off we go!” from Ms. Denise’s cheerful morning voice, we were off. Our first stop was Erawan National Park, where the two-hour drive seemed almost worth it. Almost. And as every trip goes, there are two types of people: the lathered in sunscreen-ers and the dive-right-into-this-quite-literally-ers. And as the latter began their frolic to search for the perfect waterfall to swim under, we were forced to decide which of the two we would be. A long hike through mud, over tree roots, and across moss eaten bridges, we each searched until we found the perfect place for us.

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THE QUILL

A few weeks ago, we had been divided into activities and teaching opportunities, and collectively, all the silly skits prepared, storybooks made, songs memorised, and posters drawn, all led up to the next two days. Day 2 and 3 of the sophomore’s trip primarily consists of a morning assembly, right before we head on to the school to meet with the kids. If the prospect of being able to enter into these student's lives for two fleetingly fast days and hopefully be able to give them something worth having wasn't enough, the warm welcome as the little elementary students crowded around the big gates of their school, jumping with joy, and vigorously waving, our hearts melted as we smiled and tried to mirror the same through the smudged glass window between us. And with that, we had made a connection before we even stepped foot on the red-brown soil of the path to the school. On this day, the divided groups, respectively, had the opportunity to teach classes varying from kindergarten to 5th grade, and encourage participation in learning english through ways including but not limiting to teaching dance, performing songs, and making crafts. The next day, we prepared a carnival filled with games, activities, prizes, and even Mrs. Sheila’s famous popcorn machine that lit up the faces of any and every little boy and girl we had the opportunity to be with.

There were student leaders that guided rows of children onto different booths set up by us, ranging from musical chairs, mini golf, shooting hoops, to a kiddy pool.

We left the school on the evening of the third day -- full. Full of love from the children as they waved goodbye, running alongside the bus as it pulled away onto the main road, just as they had the day we first arrived. Full of memories of our grade uniting as a whole -- whether it be to plant little trees, or to work tirelessly at mixing cement to make personalised paving stones the children could later decorate. Full of complaining about how much past lights-out we slept. Full of experiences and memories, that we wouldn’t soon forget. march-april 2018

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junior SALT TRIP For this year’s SALT, the juniors headed to Ratchaburi to help the Karen people living in that area. The entire grade was divided into two groups, with one working on a road leading to a Karen church, and the other building the floors and walls of a house.

After the long bus ride of the first day, the students arrived at Phu Pha Phung hotel.

There, the Karen children showcased various performances for the juniors. Afterward, the juniors completed a needs assessment of the Karen village.

The majority of the next two days was spent in the actual service part of the trip.

The most arduous part of this entire process was mixing the concrete. The students were plagued with constant back pains, sores, and tense muscles. However, the entire grade was united in the same goal to complete the task at hand. Many stated how they were surprised by the amount of effort the class was putting in as a whole. In fact, the students finished building the road much more quickly than expected.

Unlike other SALT trips, the junior SALT trip consisted almost entirely of service.

Though some complained about this, the amount of labor and heart the students put into each assigned task was exceptional. Many students mentioned how they were glad to see the class much more determined and “together”, surpassing their assumptions before the trip.

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THE QUILL

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Senior

Words by Photos by Sa

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THE QUILL

r trip

y Mimi Kim aran Karunan

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Every year, the freshmen, sophomore, and junior classes go on a trip to learn and serve with their fellow classmates while the senior class goes on the Senior Trip. This year, the senior class of 2019 went to the Chao Loa Tosang Resort in Chantaburi.

“Now, I understand why almost all seniors from the upperclassmen said one of their favorite memories from ICS is the Senior Trip. Senior Trip is the time where students bond with one another, leave our daily cycle of school work, and enjoy our last moments as youthful individuals. As a part of the class of 2019, honestly, I never expected much from our class because we are so diverse and separated. Yet, Senior Trip gave us an opportunity to be vulnerable with one another and to really, really have fun. Even after ten years, I will always remember the time when we made sand castles, caught fish and crabs, and played card games all night long. “ Maria Kim 40

THE QUILL

“Initially I wasn't planning on building a sand castle. Sand always gets everywhere and doesn't get off easily so it didn't seem fun. But then there was Jonathan Sanders who was building his big sand castle on his own against two groups of seniors - one group of boys and one group of girls - so I decided to stay there and help him for a bit. First I built a house, then two, then three, then I started to outline the castle grounds in detail when I realized I wasn't going to be leaving any time soon. Poomshark, Ryu, and Pun helped along as well so we became the team that built what we call the "modern rich man's house" complete with three crabs, one sea anemone, and one sand dollar as the residents of that mansion. It was finished later than the castles of the other two groups and we weren't even considered as a part of the competition to them but to us it was fun and it was finished. We made ourselves a great sand castle and that was probably one of the highlights of the Senior Trip, even if we had sunburns as souvenirs from it.”

Yemi Manodhaya

“Senior Trip was fun and extremely memorable. When we first arrived, I have to be honest, I wasn’t that impressed by the hotel, because there was construction going on at the beach. But as soon we got to the beach and were playing in the water, it didn’t matter where we were, because we were having fun as a class. During the day it was pretty chill, there was not a strict schedule so everyone pretty much did their own thing. Until the night, when we had a session with the teachers, where they talked to us about leaving high school. My highlight of the trip was probably the second snorkeling day, and the talent show, as well as the sharing night. For juniors coming in, you guys have done the hard work, but now it’s time to have some fun.”

Mckenna Sanchez march-april 2018

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CAPSTONE PR We are approaching the end of another school year at ICS, and we all know what that means for the seniors: Capstone. Merely saying the name in their presence will get you a series of mixed reactions, ranging from fear, joy, apathy, and what can only be described as the thousand-yard stare of a senior struggling to find the motivation to make it to the end of the year.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Capstone Service Project, it is a community service project that is mandatory for all seniors, where they pick a community and attempt to help the community and change it in some way.

After interviewing several seniors, I received a wide range of opinions.

“I am excited to present my project and show off all my hard work,” said Chun. “I’m feeling anxious but also excited to show off all my hard work to the assessors,” said Kandel.

“Capstone has given me such an amazing opportunity to reach out to the community and meet new people,” said Poon.

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THE QUILL

ROJECT FAIR

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When Baking Meets Business

By NUNo My Capstone project is on increasing an orphanage’s income by teaching the children how to bake and put up their product for sale in order to earn enough profit to sustain themselves.

The reason I chose to do this project is mainly due to my passion for baking (I have been baking as a hobby for roughly six years). I am determined to share my hobby to people who have never received this type of opportunity, hoping to potentially inspire the students at the orphanage to gain some interest in this type of field as well. I also had a hunch that I would execute this task well due to my interest in the culinary world.

I would say completing and submitting the assignments on time definitely would have to be one of the most challenging aspects of this project. It is not because of the amount of time frame given to us, but rather our nature for being huge procrastinators and not wanting to invest in any thinking in this elaborate project. And specifically for my project, finding the perfect and ideal cookie recipe as well as calculating the profit and consistently keeping up with the numbers were the main problems I came across.

My most enjoyable part is also the most difficult part.

Experimenting with the ingredients and baking at midnight can become tedious, but that is usually where creativity arises. On top of that, seeing students at the orphanage enjoying the cookies warmed my heart, and it made me realize that my effort was actually worth it.

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Plumbing and Sanitation Belongs to All

By Yemi Most of my project revolved around increasing the hygienic water usage and sanitation at the Glory Education Center, a school for refugees, by fixing their plumbing problems. This included adding a water pump and tank to increase the water pressure and replacing clogged taps and pipes with new ones.

I chose this topic not for the topic but because of my friends. I had two refugee friends from Pakistan that I used to teach English to every Sunday after church. One of them, Meerab, especially loved learning, but because she was a refugee, she could not afford to go to school. Then, when I went to survey and do my needs assessment at GEC, I saw that this was a school that she could possibly go to. It made me think that maybe if I could help the school, I could help her get in faster and assist her in receiving a proper education. Also, another reason why I chose this topic is because my father is really good with plumbing and we both have a few friends at church that are professionals in plumbing and electricity.

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Doing the action was basically many days of fundraising across two to three months before four full days of work.

Since my project is mainly just fixing their plumbing problems, I learned how to install a water pump and water tank, as well as fixing various things around the school. First, I brought the equipment in and changed the piping system to get the public water supply to flow into the tank. Then, I had to add the pump into the piping system. Since the pump used electricity, I also had my friend who’s a professional to change the wiring to accommodate the pump and add a switch for them to use.

After installing the electrical wiring, I hooked the tank and pump together with the school’s source by changing some of the pipes around and adding ball valves. This involved cutting, replacing, and gluing the new pipes to the old ones. After that I checked the water pressure to see if it helped the toilet work better and improve the system, replacing the old toilet gear with new ones because the old ones were falling apart and leaking everywhere. A new sink tap and kitchen tap that is attached to the wall will be replaced because the kitchen tap is clogged and falling off the wall and the sink tap doesn’t work. New tables will also be given to the community because the old ones are about to break and it’s not so sanitary to eat on that old makeshift table.

One of my favorite memories is spending time with my father as we fixed the stuff and bought the equipment.

If I pass with excellence then that would be a highlight but I don’t know yet.

Three words to describe your Capstone project/experience More Sleep Deprivation.

Advice for underclassmen?

Whatever you do, do it quickly, understand it, get hard data, make a great speech, and finish with an amazing (and interactive if possible) booth.

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Community-Driven Bathroom Map

BY TANAPOOM Public restrooms are important in all societies for health and sanitation reasons. Whether one’s need to use the bathroom is due to medical conditions or random chance, a prolonged search for a bathroom has potential health repercussions. Locating public restrooms while traveling around Bangkok is often a time-consuming process, which leads to the design goal of this project: to allow people in Bangkok to access clean bathrooms faster and easier. My Capstone project revolves around establishing an Android application named “Bangkok Toilet Map.” It provides a community-driven restroom map of Bangkok and displays such locations in a simple-to-access manner.

The main inspiration behind this project is another application called ViaBus by IndyZa Lab. The application provides bus stop locations, bus routes, and live tracking of many transportation companies that they partner with. This application has hugely affected the way I use public transportation in Bangkok and has inspired me to create a piece of software that uses similar technologies to provide a different kind of service that would help people who live within Bangkok.

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Since my project is about creating software, the biggest struggle was distributing the software to the targeted audience. Previously, I had no experience advertising any kind of products, and so I had to rely on social media and websites such as Reddit to advertise my application. It didn’t work out very well, and I did not accumulate as many users as I had hoped.

In terms of the technicalities of the project, I learned how to create a proper set of security rules for a database backend using Google Firebase. I also learned how to set up a NoSql type database and integrate it with an Android application. On top of that, I learned that content moderation is an integral part of any application with a community aspect to it. For example, trying to prevent spam and trolls was one difficulty I faced.

If you have not passed the Needs Assessment portion of your project, my advice would be to find a project that aligns with your interests because you will be spending quite a bit of time doing it and talking about it in your paper. Otherwise, if you have already chosen a project, my advice would be to not dwell too much on how “good” your project is but to just complete it.

Analysis paralysis is one thing that held me back for a considerable amount of time during my action phase, but of course, each individual is different, and my advice may not apply to some people at all.

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GREEN COFFEE

BY KANDEL I worked with the Seubnakasathien Foundation for my Capstone project to help expand sales for their coffee beans, grown by farming communities in Umphang Tak that used to do chemical agriculture but have now changed to organic coffee bean growing. My solution was to redesign the packaging, adding Thai and English to the back, create infographics, collect data on the target market, and introduce the beans to three retail stores as they used to only sell at their office.

Through my solution, the sales of coffee increased from 25 bags to 123 bags per month, and the communities now grow 10 kilograms more organic coffee to sell to the foundation, which at the same time, is environmentally friendly to Thai forests.

Personally, I am rather interested in the design and business fields and wanted to get a glimpse at what both areas are like. When I first started this project, I was in a situation where I could not decide whether I preferred a more business or design route. This project, however, encompassed both fields, and so I loved being able to have a taste of both. This project truly played a role in shaping my decisions on my chosen major: communication design (or the communication of messages through art)!

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The proposal and writing the reports were quite the challenge. However, the ‘lengthy’ and ‘tiresome’ processes were what truly allowed me to analyze my plan, reflect on how I made a sustainable difference, and find solutions to problems that do not seem to have clear answers.

If I could do one thing differently, I would have definitely begun calling up shops first. I underestimated the difficulty of connecting with shop owners and inspiring them to bring the coffee into their stores. Bringing a product into an already set system, especially for what just seems like a ‘school project’, is not something many people are willing to do. Although I did manage to get three shops in the end helping me to make an impact, it took a lot of calling, panic, and rejections. If I had started earlier, I would’ve loved to be able to try to find more places and expand the distribution for the foundation further.

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SAVING WATER THROUGH TOILETS

BY GILON I put a recycled plastic water bottle filled with water and stones into the cistern of each toilet in Delta Electronics. I then used the data to raise awareness about water shortages by presenting my project to two larger communities: ICS and Delta Electronics.

There is no “easiest” process in Capstone. I believe that as long as you have the right idea on how to start and develop your project, you can go quite smoothly from then on.

However, the most enjoyable time I have had is while I was presenting to my assessors and to the visitors who came during the Capstone fair. According to those people, my project was pretty unique, and some people said that they have never thought of this idea, and they may want to do that in the near future.

There is nothing more satisfying than people acknowledging your hard work and praising you for it.

I hope I could’ve had a positive mind about Capstone initially. Regardless of the amount of wo while simultaneously helping out a community, and I would say Capstone truly does teach me to create a well-written research paper, etc. If I would’ve known that I would slightly enjoy it in If you do not know what Capstone is about, it is crucial you ask all of the questions you have in recommended. You do not want to make a big change if an important part of your project is u Capstone paper or that sort of thing. What I mean is to use your resources around you to help

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ork and the hardship Capstone has brought, Capstone is designed to let us learn something, e something, such as how to persuade, appeal, and effectively communicate with people, how n the future, I would have had more motivation to do it. n mind. Checking and updating your progress regularly with Mr. Mike and Mrs. Becky is unacceptable. Also, use your resources wisely. I do not mean using your researches to aid your p you “survive� Capstone.

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giving homeless grandmothers a future BY serumi For my Capstone project, I partnered with the Ruth Center to help expand its Banana Chip business. The Ruth Center is currently managing a few small projects that employ grandmothers living in the slums of the Prawet district. In the short run, these projects bring a sense of purpose and community to the grandmothers. However, in the long run, the profits of the projects are going into a larger, “mother” project called the Assisted Living Project, in which the Ruth Center will build an assisted living home for the homeless elderly. The Banana Chip project is one of the projects that the Ruth Center is using to fund the Assisted Living Project. My part in it was helping the business expand its market by making connections to bulk consumers who could be steady customers. I did this by creating contracts in which companies would agree to buy a set amount of product over a certain time period.

This ensured that the Ruth Center would 1) have steady sales and 2) be able to produce products knowing that they would be sold.

It’s a long story, but it started when I spent a summer volunteering in an elderly ward of a long sprained ankle, and others waiting for their body to recover from a stroke. But the people that blinded and crippled by Parkinson’s. Others were suffering from dementia and in constant dis in the hospital. It was profoundly obvious that what these elderly needed was not their youth o hours and origami learning, and they loved to talk. I realized that a Capstone Project that coul project turned out to be slightly different from what I had imagined, I still feel proud and than next production day, which to them is a day full of company, singing, and gossip.

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g-term recovery hospital. I met lots of different elderly there, some on wheelchairs due to a t made the most impact were the ones who were stuck in the hospital indefinitely. Some were stress because they couldn’t remember who their sons were. Others were simply waiting to die or their health but a sense of purpose and an accepting community. They loved the karaoke ld help the elderly find purpose would be something I could be passionate in. Although my nkful whenever I hear that the grandmothers of the Ruth Center are looking forward to the

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I realized the importance of being diligent in communicating with others. Because so much money transfer was involved in my project, I had to be careful that I wasn’t slacking off in updating both the Ruth Center and the customers whenever a contract was created, money was entrusted, or goods were delivered. I learned that picture records of receipts and contracts in LINE chats are a godsend.

I think one of the biggest things I realized is that the elderly crave the activities of life.

It sounds obvious, but I used to imagine that old people are content to spend their days in a quiet daydream, staring at the sky and reflecting about their past. This may be true, but more than this, our grandmothers and grandfathers want to be of use. They want to feel like they are actively benefiting society and are continuously progressing as they learn new skills and meet new people. They want their stories to be heard, but they are just as excited to hear ours.

Definitely start the project. There’s no need to start crazy early – just don’t start late. But from what I’m hearing, that’s not a problem for our perfectly responsible soon-to-be seniors! I’d also advise to extensively survey your target people, both before and after your project–it serves as great evidence. Also, take lots of pictures of everything, everything you see. Take pictures of people and take ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots. Lastly, don’t fret. You’ll do fine.

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On Healthy Food Education For children

By Saran I taught kids at Mercy Center in the Klong Toei slums how to cook healthy food. Many people don’t know, but other than filmmaking and theatre, my other passion is for food and cooking. I’ve been cooking with my mom at home since I was in elementary school, and it is something I have enjoyed doing a lot up until now.

My inspiration for this project was Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution and the TED Talk he gave on this topic.

Diet-related disease are one of the biggest killers in the world today although it does not get much attention. Seeing the benefits of cooking fresh and healthy food in my own family encouraged me to share and spread the knowledge and skills with others.

The process was overall very smooth and free-flowing as it was something I enjoyed a lot. I dedicated a week during summer to com general, the entire process felt like a marathon; you need stamina and endurance to maintain y you feel like giving up many times.

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mplete my action, which allowed me to take things at a steady pace and not rush through it. In your effort throughout the entire project and make sure that you give your best even though

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The most difficult part of the project was definitely the action phase because that was when I was truly going to put out my project to the kids and try to make a difference in their lives. Despite being half-Thai, my Thai is not perfect.

It was the language I needed to teach in, so that was one challenge I faced during my action phase. Another big challenge was organizing the lessons as I had to lead a group of twenty kids and keep them all engaged and excited about what we were doing. Despite being the most difficult, the action was also the most enjoyable part of the project. Getting to do what I love with others was so great and it made me really happy to see the kids enjoying the food that I taught them how to cook.

Other than learning more about cooking and food education, as an individual, I gained a breadth of insight into the lives of the children, discovering the details of their lives and how they deal with poverty and scarcity on a daily basis and how fortunate I am to have so much . I also realized that I take my life for granted: witnessing the smiles and happiness of the kids despite their health issues and lives in poverty really gave me something to think about.

I would definitely love to have taken the kids to the local market and take them around for shopping before we began cooking.

Capstone gave me some great memories. Some of the great memories were with the kids when we were cooking and just talking about life and their struggles, but other memories were created with my fellow seniors. Capstone gave us time together that we would have otherwise spent doing something else. For instance, I spent some great time with a friend as we went shopping for materials for our Capstone Fair, and I got to bond with a lot of people as we worked together to set up stuff. So not only were memories created with my community, but Capstone also gave me memories with my friends at school that I will never forget.

I am not going to tell you to not procrastinate. Literally everyone says that, yet you will end up doing it. What I will tell you though is that you need to do something that you love, whether it is dance, computers, drama, or reading.

There is always some way to help someone with your passion. Find what makes your heart sing and makes you get up each day and go help someone with that.

When you are stressed and feel like procrastinating or giving up on this project, it is that passion that will drive you to keep working on this project and is what will ultimately lead you to success at the end of your time at ICS.

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Encouraging Outdoor Playtime

by Yeji For my Capstone project, I encouraged children in my community to play outdoors more. With the increase in technology use, most children do not spend enough time outdoors to get the special benefits that playing outdoors can give. So to counteract this phenomenon, I installed a playground in the middle of my community and laid foundations for future outdoor recreations.

To be honest, even with my familiarity with the community and my passion for the kids, it wasn’t easy to actually install a playground. I had to put in so much time and effort to raise funds -- baking cookies to sell and writing letters to sponsors -- and I already had a hard time managing all my school work. Also, as a high schooler, there were so many things I was not able to do without the help of an adult, and after a while, that can get pretty frustrating. But alas, the funds were raised, the playground was built, the children were happy, and voila, my Capstone was finished.

A word of advice I would give to the underclassmen would be to think ahead. I know everyone else says this, but really, think about your passions and align your project to it.

It makes the whole process so much more enjoyable. Also, do not, and I repeat, NOT, procrastinate! The proposal is arduous and painstakingly hard, but I promise you, once you get that over with, the rest comes by really easily. So finish that proposal, do that action, and the rest of your Capstone life will be smooth.

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Morality in Story telling

BY PUN

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My it ca pas

I th esp But wor

y Capstone project revolves around teaching students the importance of storytelling and how an communicate moral lessons that can be applied to daily lives. I am someone who is really ssionate about stories in general and how they speak to us individually.

hought it was going to be impossible for me because I am someone who is not confident, pecially when interacting with a community full of strangers. It is really apprehensive and scary. t that gradually changed, and it wasn’t as frightening as I thought it would be. The community I rked with was extremely nice, and the children were very engaging and respectful.

The most difficult part was trying to keep the children under control. They would continue playing and talking amongst themselves, while I was trying to converse with them. Also, for Capstone writing, it was hard to select what information to include in the paper since there were so many details.

Reading the storybooks to the children would probably be the easiest part just because it is the most exciting part and at that time, I would get the students’ full attention.

While giving the children’s books away, they all expressed their gratitude simultaneously. I was swarmed with emotions to see how thankful they were, whether it is me donating the books or just me being there. It was a really precious moment.

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save the children save the world

BY PAENG I partnered with Baan Nokkamin Foundation (BNF) to create a system that allows children from BNF to sell hand-drawn cotton bags to raise money for their education.

I chose this topic because I love kids and I want them to have the opportunity to receive decent education. Also, because I want the kids to understand that even though they are born with less opportunity, they can still send themselves to school by selling arts and crafts.

My favorite memory is playing the with kids, of course. Their smiles when they proudly present their drawings on the cotton bags were so adorable! For me, the most difficult part of Capstone was coming up with an idea: it was hard to answer the ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions; the easiest part of Capstone was teaching and playing the with kids.

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superordinate Goal By eddie

My Capstone project revolves around “Superordinate Goal.” I planned and carried out activities at Ban Tako Lang School to stimulate interactions between students while also providing them with pieces of equipment.

I wanted to alleviate the issue concerning the segregation within the school I had been visiting for the past three years for community service. So you could say that my Capstone project is an extension of my community service!

The proposal is probably the hardest part of Capstone because Mr. Mike never approved my idea and I had to re-submit the proposal six times before Mr. Mike got tired of grading my proposal. He finally approved my idea but with hesitation. Contrary to the proposal, the action phase is the most enjoyable part of Capstone. The experience was a real eye-opener as I was able to refine my communication skills during the process and learn much more about living in rural areas. As long as you actually finish the action report, writing the report will be a breeze. Don’t wait until the last minute to get your proposals approved like some of us!

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IMPORTANCE

WRITTEN BY: DADA P. / GRAPHICS BY: PANPAN V. 66

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Sleep is something we do everyday; like eating and breathing, sleep is essential for our physical and mental health. However, as students, due to our academic and extracurricular indulgence (which deprive us of time), sleep is the first thing on our list we choose to do less of. We all have been informed by our parents and teachers about the importance of sleep, and how having ample time for our bodies and brains to shut off is essential for helping us remain not only physically healthy, but also mentally fit. This would include being more alert during classes, being able to remember things more vividly, and being able to solve problems more effectively, and hopefully, being better test takers. Ideally, we should all be receiving at least 8 hours of sleep per night; however, the harsh reality for most of us is that we are not able to. It is pretty rare for students to get through high school without having to stay up to get things done.

There are perhaps countless of nights where we feel that we are lagging behind with the various essays, tests, and other work assigned to us. So, if you have to stay up late, I advise you to not do it two nights in a row. You should also definitely not make it your long-term habit, because a lot of health and mental issues are correlated with sleep deprivation.

Tips for surviving a school day after a long night of intense learning:

1. Fill up your thermos with hot tea. You already know how caffeine can help boost your energy levels! Tea is recommended over coffee, because not only does tea have more antioxidants, but coffee can sometimes lead to reduced concentration and even panic attacks if consumed in excess.

2. Eat fruits (ex. blueberries)! Studies have shown that the flavonoids in blueberries can get your blood pumping – meaning more concentration in class and less nodding off.

3. Choose a smart lunch. Skip the greasy carbs, and instead, choose food high in protein and fiber (veggies).

4. Avoid sugary snacks. Sugary drinks, candy, and pastries put too much sugar into your blood too quickly, leaving you tired and hungry all too fast.

5. Be more active throughout the school day. Walk around to get blood flowing to your brain, and hopefully, feel more alert!

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THE -- WILLIM BLAKE HE LAMB THE THELAMB LAMB -LAMB WILLIM WILLIM - WILLIM BLAKE BLAKE BLAKE

Little Lamb who thee Little Lamb who Little made Little Lamb thee Lamb whomade who mademade theethee Dost thou know who thee Dost thou know Dost who Dost thou made thou know thee know whomade who mademade theethee thee life and Gave thee lifeGave Gave and Gave bid thee thee thee lifefeed. and lifebid and bidthee thee bid feed. thee feed.feed. the and eerrthe By the streamBy By and the By o’estream stream rthe thestream mead; ando’and o’ the o’ermead; mead; the mead; Gave thee clothing ofofdelight, Gave thee clothing GaveGave of thee delight, thee clothing clothing delight, of delight, Softest clothing woolly bright; Softest clothing Softest woolly Softest clothing bright; clothing woolly woolly bright; bright; Gave thee voice, Gave thee such Gave a tender Gave theesuch thee voice, suchasuch atender tender a tender voice, voice, Making all rejoice!

Making all the Making vales Making rejoice! allthe the allvales vales the vales rejoice! rejoice!

Little Lamb who thee Little Lamb who Little made Little Lamb thee Lamb whomade who mademade theethee Dost thou know who thee Dost thou know Dost who Dost thou made thou know thee know whomade who mademade theethee Little Lamb I’ll Little Lamb I’ll Little tellLittle thee, Lamb Lamb I’lltell tell I’llthee, thee, tell thee, Little Lamb I’ll Little Lamb I’ll Little tellLittle thee!

Lamb Lamb I’lltell tell I’llthee! thee! tell thee!

He isisHe called by He is called by He thy name, called is called bythy thy byname, name, thy name, For aaLamb: For he calls himself Forhe he For acalls calls Lamb: he himself calls himself himself Lamb: a Lamb: He isisHe meek and He is meek and Hehe ismeek mild, is meek andhe and heisismild, he mild, is mild, aalittle He became a He little Hebecame became He child: became little a child: little child: child: IIaachild and aalamb, I a child and thou child Ia alamb, child andthou and thouthou lamb, a lamb, are called by We are calledWe by Wehis are Wename. called are called byhis his byname. name. his name.

Little Lamb God thee.

Little Lamb God Little bless Little Lamb thee.

Lamb Godbless God blessbless thee.thee.

Little Lamb God thee.

Little Lamb God Little bless Little Lamb thee.

Lamb Godbless God blessbless thee.thee.

BY: JOSEPH HAHA BY: PANPAN ANALYSIS BY: JOSEPH HA /ANALYSIS GRAPHICS ANALYSIS ANALYSIS BY: PANPAN JOSEPH BY: JOSEPH V./ GRAPHICS / GRAPHICS HA / GRAPHICS BY: PANPAN BY:V.PANPAN V. V.

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William Blake’s The Lamb is a poem that displays a child that has developed a sense of initiative and is questioning the existence of a lamb. The child naively challenges the lamb to find out whether it realizes who its Creator is. The poem retains a “question and answer” form, where the first stanza is wholly interrogative, which is answered by the second stanza when the child acknowledges the lamb’s Creator for it. Considering that this poem is one of the many “Songs of Innocence,” it conveys the positive values and beliefs of the Christian religion, which is effectively emphasized through its symbolism.

The lamb symbolizes Jesus as a representation of his gentleness and comforting presence in an effort to approach the ideas of nature and God. The child symbolizes the inexperienced human that has either not matured, is impressively ignorant, or has not been exposed to the cruelty of the world.

The child’s naivete is illustrated by his inquisitive nature and his alacrity as he confidently declares that God is both the Lamb’s as well as his own Creator in a manner seemingly devoid of negativity, regret, and doubt. This childlike inexperience and apparent nescience are further established by the blessings the child bestows upon the lamb.

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waste management

The tragedy of the 21st century Written by Erica Kim Take a moment to think about your daily routine. You wake up, get ready for school, and purchase a bottle of water at the neighborhood Seven-Eleven. After arduous hours of seemingly endless lectures, you eat lunch and discard the leftovers in the bin. You may buy another drink in a plastic bottle, or perhaps get a cup of ice cream as a reward for your efforts. Now, consider how much waste you produce every day, and exactly where that waste goes.

The United States is responsible for generating approximately 35 percent of the world’s trash, and according to Waste Production Facts, the average person creates 56 tons of waste annually. The results, although concealed from our daily lives and the public, are devastating. An immeasurable amount of waste is dumped into landfills or is incinerated, causing rapid increases in air pollution as well as soil pollution due to leaks. Furthermore, typical trash, such as plastic bottles, take 450 years to degrade.

Considering that one person consumes one bottled beverage daily, then in ICS alone, there are 1000 plastic bottles disposed of every day that will only be fully degenerated after 450 years. When applying that formula to the world, the numbers become astronomical.

As demonstrated, it seems clear that ineffective waste management is the tragedy of the 21st century. The critical question is, what can humans, as the inhabitants of this planet, do to resolve this problem? The wall of effective waste management appears to be insurmountable, especially after reading about the reported statistics. However, this is far from the truth; hope remains.

The Asian Chemical Company (ACC) is an eco-friendly company in Thailand that creates products from waste. Mrs. Liu, the director of ACC, explained, “We deal with industrial waste - mainly hydrochloric acid and alkaline bases. Acidic and basic solutions are often utilized to smoothen or clean the surface of metal sheets (such as iron sheets), and these used solutions are stored for disposal. By universal law, this kind of waste is considered dangerous.” When asked about the reason why the company was established, Mrs. Liu added, “Typically, these solutions are burnt, but it’d be such a waste to simply dispose the valuable materials in the used solution (tin, nickel, copper, etc.), so we decided to do something about this problem.”

The accomplishments of the ACC doesn’t halt at the mere reuse of industrial waste. The company promotes and creates other products that are relevant to treating waste in the 70

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environment as well, such as ferric acid (which also utilizes the used acidic and basic solutions) that can purify wastewater. “It’s basically treating waste with waste, which is very neat,” Mrs. Liu remarked.

The most devastating problem at hand right now, however, isn’t the dire condition of our planet, or even devising ways to recycle materials, but the public’s low level of awareness. People know the concept of global warming, but people don’t actually realize the magnitude of its consequences. Mrs. Liu noted that in Thailand, “[Thai people] aren’t aware of the sheer speed of environment deterioration. There are organizations that try to figure out a better, more efficient way to recycle waste, such as plastic (which is very abundant in Thailand) - but so far, we haven’t been very successful. It’s such a shame, because the majority don’t know that the economy can flourish with waste as well.” That point doesn’t only apply to Thai citizens, but all human beings that inhabit the Earth. How many of us consider the final destination of a single plastic bottle in our hand, or the leftover cafeteria food that we throw away in the bins? Very few, or even none. Even after acknowledging the predicament of global warming, many shy away from the issue due to the absurd statistics and depressing numbers, leaving the majority hopeless and dejected.

That doesn’t mean we should become bystanders and allow the situation to worsen, however. Just as the ACC creates products from waste to battle global warming and environmental degradation, ordinary students, teachers, and parents can be a part of this movement. The key is to “start small - and take bigger steps from thereon”. Raise awareness and take the simpler route. By accomplishing smaller, easier tasks first, we can reach for more challenging tasks and goals in the future.

Waste management is definitely the tragedy of the 21st century - but perhaps, our one step, our voice, and our actions can change that.

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