November-December Issue 2017

QUILL

THE

VOLUME 5

ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER

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DEAR READE R As the dreaded finals have ended, we have created this issue for you as a small light to finish off the darkness of this week. With a vivid reminder of the joyful memories created and kept at the High School Musical production to the flashback of the memorable ICS’ Got Talent, we hope that this issue of The Quill will remind you of all the fun times.

Let us bring you on a journey, taking you back to the highlights of November and further delving into the world of Thanksgiving to learn all about the holiday that passed by a mere month ago. From there, we will visit a few interesting opinion editorials that bring fresh perspectives to the ICS community and once more receive our monthly dose of advice from our very own Advice Column.

However, if you wish to focus more on the midterms that have just ended, we have also presented you with a few tips for future exams as well. It is in our hopes that this article will ignite a candle and aid you all through the next round if exams.

But there’s still more! Along with everything mentioned above, we have also added a short comic strip along with the continuation of last month’s short story to bring a little humor to your day. There’s nothing better than a bit of laughter to end the week.

Anyways, we won’t keep you waiting any longer! We wish you all the best with your final grades, and be sure to take a little time off to enjoy reading this November-December issue of The Quill!

Quill-fully yours,

PUNPUN & AMY

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TA BLE OF CONTENTS High School Musical on Stage

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ICS Got Talent

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The History of Thanksgiving

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Eagles Eye: Megan Sotangkur

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Eagles Eye: Stephen Pyon

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Senior Session: Jess Fjording

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Senior Session: J-di Kanchanabhogin

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Short Story: A Day at School

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Advice Column

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Book Review: Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki

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and His Years of Pilgrimage Don’t Study for the SAT

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Tips for Exams

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Under Plain Sight

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Comic

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THE

TEAM Mark Cooprider Advisor

Amy Limtrajiti

Co-Editor-in-Chief

Pawan Wirawarn Art Director

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PunPun Leelamanthep Co-Editor-in-Chief

Allan Rubio Amy Jain Arjav Sanghavi Daniel Shin David Bang Ferdinand Edward Gene Boonpienpol

WRITERS Hayoung You Hyunwoo Koh Isaiah Xumsai na Ayudhaya Joseph Ha Jessica Shah Jedi Kanchanabogin Jooyoung Kim

EDITORS Alex Tam Arjav Sanghavi Erica Kim Karuna Khatri Pumpanchat Suthisamphat LAYOUT DESIGNERS Kantapat Jungpaibul Napatsorn Chadanuntakul Pawan Wirawarn Ruchipat Kumpusiri Yunkyoung Kim

McKenna Sanchez Naran Suvarnpradip Pam Rangchaikul Serumi Yoon Tachpol Posaphiwat Thanapeam Sirisereewattana Vichida Phisitkul

PHOTOGRAPHERS Apichaya Sethaudom Artch Dechpokked Chayut Srirungrojana Joanna Pinsuvana Napassorn Wongakkarakhun Nattee Soorapanthu Nutthun Tulayathun Ouki Nishioka Pawat Wirawan Thaam Limwattananon Thapakorn Yongphiphatwong Werawut Withayarukson Gene Boonpienpol

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HIGH SCHOO

ON ST

Words by Alex Tam

Photos by Joanna Pinsuvana

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OL MUSICAL

TAGE

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“Together. Forever. Together. everyone!�

As the first sports season draws to a close, and the second season is about to commence, ICS school spirit is at an all time high.

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People unfamiliar with the High School Musical franchise might have expected a relaxing show to contrast all the high octane sports action, yet there were greeted by a rollercoaster of emotions.

Viewers were greeted by aweinspiring dance choreography, as dancers took the stage and showed more energy and enthusiasm than has been seen in any sports game this season. Screams filled the stage as Gabriella Montez and Troy

Bolton first entered, with viewers dying to witness who had been cast as their favorite Disney characters.

The transitions between each scene were seamless, successfully maintaining the audience’s attention solely on the story of the play. And although ICS isn’t anything like East High, the actors were still able to transform the stage of ICS into an environment reminiscent of the audience’s childhood memories of High School Musical: The Movie.

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While the entire cast was incredibly talented and adeptly managed to portray their respective characters, the true stars of the show were the story’s villains Sharpay and Ryan Evans.

Cast members Karuna and Peam were able to perform a spot-on rendition of this iconic sibling duo, giving off just the right amount of sleaze and attitude.

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Before the play started, quite a few audience members had been skeptical if Ashley Tisdale’s memorable performance would be done justice,but the moment Karuna delivered her first line (“Hey, Troy”) in that trademark Sharpay voice, all their worries disappeared.

“I thought I was actually at East High. The play had the perfect mixture of song and acting, one

didn’t overpower the other�, said Daniel Shin, one of the many excited members of the audience.

The field of drama and theatre is as unique as they come. To succeed, there are a plethora of traits that one requires:

TEAMWORK, PATIENCE, AND HARD WORK. There are of course many other traits, however the list is too long to be recorded.

Yet, the ICS production team exemplified and portrayed all of these attributes and more in their immaculate reproduction of the beloved Disney classic.

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ull of anticipation students and parents alike clapped eagerly as ICS Got Talent began.

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l

ICS

GOT

TALENT Words by Daniel Shin Photos by Saran Karunan

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This memorable night was filled with enthusiasm as students took to the stage to showcase their talents to the ICS community.

With the narration of our two lovely hosts, Jaja and Cherry, performance after performance was introduced individually and each act managed to garner the

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audience’s excitement. While the acts of the night varied, each one was able to captivate the audience in its own distinct ways. From the Jam Club’s soulful rendition of ‘City of Stars’ which momentarily transported the auditorium to the set of La La Land to the incredible acrobatics of the “Silk Girl”, each act deserved our praise.

As the night went on, the audience bore witness to even more amazing performances such as a taekwondo dance suave enough to make every girl in the PAC scream, some adorable singing from the ‘singesaurus’ France, a stunning

dance from the middle school girls, a nostalgic stop-motion video, and a powerful array of vocals from Aree. These performances filled the atmosphere of the auditorium with laughter, tears, and even some hardcore, headbanging rock.

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Throughout the show, the judges, Mr. B (Mr. Jason Bledsoe), Mr G. (Mr. Gersom de Koning), and Mr D. (Mr. Daryl Dekock) had only positive and uplifting comments for each separate act. Each judge also added in some of their own advice with a pinch of humour for each contestant.

Next, in second, we had Lala with her astonishing performance as she danced in the air with only two ropes of silk to support her. It was the first time an act like this had been performed in ICS and everyone could agree that Lala’s performance truly deserved a spot in the top three.

The two hosts closed the show with the now-traditional selfie. With the show officially over, the counting of the votes began as the audience chattered nervously, each individual wishing the best for their favorite act. After all the votes had been added up, our two hosts announced the winners.

Finally, in first, to the delight of audience, we had a band that played their heart out on stage: Sally and Friends. This band showcased true talent with Sally and Sungmin singing a duet, sharing a story with their song. With support from the rest of the band, Sally and Friends were able to win the grand prize of 2,000 Baht and go down in ICS Got Talent history.

In third place, we had the high school Korean girls’ performance which definitely had the boys on their feet.

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“However, as all good things come, they must eventually go, and regardless of who won, the fifth annual ICS Got Talent was a night to remember.”

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HISTO

THANKS

Words by S

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ORY OF

SGIVING

Stephen Pyon

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Thanksgiving is great. Who doesn’t love gathering with friends and family, eating a ton of delicious food, watching parades, and, of course, getting amazing Black Friday deals the next day? But in our modern, globalized society, the origins of commercialized holidays are so easily forgotten. What is actually being celebrated?

Young American schoolchildren are taught that the aforementioned holiday dates back to 1621, when some grateful pilgrims gathered with some friendly Native Americans, who taught these struggling colonists

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how to farm in the harsh New World. Their hard work paid off and they celebrated with a 3-day party in Plymouth, Massachusetts, creating what we know to be Thanksgiving. This, however, was far from the first festival of giving thanks. For instance, in 1565, Spanish explorers in Florida joined with natives for a similar event.

Also, in 1598, a Spanish explorer shared a “thanksgiving� meal with the native Mansos people in El Paso, Texas. Additionally, in 1607 English settlers had a harvest feast with the native Abenaki people in Maine. In 1619, English colonists had a thanksgiving meal and prayer time in Virginia.

Apparently, everyone colonizing America had extravagant meals and festivals to give thanks. How did the Plymothian pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe end up being the representatives of American Thanksgiving? The answer is the one and only Abraham Lincoln.

In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, the great ‘Honest Abe’ declared Thanksgiving an official holiday, and the 1621 occasion the first. At the time, the specifics of the first feast was mattered not.

Lincoln desired only to create a time, however short, of unity and gratefulness in one of division and chaos. His ideals should be carried on to today. Rather than stressing over the details of the event, we should remember its intended purpose. Our focus should be on uniting to give thanks for our family, friends, and all we’ve been blessed with. Let’s follow in the colonists’ footsteps and simply give thanks (extravagant meals don’t hurt either) without a thought to who officially “did it first.”

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EAGLES’ EYE

MEGAN

SOTANGKUR Interview by Vichida Phisitkul Photo by Thaam Limwattananon

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A week or two of school feels dreadful enough for the majority of us, with assignments that keep us up all night and tests that fill us with dread. Well, here’s a question for you: how do you skip 3 weeks of school and still manage to catch up with all this work? Is it even possible? Well, Megan Sotangkur, a sophomore, has been in that circumstance and accomplished this seemingly impossible task. How? Well, read her interview and find out!

COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF? I’m Megan, and I’m in 10th grade!

ANY FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF? This may seem a little random, but I like apples, sunny days, and beaches.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE CLASSES? Hmm, does lunch count as a favorite class?

WHAT TWO WORDS WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE LIFE AT ICS? Friendly friends!

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I HEARD THAT YOU RECENTLY ENTERED A SCIENCE CAMP, WHICH HAS CAUSED YOU TO MISS MANY SCHOOL DAYS COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT IT? Okay, so it’s initials are P.O.S.N, and it’s a science camp designed by the sister of the late king. We had to take tests to determine if we could enter the next round and such. To be honest, it was really fun and engaging!

HOW MANY SCHOOL DAYS DID YOU MISS? It lasted for about a month, so I missed about 3 weeks of school.

This was because the camp was intended for students attending Thai schools, which were already closed.

HOW DID YOU MANAGE YOUR TIME? I had to ask for homework beforehand so I could do it during the camp and at home. I think that there aren’t any shortcuts for you

to take and become diligent. You have to build up a hard working behaviour and remember that it’ll all pay off in the end. I tend to think that I’m going to have to finish my work anyway, so why not do it now, rather than waiting until the last minute? That’ll just cause more hardships.

FINALLY, DO YOU HAVE AN INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE? ‘Yesterday’s history, tomorrow’s a mystery’.

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EAGLES’ EYE

STEPHEN

PYON Interview by Amy Jain Photos by Proud Sethaudom

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HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT ICS? DO YOU LIKE IT HERE? I’ve been at ICS for two and a half years.

Yes, I do... No really, I do!

WHAT EXTRACURRICULARS ARE YOU INVOLVED IN, AND WHICH ONE’S YOUR FAVORITE? WHY? I’m a part of the Student Ministry Leaders and I play a few sports, including volleyball and basketball. I’d say volleyball is my favorite, because I really enjoy all aspects of the sport, and I like the team I have, so it’s just always a good time.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE SOME ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF JOINING EXTRACURRICULARS/ SPORTS? There’s a lot of advantages: it’s really fun, and you can branch out and make new friends. Disadvantages would be that it takes time; so if you want to do an

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extracurricular, sometimes you have to cut out something else you’re doing in your life.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY? I’ve always wanted to try being a techie or an actor in the play but I feel like I wouldn’t be able to just because it takes up so much time.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING A JUNIOR, AND ALMOST BEING DONE WITH HIGH SCHOOL? Very scared, mainly because I don’t know what I’m going to do WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO STUDY? AND WHAT FIELD DO YOU PLAN ON PURSUING? I plan on studying in the States. I haven’t really chosen a specific field yet but probably something to do with biology or chemistry.

What do you think is one struggle high schoolers struggle with the most? How can they overcome it?

Time management can be a real pain. I guess I’d say to not procrastinate?

What would you say is your greatest accomplishment in your high school career?

Hmmm... doing well in school? Staying in school?

Who is someone you look up to?

I look up to a lot of the teachers here, especially Mr.Will. He’s a great guy and he’s a lot fun. He’s just amazing to be around.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Probably like any other teenager: on social media. Or I’d say maybe reading, or playing a sport.

What is the most important thing in your life right now?

I guess I’d have to say school, friends, family.

What has happened recently in current events that interests you the most? Why? Probably all the politics in America.

Because of the … President.

To sum it up, how would you describe yourself in 3 words?

Fun-loving (with a hyphen in between so it’s only one word) but awkward In conclusion, what is one thing you’d like to tell the readers of the Quill?

Do your best in whatever you do and have fun doing it!

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SENIOR SESSION

JESS FJorDING Interview by Hayoung You Photos by Pawan Wirawarn

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Can you tell us a little about yourself for those who don’t know you?

My name is Jess, and I am in my senior year of high school. I was born in Thailand, grew up in Australia, and then came to ICS in 8th grade. I have too many favorite foods, movies, books, and colors to name. But I do have a favourite hobby: making memories with the people I love.

How has ICS Become home to you?

ICS has become home through the relationships that I've built. The teachers, staff, and my fellow students have played such an influential role in my life over the past 5 years that I have been here. They are relationships that not only encourage but challenge and support me.

What are you planning to do after you graduate?

I am planning to go to either the U.S. or Australia for college. I hope to find a community like this one in which I can grow and be encouraged. I am also hoping to create my own new experiences and memories that will mark a new chapter in my life. And taking what I have learned from ICS, I hope to find what I love doing and be able to do it for God and others.

What clubs are you a part of and why did you take part in them?

I've been involved in SMLiT, DRC, Student Council, and Peer Counselling Club. I've loved each of these clubs because of the relationships that I've formed through them with people outside of my normal circles. I also love how each of them gives me the opportunity to serve others and work together as a team.

What do you like doing in your free time when you aren’t busy with school?

When I'm not busy with school work, I love to bake, watch movies, listen to music, hang out with friends, and try little artistic design projects.

What are some struggles of being a senior? What advice would you give underclassmen to deal with these struggles?

The biggest struggle has been the emotional rollercoaster that I’ve experienced as a senior. The Seniors before me warned me about Capstone, college applications, APs and especially senioritis. But nobody warned me how emotionally draining your last year is.

It's a time when almost every single one of your relationships will change:

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with your parents, your friends, and teachers. You’re preparing to leave, you’re stressed, but you’re also trying to hold on to memories with your loved ones. It's a difficult balance of preparing to leave but not wanting to. I'd encourage underclassmen that there's nothing wrong with these shifts in relationships; they are natural and they are healthy, but make sure you give yourself some time to process so you aren't overwhelmed.

How would you describe yourself in “embracing the moment” and experiencing the last part of high school?

Because this is senior year, I want to remember and cherish these last memories that I make. I like to take pictures to capture the memory, but most of the time, I would rather just take a second and stop to look around and really enjoy the moment. I'd say that being intentional about inviting others to share an experience with you is what makes it even more special and leaves you with a really sweet memory.

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SENIOR SESSION J-di Kanchanabhogin Interview by Jooyoung Kim

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What are your plans after graduating from ICS? My plan is to go to college and have a blast doing whatever I like.Perhaps, I would like to invent some new substances in the chemistry lab and also make tons of new, wonky friends.

Where are you planning to go after ICS? “Que sera sera, whatever will will be.”

To be honest, I just want to either be a doctor or a scientist. I am considering staying in Thailand or going to Canada, the United Kingdom, or the United States.

Who knows, but for now, I am just going to do what I can by applying to as many places as possible. In the end, it is all about what it is affordable and unfortunately, that’s out of my hands. Just provide some experiments to conduct and patients to treat, and I will be satisfied.

It was very surprising when I saw you on the basketball team.

What inspired you to join?

I just felt like it.I have nothing to lose. I started out with nothing now, so maybe I can develop the neccessary skills.

What are your biggest worries?

My biggest concern as of now is what is on the table for breakfast. But seriously, most seniors are just anxious about their future and the changes they are going to experience. Maybe it is because we all feel that ICS will no longer be our home, or at least that is what most of us think. And who knows where we will end up? We could turn up to be a bum or something!

There is no use of worrying about that nos. We all just have to work hard and explore all our options. Just enjoy life.

Carpe Diem!

What do you usually do during your free time?

During my free time, I enjoy listening to music and reading. I really enjoy listening to jazz. “Take Five” is a great song.

What motivates you to study?

My motivation to study? I would like to say it is because my family is not as rich as other ICS students, and I must embrace the opportunity given to me to the fullest for the sake of my parents. I’m kidding; that is not it. It just feels good to learn new information and ongoing events in the world you never knew before. It is similar to an adventure, you know? It simply feels great when all the small bits just click together and form a big picture.

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A Day at School

Words by J-di Kanchanabhogin

I wake up everyday at 5:30 A.M. Then, I snooze the clock twice until it’s 5:50. I proceed to wake up and pull on my ICS polo shirt, which I have since 7th grade. Finally, I pack my bags before making my way down the dark, worn out wooden staircase leading to the kitchen.

When I get to school, I always see the same scenes. I come in through the main entrance and turn right. There, I see the juniors hanging out near the first entrance adjacent to the stairs. Then I take a left, sluggishly walking past the line of offices, before finally resting my tired shoulders on the bench.

I always see faces that I recognize but never know. Faces I know the name of, yet never truly try to understand. It all just seems like a blur to me. All my actions seem to be too slow, too tedious. When will the day be over? I ask myself. Of course, I sardonically reply, “2:20 mate.” Man, when did it all go wrong? I ponder, where did all my friends go?

Then, boom!

The flashbacks came. 8th grade, I was a lonely, self-centered guy - pretty quiet, too. I hated approaching people I didn’t know. My Chinese tutor even called me insecure.

That's mostly why I told my parents to never hire her again. Being exposed was my

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biggest fear. We were always with our homeroom back in middle school. Seeing each other’s faces everyday usually makes friends or enemies out of people. There was a girl in my class; she was the fastest typer in computer class. She’s probably already forgotten me, but I remember her. She was pretty friendly. I could joke around with her, and just be happy. Then, I thought to myself, whether I had found a cure to my loneliness. Then rumors started, and it all goes down the hill “Miss X (let’s call her X) likes Jedi.”

I guess only gays can have female friends, then. Jeez, give me a break. I didn’t really care about it, but then one day, I was with my grandpa at the hospital. That was around two weeks before he died. I was on my phone playing FIFA. That’s when I got a line message from Miss X. She told me to ignore the rumor - and that she only thought of me as a friend. All I answered back was Jedi: “K”.

X: “Can you answer me longer than this” X: “I need some reassurance that you are alright”.

Jedi: “Yea sure, my battery is running out, so I will write you later”.

I never wrote back. I just didn’t care enough, to even reassure a friend - and as a result, I lost her. We stopped talking; because I was neither a nice nor a good friend. After not too long, she departed and went to a Thai University on a fast track. Later, I found out she had some troubles of her own. Her parents were divorced, and they seemed to have a financial issue, contributing to her early departure. I could have supported her through this, but I wasn’t even considerate enough to ask for her well-being once more.

Sorry, I was a bad friend and a horrible person. I am getting better now, but I can’t change things that are in the past. Forgive me. Please.

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ADVICE COLUMN

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ON THE SECOND EDITION OF TEA TIME DISCUSSIONS, WE WILL TACKLE THE ISSUE OF GOSSIPING AND ITS SOCIAL REPERCUSSIONS. there. I’m currently having some issues with my friends. Our group is Q: Hey always talking about other people behind their backs, and it’s getting a bit

tiresome. I’m afraid of having rumors spread about me if I speak up, so I’m stuck in a dilemma. What should I do? you currently happy with the group of friends you find yourself in? There A: Are are only two answers to this question: Yes or No. If you are happy with your group of friends, then talk to them about this issue.

Confide in them and explain that this current topic of gossiping and talking behind people’s backs is just not for you. In fact, it actually disgusts you. Friends have a purpose, they are there for support and love. Bringing up a personal concern is a surefire way of evaluating which friends to keep or toss depending on how they react or change. If they are your true friends, then they will listen to what you have to say, take in your concerns, and consequently alter their behavior.

If you are not happy with your group of friends, then ditch them! ICS is so diverse and multicultural, there is no doubt in my mind that you will be able to find a new friend group. Popularity may be chaining you to certain friends, but let me tell you a little secret: in the future, nobody cares about who you were in high school! Staying with these friends will only have negative consequences. You will be miserable throughout your high school life if you remain trapped in these conversations, or let some of their bad habits rub off on you. Get out now while you still can!

If you have any problems or queries, please feel free to email problemsics@gmail.com for counseling. Thank you!

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Book Report:

COLORLESS TSUKURU TAKAZAI

and HIS YEARS OF

PILGRIMAGE Words by Joseph Ha

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H

aruki Murakami’s novel, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, is about a seemingly “colorless” man, Tsukuru Tazaki, a train station engineer in Tokyo. In this book, we are guided through Tsukuru’s thoughts and conflicts as he battles against his past and loneliness.

During his highschool years, Tsukuru had four friends - two male, and two female.

They formed an inseparable bond, like five fingers of a hand. However, in his sophomore year of college, his four friends expelled him from their group without warning, resulting in Tsukuru falling into a pit of despair and misery. And thus, the novel proceeds to explore the themes of love and friendship, 16 years after this abandonment.

The topic of friendship is stressed throughout the story, displaying a miserable Tsukuru as he continually faces urges of suicide whilst plagued by graphic sexual dreams and nameless guilt due to his banishment from his group of close friends: “I’m sorry, but I have to ask you not to call any of us anymore...” (Murakami, 38).

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Tsukuru eventually discovers that the ultimate reason for his rejection was a false accusation of him raping and impregnating one of his four friends, Shiro (Yuzuki Shirane). His other three friends, Ao (Yoshio Oumi), Aka (Kei Akamatsu), and Eri (Kurono Haatainen), obliged to believe in Shiro’s accusations, kicked him out of their lives for good. However, with the aid of his two auxiliaries, Fumiaki Haida and Sara Kimoto, Tsukuru decides to ascertain the causes once more, out of remaining compassion for his former companions, and also due to his newfound love towards Sara.

Love is demonstrated through Tsukuru’s strong emotions for Haida and Sara. As previously stated, affection blossoms in Tsukuru towards Sara, as she supports him with his decisions throughout the story. For example, in one of his travels, he travels to Helsinki to meet Eri, who had taken up residence in Finland along with a husband and two daughters. He finds out that one of the main reasons she had taken Shiro’s side and disconnected with Tsukuru was that she had

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possessed a passionate love for him, and therefore, had opted to forget him.

Finally, Tsukuru’s love towards Sara solidates as he realizes that she was already engaged in a relationship with another man, but still decides to love her all the same.

This book delves into the themes of love and friendship through a colorless man, Tsukuru Tazaki. Tsukuru pursues the love he has for his friends and others despite their differences, in order to continue their relationships and develop confidence in himself once again. People experience broken friendships and love affairs in various ways, but Haruki Murakami implies through his work, that people, regardless of their despair, may discover happiness and the will to forgive others if they could manage to do so. “Life is long, and sometimes cruel. Sometimes victims are needed. Someone has to take on that role. And human bodies are fragile, easily damaged. Cut them, and they bleed.�

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Don’t Study for the SAT Words By Pond Posaphiwat

Thai university entrance exams are molded from this philosophy. The only way to get into a top-tier university like Chulalongkorn or Thammasat is to succeed on the annual, major-specific, entrance exams. To have any chance of entering, a student has one shot to nail a series of questions in one day. Thus, thousands of Thai students pack into cafes, libraries, apartment rooms, or any place with enough lighting, scrambling to cram years worth of material into the seven days before their big day.

With the recent boom of international schools in Bangkok, Western standardized tests such as the SAT and the ACT have become increasingly accepted measures of individual qualification. At first glance, the test is basically the Western version of the Thai entrance exam. The only difference is that these tests are more vague, testing students in reading, writing, and mathematical

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skills. Inevitably, the Thai conventional wisdom wins over. Students dedicate a large portion of their time practicing and loading themselves with practice tests and “important vocabulary.”

Here is the thing: the SAT is different. For better or for worse, the SAT, according to its website, measures “what you learn in high school” and “what you need to succeed in college.” This is not just an artificial motto they have on their website, but the root of every question asked on the tests. Countless researchers have established the correlation between a student’s grade point average and SAT scores. Although it is accepted around the world that working hard in school should guarantees a good score, society today fails to apply this. Instead, they hope to pass this test through caffeinated muscle memory rather than consistent work throughout their school years.

This is not to say that doing practice tests is unnecessary. Familiarity with the test and its format is certainly beneficial. However, understanding concepts in school as they are presented is definitely more helpful than frantic cramming.

Excessive practice will put unnecessary stress and ultimately destroy the foundation that it is trying to reinforce. Do your homework, read books, speak English, and consider yourself well-prepared for the test day.

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Tips for Exams Words by McKenna Sanchez

As many of you are well aware, the dreaded exam week is fast approaching.To make matters worse, this is compounded by last minute projects, quizzes and tests. Some students may feel stressed, and overwhelmed at times , but there are ways to efficiently prepare yourself for midterms. Here are just a few essential tips that help me prepare for exams

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1. Give yourself enough time to study and prepare. This is an obvious one, which I’m sure you’ve heard multiple times from your teachers, but it is imperative. By constantly studying and assimilating the material instead of cramming, you will feel a comforting sense of ease during the exam. Cramming is an overused technique by ICS students, however, this technique might only produce short-term results.

2. Sleep. This tip is incredibly important and often overlooked by many students, most of which, are sleep-deprived. Sleeping a full 8 hours before an exam can help your memory, and attitude on your exam. You may have studied all night for that one exam, but find yourself forgetting key facts and concepts due to mental fatigue. Lack of sleep could lead to careless errors, and drowsy answers.

Do yourself a favor and get to bed earlier!

3. Find your favorite way to study and practice it. This could be flashcards, a study guide, or online videos. People often overlook this step, but the reality is, if you feel that you are studying and not comprehending any of the information, you are not studying at all. So find your favorite mode of studying and stick to it.

4. Ask for help. If you are struggling with some concepts in a class with an upcoming exam, don’t be afraid to ask for help, that’s what teachers are here for after all. It’s better to take some time out of your day to clarify and ask questions than to arrive on exam day and be completely clueless about the test material.

5. Don’t stress. This is pretty self-explanatory, but if you try your best on the exam and have studied your hardest, there is no use in stressing over it.

So there you have it, 5 essential tips for any high-school student taking an exam! Good luck to you all!

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UNDER PLAIN SIGHT PART 3 Words by David Park & Ferdinand I can’t escape….

That was the one thought that enveloped me the moment it turned and faced me.

I can’t run….

It’s over.

It stood there, motionless, facing me. Something inside me screamed. I knew I had to turn back and leave, but I couldn’t.

How could I? The thing that stood in front of me controlled my will at this point.

How could I? Wasn’t I the one to blame for this predicament?

How could I? No, I couldn’t. To be honest, I knew the answer in my heart. I knew I couldn’t walk back. So far, I had blamed my curiosity for the unknown behind my reasoning to follow it down here, but I had to be honest now. Logic ends where emotions begin. For some reason, I felt a connection to the shadow. I am sure I can’t explain what it was, not logically at least. But I know for sure that at that moment, the reason I couldn’t turn back from the shadow was because it was a part of me. Because I realised that if I turned back now, I would be turning back from myself.

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THE QUILL

How did I know?

I don’t expect any of you to believe me. I have said that enough times over the course of this story as it is, but the suspense of disbelief no longer holds, does it?

I know. I wouldn’t have believed it either. But here I am, 2 AM in the morning, writing down this entire story as fast as I can, writing it down so I can be free of it. Writing it down so I can finally do what I couldn’t that day. Writing it down so I can finally face my inner shadow.

Face my shadow.

Have you figured it out yet? Do you know what the shadow was? That’s right.

It was my own black dog. It was the burden I had failed to address in my life so far. It was the part of my life I would rather keep in darkness and never bring to light. It was the part of my life that I repressed. No matter how much I truly wanted to free myself, I couldn’t do it.

Logic ends.

Truly, I can tell you now, the glasses I had worn that day were not in the least bit ordinary. The woman I saw that day was not who she said she was. That day in itself in my life is one that I can do without. But that was it. I had been given a choice, and I took it. I could have left the glasses where they were but I didn’t. I chose to wear them. And this has been the result.

Where emotions begin.

Depression.

Plain and simple really! That was what my shadow was. That was the part of my life entangled in darkness. That was what I was so determined to shove down. If seen like that, doesn’t this entire story make sense? Of course I felt a connection to the shadow! It was me! More importantly, it was the me that was the most real. It was the me without having to pretend like everything was alright. It was the me who had always existed, but had never been acknowledged. It was me at the most basic and fundamental level.

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Depression.

One word! One simple word! Yet so many connotations! So much rides on one single word, so much rises and falls on the mention and acknowledgement of such a construct of letters. Should I have known what I know now about that day, maybe today would have been different. In fact, maybe there would have been no reason for me to write down this story today. Yes! I lied when I started this story. I wrote that nothing dramatic forced the way I see my world on me, but in fact, all of this is dramatic. I also lied when I wrote that nothing tragic forced my worldview either, well the way this story is headed, maybe you can see what awaits me.

The final recollection Within a span of moments, the shadow assumed a shape ten times as large as me. It tugged and pushed on my emotions as if it wanted to rip all my feelings to shreds. It’s scream mirrored that of mine, in fact, I could no longer see it as the shadow that it was. All I saw in its pitiless eyes were my very own pair of eyes staring back at myself. It no longer presented itself as scary. All it was to me was just that — me. I stood there, motionless. The same thoughts circled me.

I can’t do anything…

How could I? It’s over…..

-As I now write this story from my hospital bed, I think I knew at the time what I was supposed to do. Or at least, I knew the last thing I should have been doing — standing still. Up until now, I had repressed the shadow deep down, but the glasses truly made me see what I was actually doing. In repressing it, I was following it — the nature of which was only made visible when I followed it into the parking lot. I was the one in control of who could acknowledge it, but the shadow was the one in control of how I lived my life if I chose to ignore it. You see, when the shadow screamed at me, it echoed the very nerves and fibers of my body, it mirrored my soul. It was my scream that it screamed. It was my inability to grasp myself that it pointed out to me. The scream served one purpose, only one emotion was engrained on it.

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THE QUILL

Help Me! That was all that I could hear when it happened. That was all that I could feel.

I never considered myself so much a coward until that day! All I needed to do was speak! All I needed to do was talk to it. All I needed to do was comfort it.

All I needed to do was acknowledge it. Instead I just stood there, completely still, doing NOTHING! That is the only regret I have of that day. That’s right!

I don’t regret ever climbing up to the roof, I don’t regret ever picking up the glasses, in fact, I don’t regret following the shadow down to the parking lot either, all I regret that day was my silence, all I regret that day was my inability to face myself. *But maybe you have guessed by now- ‘that day’ wasn’t very far back in the past at all* The next step As for me, I still haven’t faced the inner me yet. I still haven’t had a chance to properly sit down and have a little chat with myself. But I know I will have to sooner or later. And this time, I know what I have to say. This time, I will be the one whose voice is heard over the scream. This time, I won’t need the glasses to see my shadow. Yes, in a way I have already taken the first step, but that’s all I have done. I can choose to end this story on an optimistic note, but I can’t. The battle is far from over. My actions from now will decide where the story goes, but right now, this is the only way I can see fit to end it. I won’t choose to be optimistic, neither will I be pessimistic, rather, I will see this road through, only then will I know what life holds for me till the very end.

A last note for you Be aware.

THE END

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Comic by Baifern Rungbanapan

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THE QUILL

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