Latest stories
Best ice cream shops in Taipei | Emma Chang – Grade 8
Staff writer Emma Chang highlights four must-visit ice cream shops in Taipei to help readers find the perfect place to beat the city’s summer heat.
Taiwan needs to get better at dealing with autism | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 11
Senior staff writer Kira Lei Chen highlights the misconceptions and challenges autistic people face in Taiwan.
English competitions in Taiwan are dumb | Ashley Chen – Grade 11
Once, when I was giving a speech in an English speech contest, I talked about the importance of resilience. The whole speech was clear and well-thought out, and I even referenced the movie Legally Blonde. I thought I was going to win, but I ended up getting fourth...
Pretty privilege is real | Iya Wu – Grade 11
Staff Writer Iya Wu explores pretty privilege, showing how society rewards beauty over talent.
Education in Taiwan is unequal | Sophie Chiang – Grade 11
Even though Taiwan is ranked the 12th most educated country in the world, where a child grows up can determine how far their education can take them. Education is supposed to give every student a chance to succeed, but in Taiwan, the system often makes it harder for...
My experience at the Georgetown summer progam | Nicole Hsu – Grade 11
Staff Writer Nicole Hsu shares her experience at Georgetown University’s HOYA summer program and explains how it taught her about the challenges of growing up far from home.
Why is TotK the best game? | Alec Chang – Grade 10
Staff writer Alec Chang explains why The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is one of the greatest video games of all time.
Constantly complaining on social media is annoying | Iya Wu – Grade 11
Since social media has become a part of everyone’s lives, people have begun to care about the number of viewers of their stories, likes, and comments on their content. Everyone wants to gain more followers to look popular. People crave attention. I get it. Getting...
Stop acting like a spoiled rich kid | Ian Su – Grade 10
There’s always this one kid in class that has tons of expensive stuff but still asks their parents for more. You look at them and think “what a spoiled kid”. They like to go around the classroom showing their new expensive pen and act like they’re the most popular kid...
Benefits of a younger sibling | Ashley Chen – Grade 11
Everyone thinks their younger siblings are annoying and only exist to wreak havoc in their lives. However, I think that having a younger sibling offers many benefits as well. I have a younger sister, and I am seven years older than her. My parents expect me to take...
Popularity in high school doesn’t matter | Sophie Chiang – Grade 11
In high school, it can feel like being popular is everything. The people who seem to have their lives together are the teens with tons of friends, hundreds of likes on their social media posts, and who always get invited to parties. But behind the popularity is a lot...
Everyone should try to be a leader | Nicole Hsu – Grade 11
Have you ever been a leader? I have, and I nearly lost two friends because of my leadership role. Everyone has a different personality; only some people want to stand up and take responsibility. But in life, there are times when if you don’t like to take the...
Taiwan needs to improve school lunches | Nicole Hsu – Grade 11
In the first semester of 10th grade, I lost five kilograms. Although I did exercise from time to time, it was not how I lost weight. Instead, what I did was to stop eating school lunch. The funny thing is, when I stopped eating school lunch, my goal wasn’t to lose...
Good Foods at 北一女 (BeiYiNu) | Ashley Chen – Grade 10
As a BeiYiNu student, Staff Writer Ashley Chen lists the top four foods at her school and why they makes her happy and fulfilled.
Healthy boundaries in friendship | Sophie Chiang – Grade 10
Staff Writer Sophie Chiang explores how setting boundaries in friendships helps reduce drama and build healthy, respectful connections.
How social media is ruining the word “feminism” | Iya Wu – Grade 10
Staff Writer Iya Wu explores how social media algorithms not only inaccurately portray what feminism is, but promote these false ideas.
High school boys know nothing about feminism | Zoe Chen – Grade 10
Staff writer Zoe Chen explains why many high school boys lack respect for women and have limited understanding of feminism.
Taipei is not pet friendly | Ian Su – Grade 8
Staff Writer Ian Su talks about how Taipei is not a pet friendly environment due to stereotypes and unfair policies.
The bizarre obsession with college prestige | Kate Huang – Grade 12
Editor-in-Chief Kate Huang critiques college prestige and encourages people to question its facade and the problematic application process.
The Dead Internet Theory and why it’s terrifying | Nicole Hsu – Grade 10
Staff Writer Nicole Hsu talks about the Dead Internet Theory and why it is terrifying that bots may be taking over the internet.
School days should end earlier for social reasons | Sophie Chiang – Grade 10
Staff Writer Sophie Chiang explains why school days should end earlier so students can socialize more with friends and family.
Moana 2 Review | Ashley Chen – Grade 10
Since Moana was so successful, Disney produced Moana 2, but the sequel is much worse than the first. Staff Writer Ashley Chen offers her critique of the film.
Memes are making us dumber | Kate Huang – Grade 12
Editor-in-Chief Kate Huang explains why the constant repetition, overuse, and roots in questionable soil of memes make us dumber.
Reflection on Huikao preparation | Zoe Chen – Grade 10
Staff Writer Zoe Chen reflects on her Huikao preparation and provides critiques of Taiwan’s college entrance process.
Tiger parenting doesn’t work | Kylie Ting – Grade 10
Senior Staff Writer Kylie Ting explains the harmful effects of tiger parenting while offering ways to cope with this toxic parenting style.
Howl’s Moving Castle Review | Nicole Hsu – Grade 10
Staff Writer Nicole Hsu explores why Howl’s Moving Castle remains a Studio Ghibli classic; rating its art, music, and captivating characters.
AI music is awful | Gia Lee – Grade 11
Staff Writer Gia Lee says that AI music is awful because of its low quality and how it reduces opportunities for actual, human artists.
Leading a club in high school | Gia Lee – Grade 11
Staff Writer Gia Lee talks about leading a club in high school and provides tips for those who are interested in being a leader themselves.
The danger of freedom of speech | Kylie Ting – Grade 12
Senior Staff Writer Kylie Ting reminds people of the dangers and risks of free speech. Additionally, what we can do to prevent those issues.
Adults need to be more patient with teens | Emily Liao – Grade 11
Assistant Editor Emily Liao penned a letter to her parents encouraging them to be a little more patient with her. After all, adults are not the only ones under pressure.
Should students be allowed to use ChatGPT? | Wilson Lin – Grade 11
Staff Writer Wilson Lin believes students should use ChatGPT. He also reminds users of its drawbacks and solutions to them.
Longer conscription will not help Taiwan’s military | Brandon Su – Grade 11
Staff writer Brandon Su argues that longer conscriptions in Taiwan do not help Taiwan’s military because of many existing issues.
NIMBYism: an act of irresponsibility | Brandon Su – Grade 11
Staff Writer Brandon Su points out the issues with NIMBYism, where individuals are hindering the development of a society’s infrastructure.
Chinese music in the 2000s was better | Kate Huang – Grade 12
Editor in Chief Kate Huang claims Chinese music in the 2000s was better because societal changes have affected the way people perceive music.
We need more restrictions on smoking | Iya Wu – Grade 10
Smoking is objectively bad for our health and the environment. Staff Writer Iya Wu outlines how the government put restrictions on this nasty habit.
Don’t judge other people’s music taste | Emily Liao – Grade 11
Assistant Editor Emily Liao explains why people shouldn’t judge other’s taste in music when there isn’t a standard for whether it’s good or bad.
Overconsumption is dangerous | Kylie Ting – Grade 12
Senior Staff Writer Kylie Ting explains how overconsumption negatively affects our society and suggests ways we can improve the issue.
Balancing friendships and GPA | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 10
Assistant Editor Kira Lei Chen offers a few methods on how to maintain a decent GPA without sacrificing your social life.
Casual ageism that you aren’t seeing | Kate Huang – Grade 12
Editor Kate Huang addresses casual ageism in Taiwan and how people should respect our elders to create a better society.
Why you should get a pet | Kylie Ting – Grade 12
Senior Staff Writer Kylie Ting explores how getting a pet benefits both our physical and mental health.
Discipline and Stoicism | Henry Chuang – Grade 8
For those seeking self improvement, staff writer Henry Chuang suggests they consider learning more about the four pillars of Stoicism.
Schools should place students in different PE classes based on athletic ability | Olivia Chiu – Grade 11
While physical education is mandatory at most schools, staff writer Olivia Chiu argues that it would be more beneficial to students if they were separated into classes based on athletic ability.
3 Taiwanese indie bands you need to listen to | Jewel Chen – Grade 11
As Taiwan’s indie music scene continues to flourish, staff writer Jewel Chen introduces three bands in particular that music lovers should take note of.
Why “not all men” doesn’t make sense | Chloe Hsu – Grade 12
Editor Chloe Hsu explains how the term “not all men” is condescending, reveals how unaware some men are of their privilege, and diminishes the dangers women face every day.
Girls when facing unrealistic beauty standards | Emily Liao – Grade 10
Staff writer Emily Liao explains how trying to meet to the impossible beauty standards of influencers can be detrimental to the mental and physical health of young women.
K-pop is toxic | Kylie Ting – Grade 11
K-pop in recent years has taken the world by storm, with many excited about the acceptance of South Korean pop culture outside of Asia. However, staff writer Kylie Ting explores the downsides to K-pop fandom.
Feminists love being called sensitive | Kate Huang – Grade 11
In her satirical article, Editor Kate Huang explains how men’s misogynistic behaviors help put feminists in their rightful place.
Why people avoid mental health treatment | Kylie Ting – Grade 11
Staff Writer Kylie Ting explains how fear of judgment and misconceptions around mental health deter people from seeking help when they should.
Understanding parasocial relationships | Olivia Chiou – Grade 11
Staff Writer Olivia Chiou writes on parasocial relationships, a rising phenomenon that can be both beneficial and harmful to people.
Taiwan should abolish the death penalty | Jewel Chen – Grade 11
Staff Writer Jewel Chen explains why she believes the death penalty should be abolished in Taiwan.
Turn your phone to grayscale mode now | Henry Chuang – Grade 8
Staff Writer Henry Chuang explains how the benefits of turning your phone to grayscale mode is backed by research.
Influencers are hypocrites | Nicole Hsu – Grade 9
Staff Writer Nicole Hsu critiques how social media influencers claim one thing but do the opposite, and how the image we see of them is fake.
Cliques in Taiwanese Schools | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 9
Staff Writer Kira Lei Chen explains the different cliques in Taiwanese schools and to help you find one to fit into.
Animal testing should be banned | Kylie Ting – Grade 11
Staff Writer Kylie Ting explains how animal testing is immoral and inaccurate, and provides alternatives to it.
Model UN sucks | Chloe Hsu – Grade 12
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu explains why Model UN does not help with public speaking and critical thinking skills as much as it advertises.
Public Speaking is Better than MUN | Emily Liao – Grade 10
Staff Writer Emily Liao offers insight on why public speaking is better than Model United Nations for high school students.
Why you can’t trust anything on social media | Kylie Ting – Grade 11
Staff Writer Kylie Ting discusses reasons why social media is untrustworthy, and how we should always be wary of the content we consume.
I am a helpless people-pleaser. Here’s why you shouldn’t be. | Chloe Hsu – Grade 12
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu explains how it’s easy to fall into a cycle of people-pleasing, and how it’s harmful to oneself.
Why I’m a better person than you because I don’t procrastinate | Kate Huang – Grade 11
Associate Editor Kate Huang tells you why she doesn’t procrastinate because she has better self-control and why you should learn from her.
3 reasons why group projects suck | Jewel Chen – Grade 11
Staff Writer Jewel Chen explains why group projects are inefficient, a waste of time, and unfair to students.
Why do social media platforms ruin themselves? | Felix Tsai – Grade 12
Senior Staff Writer Felix Tsai talks about the decline of major social media platforms and calls for user awareness and accountability.
Barbie Review | Chloe Hsu – Grade 12
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu writes a review for the popular movie Barbie, offering insight and analysis on the film.
How to deal with backstabbing friends at school | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 9
Staff Writer Kira Lei Chen shares tips on how to deal with backstabbing friends using her own experiences in real life.
How to get along with younger siblings | Kylie Ting – Grade 10
Staff Writer Kylie Ting shares her experiences with her younger brother, and discusses how she learned to get along with younger siblings.
Why you should journal | Kate Huang – Grade 11
Associate Editor Kate Huang explores the benefits of journaling, which include expressing feelings, self-reflecting, and preserving memories.
Gossip is beneficial for students | Emily Liao – Grade 10
Staff Writer Emily Liao explores the reasons why gossip is beneficial for students, particularly in terms of building social relationships.
Stop telling me to lose weight | Jewel Chen – Grade 11
Staff Writer Jewel Chen shares her personal experience of being body-shamed and emphasizes the importance of self-confidence in one’s body.
Top 5 Korean dramas | Kate Huang – Grade 11
Having watched over 70 K-dramas, Associate Editor Kate Huang gives her top five K-drama recommendations and explains why she likes them.
Taiwan needs to talk about body dysmorphia | Chloe Hsu – Grade 12
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu shares her experience with facing body dysmorphia, and how this reflects on Taiwan’s attitude toward the subject.
Applying to college as an Asian American | Kate Huang – Grade 11
Associate Editor Kate Huang explores the debate around on Asian Americans are affected by affirmative action.
Is the 108 Curriculum good or bad for students? | Zoe Chen – Grade 8
Staff writer Zoe Chen discusses both the pros and cons of the national curriculum of Taiwan—the 108 curriculum.
Shut Down All Zoos | Victor Lu
Senior Writer Victor Lu explains the issues with zoos, advocates for their closure, and proposes alternatives to zoos.
Paper straws won’t solve plastic pollution | Felix Tsai – Grade 12
Senior Writer Felix Tsai explains the issue of plastic pollution, primarily caused by oil companies, and proposes solutions to reduce it.
Stop fearing failure | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 8
Teenagers in Taiwan fear failure. They view success as the most important thing in the world whereas failure is something they should try their best to avoid. Teens fear failure so much because parents and teachers teach them that they have to be perfect. This fear of...
Top-ranked schools are more stressful | Zoe Chen – Grade 8
Staff writer Zoe Chen shares her experiences as a current student in a top-ranked school, and how it’s more stressful.
Taiwanese education hampers critical thinking | Kate Huang – Grade 10
Taiwanese people, both parents and students, are heavily invested in education. According to reputable sources like the National Center of Education, Taiwan is one of the top-performing countries in terms of education. Taiwan’s academic performance, especially in...
All teens should have internet access | Kylie Ting – Grade 10
Staff writer Kylie Ting explains why parents should give their teens internet access, instead of limiting it like many do.
Cultural appropriation vs. appreciation | Chloe Hsu – Grade 11
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu discusses why it’s essential to know the difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation.
Is this generation raising weaker children? | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 8
Staff Writer Kira Lei Chen explains how the older generation tend to think the younger generation is weaker and how that is not the case.
Why studying at a girl’s high school is awesome | Jewel Chen – Grade 10
Staff writer Jewel Chen writes about her experience in an all-girls high school, and explains how attending this type of school is awesome.
Why is it so hard to apologize? | Kylie Ting – Grade 10
Staff writer Kylie Ting explains why apologizing is so hard, and emphasizes that despite its difficulty, it’s an essential thing to do.
The case of teenage jealousy | Chloe Hsu – Grade 11
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu explains teenage jealousy: what it is, who it truly affects, and how to defeat it.
Book review: And the Mountains Echoed | Victor Lu
Senior Writer Victor Lu rates Khaled Hosseini’s epic novel, And the Mountains Echoed, in terms of its plot, settings, and themes.
“Wolf pack” mentality is stupid and dangerous | Felix Tsai – Grade 11
Senior Writer Felix Tsai explains the dangers behind the “wolf pack” mentality and the problematic “alpha male” ideology.
How should parents deal with their teens’ social lives? | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 8
Staff Writer Kira Lei Chen explains how parents should support teenagers to develop their social lives, and communicate with them when needed.
Four reasons why high school sucks | Kate Huang – Grade 10
Associate Editor Kate Huang talks about how the feeling of inadequacy, stress, drama, and judgement make high school an unpleasant experience.
Introverts and success | Kate Huang – Grade 10
Conventional wisdom assumes that an extrovert, an outgoing and outspoken person, makes for an ideal leader, and is thus more likely to be successful than the opposite: the introvert. There are plenty of studies that support this idea. For example, extroverted people...
Extroverts and success | Chloe Hsu – Grade 11
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu explains the correlation between extroverts and success and whether extroverts can achieve success easier.
Why parents should not be overprotective to their kids | Victor Lu
Every parent considers their kid the most important thing in the world, and parents try their best to ensure kids are living carefree and safely. However, some parents become overly involved in their kids' lives. These overprotective parents shield kids from danger,...
Why do we make powerful AI when it scares us so much? | Felix Tsai – Grade 11
The first-ever use of the word “robot” was in the 1920 play Rossum's Universal Robots by Karel Čapek, where humanoid automatons toiled as unpaid labourers for their human overlords. The robots’ eventual revolt and extermination of the human race was used to explore...
How teenagers can achieve work-life balance | Victor Lu – Gap Year
Senior Staff Writer Victor Lu draws on his experiences and offers advise for teenagers to achieve work-life balance.
Systemic racism against migrant workers in Taiwan | Chloe Hsu – Grade 11
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu explains the systemic racism that migrant workers — who are mostly from Southeast Asia — have to face in Taiwan.
You should read web novels. Here’s why. | Felix Tsai – Grade 11
Senior Staff Writer Felix explains that we should all read web novels, and that they are a great alternative to physical copies of books.
Stigma around mental health | Kate Huang – Grade 10
Stigma around mental health Millions of people are affected by mental issues every year, yet more than half do not receive treatment. This is due to a stigma surrounding mental health that makes speaking out about personal mental struggles immensely difficult. People...
Private school survival tips | Charlotte Lin – Grade 10
Staff Writer Charlotte Lin provides study and friendship-related tips for transfer students who are adapting to new school environments.
Helpful apps for students | Zoe Chen – Grade 8
Staff Writer Zoe Chen provides a list of helpful apps students can use to help them use their devices responsibly.
Formosa 900: My bike trip around Taiwan | Victor Lu – Gap Year
Cycling is my passion. It allows me to connect with others, trains my stamina, and is a way to relax and blow off steam. I always look forward to visiting new places on my bike, and one of my most exciting trips was biking around my beautiful homeland: Taiwan. When I...
Do STEM subjects offer better career opportunities? | Kate Huang – Grade 10
If you’re a student struggling to choose between studying STEM subjects, non-STEM subjects, or both, this article is for you. STEM – an abbreviation for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – is the group of subjects most people regard as better...
Clubs students should join in junior high | Zoe Chen – Grade 8
Joining a club is a way for students to take a break from studying. Clubs allow students to choose a class according to their liking and be devoted to it. Some people may want to use this period to be productive and increase their knowledge, while some want to join...
Why Taiwanese students are not getting enough sleep | Charlotte Lin – Grade 10
According to the Children Welfare League Foundation, Taiwanese students sleep 6.9 hours a night on average when they should be sleeping at least eight hours every night. The reason why students stay up late is mainly due to heavy school work loads. To make matters...
My virtual internship with non-profit organization SERVE | Chloe Hsu – Grade 11
This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in an online internship program hosted by Virtual Internships. As the name suggests, I interned at a company for four weeks, with a group, entirely online. The category of the company I chose was Social-Impact...
Do parents know what their children need in their studies? | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 8
The answer is no. Parents think that they know what their child needs, but in reality they are forcing their child to become something that the parents want, molding their child into the perfect student who is a prodigy in class. This is actually the most ineffective...
Why people don’t like being called feminist | Kate Huang – Grade 10
Associate Editor Kate Huang talks about why people don’t like being called feminist. She breaks down the misconceptions about feminism and explains the true meaning of it.
5 best riverside bike paths in Taipei | Victor Lu – Grade 12
Senior staff writer and avid bike rider Victor Lu catalogs some of the best cycling paths along Taipei’s riverside.
Should you be worried about anti-Asian hate when you visit America? | Kate Huang – Grade 9
Yes, anti-Asian hate is real. On March 16, 2021, a white man shot and murdered eight people, six of whom are Asian women, in three different spas across Atlanta. A 67-year-old Asian woman was stomped on and punched more than 125 times in New York City after being...
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