How Englist changed my life | Victor Lu – Grade 12

How Englist changed my life | Victor Lu – Grade 12

When I first started learning writing, I sat at my desk and stared at my writing task, unwilling to jot down a word. Expressing my thoughts has long been an arduous task for me. To make things worse, my high expectations for myself have also placed enormous pressure...

Stop worrying about how popular you are | Una Chuang – Grade 10

Stop worrying about how popular you are | Una Chuang – Grade 10

Popularity is a big part of students' lives. Being popular determines how many friends you have, how many people would like to work with you, and how easy it is to ask for help. This fact motivates students to pay attention to how noticeable they are and how to make...

Pro Gaming is hard | Felix Tsai – Grade 10

Pro Gaming is hard | Felix Tsai – Grade 10

Getting paid millions to play video games sounds like the easiest job there is. Now, with professional gaming and esports on the rise, getting paid for playing games all day is no longer a pipe dream. However, is gaming for a living really as good as it sounds? Health...

Reasons for applying for UWC | Cynthia Lin – Grade 10

Reasons for applying for UWC | Cynthia Lin – Grade 10

Imagine having royalty from England, Jordan, Spain, Netherlands, Holland, or Belgium as alumni. You must think that this school is for royalty, or at least, an expensive school that barely anyone can afford, right? The reality is the high school they attend has people...

You shouldn’t care what boys think | Chloe Hsu – Grade 10

You shouldn’t care what boys think | Chloe Hsu – Grade 10

Since the first time monkeys came out of trees, teenage girls have craved attention from boys. Girls love it when boys notice and like them, whether in a friendly way or a romantic way. They care about what boys think. In this context, I probably shouldn’t be using...

Body-shaming goes both ways | Chloe Hsu – Grade 10

Body-shaming goes both ways | Chloe Hsu – Grade 10

Body shaming is common nowadays. You can see it on social media, or even in real life. There are many types of body-shaming, but today I will be focusing on fat- and skinny-shaming because they are the most common. Body shaming is when someone mocks you for your body...

The power of online communities | Felix Tsai – Grade 10

The power of online communities | Felix Tsai – Grade 10

The internet is probably the single most important piece of infrastructure in our current world, with over 50 percent of the world’s population having direct access to the internet. It is one of our best sources of information, and especially with the recent pandemic...

Problems with education in rural Taiwan | Victor Lu – Grade 11

Problems with education in rural Taiwan | Victor Lu – Grade 11

Education helps people to get high paying jobs, become better citizens, and enjoy higher quality lifestyles. In 2015, the United Nations proposed 17 sustainable development goals, one of which is quality education. Although education plays a crucial role in society,...

Why single gender schools are a bad idea | Edwina Tong – Grade 8

Why single gender schools are a bad idea | Edwina Tong – Grade 8

When it comes to choosing schools, parents consider whether they should send their kids to single gender schools or not. However, parents do not know that separating boys and girls in school may harm kids in ways that may not be noticeable. So obviously, kids...

Debate: You shouldn’t date in high school | Una Chuang – Grade 9

Debate: You shouldn’t date in high school | Una Chuang – Grade 9

Everyone agrees that it is impossible to stop teens from dating, especially when they are infatuated and blinded by hearts all over the place. It is common to hear them say, “no matter what age we’re in or how young we are, true love is true love, and we are...

Racism in Taiwan | Sidney Chen – Grade 9

Racism in Taiwan | Sidney Chen – Grade 9

Taiwan is known as a very foreign friendly country, and by “foreign” I mean white people. Taiwanese people love to see visitors around and welcome them. But when it comes to Southeast Asian or black people, many Taiwanese people give weird looks. This is ironic...

Schools should teach more sex education | Chloe Hsu – Grade 9

Schools should teach more sex education | Chloe Hsu – Grade 9

I’m sure everyone has at least has had one class of sex education in their lives before. It could be in a health class or in a lecture from the teacher because someone got pregnant. But have you ever realized that those classes were never detailed enough? At least...

Pick-me girls: an explainer | Chloe Hsu – Grade 9

Pick-me girls: an explainer | Chloe Hsu – Grade 9

What is a pick-me girl? This term comes up a lot, especially in recent social media. But what does this mean? A pick-me girl is broadly just any girl who claims or acts as if she is unlike most other girls, in order to gain attention from boys. They say they’re...

Opinion: Delete your insta | Stephanie Wang – Grade 11

Opinion: Delete your insta | Stephanie Wang – Grade 11

As Instagram has started to dominate social media and become the most used social network, it has become one of the biggest platforms where teens and celebrities from around the world upload their stories and share their lives. There are tons and tons of people...

The damaging effects of bullying | Edwina Tong – Grade 7

The damaging effects of bullying | Edwina Tong – Grade 7

Bullying can affect everyone—those who are bullied, those who bully, and those who witness bullying. Bullying is linked to many negative outcomes including impacts on mental health and suicide. Bullying will bring permanent trauma to both the bully and the victim....

The dumbest school rules | Felix Tsai – Grade 9

The dumbest school rules | Felix Tsai – Grade 9

Schools are in charge of passing on important knowledge to students that they will need for the rest of their lives. To do this effectively and efficiently, schools use a wide array of regulations and rules to make sure students learn well and can focus on their work....

Op-ed: Private schools shouldn’t exist | Chloe Hsu – Grade 9

Op-ed: Private schools shouldn’t exist | Chloe Hsu – Grade 9

What does it take to go to a private school? You might say you need to be smart or hardworking or you have to pass tests; however, you are missing something - money. Without money, no matter how smart and hardworking a person is, they would never, ever, get the chance...

Review: Euphoria | Stephanie Wang – Grade 11

Review: Euphoria | Stephanie Wang – Grade 11

Leonardo DiCaprio revealed he’s a fan of Euphoria, saying “I just saw Euphoria, which is amazing. That show is amazing.” Euphoria is an HBO teen drama written and created by Sam Levinson. The show has received positive reviews from critics and has won several awards...

Gen Z is annoying about being Gen Z | Sidney Chen – Grade 9

Gen Z is annoying about being Gen Z | Sidney Chen – Grade 9

Before you call me a “boomer” or try to cancel me, read this article, because it’s time we realize that we aren’t the first generation to think that we’re going to change the world. It’s not news that Gen Z isn’t the first generation to think they're special, but it’s...

Family time is important for teens | Victor Lu – Grade 11

Family time is important for teens | Victor Lu – Grade 11

Teens are busy in their lives, but many of them tend to forget one precious activity: time with their families. Although sometimes teens gather with their families, some still stick with their phones and play on their social media accounts instead of talking to their...

Modern mobile games are trash | Felix Tsai – Grade 8

Modern mobile games are trash | Felix Tsai – Grade 8

If you have used the internet at any point of time in the last decade, chances are that you’ve already been introduced to the concept of “video games”. Video games are games that a person can play through a computer, like a PC, game console, or even some calculators....

Reptiles make better pets than cats and dogs | Brenden Chen – Grade 9

Reptiles make better pets than cats and dogs | Brenden Chen – Grade 9

People often think of reptiles as scary, poisonous, aggressive, and dangerous. Reptiles aren’t as bad as you think; lizards can also cuddle and play with you if they are well trained. Reptiles make better pets than cats and dogs - here are some reasons why. Reptiles...

Best places to shop for teens in Taipei | Ryan Yu – Grade 9

Best places to shop for teens in Taipei | Ryan Yu – Grade 9

The hallways in school are now like the stage for runway models. Teenagers are now wearing their best outfits to school, sporting their own style. Here are places that you can find a wide range of clothes that suit your vibe. Taipei Xinyi shopping district In Xinyi...

OpEd: Boys are Trash | Chloe Hsu – Grade 9

OpEd: Boys are Trash | Chloe Hsu – Grade 9

If you’re reading this, there’s a high possibility that you’re a boy, extremely offended, and want to see what I have to say. Well, don’t worry. I’m talking about boys who treat girls or women like objects and property. I’m talking about those who sexually harass...

The internet is depressing teenagers | Felix Tsai – Grade 8

The internet is depressing teenagers | Felix Tsai – Grade 8

If you’re reading this article, chances are that you have access to the internet. The internet gives a person access to almost anything they could need. They can find social media, video games, books, and articles about anything in the world. While most believe that...

Kanye West’s Bipolar Disorder | Ellie Liao – Grade 9

Kanye West’s Bipolar Disorder | Ellie Liao – Grade 9

Kanye West is a talented rapper from the US. Many people think he is nuts, has the worst personality, and doesn’t know how to respect others. However, the reason for his “crazy” behavior is due to his Bipolar Disorder. What is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar Disorder is a...

Teenagers are addicted to TikTok | Phoebe Chen – Grade 9

Teenagers are addicted to TikTok | Phoebe Chen – Grade 9

Everyone has heard of the app TikTok, it just sneaked into our lives silently without notice. However, it became so popular that everyone downloaded it voluntarily. Teenagers make friends on the platform and shoot crazy videos. But then the problem occurred; teenagers...

Review: The Social Dilemma | Vera Huang – Grade 10

Review: The Social Dilemma | Vera Huang – Grade 10

The Social Dilemma on Netflix, which is about the problem with social media, is set in the dark underbelly of Silicon Valley and explains how once people are hooked on the internet and social media, they will crave more. It also covers how social media’s ability to...

Review: Enola Holmes | Sidney Chen – Grade 9

Review: Enola Holmes | Sidney Chen – Grade 9

Netflix recently released Enola Holmes, an original movie written by Nancy Springer. The film is a spinoff of the popular Sherlock Holmes detective stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock’s teenage sister, Enola Holmes, is played by Millie Bobby Brown. Story &...

Counterstrike: Global Offensive, explained | Brendan Chen – Grade 9

Counterstrike: Global Offensive, explained | Brendan Chen – Grade 9

Counterstrike: Global Offensive, also known as CS:GO, is an extremely popular game, having sold over 25 million copies, which makes it the best selling game of all time. This game was officially published in 2012, but it took three years to gain major attention. What...

Why Fortnite Shouldn’t be Banned | Felix Tsai – Grade 8

Why Fortnite Shouldn’t be Banned | Felix Tsai – Grade 8

Fortnite is a battle royale game created by Epic Games, and recently, Epic has decided to release its own transaction method that bypassed the Apple App Store and Google Play, Google’s app vendor, due to large fees being charged by Apple and Google - what some...

Pros and cons of Medicare for all | Leo Lin – Grade 8

Pros and cons of Medicare for all | Leo Lin – Grade 8

Medicare for all is a big topic in the United States. With 32% of American workers and over half having defaulted on it having problems with medical bills, and 530,000 Americans going bankrupt every year. The United States has undoubtedly one of the most expensive...

Who run the world? Girls  | Vera Huang – Grade 10

Who run the world? Girls | Vera Huang – Grade 10

Times are changing. Back in the day, men had high status in basically everything, whereas the status of women, most of the time, were way below men. However, this is not the case anymore; women are getting more attention and respect from not just other women, but men...