Makeup: Because You Are Worth It?
By Riona Reeves, VI Form
We live in a world of oxymorons. There is jumbo shrimp, bittersweet chocolate, civil war, so on and so forth. These types of amusing contradictions are harmless. Yet more concerning paradoxes are becoming increasingly apparent in daily life, especially for women.
Is it really so surprising that women have been deemed “complicated,” when they receive so many conflicting instructions on how to behave, look, and feel each and every day? Society tells them to stop (more…)
Field Hockey: The Journey from an 8-Year Old Camp to Duke
By Alexa Mackintire, VI Form
The first time I played field hockey was not voluntary at all. I was 8 years old and my school always got out for summer before any of the other schools in my town had. That means that there was about a two-week period when I was left at home with nothing to do. After just a few days, my mom knew she had to get either my brother or me out of the house because she could not deal with the fighting. I was the chosen one.
Every summer my older sister always did a field hockey camp that she loved. So, in that effort to get me out of the house, my mom signed me up against my will. I did (more…)
Your American Freedoms
By David Eacho, VI Form
In 1789, fed up with complaints from anti-federalists claiming that the brand new Constitution would
strip all the rights and freedoms away from men, James Madison wrote a Bill of Rights: a series of Ten Constitutional Amendments that would protect all Americans from the potential tyranny of the government. While some of these rights do not seem useful in a modern day context, such as the Third Amendment right to refuse to give a soldier a bed in your home, or the Tenth Amendment, which merely delegates powers to the States, knowledge of your rights as an American citizen is crucial to the success of our society. (more…)
Global Citizenship, the Easy Way
By Laura Sanchez, VI Form
Life is a gift and to live well is truly a luxury. In this world, there are things that one does not necessarily understand the importance of, until he or she is put in the shoes of those affected by it. This concept can be applied directly to community service. Those who do not dedicate their lives to some form of service typically do not understand what it is like to live wanting. Putting money in a cup, spending a week in a foreign country, picking up trash for a school requirement, and buying a bracelet to support Haiti are not examples of adequate involvement. Generally, we as citizens of a greater planet are simply not doing enough. That, among other things, is why I give back. (more…)
The ‘Cause’ in Teenage Angst
By Chris Wong, VI Form
“What’s your biggest fear about being a parent?” I naively asked, as my father and I were on our weekly father-son jog. My dad stopped jogging, and sighed. He wiped his brow of sweat with his shirt, before putting a hand on my shoulder. I looked up into his eyes with naïveté.
“叛逆期,” (Pànnì qī) he responded simply in Chinese, before continuing on with the jog.
The English translation for this word is ‘rebellious period’, or, often in colloquial terms, ‘teenage angst.’ (more…)
Rome Cannot Be Built In a Day, But It Can Be in a Double Period
By Claire Seidler, VI Form
This past semester I began as a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Harwood’s Latin II Class. I am interested in both Classics and teaching, so this independent study seemed perfect for me. As this semester has gone by, however, I have found that this independent study is more challenging than I had thought.
Teachers are under constant criticism from their students. It was easy when I was the critic, but I have found a deeper appreciation for teachers having gone through it myself. Since I am only a few years (more…)
Preventing Tuberculosis in Kenya–An Intervention Proposal
By Taylor Collins, V Form
The Tuberculosis epidemic is sweeping the world. There were about 8.6 million Tuberculosis cases in 2012[1], and there were about 1.3 million deaths related to Tuberculosis worldwide[2]. Anyone can be infected with Tuberculosis, but nations in poverty particularly suffer. People with weaker immune systems, living in a nation without sufficient healthcare and doctors, are more susceptible to Tuberculosis. For instance, those with HIV/AIDS have a compromised immune system, so their risk of contracting tuberculosis is much greater than
those without HIV/AIDS. Preventative measures need to be taken immediately, particularly in the poverty-ridden countries in the world, like Kenya. (more…)
Creative Freedom in Computer Programming
By Max Hinkley, V Form
When I was younger, my favorite subjects were always math and science. I loved to do experiments, to try and find the answer to something my way, and to use my own creativity rather than a formula. As I grew up and advanced into more serious science, I became less and less engaged and interested. The more rigid, method-based style of solving problems that high school science courses offer did not captivate me nearly as much. I did not mind those problems, but I no longer enjoyed them. Math, in the same way, lost much of its appeal. I (more…)
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