Memoirs of a Self-Professed Drama Geek
By Charlotte Wood, V Form
Memoirs of a Self-Professed Drama Geek
I am a fantastic liar. I lie every day for hours at a time, occasionally to hundreds of people at once. I practice lying in my free time. I never feel bad, I always get caught, and I think it actually makes me a better person. People love my lies, and so do I.
No, I’m not some sort of psychopath, I’m an actor. When you think about it, that’s all acting is, really. Lying. Don’t get me wrong, I hate lying in the conventional sense. Honesty is the best policy, as they say. However, I firmly believe in the value of lying with the consent of the party being lied to, or, in other words, acting. (more…)
Drawing Under the Surface
By Eun Soo Koh, VI Form
Drawing Under the Surface
By saying that I am an artist, I am not implying that I am the best at drawing straight lines or perfect circles, or that I am capable of copying an object exactly as it is onto paper. Those impressions simplistically constitute a one-dimensional definition of an artist. Art, no matter in the form of painting, sculpting, or printing, serves as a means for the artist to convey thoughts, emotions, and ideas. While the endeavor of an artist to make a piece of work visually appealing is generally well-known, the artist’s message or intentions are often left undiscovered to floating audiences who only give hasty glances at the work. A piece of art loses its initial meaning that remains exclusive to the artist and his or her family and friends. However, there is a power in every artwork to impact a larger group of people. Over the past year, I have aimed to give my own work more purpose and meaning for myself and for others. (more…)
The Circadian Clock and The Adverse Effects of Elevated CAT Level
By David Baek, VI Form
The Circadian Clock and The Adverse Effects of Elevated CAT Level
Introduction: This project probes into the molecular mechanism of the circadian clock of Drosophila Melanogaster. The circadian clock exists in all living things and regulates the daily rhythm of organisms’ metabolism, behavior, and other outputs that affect the organisms’ development (CH Ko, 2006). The circadian clock is a field that researchers and scientists have yet to fully understand due to the ambiguity of how circadian clock affect invertebrates and vertebrates. To uncover one small aspect of this obscurity, this study seeks to find the effect of sleep deprivation on antioxidant defense in fruit flies. If there were to be a link, the investigation would be significant as the effect will explain how sleep deprivation in humans can lead to the weakening of their antioxidant defense, leading to multiple cardiovascular diseases and pathological conditions such as plaque formation in vessels (Takeda, 2011) (Dominguez-Rodriguez et al, 2009). (more…)
Get Educated on the Syrian Conflict: Three Perspectives
By Emma Plumb, VI Form, Nathan Cunningham, VI Form, and Harrison Buttrick, VI Form
Get Educated on the Syrian Conflict: Three Perspectives
from Mr. Adam Jewell: As summer has given way to fall, the brave trio of students in my Modern Middle East course has tackled issues around the rise and role of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (or al-Sham, ISIS to most), or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), or to some Daesh within and outside the Middle East. As they looked at where ISIS/ISIL/Daesh ‘came’ from and what it ‘wants,’ they began to ask why it seemed that no one really cared. Below are their perspectives as to why you should care about the rise and actions of ISIS/ISIL/Daesh. (more…)
The Transition to Adulthood at Age 14
By Cynthia Yang, VI Form
The Transition to Adulthood at Age 14
In September 2012, I started my freshman year just as my father took a job in Shanghai. One month later, during my mother’s annual checkup, her doctor discovered precancerous cells in her breasts and ovaries. My father was forced to rush back to the States as my mother underwent two surgeries, which left her on bed-rest for nearly two months. My father, the only source of income for our family, needed to return to Shanghai. Sitting down with me right before his flight, he solemnly asked, “Can you help me take care of your mother and your brother?” I was nervous about the prospect, but I gave him my most winning smile, promising, “Of course I can.” (more…)
Connection By Pride: JeJu Island to St. Mark’s Exchange
By Kasey Kim, IV Form Exchange Student from Korea International School (KIS)
Connection By Pride: JeJu Island to St. Mark’s Exchange
When I first told my parents that I was going to apply for the St. Mark’s exchange students program, they initially came up with concerns: “Will you be able to handle everything?” and “Won’t it be hard for you to follow up all the missing work after you come back?” This program is a month long trip, and my home-school, Korea International School Jeju (KIS), just started their second quarter. We do have to make up nine tests and two projects after we return back to Jeju, and our new friends here at St. Mark’s have been demonstrating similar reactions to my parents: “That is so unfair!” and “Do your teachers really want you to have cultural exchange here.” The extreme follow up work is the reason why most students at KIS give up on this opportunity – but I was never more confident or ardent of anything else before. I cannot identify myself only as a student with high GPAs and successful academics. Now, here I am in Southborough, meeting amazing new people and experiencing new things that I had been only watching on Nickelodeon and Disney channel shows. (more…)
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