Category: Opinion

Opinion, Politics

International Outcry After Israel Defense Forces Shoot Aid Workers

Leo Mahe

By Leo Mahe On March 23, nearly two years into the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, ambulances were sent out to evacuate Palestinian civilians after an Israeli shelling. An ambulance and its crew were “hit” on their way to the civilians’ location, leading several more ambulances, a fire truck, and a clearly labeled United Nations vehicle to head over and try to rescue them. Seventeen people were dispatched in total, but never returned from their dispatch, sparking international concern for their well-being. It took five days for the United Nations and the Palestine Red Crescent Society, a branch of the International … Continue reading International Outcry After Israel Defense Forces Shoot Aid Workers

Opinion

Debate: Toxic Competition or Valuable Discourse?

Mimi Yao

By Mimi Yao Why debate? Some, such as SAS student Tracy Hung see debate as “A way to express and address disagreements.” Yet, in the past few years, especially in East Asian countries, debate has become increasingly associated with tournaments, awards, and most significantly, an entrance ticket to top tier universities. Competitive debate has existed since the late 1800s, yet it only gained widespread recognition in China in the mid 2010s, which saw the rise of debate institutions such as Inspira and Learning Leaders. At this time, many students joined debate to improve their public speaking skills, meet new teammates, … Continue reading Debate: Toxic Competition or Valuable Discourse?

Literature

Atomic Habits Book Review 

Gavin Chen

By Gavin Chen Have you ever tried finding a flow with work but struggle then give up altogether? Well, that was the case for me…until I read Atomic Habits by James Clear. Today, let’s discuss how Atomic Habits helped me build good habits and procrastinate less. Among his theories, the one that stood out the most to me was: to change a bad habit or to adopt a good habit, we must first redefine our identity. For example, if someone wants to study more, they should first envision themselves as an “intelligent” or “studious” person. Then, they can work towards … Continue reading Atomic Habits Book Review 

Opinion

Social Media, Internet Influencers, and the Destructive Pursuit of Perfection 

Javier Leng

By Javier Leng I recently came across a Tiktok video of a street interview on Oxford Street, London’s premier shopping district. After a rather gaudy opening tune from the popular pop song Espresso, the male interviewer asked a group of young girls who could not have been older than 10 (trusting my visual intuition) to tell the audience what they had bought on their shopping day. The girls reached into their purses, and instead of pulling out Barbie dolls or a pair of colorful sneakers as one would expect of their age, they pulled out a whole stash of Sephora … Continue reading Social Media, Internet Influencers, and the Destructive Pursuit of Perfection 

News, Opinion

Into STUCO: an Investigation

Katelyn Jiang

At Shanghai American School, the student council is a vital platform for student representation and leadership. Every year, students from each grade claw at the opportunity to become one of the school’s student leaders. Officially, these councils are supposed to provide a voice for the student body, organize events, and foster a sense of community. Although everyone seems to applaud them for these tasks, no one seems to know how much STUCO actually is contributing to the our student experience. Additionally, over the past year, many controversial changes have been made to the school have created a lot of confusion … Continue reading Into STUCO: an Investigation

Opinion, Teacher Profiles

Mr. Gertzfield on “The Great Gatsby,” Stephen King, and more 

Mimi Yao

By Mimi Yao and Ivy Li From its meticulous symbolism to its shrewd criticism of the American Dream, The Great Gatsby is regarded by many to be one of the finest works of modern literature. Its critical denunciation of empty promises and corrupted dreams has cemented it as a favorite among readers worldwide, including SASPD high school’s co-head of English—Jeremy Gertzfield.   Mr. Gertzfield embarked on his teaching career 20 years ago and has been teaching at SAS for more than 10 years. He currently teaches English 10, AP Literature and Composition, and IB Literature. Join us on an interview with … Continue reading Mr. Gertzfield on “The Great Gatsby,” Stephen King, and more 

Opinion

Unrealistic Ideals: The Impact of Social Media on Body Image for SASPD High Schoolers 

Jeffrey Du

The rise of technology and social media in the 21st century has given unnatural body images a new form of power against young, impressionable teenagers. Influencers and celebrities often set unrealistic benchmarks through deceptive practices. The media teenagers consume is … Continue reading Unrealistic Ideals: The Impact of Social Media on Body Image for SASPD High Schoolers 

Opinion

Gender Neutral Bathrooms: Does Inclusivity Undermine Privacy? 

Kaylee Huang

In recent years, the Shanghai American School (SAS) has introduced gender-neutral changing rooms in its swimming facilities, moving away from the traditional model of gender-segregated spaces. This change allows students of all genders to share a common area for showers, bathroom stalls, and changing rooms, featuring numerous private cubicles within a communal space. Despite the good intentions, there have been negative opinions regarding the safety and privacy of this new design.  Historically, SASPD has provided separate changing areas for boys and girls, with open spaces dedicated to one gender. However, in an effort to increase inclusivity, the school has introduced … Continue reading Gender Neutral Bathrooms: Does Inclusivity Undermine Privacy? 

News, Opinion

Assessing the Controversial Success of the JUMP! Leadership Retreat 

Charlotte Lai

By Katelyn Lu and Charlotte Lai Original Publishing Date: April 12, 2024 When recalling their leadership experience at SAS, many students may remember the JUMP! Leadership Retreat as a core memory. To some, this three-day event brought lasting friendships and lifelong lessons, but to many others, it felt unpolished — “a school bonding event instead of a leadership conference” — as an anonymous student quoted.  To learn more about the much-disputed success of the JUMP! initiative, we sat down with Ms. Grace, SAS’s Global Citizenship Coordinator, and Mr. Ian Standard, the head facilitator of the JUMP! Leadership Retreat. Together, these … Continue reading Assessing the Controversial Success of the JUMP! Leadership Retreat 

Opinion

Top 3 Underrated Chinese Street Food (in my Humble Opinion)

Katelyn Lu

When it comes to street food, the varieties we have in China could fill an encyclopedia. Nation wide, and even world wide, we are known for our various dumplings, pancakes, steamed rolls (baozi) and more. However, there many dishes or snacks that also deserve this fame and acclaim. Below, you will be introduced to 3 of my favorite underrated Chinese street foods. What is it? Although it may sound intimidating, duck’s blood vermicelli soup is exactly what it is. That is, with the addition of duck intestines, duck liver, duck gizzard, tofu and cilantro. But don’t worry, I’ve eaten it … Continue reading Top 3 Underrated Chinese Street Food (in my Humble Opinion)