Tuesday 26 April 2022

Seniors and Sophomores: Friday Fun

By Christopher Ooi

Dual-wielding dodgeballs, Jason Kim (12) steps to the halfway line on the basketball court, firing a cannon at a group of cowering sophomores. As I watch on from the window in Room 25, young students wincing in pain, I remember a time when we could stay on campus and spend time with each other, exploring the campus, and enjoying the company of my fellow classmates.  

This past Friday, the Seniors and Sophomores participated in inter-class activities, courtesy of the amazing ExCom members of both classes that made the event possible. Dodgeball, board games, and an open mic, the event was full of numerous activities that kept everyone engaged. 

When asked about his favorite part of the event, Dylan Chew (12) said, “Being able to stay back till nine on campus and play sports with the underclassmen gave a hint of pre-covid, and I enjoyed every minute of it.” 

The games helped everyone familiarize themselves with the sophomores and enjoy the campus at night. After the planned events, the more athletic students decided to enjoy some indoor football. 

As a senior myself, I found the open mic and spending time with friends to be the most enjoyable part. For others, dodgeball, and for others, board games. 

For Yong-Yu Huang (12), member of ExCom and Class President, she found enjoyment in the smaller things, saying, “I hit Jason two times. He never saw me coming.” Just as Yong-Yu had fun hitting her classmate, I’m sure that the other seniors enjoyed solidifying their place at the top of the food chain. 

The sophomores seemed to enjoy themselves as well, participating in all the available activities and getting to know the seniors better. Yong-Yu was surprised, saying that “some of the sophomores are scarily good at dodgeball.”

The event was a great time, with options available for everyone. A big thanks to the ExCom of both classes for making the event possible, and a special thanks to the sponsors for chaperoning everything.

A Piercing Question

By Niko Bernhardt

As students amble around the choir room, Ms. Goh calls on one and gestures towards her ear. Hurriedly, he unfastens his earring and slides it into a pocket within his backpack, saying, “Sorry, I forgot.” 

As the years go by, this occurrence has become more and more common. Male students in Dalat are getting ear piercings more often than they have in the past. Naturally, being high schoolers, they are forgetful and for the most part unintentionally break the rule. However, some students look at the dress code policy and call for change, bringing up the question, why can’t we wear earrings, and how can we get this rule to change? 

As has been the case since the dawn of time, high school students value self-expression. Now more than ever, students are being surrounded by messages supporting and encouraging that pursuit. Because of this, traditions and norms have been altered, and things that were once taboo are being destigmatized. One of the most widespread and quickly accepted changes was men wearing earrings. Throughout history, piercings have held many different meanings, ranging from status, to religion, and even indicating someone’s sexuality. Yet nowadays, earrings on men have become just another accessory, especially in western culture, where only the most conservative will give a second glance. Of course, students are products of their time, and along with that comes the issue. 

When asked about the reasoning behind the dress code policy, current principal Mr. Penland said, “The Dalat earring rule is a policy that was implemented to show respect to our host nation's conservative views on showing affluence and status. Dalat values the mutual respect with our host country.” This statement is one that Dalat students haven’t often heard. Most have assumed that the policy to reflect a traditional view on sexuality or professionalism, which ties into most of their arguments against it. As this statement points out, that’s not the case anymore, if it ever was. As Mr. Penland states, “The sexual connotation is no longer relevant. However, it is still unclear about the comfort level of our host country towards this dress code policy.” When students ask why, they’re quick to judge Dalat as overly conservative, but as it’s shown, it’s a reflection of the value Dalat places on respect. 

Even with the policy’s reasoning, students still ask if this rule can be changed, claiming that Malaysia isn’t as conservative as it was when the rule was established, and that Dalat could let boys wear earrings and maintain good standing. The question of change was also brought up to Mr. Penland, but the chances as they stand don’t look good. 

“Students typically will not see a rule amended by refusing to abide by the current policy. I could see this rule being amended if the minority of students not following the rule, follow it,” Mr. Penland explained. 

Dalat’s PAL is looking into the viability of amending the rule, researching the stigma that Malaysia potentially still carries, but the fact that the rule is being broken often communicates a lack of respect for that rule in the first place. In short, the rule was created for respect, and students can only advocate for change once that same respect is shown. 

Stressful Year

By Brandon Goh

As time flies, everyone gets more enthusiastic about summer break and finally having a rest for two months. Still, it is a different experience for seniors because we have to prepare for our transition from high school to university, which I found hard. Getting ready for university is challenging as many factors will eventually change our lives. It is the first time living alone, far from home, so it can be arduous to prepare ourselves for university.

Senior year is pretty stressful, especially with APs and college applications. Many seniors have break owns when balancing time on schoolwork and college-related activities. One advice I would give people is not to procrastinate, as you would not want to end and cram your time with a bunch of homework and activities left right before the semester ends. I have had bad experiences when it comes to working out my time management as I tend to do all of my work the day before it is due. For example, I had an English paper given to me five days before submission, and I did not take it seriously but chose to delay writing it; when it was a day before it was due, I started to write it, and I became frantic because I had to do a bunch of research for that particular essay. I finished at around 4 am, and my grade was not that decent, so I highly recommend to underclassmen not to procrastinate their work and finish it as early as possible so they do not have to worry about getting their assignments in late.

Nevertheless, I still look forward to university as I can pursue the degree and may potentially get a job that I am always fond of. I wanted to try living alone to take up the responsibility to live alone without the help of my parents, as to me, it is like a stepping stone to being an adult and being independent. We seniors will miss everyone we have encountered, and Dalat has given us some beautiful memories; while the future is unknown, we will take the challenge and hope everything goes well for every one of you.

As for the Lord and not for Men

By Lana Brewster

After my fifth and sixth-grade years of middle school where many of my closest friends had left Dalat to travel to other countries, I finally fell in with a group of girls with whom I felt that I belonged. As we spent more time together our bond grew stronger, and we began to share our interests, hobbies, and goals. An unspoken collective value among the group that we influenced each other to chase was high academic achievement and hard work in all of our academic pursuits. 

Although we were never callous enough to flaunt our accomplishments and minimize the others’ efforts, sharing grades on assignments, quizzes, and tests became something of a competition where the value of an individual within that friendship depended on whether or not they got an A on an assignment. Unknowingly, I found myself wishing for the academic failure of my closest friends just to get a little validation in my own pursuits. Speaking to Josiah Andrews, he gave me the insight that other friend groups struggle with this as well. He says, “Normally if we both got a grade in the same range we will tell each other, but normally we don’t tell each other grades out of respect for the person who didn’t do as well. There’s definitely pressure among my peers to do as well as I possibly can.”

By the time I reached high school, I was able to identify that the relationship between the four of us had become unhealthy and strained due to the amount of pressure we put both on ourselves and each other. After a few conversations with the group where we addressed the problem and decided that something needed to be done, we came to an agreement that we would cease to share all grades with one another. This way, we would not feel the pressure of being asked “what did you get?”, and could pursue high academic achievement for our own satisfaction and an effort to make the most of the talents God gave us instead of for the validation of the group.

For the first few years of high school where our classes lined up very closely, we followed this rule religiously and began to see the improvement in our ability to be together without the strain of competition. Studying and helping each other with our classes became easier and even more enjoyable when we could freely wish for the absolute best for each other. 

Although not every friend group will struggle with academic competition, in the developmental years of one’s life there seems to be an impulse to compare some aspect of being to those around you such as social, physical, or even spiritual. I believe that in order for a group of friends to grow closer and thrive, that element of competition must be acknowledged among the group and dealt with in a healthy way in order to be able to see each other as teammates and not rivals.

Tuesday 19 April 2022

Last Night of Sneak

By Jiheon No

Some hastening and some walking, we the seniors entered the conference room provided by the resort for the last night's gathering of senior sneak. With a mix of laughter and chatter, one by one we sat around, coming to silence, in a circle for a time of reflecting back on our life and looking ahead into what is about to come. 

The session began with an acoustic worship led by Juyoung, Haeon, and Tim. With some harmonization, the whole senior class sang together the words of praise and thankfulness after a fun and exhausting day out in the sun. This worship session was especially special as there was no other time when only the seniors gathered together for a worship service. One song that really was meaningful to the whole class was Oceans by Hillsong UNITED:


 “You call me out upon the waters

The great unknown where feet may fail

And there I find You in the mystery. 

In oceans deep my faith will stand”. 


Since we will be going out to the world, now independent, we will be vulnerable to the oblivious future so these lyrics from the song really talked to our class.


Next, for around forty minutes, we had an individual time to reflect and write personal notes about our own life through a question the ExCom had come up with. The questions mainly focused on the past, present, and future experiences of our life that did and will happen.


To end the night session, our class had a moment to write down notes of thanks and encouragement to each other, to whom we would be saying farewell to in less than 2 months. Each person had a paper hung onto the behind of their neck so that everyone could go around and write to each other. We formed a chain to write to our friends for over an hour which was nowhere close to being enough  us to write everything we felt towards each other. Some cried in tears and some hugged and exchanged thanks. 


This night made us look back at the memories and friendships that formed over the years and made us really treasure the fun, exciting, hard, and sad times we spent together. It helped us to organize all the jumble of thoughts we have about the future and reflect on our lives and be thankful for what we have. This was a night we the senior class will never forget.


Experiencing a New Aspect of Life

By Rauru Takikawa

As I unconsciously turned off the first alarm and woke up with the second one at 4:40 AM, I knew today was not ordinary. As I made the final check on my luggage and left home, I felt a little sorrow that I won't be able to return home for about four days. When I arrived in Dalat, everyone was ready for the nearly ten hours of trips. After the long travel and arriving at The Tarras Beach & Spa Resort hotel at Redang, we received an interesting green juice. Enjoying free time at the beach and eating a wonderful dinner, we received important information from sponsors regarding the expectations and activities. 

One activity I found interesting was spoon assassination which we stabbed people with spoons, and the only way to protect yourself was to put both hands on top of your head. This activity was not only fun to watch as a couple of people were always putting their hands on top of their heads but also allowed me to have new social connections with other people after I assassinated. 

Having a good night's sleep in a cozy hotel and eating breakfast on the second day, we played a game similar to a music chair and created a sandcastle. We played night tag in the evening, which I enjoyed but became exhausted. 

On the third day, we clean the beaches as community service. Although the beach looked clean, we collected more than seven trash bags. Later that day, my friends and I went snorkeling to see turtles. It was a great experience to see turtles and fish close. 

The following day, I woke up early to go on a sunrise hike which was supposed to be a long walk. However, the hike was short as a hotel to the hiking place was longer than hiking itself. Regardless, the view of the sunset was spectacular as we saw the sun rising from the mountain top and a clear ocean surrounded below. In the last free time of the trip, my friends and I set the transparent kayak to the sea. We saw sea turtles swimming under us as we puddled among the endless oceans. Sometimes we stopped kayaking to float in the calming sea, which almost made us sleep.

 Being in Dalat for the first year and the trip being my first and last high school vacation, I believe this Sneak allowed me to rest and grow socially. When I asked Lee Anne Lim (12), who stayed in Dalat way longer than me,  about the trip's reflection, she said, "A lack of electronics allowed me to be more aware of the different ways to spend time with friends…It forced me to actually find ways to entertain myself and allowed me to bond with my other classmates." 

Without this trip, I would never have had conversations with some students. The trip also made me appreciate the beautiful surrounding and increased my connection to Dalat. Dalat's 2022 Senior Sneak changed me physically as I became slightly tan and socially as I made new relationships.

 

Where in the World did Jacky’s Wallet Go?

 By Jacky Park

Last week the seniors went to Redang for their Senior Sneak, and everything went well during that time except the fact that Jacky Park (12) lost his wallet during the trip.

All seniors were highly encouraged to bring a decent amount of money because since the pandemic was still around, they had to enjoy their time inside the hotel by using the facilities they provided. In fact there were quite a few things they could enjoy because the hotel was connected to a beautiful beach where snorkeling , beach volleyball, kayaking etc. was available. Jacky, thinking he wouldn’t have enough money, decided to bring 550 ringgit to Sneak and told everyone he was “prepared for the fun”.

The trip to Redang took about 8 hours in total, so hardly any seniors used any money on the first day. On the second day, seniors really started to have fun out on the beach doing various activities. Jacky was excited to go snorkeling with Addy, Chor Ee, Sabrina, Maggie, and Jiheon. Chor Ee paid for Jacky’s snorkeling fees because he told her that he left his wallet in his room and was too lazy to go get it. She was kind enough to pay for him, with a promise that he would pay her back at dinner.

After Jacky and his group came back from snorkeling, he went back to his hotel room for his money to pay Chor Ee back. He searched for 5 minutes, couldn’t find it. He searched for 10 minutes, still couldn’t find it. After 30 minutes of searching all his belongings and the room, Jacky could not get a clue of where he put his wallet. He immediately told the sponsors about his missing wallet, and explained to Chor Ee about this as well. Chor Ee, surprisingly not surprised, said, “I knew it bro, why you like this?”

Jacky frantically searched for his wallet until the last day of Sneak, but could not find it. Along with all the fun he had there, Jacky lost his unused 550 ringgit on the second day of Sneak and instead earned a 70 ringgit debt from borrowing money from his friends. He couldn’t keep the one rule that Mr. Steinkamp reminded us multiple times before and during sneak, which was DBS, meaning Don’t Be Stupid.



Dalat’s Hidden Nature: Life in Plain Sight

 By Ethan Chan 

Spiritual Discipline students scattered across the Dalat campus to have a time of silence and reflect upon themselves and the world around them. Watching the blue ocean waters or sitting across from the grassy field, they sat quietly and observed. However, amongst them all, was the silent life that went unnoticed in plain sight.

As leaves trickled down onto the cool ground, Rauru Takikawa (12) embraced the fresh sea winds as he sat under the pleasant shade.

In the conclusion of the class activity, Rauru said, “Being surrounded by the trees creates a calming environment. I like the trees as I look across campus. I get a vibe of leisure around them.”

Standing tall amidst us all, trees have always been there across Dalat. Providing us with shade and creating a greenscape across the school, many students appreciate and rely on their soothing presence. When asked about nature in Dalat, many students replied, mentioning trees, the ocean, or the crows that lurk near the cafeteria. However, what many students don’t notice, is the abundance of other life there is in Dalat apart from themselves. If you observe closely at the trees, you may see more than you realize was there in the first place.

As students walk across the campus, multiple of the trees play host to orchids (Orchidaceae). When not in bloom, they go unnoticed and blend alongside the other plants that cling on the trees. Looking closer at the bark, a multitude of tiny creatures can be found. A hive of stingless bees (Tetragonula) may inhabit one tree and a colony of Bi-coloured Arboreal ants (Tetraponera rufonigra) another. Even more unnoticed, one might find camouflaged assassin bugs (Acanthaspis sp.) that attach debris on their body to mimic the appearance of bark. Trees, however, aren’t the only place where life resides on campus.

Across fences and fields, house crows (Corvus splendens) and the common myna (Acridotheres tristis) watch the campus like hawks, waiting for the right moment to snatch any unsuspecting food. Over the koi pond, long-jawed orb-weavers (Tetragnatha sp.) lay in wait for prey while on their webs. Brushing across the jungle flame (Ixora coccinea), one might reveal a curious Asian ant mantis nymph (Odontomantis planiceps) that might otherwise have been mistaken as an ant. Even in the middle of the Harbour building, jumping spiders (Salticidae) can be found wandering the walls as they hunt for their next meal.

Life in Dalat isn’t limited to just trees and birds. Being on a tropical island, we have a highly biodiverse environment, not only in the forest, but even at school. The Dalat campus is home to countless species that go unappreciated on a daily basis. From a tiny pseudoscorpion (Pseudoscorpiones) in the field to a goose-filled reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus), my experience as a student at Dalat has allowed me to witness all sorts of organisms in the school and to this day, I’m seeing new species all the time. So, if you ever want to discover a piece of Dalat’s hidden nature, you don’t have to look far. There’s nature just waiting for you in plain sight.

Tuesday 5 April 2022

Last Spring Break as a Senior

By Ning Yi Chia

Towards the end of March, we are rewarded with a short break for our work ethic and drive to achieve our goals. Luckily, spring break is a glimmering reminder that the darkness of midterm stress and seasonal senioritis will soon be washed away in blissful sunlight. 

Unlike the usual lighthearted feeling I get before a week of holiday, I felt an inconsolable yearning for the experience to be longer, almost as if I crave the nostalgia of staying close to my family and friends. As of last spring break and holiday as a senior, I believe it was a memorable time of my life, especially when I got to foster great relationships with my peers. 

The four years of high school have shaped and refined us into individuals with empathy and strong interrelationships– some of those special moments are created when we take time to rest and spend it with our loved ones. As Christopher Ooi (12) says, “Senior year has been a great opportunity to appreciate the island and the people on it.” 

Several students had mentioned it was surreal when they realized it was their last spring break. “My last spring break is my best spring break. It feels like a montage of happy moments in life because I had so much fun every day. I learned that it’s important to have fun and relax. It saddens me to know it’s the last one, but I think realizing it made every moment even more special,” Cecelia Sheng (12) responds enthusiastically.

“My spring break brought a much-needed rest from school, and it was great to spend time with my family and friends without the school work hanging over my head. However, it will be my last spring break in Penang before leaving for university, so it was quite sentimental,”  Dylan Chew (12) elaborates on his experience over the break. 

I often hear the phrase, “Senior year will soon fly by,” and I never believed it until now. In less than three months, I will have my graduation gown and cap hanging up in my closet, waiting to be worn and for the next chapter of my life to begin as soon as I walk across that stage. It’s difficult to swallow that one day it will be the last lunch together with our friends or the last crack of a joke before we cease to step foot into the classrooms again. As for now, we should be mindful of our surroundings and appreciate the little things in life.   

I’ll end it with a quote from Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”


The Power of Connecting Online

By Lim Soo Qiao

On Friday, 25 March 2022, at five o’clock in the afternoon, Dalat would be without students or staff until the week after the next due to something special — spring break. This was a holiday that everyone deserved to have to rest, connect with others, and have fun. 

During spring break, I spent my time getting closer to teachers and classmates who I wasn’t very familiar with by talking to them online. From doing this, I learned the hardships and highlights in their lives. Despite their difficulties, they have found ways to enjoy life and have joyous moments in this harsh time. 

One of the teachers I spoke to online was Ms. Hexen Ong, who shared some part of her story about her journey of faith to me. Thinking I was taking up too much of her time she said to me, “You're not taking too much of my time! I love love love sharing all these with you!” Technology is a blessing because we can communicate with someone when we can’t physically meet them. There are limits to the devices we use, but they give us the emotional closure we need to satisfy the psychological distress we have from the lack of physical contact. 

The pandemic has caused a lot of setbacks in my life because of the limits of social or physical contact with others. There are millions of people affected by the current situation we are in, including the Dalat community. Our community has suffered enormously by pushing back events and students getting ill. The majority of us have barely had a full year of school in person, which is why we turn to technology to get us back on track. 

Spring break was a time for everyone to form new relationships, converse with each other, and return to what used to be the norm three years ago by using technology. 


Perspective Matters

 By Gabriel Kontsas

This spring break, both at a theme park and my basketball hoop, I realized how I experienced different emotions than my friends and family because of my perspective.

I see the world with my eyes and you with yours; this is how we create our perspectives. We can experience differing emotions at the same events, as one person might be having the time of their life. On the contrary, another person could be experiencing polar opposite emotions.

Over three weeks ago, I tore one of my main ankle ligaments, meaning that I have not been able to do any sports or other everyday activities. This injury is primarily a struggle when hanging around boys, as physical activities often revolve around these hangouts. For example, Taylor Johnson from grade 12, when asked for one of his highlights of the break, answered, "Playing basketball at Gabe's house" as one of them. However, I, who usually would've answered the same, felt relatively polar emotions as I was saddened that I couldn't be a part of what my friends were doing because of my injury. Neither of us was wrong in what we were feeling, but I was incapable of experiencing the same emotions about that activity as he did because of my pre-existing problem. 

At another time during my break, my family and I went to the Genting Highlands' new theme park, which was quite impressive. I've been to multiple theme parks before in my life, and often I have one consistent problem: I get nauseous, and I have a healthy respect for heights. So, when my family and I went on a ride that spins in a circular motion while flipping you upside down high up in the air, I was bound not to enjoy it. Luckily, I didn't feel highly nauseous after the ride, but I was praying to dear God for the ride to stop during the whole duration. On the other hand, both of my siblings loved it, and it was one of the day's highlights. 

The sooner we understand that everyone around us has their personal feelings and emotions that cause them to give them their perspectives, the sooner we can reduce conflict and increase overall understanding and happiness. I am still injured and scared of heights, but my friends and family know that, so they understand if certain things don't bring me joy or if I don't portray the same enthusiasm as they do.  


Chicken-Rice, Simple yet Sophisticated

By Josh Peek

A bell sounds, the timer is set and started, tick tick tick, 45 minutes like sand falling through the hands of time. Four weary soldiers stumble out of their fourth arena of battle. One goal drives them forward, exhausted, injured, barely holding on; “shin boon-” Jaesung Kim (12) mutters under his breath, too tired to complete the sentence; no need, the three around him grunt in agreement. 

They shuffle across sullen marshland, making their way towards their gallant steed, past the “Lichbrarray,” a store of vast knowledge. Seconds before making it to freedom, a gatekeeper requests identification, and each soldier produces their own. Approved for travel, the group makes haste to the stables. There awaits a magnificent beast, Handach Ceitea, a trusty (four-seater) horse. Each soldier clambers on, and they begin their short but arduous journey. The roads are packed, each turn and stop seemingly endless. Danger lurks around each corner; smaller single-person horses zip by, their impatience instigating chaos around them. At last, an open highway beckons them toward their goal. Each horse gallop brings the distant red sign of salvation closer and closer to view. 

As the four weary soldiers approach the gates of paradise, the smell of fragrant rice hangs sweetly in the air. Hanging by the entrance is a selection of delectable meats--pork, chicken, and duck--begging to be devoured. Each orders his portion, making their way to the back of the room. There is no need to wait long, for this establishment prides itself on speed and quality, the plates of heavenly rice topped with richly flavored chicken. They pour the ginger-infused chili atop their meals. When asked to describe the experience in a word Niko Bernhardt (12) gave the frank and truthful answer: “Bussin.” Each bite filled with other-worldly savor reinvigorates the four with renewed energy. Shin Boon Kee may be one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity.

Emerging from the shop fresh and restored, our heroes are now seen in a different light. What’s this? Purple shirts on high school seniors? Indeed, the restorative power of chicken rice has turned these four weary soldiers into Dalat seniors we know and love. Just as the saying goes: You’re not you when you’re hungry #ShinBoonKee Satisfies. Now fulfilled only one question remains, will they make it back in time for F block?