Popularity Problems

A child wants to stop going to school. A teenager is ashamed to speak up in class. An university student drops out of school altogether. The problem only escalates with age. Popularity is a hot topic for the young generation, from young children to young adults. It makes some people love school, and others hate it. But what is popularity?

Alexandra Robbins, a bestselling author of books about high school, says that there are actually two types of popularity. Perceived popularity, and sociometric popularity. Perceived popularity is based on reputation. Who people think are popular and well liked. There are 3 elements to perceived popularity. A student has to be visible, recognisable and influential. Sociometric popularity, however, is different. Sociometric popularity is based on who actually likes each other.

People are being judged by the wrong qualities in life. Praiseworthy talents and hobbies are being smothered for the sake of being popular. Friendships are lost and given up to be ‘popular’. Popularity is just another word for peer pressure. Lunchtime’s can be a horror for people, simply not having anywhere and anyone to sit with, and having the feeling that everyone is watching you and either pitying or scorning you, both equally bad. Schools aren’t helping either. They encourage you to go to a counsellor, but what they don’t understand is that going to a counsellor doesn’t help. It either establishes you as a snitch, or makes yourself ashamed that you had to go to the counsellor in the first place.

What can you do about this popularity problem though? Truth be told, not much. Hierarchies are naturally going to fall into place. There is nothing you or I could do about that. What we can do, however, is change the way people see popularity. If you could remove perceived popularity, people would have a much more down-to-earth, realistic view of popularity. Additionally, students should put themselves into groups instead of the teachers choosing. With students choosing their own groups, the loners will all end up together, with the end result of them banding together, sitting together and everything. It will eventually eliminate loners.

by Samuel

Will the eighth and ninth grade be allowed to keep their phones at night?

One of the rules in the boarding house is for the students to bring their electronics down to the third floor at night. The third floor is where the students’ phones, laptops and IPads’ are kept from sunday to thursday at night. This is so the students won’t use their phone and computer and get distracted by it. The house parents believe that the students should get more sleep and rest their eyes instead of staring at their laptops and phones all day. Lots of complaints were heard from the eighth and ninth grade as they believe that they are responsible enough to keep their electronics. Sometimes, the students would try to hide their phones in the drawers but the house parents would find out. According to the boarding students in grade 8, they felt safer with their phone around and didn’t like putting their phones away for the night.

Will the eighth and ninth grader be responsible enough to not get distracted by their phones at night? “I’m not really sure, because it kind of depends on the person,” said an unconfirmed source. “Yes, because I find that when I don’t have my phone, I can’t tell the time because the clock in my room doesn’t work even after sending an email to the house parents.” complained an eighth grade boarder. According to another witness, last year when the students put their phone down, nobody woke them up. But luckily, some students hid their phone and called everybody to wake up otherwise they would have been late for school. The representatives of grade 8 and 9 boarders for boarding house council are now bringing this issue to the houseparents.

By Angelina

Should 8th Graders act as role models to the younger ones?

12:00 pm on a Wednesday afternoon, the elementary school kids walked in the Cafeteria for their lunch while the 8th graders still hung around. Throughout the Cafeteria a certain table with lots of girls seemed to be shouting at the top of their lungs and goofing around. The elementary schoolers stared at them , some with looks of annoyance while more than the half of elementary school looked as if question marks hanging above their heads, seeming to think if what the, 8th graders were doing was right or wrong?

This brings us to our question today that, do 8th graders have to act like role models to the younger ones? Jasmine Zeng of Class 8JRa stated that, ‘Ideally it would be good if that were the case, however I think some 8th graders lack the maturity to be proper role models, as we saw in the cafeteria.’ while another student, Wan Zhen Li of 8GTs said,’ Yes, I believe that 8th graders should be a general role model for the younger children to look up to, as well as the IB and High School students to the 8th graders, but, as those children grow up I think that it is important that they are able to choose their own role model.’

Hearing the answers of two different girls with pretty similar opinions, tells that according to them that 8th graders should be role models, but many lack the maturity for it and could give a wrong example, but looking around, a bunch of boys seemed to be talking about being role models, one the boys sitting there stated,’ I don’t think us 8th graders should be looked upon as role models, as we would be on our puberty stage just turning 13, so in my opinion the younger ones should look up to adults.’ What he said is a true fact, so in conclusion I think every one of them should try their best to set a good example for the younger ones, but at the same time be themselves and have fun of their teenage lives.

By Ishita

Juice Box Swindlers

Recent reports in the year of 2014 say that someone has been knicking juice boxes from the UWC fridges. It is the group of robbers called ‘the little kids’. Each box costs only $0.90, but if a lot of kids snatch the juice, it all adds up to a lot of money lost. The children think of it as not much of a big deal, so they do it.

The bandits actions are described as sneaky, quick and cautious, described by an unidentified boy witness from Mr.Raisdana’s english class. The sodex workers have had an eye pinned to the fridges, according to bystanders and pedestrians.

The crooks will be heartbroken when they hear that their theivishness will come to a halt, and they are brought to justice. According to Alexander Windheim, grade 8 student, the staff have moved all of the juice boxes to one fridge to make it easier to monitor exactly who it is that is looting all of these fridges.

The question is; who is shoplifting all of these cartons! and how many of them are being lifted. The school also recently have installed new security cameras around the school and they are considering equipping more inside the cafeteria, to have data confirmation to catch the small pirates.

The devious scoundrels will soon be seized, and interrogated. Officials remind you to not become one of their association, you will be captured.

First Day Of School

On the First day of school at UWCSEA East. The buses had come with sad and eager kids waiting to see what their new grade would feel like. Most people walked up the stairs like zombies because they were all tired from summer. The other jolted up the stairs to see their friends and to see what class they are in and if they were with any of their friends. This was the most exciting start to the day although some of the people already knew which classes they were in. and who they were with because of the Parent Portal. Bus Number 23 had arrived carrying Aguistin spaan, Jason Zhang and Nelsin Martin Burnet. Jason was a new kid that Aguistin had met in the class his first words on the bus was “sup guys im jason I know this is very awkward but just putting it out there.” He sat next to me he had a brother named Kevin Aguistin and Nelsin were laughing because of the speech Jason had just made. They had asked Jason a couple of question and they became friends in an instant one of the questions Aguistin had asked where “Are you Asian” Jason replied “HAHAHAH do my eyes give it away.”

They arrived at school and slowly walked up the stairs. Aguistin was explaining what the school was like since this would be his 4th year at UWCSEA. Aguistin said “This school is one of the best you will ever go to first of all is is !HUGE! and has a good reputation for teaching the best students.” after saying this Jason looked very scared after Aguistin had told him what the school was like. There was another random new student tagging along since he had heard Aguistin talk about the school and how he this would be his fourth year at UWCSEA. He asked where he had to go I told him to go to the 5th floor to the grade 8 pod and of he could not find it he could always ask a teacher since there was a lot of teachers helping the new students.

Aguistin and Jason Continued talking to each other and they went up all the stairs. Jason kept asking Aguistin “How many stairs do we have to walk up till we reach the 5th floor” Aguistin replied “I know right its a pain in the butt you will get used to it”. They got to the 5th floor and looked at the classes Aguistin had already looked at his class on the Parent portal.

Aguistin said “Jason Im sorry but i'm in AFr and i'm pretty sure you are not in my class” Jason replied with a very sad voice “Okay”. So jason looked at for his class after Austin, which is Aguistin's friend came over and said “sup bro lets go find our class” Aguistin had a happy sigh and told jason “I have to go” So jason said “bye and Aguistin replied with “hope I can see you later at lunch or break.

Austin and Aguistin were looking for the class we looked down to the left corridor and walked into a random class and said where can I find AFr. The teacher looked at us and said “thats my class hi im Mrs Felker and I am your mentor for the year” Aguistin and Austin walked in and told Austin “She sounds very nice”.

By Aguistin