Inkblot 2019 Summer

READ ABOUT 

Cailin Simpson Work [pg. 12] 

Playlist [pg. 20] 

The Ocean [pg. 28] 

and more. 

WINTER 

2018 

INKBLOT 

INTERVIEW 

publish anything. 

with Seniors [pg. 34] 

QQ Chua, Simon Floris 

Lawrence Xu, Taissia Yanishevskaya 

Steven Yin, Emily Yuan 

1

INKBLOT 

Inkblot is WAB’s student-run magazine. 

It is distributed all throughout the High School, containing your 

articles, your reviews, your art, your work. At the Inkblot, we respect 

your work. In fact, so much that we let you 

Publish Anything. 

2

3

Letter from Inkblot’s Executive 

Hi everyone, welcome to Inkblot’s newest issue. For this issue, 

we have a diverse range of topics, ranging from film 

reviews to travle guide. I’m the director of publishing and 

editing this year, and we’ve all tried to produce a high quality 

magazine. We hope everyone can find at least one article 

interesting! If you are interested in writing or designing, 

please consider joining us, or sending us anything you 

want published. If you’ve read till here, answer this riddle 

“what gets wet while drying” at 19janel@wab.edu for a prize. 

Thank you! 

4

Table of Contents 

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri: A Review 

[pg.10 - 11] 

Cailin Simpson Works 

[pg.12 - 15] 

TOP 10: Less Known School Based Movies 

[pg.16 - 17] 

Playlist 

[pg.20 - 21] 

Chocolate Is Great for Your Health? 

[pg.22 - 23] 

Baking Recipes 

[pg.24 - 25] 

The Ocean 

[pg.28 - 30] 

WAB Class of 2018! 

[pg.34 - 40] 

5

Staff Page 

Alinnah Qiao 

Director of Writing & Publishing 

Hee Jung Choi 

Editor-in-Chief 

Steve Thomas 

Advisor 

Maya Chen 

Design Director 

YY Huang 

Design Director 

6

Ally Huang Annie Yin 

Minkyeom Kwon Cailin Simpson Camila Kochlowski 

Cheng Wei Xu Isobel Yeaman 

7

Jane Lee Ji Zheng Tan 

Joao Scarpa Lawrence Xu 

Noa Levavi QQ Chua 

8

Rylie Xiong Sean Ye 

Taissia Yanishevskaya Ting Shiun Ong 

Victoria Tang Zoe Lin 

9

Three 

Billboards 

Outside 

Ebbing, 

Missouri: 

A Review 

TAISSIA 

YANISHEVSKAYA 

10

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri 

(2017), directed as well as written by Martin 

McDonagh, is a drama imbued with dark comedy. 

Some other films by McDonagh that many 

may be familiar with are In Bruges and Seven 

Psychopaths. Set in a small town in Missouri, 

the story follows Mildred Hayes whose daughter, 

seven months ago, was raped and murdered. The 

mother is extremely angry, as no culprit or suspect 

has been found, so she decides to set matters 

into her own hands. She installs three billboards 

that question the police and their inadequacy 

in doing their jobs and finding the murderer. 

The billboards arouse controversy, and it’s as if 

Mildred is going to war with the whole town, 

especially the police. 

There are many reasons I believe this movie is 

brilliant. Of course, one of the reasons is the 

outstanding performances from the actors, 

especially Frances McDormand, who is taking 

the lead role, Woody Harrelson (chief of police), 

and Sam Rockwell (officer Jason Dixon). There is 

also some spectacular acting by the less central 

characters, such as the “town midget,” as he calls 

himself, played by Peter Dinklage and Dixon’s 

mother played by Sandy Martin. 

Aside for the performance itself, the character of 

Mildred is especially powerful. She is a mother 

who, throughout the whole movie, maintains this 

incredible strength that is sustained by her anger 

and her need to find justice for her daughter. At 

times, she can be not only intimidating but also 

straight out scary. She is willing to go to extremes 

that create a sense of discomfort, even in the audience 

who is on her side. Her determined nature 

is intertwined with this motherly vulnerability 

that not only creates a more three-dimensional 

character but also creates a dark and devastating 

atmosphere for the film in general. Another especially 

unique character is officer Dixon, who from 

the audience’s point of view, is a perfectly “hateable” 

police officer. He not only says incredibly 

offensive things but also does some horrifying 

things that make you wonder, “How in the world 

do such bigots and abominable creatures still exist 

in the world?” 

Now in most movies that would be it; that would 

be the whole character. 

However, in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, 

Missouri, there is no black and white. We like 

to categorize people, opinions, points of views, 

etc. in either black or white and good or bad. 

The movie extensively explores this gray area, 

which many filmmakers (or people in general) 

avoid. Without giving out too many spoilers, all 

I will say is that there are really clever twists in 

narrative that create some unexpected character 

arcs and turns in the story. As an avid film geek, 

I am used to predicting storylines, twist endings, 

or anything about the story. My predictions 

are frequently correct, as many movies can be 

predictable or follow similar patterns and story 

developments. This doesn’t necessarily mean 

that the film is bad or cliché, though. However, 

every time I tried to predict something in Three 

Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, I would 

be wrong and the story would somehow take an 

unforeseen turn. 

The only negative thing I have to say about this 

film is the acting of this one specific character. 

Lucas Hedges acts as the mother’s son in the film, 

and there was some shockingly horrible acting. 

I found myself in disbelief, as I couldn’t for a 

second be convinced of anything he was trying 

to portray as an actor. Perhaps, maybe this was 

because I naturally saw the huge contrast with the 

other performers. 

Finally, the writing in the film itself was remarkable. 

The sharp, quick-witted screenplay created 

the perfect “small American town” atmosphere. 

It was fresh and contained some risky, “daring” 

jokes that worked, especially in the film’s context. 

I felt like it delves into some bold topics such as 

police brutality and law enforcement in general, 

which many, nowadays especially, stray away 

from. Some critics complain about the “vile” 

language in the film or the unnecessary violence. 

I don’t agree with these critics, however. If swear 

words could be considered poetry, then this film 

has definitely achieved that. Everything works so 

smoothly together to create this rugged, claustrophobic 

feeling of being trapped with anger, grief, 

and sorrow with a bleakly humorous edge. The 

movie itself has already won numerous awards 

and gotten plenty of nominations (including a 

few Oscar nominations). This film is definitely 

one of the best from 2017. 

11

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TOP 10: 

LESS KNOWN 

SCHOOL BASED 

MOVIES 

by JOAO SCARPA 

8. The Beat Beneath My Feet (2016) 

IMDB Rating: 6.4 

Aspiring musicians often struggle 

to emerge in a competitive world. The 

Beat Beneath My Feet portrays the struggles 

of a shy teen, Tom, as he attempts to 

make his own music. This movie touches 

on the idea of depression; therefore, this 

film may not be an easy watch, which 

could be a reason why it is lesser known. 

10. Prom (2011) 


This is a movie about one of the 

most existing nights of senior year, prom. 

This movie narrates the story of the prom 

committee chair, Nova Prescott, who 

seeks help to conclude the decorations 

for the event after they have been destroyed 

in a fire. 

7. Detention (2011) 


Never get detention when there 

is a killer on the streets. This is a valuable 

lesson the students of Grizzly Lake High 

had to learn the hard way. Detention has 

all the elements of a perfect horror movie 

as well as the humor and subtle romance 

of a teen movie. 

9. The Outfield (2015) 


The friends we make on the field 

are the ones who we will remember forever. 

Frankie, Jack, and Austin have been 

members of the outfield since their Little 

League times, and they have become 

inseparable friends outside the field. 

Throughout the movie, the characters’ 

paths diverge as they find themselves and 

chase their passions, only for them to find 

each other again and play as the outfield 

one last time. 

6. Pass the Light (2015) 


This is a movie that teaches us to 

trust our faith and not rely on intolerance 

and the scapegoating of the “sinners.” A 

high school student runs for a congress 

position through a campaign of love, 

changing the perspective of his family and 

the community. Although this film fell out 

of the spotlight, it has a very important 

message. 

16

5. Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) 


This is a horror movie that will 

make you reconsider your ideas of sleep. 

Freddy Krueger, “nightmare” killer, 

spreads terror in a small town. He preys 

on teenagers in their dreams, which leads 

to them being killed in real life as well. 

This is a classic scary movie that many 

people cannot watch by themselves. It 

lost its fame throughout the years, but it 

still remains to be a must-see for all horror 

and slasher film enthusiasts. 

3. Speak (2004) 


The story of Melinda Sordino, a 

fourteen-year-old freshman, who struggles 

to cope with her memories of the 

past summer throughout her first year 

of high school. This is a story of isolation, 

grief, and forced silence that encourages 

women to speak up. It is a challenging 

watch due to its gloomy mood, but it contains 

a deep message about self-justice 

and muteness. It is based on L.H. Anderson’s 

well-known namesake novel. 

2. We Children from Bahnhof Zoo 

(1981) 


A German movie popular in Europe 

in the early 80s that tells the story of a 

girl living in West Berlin. This film shows 

the struggles of being a teenager in a 

segregated country where younger voices 

are rarely heard. Teens at the time often 

turned to drugs and alcohol to deal with 

their complex life just as the protagonist 

of the story does. 

4. Napoleon Dynamite (2004) 


This movie is a true comedy that 

balances the humor of each scene with 

the eccentric nature of Napoleon, who is 

campaigning to become class president. 

Despite being the Winner of the Best Feature 

Film award at the U.S. Comedy Arts 

Festival, this film lost its fame among the 

adolescent population as years passed. 

1. Never Let Me Go (2010) 


Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s namesake 

novel, this movie tells the story of 

kids who grow up in a reality very different 

than they ever would have imagined. 

The film is not entirely based in a school 

setting, but the story involves adolescents 

struggling with the realities of their lives. 

Indeed, this movie is heartbreaking yet 

also entertaining. entertaining. 

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19

20 

“YOUNG DUMB & BROKE” 

AMERICAN TEEN BY KHALID 

THIS SONG DESCRIBES ADOLESCENCE PERFECTLY. AS IT IS 

WRITTEN BY A TEENAGER, “YOUNG DUMB & BROKE” DETAILS 

THE FEELINGS THAT YOU EXPERIENCE AND THE THOUGHTS THAT 

YOU HAVE WHILE DISCOVERING WHO YOU ARE. FROM LOVE TO 

FREEDOM, KHALID DISCUSSES A VARIETY OF TOPICS THAT MANY 

WILL FIND THEMSELVES PONDERING WHILE TRYING TO FIND 

THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD. “YOUNG DUMB & BROKE” DOCU- 

MENTS THE EXPERIENCE OF GROWING UP, CAPTURING THE EMO- 

TIONS, UPS AND DOWNS, AND 

JOURNEY OF A TEENAGER. 

NOA LEVAVI 

SEAN YE 

“JAPANESE DENIM” BY DANIEL CAESAR 

“JAPANESE DENIM” IS THE KIND OF SONG YOU WILL WANT 

TO PLAY ON REPEAT. THE SOFT INSTRUMENTAL BACKING 

CREATES A VERY RELAXED, NOSTALGIC, AND ALMOST MEL- 

ANCHOLIC VIBE, WHILE ALSO BEING SUBTLE ENOUGH TO 

LEAVE THE VOCALS AS THE FOCUS OF THE SONG. THIS AL- 

LOWS LISTENERS TO FOCUS ON EMOTIONAL, INSIGHTFUL 

LYRICS THAT CAN INSPIRE CONVERSATION AND INTROSPEC- 

TION. THIS IS THE PERFECT SONG TO PLAY WHEN YOU ARE 

ENJOYING SOME DOWNTIME WITH FRIENDS, OR JUST WHEN 

YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO HELP YOU UNWIND. 

“CAROLINA” HARRY STYLES BY HARRY STYLES 

“CAROLINA” IS REMINISCENT OF THE 60S, WITH SOME 

EVEN SAYING THAT THEY CAN HEAR HEAVY INFLUENCE 

FROM THE BEATLES. WITH ITS GROOVY VIBE, UPBEAT IN- 

STRUMENTALS, AND ROMANTIC EDGE, THIS SONG SOUNDS 

LIKE IT COULD’VE BEEN PLAYED IN GREASE. IT IS PER- 

FECT FOR ROAD TRIPS, VACATIONS, AND SUMMER NIGHTS. 

“BIG 

FISH” 

BIG FISH THEO- 

RY BY VINCE STAPLES 

WHILE THE MOST PROMINENT RAP SCENES OF 2017 ARE IN 

ATLANTA AND NEW YORK, VINCE STAPLES PUTS LONG BEACH, 

CALIFORNIA, BACK ON THE MAP. IN A HIGHLY EXPERIMENTAL AL- 

BUM, “BIG FISH” FINDS A BALANCE BETWEEN QUIRKINESS AND 

CATCHINESS THAT ANY AVERAGE LISTENER CAN ENJOY. LYRI- 

CALLY, VINCE RECOGNIZES THAT THIS TRACK IS “ANOTHER STO- 

RY ’BOUT A YOUNG BLACK MAN/TRYNA MAKE HIS WAY OUT THE 

JAM,” BUT IT IS HARD TO IGNORE THE TECHNICAL VERSATILITY 

OF VINCE’S RHYMES, LITTERED WITH SMOOTH TRANSITIONS AND 

ENJAMBMENT. ANOTHER REFRESHING ADDITION IS VINCE’S STRANGELY MESMERIZING ACCENT, 

WHICH SOMEWHAT RESEMBLES THE LAIDBACK TEXTURE OF PAST LONG BEACH LEGENDS SUCH 

AS SNOOP DOGG. OVERALL, “BIG FISH” IS A TRACK BURSTING WITH GROOVE AND PERSONALITY.

“MARCY ME” 4:44 BY JAY-Z 

IN THE TWO MINUTES AND FIFTY-FOUR SECONDS THIS TRACK, 

JAY-Z DISPLAYS BRILLIANT TECHNICAL SKILL AS WELL AS EMO- 

TIONAL RETROSPECTION. THE TITLE, WHICH IS A WORDPLAY ON 

THE MARCY PROJECTS IN NEW YORK, STRIKES AN APOLOGETIC 

TONE, MUCH LIKE THE REST OF THE ALBUM. COMBINING VIVID 

CULTURAL REFERENCES OF THE 80S NEW YORK SCENE AND 

THE CONTEMPORARY SOUND OF BOUNCY PIANO REVERBS, JAY- 

Z BRINGS US BACK TO THE TIME WHEN MICHAEL JORDAN WAS 

CEMENTING HIS STATUS AS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME, WHEN 

LISA BONET WAS THE “BEYONCÉ OF HER DAY”, AND WHEN JAY- 

Z, NOW AN UNSHAKABLE CULTURAL ICON, WAS STILL WONDER- 

ING: “LORD, WE KNOW WHO WE ARE/YET WE KNOW NOT WHAT 

WE MAY BE/SO MAYBE I’M THE ONE OR MAYBE I’M CRAZY.” 

“COCOON” BLOSSOM BY MILKY CHANCE 

THIS SONG BRINGS COMFORT TO LISTENERS. AL- 

THOUGH IT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE CLASSIFIED AS A 

VERY SLOW OR MELLOW SONG, THE LYRICS EVOKE THE 

FEELING OF A LAZY SATURDAY MORNING IN BED. THIS 

SONG IS PERFECT FOR RELAXING AND GETTING COZY. 

“JUNKY” SATURATION 

II BY BROCKHAMPTON 

IN “JUNKY”, THE RAP 

GROUP BROCKHAMTON’S 

CHARISMATIC FRONTMAN 

KEVIN ABSTRACT DELIVERS ONE OF THE MOST MEMORA- 

BLE VERSES OF ALL 2017 WITH BLUNT FORCE. THE DENSELY 

RHYMED AND FIERCELY RAPPED VERSE IS, ABOVE ALL, STRIK- 

INGLY POIGNANT. AN OPENLY GAY RAPPER, KEVIN ASKS UR- 

GENT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GAY MEN AROUND HIM THAT 

PRETEND TO BE “STRAIGHT” AND “MASCULINE” AND EVEN 

QUESTIONS HIS MOTHER, WHO “AIN’T LISTEN” WHEN HE SAID 

HE WAS GAY UNTIL HE SIGNED A RECORD DEAL. ALTHOUGH ONE 

MIGHT WONDER HOW LISTENERS WOULD RESPOND TO THE EXPLICIT CONTENT IN “JUNKY”, 

WE SHOULD REALIZE THAT THIS IS NONE OF KEVIN’S CONCERN: “THEY CAN COME AND CUT 

MY HAND OFF/AND, AND MY LEGS OFF AND AND/IMMA STILL BE A BOSS TILL MY HEAD GONE.” 

“MAGNOLIA” PLAYBOI CARTI BY PLAYBOI CARTI 

DOUBTLESSLY ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR TRACKS OF 

2017, PLAYBOI CARTI’S “MAGNOLIA” SHOWS US ANOTHER 

SIDE OF LYRICISM COMPARED TO THE RAPPERS ABOVE, 

AS HIS REPETITIVE PHRASES AND SPARSE WORDS SEEM 

TO RESEMBLE AD-LIBS MORE THAN A CONVENTIONALLY 

RAPPED VERSE. WHILE THE LYRICS CONTAIN LITTLE MORE 

THAN ROUTINE RAPPER BRAGGADOCIO WITH ONE MEMO- 

RABLE GEOGRAPHIC NOD (“IN NEW YORK I MILLY ROCK”), 

IT IS CARTI’S DELIVERY AND UNIQUE VOCAL TEXTURE THAT 

SETS THIS TRACK APART. HIGH-PITCHED AND ENERGETIC, 

CARTI’S VOICE BLENDS WITH THE UNCONVENTIONAL, BASS- 

HEAVY, FLUTE-INCLUDING BEAT TO BRING US INTO A STATE 

OF TRANCE. FULL OF LOUD COLORS AND BOLD SOUNDS, “MAGNOLIA” IS ONE OF 

THE BEST EXAMPLES OF THE BRAND-NEW AESTHETICS OF CONTEMPORARY RAP. 

21

22 

춐헐릩

While browsing the Internet for a possible Extended Essay topic, I decided to eat 

chocolate to help alleviate the stress of the IB Diploma Program. Suddenly, this sparked 

a thought: I could write my essay on chocolate! I started thinking about my addiction to 

chocolate bars, leading me to pose the question: Can chocolate dependency be equated to 

alcoholism? 

Immediately, this opened the door to new ideas and possibilities. I knew that chocolate 

wouldn’t have as many negative effects as alcohol, but I wondered exactly how it affected a 

person’s body. While conducting further research, I found some interesting articles exploring 

the health benefits of chocolate. One that really stood out to me was an investigation that 

found a positive correlation between the amount of chocolate consumed by a country and the 

number of Nobel laureates from that country. Yes, a team wrote an actual paper on this. 

Full disclaimer: I am pretty much willing to accept any suggestion of chocolate being 

healthy, simply to justify my (over)consumption of it. Of course, I know that the possibility 

of ending up in a hospital due to excessive chocolate eating is infinitely higher than that of 

receiving a Nobel prize. Nonetheless, there are serious studies suggesting that chocolate isn’t 

just sugar and fat and calories – at least dark chocolate isn’t. 

Dark chocolate contains a fancy-looking chemical called flavan-3-ol. Often just referred 

to as flavanols, these chemicals are a class of flavonoids that are found in fruits, wine, 

vegetables, and cocoa, which is a prominent ingredient in dark chocolate. 

Flavanols are thought to have positive effects on the brain. Many studies have 

concluded that they reduce age-related cognitive dysfunctions, among many other benefits. 

For example, research has shown that flavanols improve blood flow to the brain, thereby 

increasing the speed of working memory, attention span, reaction times, and problem-solving 

skills. Dark chocolate also contains substantial amounts of magnesium, which suppresses the 

release of the stress-causing hormone, cortisol. Other compounds found in dark chocolate, 

such as anandamide, tryptophan, and phenylethylamine, are also associated with feelings of 

bliss and positivity. 

Sadly, not all chocolates are made equal. Most of the health benefits associated with 

dark chocolate are a result of its high flavanol content, and milk and white chocolate (if you 

would even consider that chocolate) are low in flavanol levels. Sometimes, during the process 

of creating chocolate, flavanol compounds are actually removed. As a result, the positive 

effects of dark chocolate may not necessarily be able to be applied to all types of 

chocolate. 

However, even though the health benefits of chocolate can be 

debated, I still love it with a passion. The word cocoa derives from 

“kakawa”. To an Olmec person living in Central America between 

1500 – 500 B.C, the word would mean “god food”. I couldn’t 

agree more. 

Designed by Minkyeom Kwon 

23

BAKING 

RECIPES 

BY ALLY HUANG 

24

We all know how stressful IB can be, and we are all guilty of a little stress-eating at times. 

To help you with your snacking, I have compiled three recipes that are both delicious and 

easy. After all, who doesn’t love the taste of desserts that are fresh out of the oven? 

We hope you have a lot of fun making and eating the treats below! 

Soft Sugar Cookies (24 Servings) 

Ingredients: 

For The Cookies: 

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

3/4 cups sugar 

1 cup butter 

1 egg 

1/2 cup sour cream 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

For The Frosting: 

1/2 cup butter 

2 cups powdered sugar 

2 tablespoons milk 

Instructions: 

Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). 

For Cookies: 

In a bowl, add the flour, baking soda, 

and salt. Whisk to combine. In a large 

bowl, add the butter, sugar, and cream 

together using a hand mixer until light 

and fluffy (about 5 minutes). Add the 

egg and mix until fully incorporated. 

one third at a time, until fully combined. 

Shape the dough into a rectangle and 

wrap in a plastic wrap. Chill dough for 

1 hour in the refrigerator. Remove the 

plastic wrap from the dough and lightly 

flour an even surface. 

Roll out dough about 1/2 inch thick. 

Cut out circles using a glass or cookie 

cutter (or cut out fun shapes using a 

cookie cutter). Transfer cookies to a 

parchment paper-lined baking sheet, 

leaving about 1 inch in between cookies. 

Bake for 8 minutes until the bottom is 

golden brown, and the top is pale. Let 

cookies cool on pan or wire rack. 

For Frosting: 

In a bowl, beat the butter until fluffy 

with a hand mixer. Sift in powdered 

sugar and mix until incorporated. Add 

milk and continue to beat until mixture 

smooth and velvety. Frost cookies and 

decorate as you wish. 

Add sour cream and vanilla and mix 

until creamy. Add the flour mixture, 

25

Triple Chocolate Cookies (30 

Servings) 

Ingredients: 

2 1/2 sticks butter, softened 

2 cups sugar 

2 eggs 

2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 

2 cups all-purpose flour 

3/4 cup cocoa 

1 teaspoon baking soda 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

2 cups white chocolate chips 

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips 

Instructions: 

Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). 

Using a mixer, cream the butter and 

sugar until fluffy, scraping the sides 

once. Add the eggs, one at a time, 

mixing after each addition. Mix in the 

vanilla. 

Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking 

soda and salt, and then add in batches 

to the mixer, mixing until just combined 

after each addition. Gently blend 

in the white chocolate and chocolate 

chips. 

Using a cookie scoop, add 1 tablespoon 

portions to a baking sheet. Bake 

until the cookies are done but still soft 

and chewy, about 8 minutes. 

Let cool on a baking rack. 

Hot Chocolate Fudge (12 Servings) 

Ingredients: 

2 cups dark chocolate chips 

14 ounces sweetened condensed milk 

1 1/2 cup white chocolate chips 

1 1/2 cups mini hot chocolate marshmallows 

Instructions: 

In a microwave safe bowl, combine 

white chocolate chips with 5 tablespoons 

sweetened condensed milk. In 

a separate bowl, combine dark chocolate 

chips with remaining sweetened 

condensed milk. 

Line a square 9x9 pan (or 8x8) with foil 

and generously grease with butter or 

shortening. 

Microwave dark chocolate 30 seconds 

and stir. Microwave 15 seconds 

then stir vigorously until chocolate 

is smooth. Transfer mixture into prepared 

pan and spread into an even 

layer. 

Microwave white chocolate 30 seconds. 

Stir until smooth. Spread mixture 

on top of dark chocolate layer in a thin 

layer. Top with mini marshmallows 

then gently press down. 

Refrigerate at least 6 hours to set. 

26

27

The Ocean 

by 

Lawrence Xu 

The journalists, entrepreneurs, and 

politicians were concerned. They sensed the 

tension and heaviness in the air. The next hour 

would determine whether the world of resource-starved, 

divided people would break or 

align. 

In the corner of the room stood a tall, 

broad-shouldered man accompanied by nothing 

but his own shadow. He was studying the 

picture of the ocean on the ceiling of the hall. 

Some recognized him as Joseph Dent, others 

their savior, others the racist and bigoted man 

spoiled with money. As he owned a global monopoly 

of commercial water, Joseph’s decisions 

would directly impact the rest of the world. It 

was time for the conference his publicists had 

organized, in hopes of educating the public of 

Joseph’s new plans. Across the conference hall, 

a short, pale man scurried to Joseph. 

“Joseph! Why the hell are you still 

lounging about here? CNN and the whole lot of 

’em are already waiting.” 

The man, Dan Blue, was Joseph’s senior 

advisor and he was as punctual and meticulous 

as they came. His narrow figure and straightened 

hair were immediately recognizable – the 

same since their first encounter in elementary 

school. During his youth, Dan knew Joseph as 

a joyful yet incredibly calculating figure, always 

wearing a smile that never seemed entirely sincere. 

They had grown up playing, fighting, and 

learning from each other. They respected each 

other. For 

some odd reason, Dan felt that he and Joseph 

would never agree on things. Passionate arguments 

would arise spontaneously, with 

Dan delivering lines of argument and Joseph 

responding with swift and effective rebuttals. 

But Dan didn’t dislike this. Their competitive 

relationship molded them into a prolific duo, 

and they worked together to start a lucrative 

water business. Acting as Joseph’s right-hand 

man, Dan put his whole heart into his work and 

possessed an absolute trust for Joseph’s keen 

judgment. Through the combination of Joseph’s 

analytical mind and Dan’s methodical work 

ethic, their business ultimately took over the 

world. They owned every water company, every 

source of bottled water. 

And Dan was hopeful. Because of their 

control, their business could save the world 

from drought and thirst. Yet, somehow, Joseph 

had different plans. Over time, Joseph’s optimistic 

façade faded away to reveal a cold, corrupt 

businessman. Joseph began to avoid Dan, 

spending little time with the outside world. In 

their brief conversations, almost nothing would 

be said. There was only a cycle of demands and 

reluctant concessions. 

It was almost as if Joseph had given up 

on everyone except himself. Their once shared 

passions were withered away by one thing: 

money. 

“Please don’t forget to look at the teleprompter 

this time. I don’t want you to cause 

another riot,” Dan warned him. 

Joseph would only nod in return. 

A sigh crept out of Dan. He knew Joseph 

wouldn’t listen. He knew Joseph had stopped 

listening to the advice of the company a long 

time ago. In their last public announcement, 

Joseph had stirred the world with his nationalist, 

28

xenophobic plans. He proposed laws targeting 

specific ethnic groups for the purpose of water 

“conservation”. In such a divided time, Dan 

knew that Joseph had made one of the worst 

decisions possible – and yet, he was powerless. 

Dan did not have the authority to end Joseph’s 

plots. 

As he escorted Joseph to the podium 

where he would speak, a sleek woman in red 

stepped into their path. 

“Rose,” Joseph said. 

“Hello, Joseph,” Rose responded. 

She directed a grim glare towards Joseph. 

That man, she thought, is the true definition 

of evil. Inside his emotionless husk was a 

flourishing sadist. To him, humans were simply 

tools for him to manipulate. 

“I am eager to listen to what you have 

to say today,” Rose said. 

A deafening silence. 

Though the woman had extraordinarily 

lustrous hair and exquisite features, she was not 

recognized for her appearance – rather, it was 

her bold influence as an activist who trusted in 

the people that made her one to watch. 

“You know I won’t hesitate to ruin your 

business if you step in the wrong direction,” she 

warned. 

This wasn’t the first time Rose had tried 

to scare Joseph. They had physically met only 

seven months earlier, at a similar conference. 

After hearing Joseph’s first, horrific rant against 

the refugees of the world, Rose had been incandescent 

with fury. He stood for everything that 

she fought against. She saw him as a cruel businessman 

who was crafting a world of chaos and 

hatred, neglecting entire populations in need. 

She had approached him right after his speech. 

“And who are you?” Joseph had asked, 

clearly irritated. 

“My name is Rose Lane, from the Life 

Fountain Foundation.” 

“I see. I presume you’re another one 

of those people who want change? What is it 

that you so desperately, like every other public 

speaker, foundation leader, progressive thinker, 

have to say?” 

Stunned, Rose had begun to shout. 

“You are a monster. What is wrong with 

you? There are people in need, and you, with 

all your money and power, choose to abandon 

them?” 

“Before you st – ” 

“I don’t care what you have to say. I 

want you to understand. Your choices will only 

tear our world apart. As someone with your 

stature in power, you should take responsibility 

in your decisions. They affect the world, not 

only your filthy bank account! You are depriving 

the people of their fundamental needs. To 

neglect the world around you like this is truly 

selfish, and I have nothing but contempt for that 

kind of attitude. You are disgusting.” 

Joseph had seemed shocked. For a 

while, he was silent, processing what he had 

just heard. And then, he stared into Rose’s eyes 

with a zeal she had not noticed before. 

“Listen, you are nothing to me. How 

dare you even interrupt me? I know that you 

will do nothing to me. People like you are 

worthless, constantly throwing empty threats of 

justice and equality. I doubt you have any idea 

of what you’re even talking about. Your little 

plans will not sprout into anything. I would like 

to see you try to stand up against me.” 

Rose’s teeth ground together, and her 

hands curled into tight fists. She took a controlled 

step towards Joseph. 

“You are underestimating, Joseph,” 

Rose told him. “Not me, not the cause, but the 

people. You are underestimating the power of 

the people. The love and the compassion that 

runs through us. The people will stop you. Never 

underestimate the power of the people. Never 

underestimate us.” 

Joseph had just laughed. 

Since those seven months, Joseph had 

turned his back on Rose with a cold implacability, 

and she hated it. 

“Joseph, don’t underestimate the 

power of the people,” Rose said. 

“I haven’t forgotten, Rose.” 

- 

29

She noticed that the fiery zeal was in his 

eyes again. Rising to the podium, Joseph cleared 

his throat and adjusted his tie. As he began to 

speak, a bleak darkness fell upon the crowd. 

Slight whispers reverberated off the walls, containing 

only confusion and distraught. 

“What is he thinking?” 

“Who could possibly handle those tax 

hikes?” 

“He’s targeting more than just the refugees.” 

“Limiting production will kill everyone.” 

The journalists, politicians, and businesspeople 

all felt the darkness. Mothers and 

fathers sensed it. Joseph Dent supporters and 

protestors felt it too. Dan and Rose felt engulfed 

by it. 

“Jesus, Joseph, have you gone mad?” 

Dan muttered under his breath. 

Rose only stared, shocked. She was 

silent for a long moment, face grim, before she 

marched out of the hall. 

Joseph left the podium surrounded by 

the stillness of indescribable shock and horror. 

He approached Dan, signaling for them to leave. 

Joseph let out a heavy sigh, his face slightly contorted. 

Dan couldn’t believe it. His fingers 

twitched every time he recalled Joseph’s words. 

They were halfway to their escort when he 

couldn’t keep quiet any longer. 

“Joseph, you are a criminal. It’s beyond 

me why I’m still working – ” 

“Do you know why I like the ocean, 

Dan?” Joseph interrupted. 

Dan stared in disbelief. “The hell are you 

talking about? You just delivered the worst possible 

speech. Why aren’t you listening? What do 

you want to do, kill everyone?” 

“Dan, we are all mere droplets of water. 

We are nothing by ourselves. We can’t do anything,” 

Joseph struggled to say. 

Dan’s fists clenched. “Piss off,” he 

snapped, and left. 

In the following week, news sites echoed 

Joseph’s heartless words. Riots and marches 

erupted around the world in response to the 

conference. Regardless of whether they had 

initially hated or supported Joseph, the people 

now all stood together. They shared one voice 

that pleaded for justice and equality. The flame 

of revolution had been ignited. 

The people were coming for Joseph, but 

in the midst of chaos, Joseph only sat in his office, 

mutely watching the news. He stared at the 

incredible march, at the people rallying, speaking, 

and fighting. He stared at the power of the 

wave of people, uniting as one. 

Dan began to cry. Their company was 

going to disintegrate into nothing. A company 

that could have repaired their fragile world, 

rather than smashed it to pieces. After the 

broadcast, Dan went straight to Joseph’s office. 

What could he be thinking, Dan wondered, what 

is in the mind of that snake? 

Entering the office, Dan marched 

straight towards the idle figure. 

“Dan, I’ve always been listening,” Joseph 

said abruptly. 

“Are you kidding me? You have ignored 

everyone that has tried to save you. Our company 

is done! Every action you’ve taken and every 

decision you’ve made has been so destructive, 

it’s almost like this is what you wanted!” 

Silence. 

Suddenly, Dan froze. He looked at the 

television. Among the marching people, Rose 

stood as the leader, blooming. She was beautiful 

and defiant. 

“What the hell, Joseph?” Dan exclaimed. 

“It’s the ocean, Dan. A new tide,” Joseph 

told him. 

Dan’s eyes slowly widened. 

“You… You couldn’t have,” Dan said. 

And then he laughed 

30

5 Places to Travel to for the Upcoming Spring Break 

by 

Rylie Xiong 

Introduction 

Spring is the perfect time to travel, as the weather isn’t freezing cold or burning hot. In this article, I 

have put the five best places to travel during spring. All of these places are excellent choice: they’re 

close to Beijing and there’s barely any time difference. 

1. Tokyo, Japan 

April would be the perfect time to visit 

Tokyo, considering it’s around the start of Sakura 

Season. Sakura, or more often known as cherry 

blossoms, are known for being one of the most 

beautiful flowers in Japan. Shinjuku Gyoen, a park 

in central Tokyo, is a great place to see them. This 

place not only has both early and late blooming 

trees, which make it ideal for visitors who arrive 

early or late but also gives a stark contrast to the 

city high-rises that surround this park. You should 

consider visiting the Cherry Blossom Festival. You 

can also head to the Tokyo National Museum, 

which is the oldest museum in Tokyo, or the Akihabara 

District, which is well-known for electronics 

and anime culture. 

Fig 1: Shinjuku gyoen 

2. Singapore 

One of the most famous attractions is 

the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Designed by Safide 

Architects, Marine Bay Sands has an impressive 

SkyPark that has a swimming pool situated on top 

of a 57-floor building. The SkyPark offers an amazing 

view of the entire Singapore city skyline. Close 

to the Marina Bay Sands is the Gardens by the 

Bay. This garden is home to the super tree grove, 

which contains trees as tall as 50 meters. Other 

interesting places to visit are the famous Merlion 

or the island resort, Sentosa. 

Fig 3: Merlion and sky park 

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Fig 4: Sentosa island 

3.guilin, China 

Guilin is one of the most beautiful places 

in China, with lush greenery and interesting 

sights. One of the most famous of these sights is 

the Reed Flute Cave, which has rock formations 

dating back to 180 million years. The vibrant, 

multicolored lighting form a one-of-a-kind blend 

with the historic and enchanting natural formations 

of the cave; this makes it a worthwhile and 

unforgettable visit. The Fubo Hill is also another 

place that is worth visiting in Guilin. This hill offers 

interesting rock textures and shapes, and with 

peaks that are 62-meter tall, it offers a great view 

of the Guilin countryside. 

Fig 5: reed flute cave 

4.jeju island, south korea 

Jeju Island is a place full of natural wonder. 

You should visit Seongsan Ilchulbong, also 

known as Sunrise Peak. The Peak has a wide circular 

shape and resembles a crater. The interesting 

shape, the beautiful scenery, and the geological 

worth of Sunrise Peak make it a UNESCO 

World Heritage Site. Apart from this, there is the 

Manjanggul Lava Tube, a natural tunnel that was 

occupied by flowing lava. About nine-kilometer 

long, the Manjanggul cave is the twelth longest in 

the world and the second longest on Jeju Island. 

The Manjanggul Lava Tube is also home to a 

variety of different creatures such as the Jeju cave 

Fig 7: Manjanggul cave 

5.macau Special Administrative 

Regions of China 

Fig 6: Fubo hill 

Macau’s rich cultural history makes it 

worth the visit. One of the most famous attractions 

is the ruins of St. Paul, which was a complex 

built by Christian exiles. Many of the old stone 

carvings and structural remnants can be seen at 

this site, providing a direct outlook of the history 

of seventeenth-century Portugal. The Macau 

Tower is a good place to visit as well. This tower 

is 338-meter tall and includes a panoramic view, 

restaurants, shopping centers, and a thrilling tour 

around the rim of the tower, known as Skywalk 

X. This tower was modeled after the Sky Tower in 

Auckland, New Zealand and is part of the World 

Federation of Great Towers. 

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Fig 7: St paul ruins 

Conclusion 

Now that you have read the article and 

gotten to known these beautiful places, I hope 

you take them into consideration when planning 

for your next trip! 

Fig 8: macau tower 

33

WAB Class of 2018! 

Writer: Annie Yin 

Designer: Cheng Wei Xu 

34

The WAB Class of 2018 (including myself) will be 

graduating very soon! I decided to interview a few 

members of the WAB Class of 2018 and asked them about 

their university admission process, what they look 

forward to after they graduate, and what they will miss 

1QQ Chua 

2Simon Floris 

Wellesley College (US) 

“The college application process wasn’t that stressful for me. 

You just need to know your deadlines and your requirements, 

and you need to send in all your test scores. Instead of 

researching what the colleges want, do what you want 

and some college will accept you . . . probably. I applied to 

Wellesley for Early Decision because I knew I liked the school 

and I really wanted to go. I didn’t think much about the 

fact that it is a women’s college. When I visited Wellesley’s 

campus and met some people there, I was immediately 

attracted to the environment – it seems like a very supportive 

community, and I could imagine myself roaming the pretty 

campus for four years. I also chose Wellesley because of its 

location – Boston. I know a lot of people from WAB and other 

international schools around the world that are also going 

to colleges and universities in the Boston area, so it will be 

really interesting to meet a lot of different people. It’ll also 

be pretty lit to be a “Harvard Wife”.” 

King’s College London (UK) 

“I really wanted to pursue higher education in an Englishspeaking 

country since I’ve grown to like the culture a lot. 

London is by far my favorite European city. It’s diverse, and 

it’s big enough to let me discover new events, places, and 

people. It also has a lot of resources to support what I want 

to study, which is film. I started getting into film only a few 

years ago, as I wasn’t born loving films like many were. I 

used to just watch Lilo and Stitch on repeat. Then, one day, I 

watched Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and suddenly realized that there are 

so many people and things that come together to create such 

an intricate movie. I wanted to get in on the fun and start 

manipulating time and space like my favorite filmmakers. 

Apart from taking film, I also hope to find a choir in college. 

Singing in a choir at WAB is enormously therapeutic for me; 

it allows me to feel a sort of team spirit without having to go 

through the hell that is physical exercise.” 

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3 

Lawrence Xu 

Tufts University (US) 

“Tufts is academically rigorous, but there is also a strong 

sense of community. At Tufts, you can interact with all of 

your professors closely. You wouldn’t be just a number. You’ll 

be heard, you’ll be seen, and you’ll be appreciated as an 

individual. I’m also interested in the interdisciplinary system 

at Tufts – it will allow me to explore different areas in both 

academics and extracurricular activities. However, more than 

anything, I’m most excited about meeting new people, and I 

genuinely want to see the variety of friends I can make and 

the girls I can meet. Just kidding, I’m only there for the girls. 

No, in all seriousness, I’m looking forward to discovering a 

passion. At this point, I still have no idea what I want to do. I 

know that Tufts will help me find something.” 

Undecided: U. of Leeds, U. of Birmingham, U. of 

Exeter, King’s College London (UK) 

4Taissia 

Yanishevskaya 

“For me, editing my personal statement was the most difficult 

part of the college application process. Writing the first draft 

was easy because I just spilled my thoughts out on paper, but 

cutting it down to the exact word count and condensing the 

writing was pretty challenging. I wrote a lot about why I want 

to study film and English, which is because I enjoy creating 

films, reading, and writing more than anything. I really can’t 

imagine myself studying anything else for three or four years. 

At university, I hope to stay involved with theater, like I have 

at WAB. I definitely want to join a lot of clubs, including 

creative writing groups and student-run magazines. I also 

hope to continue creating short films and volunteering at 

charities because not all universities offer as many organized 

volunteering opportunities as WAB does. I’m really excited 

about going to the UK, not only because I’ll have access to all 

the delicious snacks, but also because I’ll be really close to 

my sister. I haven’t lived in the same continent as her for four 

years, so it will be great to be only a few hours away from 

her.” 

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5 

Steven Yin 

Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (SUI) 

“Growing up, I really disliked studying inside the boundaries 

of a classroom and simply sitting in front of a computer 

and staring at the screen for hours. I’ve always preferred 

interacting with and talking to people. The hospitality 

industry will allow me to stand up and socialize with people 

from all around the world, and it will allow me to do what 

I love, which is listening to and caring for other people. I 

love to make others smile. EHL is the world’s most renowned 

university in terms of hospitality, partly because its 

curriculum allows students to do hands-on work. I’m really 

excited about living in a new continent that I haven’t been 

to many times before, and I want to challenge myself to take 

risks and connect with new people. I also can’t wait to try 

new food!” 

Brown University (US) 

6Emily Yuan 

“The most challenging part about applying to Brown was 

coming up with ideas for my college essays. The initial stage 

of thinking about the essays was the hardest part. It became 

a lot easier when I actually started writing, and I actually 

began to discover things about myself that I didn’t know 

before. I think the college application process is about more 

than just getting into a school, because it’s also about selfgrowth. 

For example, I learned a lot about myself when I was 

figuring out why Brown is the best fit for me. I want to study 

a wide range of subjects, including art history, economics, 

and modern culture and media. Brown’s curriculum will 

allow me to study interdisciplinary topics, and it will give 

me the support I need to succeed – similar to the support I’ve 

gotten from teachers and staff at WAB, who have helped me 

realize what I want to do. I’ve been at WAB for ten years, so 

to me, WAB is a second home. I’ll miss the people WAB has 

allowed me to meet, and I can’t wait to meet more people like 

them at Brown.” 

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Special Thanks to 

Parent Link 

Chinese Link 

WABX 

Duck Lake Group 

Entrepreneur Group 

AQblue Masks 

for contributing to the development of this issue. 

8AB 

TIGERS 

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C0M99Y91K0 

. 

WHITE 

i BLACK 

FONT NAME 

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