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YEAR 04 #03
BEE 3
Student Magazine of the European School of Brussels III
SUMMER 2021
FREE
DOM
EEB3’s Musicians | STEM vs Humanities
Historical diamonds and more...
WATCH TEDx LIVE! BEE
YEAR 04 #03
3
th
MAY 5 2021 Main Stories
ec.eeb3.eu/TEDx STEM vs Humanities 6-9
New speakers, new ideas, EEB3’s musicians 12-14
new beginnings. Fate: Winx Saga review 16-17
The Kohinoor Diamond 18-19
Psychological resilience 20
School clothes are
being distributed! Online school tips and tricks 21
Life can be tough, but so can you.
Data protection 24-25 Read about psychological resilience
on page 20!
Anything else to add? Bored at home? Inspire
News 4 yourself by reading our
Colophon 4 book reviews on page 15!
Editorial 5
Psychology and phobias 10
Fun facts 11
Book recommendations 15
COVID-19’s impact on Gen Z 22
JOIN 1984-2021 comparison 23
US A newspaper to
ONLINE! connect all 13
A
ec.eeb3.eu/bee3
@eeb3bee3
European Schools.
13stars.eu Cover Image Zofia Leib
Layout Zofia Leib
BEE 3 Summer 2020
3
STAY SAFE! FROM THE EDITOR
Freedom á la Snufkin
Featured Articles “I’m longing to get away from this stony country.
Even a poet can have enough sometimes ”
– Snufkin, Comet in Moominland (Tove Jansson)
3 What time is it? ot so long ago, I rummaged that entails living in a tree, selling “free‐
BEE
The BEE3 is the “ by students for students”
magazine of the European School of Brussels III.
Editor in Chief Zofia Leib
Editorial Team Agata Mala, Alzbeta Kovarova, S
pringfest 21 is alive!
That’s right, you read
that correctly; Springfest
21 is coming, and it’s
closer than it’s ever
and Drinks crew, and will have
the possibility to listen to music
performed by live musicians!
Students’ safety will, of course,
remain the top priority. We are
Do you want to be part
of the BEE3 team?
The BEE3 is always
looking for motivated
students!
N through my bookshelf looking
for something (anything) that
I hadn’t already read through
during quarantine; to my sur‐
prise, I stumbled upon a dusty copy of my
favourite childhood book series: the
Moomins. Revolving around a family of
dom juice”, expressing oneself through
clothing or setting sail towards distant
lands. We are each responsible for our
own happiness, and living in a free soci‐
ety enables us to pursue said happiness, in
however way we choose; or as Snufkin
says in Moominsummer Madness: “The
Kimon Koussoulakos-Vasilounis, Nathalie de la been. The plan is to split Spring‐ also delighted to announce that hippopotamus-like creatures living in the main thing in life is to know your own
Calleja Orozco, Valentina Skackova fest up into a one-week event, The Act performances and the strange and magical Moominvalley, it still mind”. If you want to better understand
which will allow all students from Fashion Show will take place amazes me how author Tove Jansson why we make some of the choices we do,
Guest Editing Alexandra Bartovic different years to enjoy it safely. every day. All in all, we are work‐ managed to use this literary world to and how freedom of choice could be
This means each year group will ing to make this day as memor‐ explore such complex themes like family, expanded, perhaps take a look at a won‐
Managing Editor Merlijn Draisma have one specific day to enjoy able, enjoyable and safe as pos‐ growing up, longing and even depression. derful article on the choice between
TIME
Springfest. You can find the sible! From the daring exploits of Moominpapa STEM and humanities subjects on pages
Contributors Astrid Kutos, Alexandra Bartovic schedule by clicking here. to the mischievous high jinks of Little My, 6-9. Alternatively, have a look at pages 12-
Beatrix Butters, Charlotte Tulkens, Erika During the planned lunch- The SF21 core team looks for‐ I was just bubbling with excitement to 14 for an interview with EEB3’s musicians
TO ACT!
Kavvada, Eva Steininger, Katy Kopp, Luisa breaks, students will be provided ward to seeing all of you at delve back into the lives of these charac‐ to understand how they exercise their
Simon, Margaux Herry, Nathalie de la Calleja with packed lunch they will have Springfest 21! ters. freedom of expression.
Orozco, Paul Küpper, The Springfest Team, previously ordered with our Food One of my favourite members of the The Moomins, however, learn that
Valentina Skackova, Zofia Leib Moomin cast, with perhaps the most freedom has its limits – namely when
interesting philosophy, is the carefree Moominmama mysteriously disappears.
Illustrations Zofia Leib, Valentina Skackova wanderer Snufkin. Snufkin enjoys his own The Moomins realise that by chasing an
company above all, relying on no one but idealised version of their own happiness,
Editorial address BEE3 c/o European School of
Brussels III, Boulevard du Triomphe 135, 1050
Brussels, Belgium
The Midnight Library // book review himself for happiness, traveling simply for
the sake of travel. Like the many creatures
of Moominvalley, I, too, admire Snufkin
based purely on the expansion of their
own freedoms, they (quite literally) lose
sight of others; those who are dear to
BEATRIX BUTTERS for his self-sufficiency; especially now, as I them. Nobody knows this better than
Founder Ondrej Gomola am confined to my bedroom for weeks on Snufkin, who is often conflicted between
he Midnight Library she taken different decisions. end, I would give anything to be able to travelling the world and pursuing his own
ec.eeb3.eu/bee3
bee3@ec.eeb3.eu
All rights reserved. Reproduction whole or in
part without written permission is strictly
prohibited. Copyright @ 2020
T tells the story of 35-
year-old gifted but
unfulfilled Nora Seed in
a space between life and
death. This purgatory takes the
shape of a library. In this library,
Nora meets her former school lib‐
These universes are kept within
books found on the infinite
shelves of the library. Nora can
enter each universe by reading the
first line. If she finds a life that she
prefers to her original life, she has
the option to stay there. Other‐
Contact us at:
bee3@ec.eeb3.eu
go out and explore foreign cities once
more. But such freedoms have unfortun‐
ately been restricted in the name of health
and safety; for many of us, we have ar‐
rived at a point where we question how
long we can still stand confinement – in
this edition of the magazine, we actually
happiness, and staying in Moominvalley
with his best friend and greatest admirer,
Moomintroll. “Perhaps you’re not always
happy, even if you are free. Freedom can
be surprisingly complicated, you see”,
Snufkin comments.
Giving up part of our freedom to pro‐
Image accreditation: rarian, Mrs. Elm, who reveals that wise, she returns to the library, feature an opinion essay about adverse tect our loved ones is at the core of why
if you are not supposed to move where she can try another life. effects of lockdown on our teenage gener‐ the lockdowns were imposed in the first
P.21 Juanedc from Zaragoza, España, Le Penseur on yet, you are sent to this place; Nora can keep switching lives ation; read it on page 22! place. Really, living in a society at all
(8327864211), Cut, CC BY 2.0 for Nora, that is the titular Mid‐ until she finds one that she likes, In an episode of the 1990 TV adapta‐ means that you need to face certain res‐
night Library. Nora is both dead or until she is ready to move on tion, the inhabitants of Moominvalley are trictions in regards to your behaviour
P.10 Bjørn Christian Tørrissen (https://commons.wiki‐ and alive during her stay at the forever. visited by a prophet who tells them to “go towards others, so that you may not in‐
media.org/wiki/File:GambianMudskippers.jpg), Midnight Library, a stay that Reading this book, I was im‐ back to nature and enjoy a free life!” – but fringe their freedom and their rights. It is
bearbeitet, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/ could end at any moment. But mersed in each of Nora’s worlds, would give away too much of the what is a free life? Freedom is perhaps the important for us to have dialogues regar‐
4.0/legalcode whilst Nora is there, time stops in revealing all her regrets and all of story, but I highly recommend most fundamental value of our western ding the extent and limits of freedom,
the universe in which she died, her dreams. She is a terrific char‐ this book to everyone. No matter societies – to be able to live our lives and with this issue of the magazine we
and she is presented with the acter, and her story resonated what your favourite genre is, you according to our own needs and wants. In aim to explore some of them.
opportunity to live any of the pos‐ with me. Unfortunately, I cannot will find something to like in The the episode, each character presents their Thank you for reading the BEE3.
sible lives she could have had, had tell you my favourite part, as it Midnight Library. own interpretation of freedom, whether
4 Summer 2020 BEE 3 BEE 3 Summer 2020 5
ANALYSIS STEM VS HUMANITIES
Education’s ancient war of Economic pressure
oney is another factor: comes. They reflect other traits such as ment. According to research conducted at
words (and numbers)
BEATRIX BUTTERS
ILLUSTRATIONS // VALENTINA SKACKOVA
M STEM allegedly leads to
more job opportunities and
higher salaries. This is an
overly simplified perspect‐
ive. When comparing STEM with the
humanities, you should take all aspects of
well-being into account, not only the eco‐
psychological health, participation in
democracy, and respect for human rights.
These studies indicate that students
should not pursue a STEM education or
career for money, but rather “choose
what’s most interesting and what’s most
valuable to them” [1]. The main takeaway
Harvard University [2], later career earn‐
ings of graduates in other fields catch up
with STEM. Nowadays, the job market
evolves rapidly; according to a Washing‐
ton Post article in 2015 [3], children
might have to work until the age of 100 in
40 different jobs. It could be that some‐
What is STEM? nomic ones. Why? Although money from this is that material wealth is not the where along the way, your interests
It is an acronym for science, technology, does, to some extent, make you happy, only measurement of well-being. change and that you will no longer want
engineering, and mathematics. research suggests that there is a point at Many consider the cost of studying the to work in the same field. Thus, no matter
which it stops improving your well-being, humanities at university unjustified, as it which field of initial studies you opt for,
What are the humanities? or even reduces it. These “well-being met‐ is not as easy to get a job straight after lifelong learning will play a part.
They are academic fields that examine rics” increase the perception of life satis‐ graduating. Nonetheless, such studies
parts of human society and culture. faction beyond purely economic out‐ provide a foundation for career develop‐
An age-old dispute... Political motives
he political motives for the pro‐ a well-functioning economy. Govern‐ think that they are not “smart” enough
W
hich academic field is more
worthwhile pursuing: the
humanities or STEM? This
debate is often raised amon‐
gst academics and friends –
and is now even more relevant for stu‐
dents, as the 4th industrial revolution
T motion of a STEM education
are heavily linked to the eco‐
nomic ones. Choices between
humanities or STEM determine
whether a state has the skillset it needs for
ments are encouraging STEM-related
development in response to demand.
However, it is hard to get students to
study STEM subjects and there are many
reasons for this. Students often tend to
for the sciences. STEM seems inaccessible
to many, mainly due to its image in the
media. If governments want to encourage
STEM, one of the main tasks would be to
change this perception.
raises concerns regarding the value of the
humanities. This article aims to demystify
Gender and ethnic/racial imbalance
the underlying biases behind educational ome of the factors that affect
methods and students’ choices.
The intelligence stigma
he rapidly changing global eco‐
Curtsey of Netflix
S choices in school are obvious
and keep coming up. One of
these is the gender imbalance in
STEM. It is clear from Fig.1 that
women are far more likely to study the
humanities than STEM subjects. There
T nomy, the sustainability chal‐
lenge and many other factors
fuel the need for evolution
within the education systems.
Digitalisation supports the opinion that
STEM is more important than the
humanities: as we become more and more STEM is essential to tackling many of than the other; they engender different
are many reasons for this, from a lack of
role models [4] to sexism in STEM depar‐
tments. In the EU, fewer than one in five
ICT professionals are female. These num‐
bers underline the opportunity for pro‐
gress, and it only takes a quick Google
search to find the various organisations
dependent on technology, it is logical that the world’s challenges, but understanding ways of thinking. There is no point in that are trying to encourage girls to get
STEM seems more valuable. Most stu‐ the human condition remains funda‐ making a comparison between the two in into STEM (the EU is funding it as well) Fig. 1
dents (and possibly teachers) in our mental for students. The humanities, arts, the context of societal importance. Know‐ [5].
school would probably agree that and social sciences stimulate critical ledge should be pursued, and in different Although the gender gap in studying dents with higher confidence in mathem‐ (the majority of which were female) were
someone following STEM subjects is thinking skills and creativity, which are ways, to gain a better understanding and STEM subjects has narrowed, women are atics are more likely to choose a STEM less likely to pursue STEM careers than
deemed more intelligent than someone vital for a well-functioning society. This to think innovatively. still less likely to pursue STEM careers career. In a Finnish study, mathematically those with high mathematical skills but
who enjoys the humanities. doesn’t mean that one is less important than men. It has been proven that stu‐ capable individuals with high verbal skills moderate verbal skills (mostly male).
[1] Quote from David Deming (Professor of Education and
6 Summer 2020 BEE 3 BEE 3 Summer 2020 Economics at Harvard University) 7
ANALYSIS STEM VS HUMANITIES
In other words, it is not that women can‐ ally, men dominate profitable industries. ence the tech industry held was realised,
not succeed in STEM, but rather that they An example of this is computer program‐ and a portion of employers began to con‐ Mutual exclusivity; should you do both subjects?
tend to have more options. ming. During the Space Race, many wo‐ nect female staff to mistakes and ineffi‐ ost students are undecided picking one, you are rejecting the other is pared for the workforce and life in gen‐
Work associated with women is deval‐
ued by society, and when more women
enter a career, the pay for that career
tends to drop. Child-care services (one of
the most woman-dominated fields) is one
of the lowest-paid professions. Historic‐
men worked in the control systems at
NASA to launch men into space. It did
not take long for computer programming
to be established as “a women’s job”, while
hardware engineering was considered
men’s work. Then in the 1980s, the influ‐
ciencies. New personality tests favoured
men and might have been the origin of
the stereotype of the antisocial computer
geek. M about their course options.
Some struggle choosing
between humanities or
STEM, as we are moulded
from a young age to believe that those are
the only two options. Knowing that by
both a blessing and a curse. Studying
both is sometimes frowned upon. You are
seen as indecisive, and specific subjects
are prerequisites for certain degrees.
Variety in education allows students to
expand their skills set and be better pre‐
eral. Both humanities and STEM subjects
can be beneficial. However, the subjects
must align with the interests of the stu‐
dents, and this is much more important
than the domain itself.
tudent choice is an extremely
Open Curriculum
S under-researched topic,
especially concerning ethnic
background. One of the few
studies conducted found Black
and Latinx students in the University of
Texas at Austin were more likely to drop
STEM majors than their White peers. The
T
he skills a pupil should possess
after secondary school have
shifted and broadened. Learn‐
ing to learn (and learning
autonomously) is more import‐
ant than ever. Letting students choose
of education and find out what they like
most. Then they can create their own cur‐
riculum centred around what interests
them. Putting university students in
charge of their own education cultivates
the love for learning that is vital for
puts a lot of responsibility on students to
find their purpose at a young age. It is
difficult enough for most of us to have to
choose a few subjects at 15. But as men‐
tioned before, more well-being is gener‐
ally achieved through following one's
data showed similar percentages of what they want to learn is an option. The lifelong learning. It is, as they call it, a interests, so if education systems were to
students within the ethnic groups had open curriculum approach used by “flexible and rigorous” education. This give students a more freedom to follow a
STEM majors (19% of White students, Brown (a top-tier university in the US) is approach may not be ideal for European broad range of subjects they enjoy, the
20% of Latinx students and 18% of Black a perfect example of this. With their Schools, as they are for children under long-term results could be very positive.
students), but the rates of degree method, students explore different fields the age of 18, and this way of learning
completion were much lower in Latinx
and Black students. While 58% of the
White students with a STEM major went
Conclusion
on to graduate, only 43% of the Latinx either educational path is Further empirical research on this topic follow many interests in different fields or
and 34% of the Black students did so [6].
According to the lead author of the study
“[Black and Latinx youth] from the same
family backgrounds (parental education,
family income, place of birth, …) as
Source.
White youth were still more likely
a STEM major and leave college
to exit
without
displays
pupils with similar family backgrounds
didCurtsey
not drop
of
be conducted
thea weighted
underlying
in order to understand
issues behind
percentages of these
Fig. 2
equal educational opportunities.
out of the courses at a higher Without a change, female students will
Netflix
Figure 2. Descriptive statistics: Persistence patterns in chosen field by race/ethnicity.
rate (see Fig. 2). More research needs to
Data from Beginning Postsecondary Study
keep dismissing STEM as a potential
the 2004/09.
each racial/ethnicgroups
Note.
career path
groupwill
who
Total
and
continue
N =ethnic/racial
certain 5,626. Figure
dropping
persisted their
to earn a
N better than the other. There are
advantages to being educated
in the humanities and to being
educated in STEM.
would help draw a better conclusion, but
all in all, it does not matter if you want to
delve deeply into one area, as long as you
like what you are doing.
degree.” In other fields, Blackdegree
and Latinx discrepancies so we may work towards degrees at a rapid rate.
in that major, switched and earned a degree in a different major, and left college
without a degree. Percentages for a racial/ethnic group within a given major should sum to
Language section bias 100%. Statistically significant differences are shown comparing each minority group to the
ne issue that is specific to the years, trying to mirror the education two choices: (a) drop the option entirely,
O European Schools when dis‐
cussing students’ choice
between STEM and the
humanities is the number of
students to form a class. The number of
language sections in the European
Schools has quadrupled since the first
systems of all 27 member states.
ample, a student in the Czech section is
less likely to be able to take maths 8 in
or (b) struggle to keep up in an advanced
This factor is more significant for some maths course taught in their second or
language sections than others. For ex‐ third language. Neither is ideal. For the
Francophone section, the opposite issue is
problematic, as there may be too many
their native language than someone in the students in one class. This can lead to
francophone section due to the minimum difficulties for both teachers and students,
school was established in 1953. The number of students required to form a and discourage students from choosing
system has become more complex over class. In this case, the Czech student has advanced maths.
Article Copyright © 2019 Authors, Source DOI: 10.3102/0013189X19831006.
See content reuse guidelines at: sagepub.com/journals-permissions
8 Summer 2020 BEE 3 BEE 3 Summer 2020 9
PSYCHOLOGY BOO! FUN FACTS BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THIS
Fun facts!
The psychology Anxiety is a common experience we all
share in one way or another. It is some‐
thing that is constantly lurking within us,
Elevens… elevens everywhere.
ALEXANDRA BARTOVIC
behind phobias and a good example of this would be our
phobias, a more extreme version of cer‐
tain anxieties that we have.
Pluto was named by 11 species of fish can walk on land
an 11-Year-Old
Anything goes, Mudskippers are an example of a fish that
can walk on land. They spend most of
when it comes Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde
Tombaugh and Percival Lowell, who had
their time on land and store water in their
large gills.
to fear… predicted the existence of such a Planet X.
Falconer Madan read about the discovery
But how do they do this? It has to do
with their bone structure. Mudskippers,
in the news and told his granddaughter,
KATY KOPP along with some other fish, have pelvic
11-year-old Venetia Burney, about it.
(or ventral) fins. As you can see from the
f you are not familiar with the term Venetia suggested the planet should be
I “phobias” yet, it is basically an
extreme/ irrational case of anxiety or
fear towards a certain thing/ certain
things. Think of Acrophobia, the fear
of heights, Arachnophobia, the fear of
spiders, or Claustrophobia, the fear of
confined or crowded spaces. These rat with anything, see this panicked reac‐ So, why do some people have them at
named Pluto, in honour of the Roman
God of the Underworld, who was able to
make himself invisible. The name was
forwarded on to the Lowell Observatory,
where Pluto was discovered. On the 1st of
May 1930, Pluto got its official name.
It’s not certain whether she was the
image, the fin is placed lower compared
to a pectoral fin (common fin), and the
fin’s structure, shaped a bit like a human
hand, allows them to climb.
The boy who stayed The deepest oceanic
phobias can often lead to a certain degree
of panic, and the person experiencing the
tion, and therefore now associate the rat
with danger, so of course, they’ll go into a
all? Well, as some of you might have
guessed, for us to end up with phobias we
first person to propose the name Pluto.
Historically, however, she has been cred‐
awake for 11 days trench in the world is
phobia can even have symptoms similar
to the ones of a panic-attack. For
state of panic as well. Or at least most of
them should. So now with this new
have to somehow link them with danger,
so certain things can often be linked to
ited with it. In December 1963, two boys, as part of
their science fair project, decided to stay
about 11 000 m deep
example: were you to have a fear of rats, learned danger, some of these kids will past traumatic experiences, or from awake for as long as possible. Eventually The Mariana Trench is the deepest
and if you were to encounter one in your continue to fear rats in the future. having been convinced something is dan‐ one of them set the world record for the oceanic trench in the world, located in
basic mathematics class – it could also be Of course this sort of extreme fear might gerous. Let me use a personal example to longest amount of time a human has gone the western Pacific Ocean. First dis‐
your French class if you wish – you’d not stick around long for some, or it illustrate this: I went for a jog once, and I without sleep. covered in 1875, its depth was recorded at
quickly go into a state of panic and might, but that really depends on the came across a quite obviously dead snake The two boys, Bruce McAllister and around 8,000m. However, in 2009, using
anxiety, your “fight-or-flight” response child at the end. Of course, its not all on the street. Seeing it brought me panic; Randy Gardner, started their experiment, the sonar system, scientists recorded its
would switch on, and you might even go about “social learning”, there are many my heart racing, I shouted and jumped which ended on the 8th of January 1964. depth at 11,000 m.
as far as to jump onto a table just to avoid more obscure as well as common phobias around in fear. I had never even properly 17-year-old Randy managed to stay Here’s how the sonar system works: a
that darn rodent at all cost. This would be that just can’t always be be taken in encountered a snake before, and although awake for 11 days and 25 minutes. device (sonar device) sends sound waves
a classic case of Musophobia, the fear of through that, for example: Xantophobia, this snake was very much not alive, and Numerous experiments were carried down through the water. When the sound
rats, or rodents. the fear of the colour yellow, or one of my very much not a threat to me, I still out on animals (a cat managed to stay waves hit objects (e.g., fish, vegetation, or
But how do we get these fears? Well, favourites: Hippopotomonstrosesquipped‐ reacted frantically. This was because of all awake for 15 days but then died), and it is the seabed) they bounce back to the sur‐
there can be many reasons for the devel‐ aliophobia, which ironically means the these terrible snake stories I had heard something that is still explored. Tony face. The sonar device measures the
opment of certain phobias, but one seem‐ fear of long words. Obviously, these aren’t before, so my brain was convinced that Wright, an author and consciousness amount of time it takes for the sound
ingly common cause would be what is phobias we can typically learn through although the snake was dead, I was still in researcher, claims to have beaten Gard‐ waves to hit the object and bounce back
called “social learning”. Let’s switch our “social learning”, because: danger. As irrational as that sounds, that’s ner’s record. to the surface.
last example with the mouse up a little, 1 It’s not quite as common to encounter just something common that comes with
and say that instead of a student, you someone who reacts frantically when phobias. Our brain justifies them since
were the teacher of a bunch of youngsters, seeing a long word the thing in question has already been
age of 6 or so. The reaction from our first 2 Especially once we exit our impression‐ associated with danger, and at the 1 An average adult’s skin weighs 4 Japan is the 11th most populated
example stays the same, you panic and able youth, we can use common sense moment of panic, nothing seems to be about 11 pounds (5kg). country in the world, with 126 mil‐
frantically jump onto one of the desks, and more rational thinking and reason: out of the realm of possibilities. 2 World War I ended on the 11th day lion inhabitants.
flailing your arms around in fear as on the “hey, there is no reason for me to develop Of course, we can always grow out of of the 11th month, at the 11th hour. 5 An average person breathes in
brink of tears, panic arises within you. a fear of long words, as there is no way of old phobias, but we can also be exposed Quick facts 3 South Africa has 11 official lan‐ around 11,000 litres of air every day.
The students you are hypothetically these words hurting me, neither have I to new ones – anything goes when it guages (the most in the world): Pedi, 6 The base of the Statue of Liberty, is
teaching, who have not yet associated the been proven otherwise.” comes to this quite interesting phe‐ Sotho, Tswana, Swati, Venḓa, Tsonga, shaped in an 11-pointed stars
nomenon: fear. Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Xhosa,
and Zulu.
10 Summer 2020 BEE 3 BEE 3 Summer 2020 11
INTERVIEW MUSIC CORNER
ASTRID KUTOS
EEB3’s musicians Gemma, you released your second album
iven the rise of streaming plat‐ “The Things I Couldn’t Say” in Novem‐
G forms, it is easier than ever to
discover music from around
the globe. Now, while this is
obviously an incredible oppor‐
tunity, it can lead us to overlook music
close to us – something I am guilty of as
well. So, for this BEE3 issue, I decided to
ber 2020. Could you briefly walk me
through that?
G: It was written over the span of a roller‐
coaster of a year, 2020. So, for all of us,
I’m sure everyone can understand that
there was a lot going on, and nothing at
interview three very talented artists from all. So, it’s kind of all the feelings that I
our own school – Gemma Lua (Gemma collected over that year that I would write
Timpano), Matucho (Matis Jürgensen), about, and then I would record as I went.
and Cami (Camille Ruiz) – about their
music and experiences as young artists. Matucho, you also recently released a
While their experiences and views are new song, Bloc 50, in February. What’s
similar in some respects, but by no means the story behind that?
identical. But first, let’s establish the
basics: M: Bloc 50 is actually the longest story.
Bloc 50 is the neighbourhood where I
How would you describe the style of live, and I’ve lived here since forever – I
music you make? had my first steps here, first friendships,
Click on the albums for the Spotify link! first everything. That’s why I really
Gemma Lua: I’d say on a large scale it’s wanted to make a song about this,
mainly pop, maybe alternative pop in poetry, which I translate into songwrit‐ and began singing at eleven. She started you can drop as many songs or albums as year in, when I did some research and because I really developed myself here.
some cases. ing, and there I’m influenced by people writing music herself when she “started you want”. If anyone has more questions found out that anyone could put some‐ The idea came to me first in S4 – it didn’t
Matucho: The one I release I would say is like T.S. Elliot or Yates. having things to write about”, so the about this, Matis kindly offered to help thing on Spotify. have the name Bloc 50, but the theme, the
hip-hop, more specifically – I’m not sure M: I’d say the first ones that really brought beginning of her teenage years. Matucho, out, so feel free to contact him about it. M: In winter of S4 I started a hip-hop col‐ vibe, was exactly the same. And over the
if it’s a thing, but my favourite rapper calls me the love for the combination of heavy similarly, began taking violin lessons at lective with two friends from school. The years I always updated the song, the
it “lyricism”. So, when you really give drums and poetry (so the lyrics) were three years old, but quickly switched to But what is it that pushes someone first time we released something was I lyrics, everything the beat. The song I
meaning to the words, the power is really Tupac and Joey Bada$$. Otherwise, what piano after realising it wasn’t his thing. He towards taking that step? think March of S4, so 2018, on YouTube. released has nothing in common with the
in the words. really inspired my French rap was taught himself how to play the guitar and It was never really a question if we original song.
Cami: I’d say it’s pop. I’m mainly influ‐ Nekfeu, he really inspired my flow. Lastly, sing in S4 and began writing rap lyrics. G: I used to record cover and post them wanted to release it or not, because we
enced by pop or indie style, so I’d say it’s I would say Sticky Fingers, an Australian Cami also began singing at a young age, on SoundCloud, and then when I started always wanted to share our thoughts and Cami, also you released your first single,
in that category of music. rock/indie band and their vibe is just – I discovering what karaoke was at age ten writing songs, I thought I would do the emotions. Pilot, in February 2021. How did that
don’t know, it just really makes me happy. and recording herself singing, prompting same. It was more for myself, to have kind C: So, as you know, I released my first come about?
Who are your main stylistic influences? C: I’m mainly inspired lyrically by groups her to take singing lessons. of a repertoire of everything I’d done song Pilot on Spotify and a lot of other
like Men I Trust, L’Impératrice, but also At some point, they all took a leap of music wise – I never expected people to streaming platforms this February, but C: For my music Prébac, I was a perform‐
G: Lyrically I really admire artists like people like Jaden Smith. faith of sorts – releasing their music to find my SoundCloud. And when I came before that I already composed music. It ance major, so I had to provide two per‐
Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish. the world, on various platforms such as here, I did. People started proposing the was the first one I wanted to release formances and one composition. So, what
Musically I really admire Pink Floyd, I One thing they all have in common is YouTube, Spotify and SoundCloud. As idea of putting [my songs] on Spotify, because I was inspired by other musicians I did was I found a video from like three
love their dynamics and really try to imit‐ an early start when it comes to music. they are amateurs, so don’t have a record which to me seemed completely unreal – in our school, like Gemma or Matis and years ago where I had recorded really cool
ate that in my music. I also really admire Gemma Lua, growing up in a musical label, they use a distributor – incidentally Spotify was, to me, a platform for profes‐ everything. So, I just asked them what it chords and a little melody, so I tried to
their experimentalism. Other artists like family and going to pubs and gigs to see they all use the same one, DistroKid, and sional musicians and record labels. So, I was like and talked about it with my improve it and to find lyrics. So, for the
the Smiths for instrumentals, so I have a her father’s band play from an early age, have “only good things to say” about it. never really considered it until about a family. inspiration I really thought about a situ‐
very large range of influences. I also write started learning instruments very young “You pay them 20 euros a year, and then
12 Summer 2020 BEE 3 BEE 3 Summer 2020 13
CONVERSATION WITH ARTISTS MUSIC CORNER BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
Read these books!
CHARLOTTE TULKENS
CONCRETE
THE PERKS OF ROSE
BEING A LES CULOTTÉES BY ANGIE THOMAS
WALLFLOWER BY PÉNÉLOPE BAGIEU
ust like all of Angie Thomas’s
ation that I was feeling at the moment
with the help of other lyrics, because I
don’t always know how to formulate my
feelings.
When it comes to inspiration overall,
up – Gemma recalling that she made a
profit of about 10 euros from her first
album, which received around three
thousand streams - the exposure argu‐
ment seems to win out, particularly for
younger artists just starting out. As does
I didn’t realise that by putting out my
feelings to thousands of people, I was
actually putting out my feelings to thou‐
sands of people. And so that clicked a
while after for me, and it the second
album it was a lot easier and a lot better. I
BY STEPHEN CHBOSKY
n the Perks of Being a Wallflower we
follow Charlie, a wallflower, meaning
he is someone who is always present
and nice but stays on the sidelines.
This story is told through letters
L
es Culottées est une série en
bande dessinée constituée de
deux tomes. Dans chaque tome
nous découvrons 15 femmes
ayant existées et dont la destinée
a amélioré le monde. Plus précisément,
nous suivons des femmes de plusieurs
J novels, Concrete Rose discusses a
particularly important topic that
we don’t often read about: teen
pregnancy. Set in the 90’s, we
meet Maverick, a 17-year-old boy who
just discovered that he’s a father. We
follow him through his life-changing
the three artists describe similar influ‐ the global aspect: both Gemma and Cami M: I don’t really know, because all the addressed to a friend of Charlie’s. This siècles différents qui, chacune à leur tour, journey as he juggles school, his new baby
ences: largely based on their own experi‐ saw a high number of streams from sur‐ people I talk to, when they look at me, the makes it a very personal way of story‐ combattent le sexisme dans leur société, boy and his relationships. Through the
ences, memories or personal struggles. prising countries, Ecuador and the Philip‐ first thing they think of isn’t the music, telling in which we have this special con‐ et la nôtre. Ces histoires se lisent et story, Angie Thomas gives excellent social
Gemma describes using music as an out‐ pines respectively, despite never having because they’ve known me for much nection with Charlie. He’s a protagonist I relisent, chaque lecture étant tout aussi commentary on this situation that often
let: “I’m someone who hates talking about visited them and not knowing anybody longer. But I am eternally grateful for how think all of us can relate to, in one way or savoureuse que la dernière. De la femme à happens in our society. Angie Thomas’s
emotions and emotional expression, so there. As Cami puts it: “If it had only kind so many people were, how support‐ another. He’s such a sweet and innocent barbe à Peggy Guggenheim en passant writing style is one of the reasons I love
music is my outlet for anything that I feel, been on a CD that I would distribute to ive, how lovely they really were, their character that, without even realising it, par Joséphine Baker vous découvrirez des this book so much. It pulls you into the
anything that I experience.” While my friends, it would never have had the feedback. I’d say I don’t separate myself you start caring for him. We follow him femmes souvent méconnues qui ont story, and you feel like you are in the
Matucho also bases his lyrics on his own same impact”. from my music, because the music I make on his coming-of-age story, set in high pourtant transformé notre société en pre‐ streets with Mav. This story is a quick
experiences, particularly “things that is really me at that moment. school, where he starts making friends nant leur destin en main. Les histoires read that will have you hooked until the
make [him] happy in the moment”, he Since many people at our school share C: I think because I didn’t write too literal and creating important relationships. At sont toutes très bien racontées et Péné‐ very last page. One of the things I loved
also mentioned wishing to explore more your music once its released, it’s a reas‐ lyrics, I wasn’t afraid of people knowing the end there’s a plot-twist waiting for lope Bagieu montre un vrai talent de des‐ while reading this book was the family
in the future, creating songs that are like onable assumption that most students too much about my personal life. I’m not you, so keep on reading, because it will be sinatrice. Son style d’écriture et celui de relationship between Maverick and his
stories. Drawing inspiration from her have heard some of your songs. How do afraid that people will learn too much worth it. This book has been adapted into son dessin se mélangent parfaitement parents, as Angie Thomas shows us once
favourite artists, Cami mixes personal you feel about that? Do you separate about me and I’m happy to see people a movie with the same name starring pour créer des portraits qui se lisent faci‐ again what family is all about. She did an
experiences with musical styles she likes, yourself from your music to an extent? listen to my music. Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra lement et avec plaisir. Chaque petite bio‐ excellent job with sprinkling some
aiming to write lyrics that other people Miller. After reading this amazing story graphie reste avec vous bien après l’avoir humour throughout the story, which
can “can really identify with through their G: I think when I released my first album, While only Cami plans to pursue you can watch the movie which has been lue car elles sont toutes aussi intéressantes made Concrete Rose an even better read‐
own experiences”. it came as a bit of a shock to me because I music professionally, hoping to study it at very well adapted. I highly recommend les unes que les autres. Je vous recom‐ ing experience. I highly recommend read‐
When it comes to the impact of kind of hadn’t expected people to put the university, all three musicians plan on reading this book. I believe that depend‐ mande fortement de lire ces deux tomes, ing this amazing story, and when you’re
streaming platforms on their experiences, pieces together – that the person writing continuing to release music, so keep an ing on your experiences in life, each car après les avoir lus vous serez impres‐ finished reading it you can continue on
the answers are all rather positive. While the songs and the person they saw in eye out for future releases! reader will have a different view on it – sionnés par chacune de ces femmes with The Hate U Give, in which you follow
of course the financial aspect is brought school was the same person. but, that is the beauty of the story. incroyables ! Maverick’s children.
14 Summer 2020 BEE 3 BEE 3 Summer 2020 15
REVIEW TEEN DRAMA
Fate: The Winx Saga review
onist such as Flora would be left out, and
Netflix’s take on her cousin be included. In relation to the
“Winx Club” nemesis, Fate’s Beatrix is not even in the
original cartoon. The original antagonists
are a group of witches called the “Trix”,
NATHALIE DE LA CALEJA who go to a school for witches called
OROZCO
“Cloud Tower” – but it could be a possib‐
f you grew up in the early 2000s ility for them to join the show in later sea‐
I you’ve probably heard about or even
watched Winx Club, a very popular
Italian animated series on Nick‐
elodeon about teen fairies who study
magic in a school called “Alfea” located in
a place called “Magix” (the center of
what’s called the “Magic Dimension”).
sons; nothing has been confirmed yet.
Another big change, which might actually
be positive, is that in Winx Club the spe‐
cialists go to a separate school called “Red
Fountain”, whilst in Netflix’s version they
go to Alfea. This represents a move
towards more gender equality for the
The show revolves around Bloom, the Winx universe.
main character, who lives in the human Moving on, the romantic couple pair‐
world but finds out she has fairy magic ings are different in Winx Club than in
and moves to the Magic Dimension. The Fate; not all the original couples remained
series contains a myriad of different The Winx Saga cast; © NETFLIX the same and the live action contains a
adventures, love stories, and more, in little more “boyfriend drama” – another
which Bloom and her friends are symptom of the move towards the teen
involved. The original show has been run‐ melodrama genre.
ning for 8 seasons with season 9 getting (Hannah van der Westhuysen), Terra motive? All these questions will get to steer off so far from the source material fairy being Latina and Aisha the water Lastly, the Nickelodeon show con‐
released this year. (Eliot Salt) and Aisha (Precious answered if you decide to watch the show. definitely came as a surprise to dedicated fairy being Black. Unfortunately, it’s quite tained a lot of show tunes, whilst this ver‐
So, you can imagine how excited all Mustapha). Obviously, when Netflix first Winx Club fans. common to cast white actors or partly- sion lacks music, which is ironic consid‐
Winx Club fans got (including me!) when Alfea, apart from being a fairy school, announced its live action Winx-based Such fans came to question Fate: The coloured actors to play fully coloured ering Musa is a music fairy… except that
Netflix confirmed their live action take on it is also a school for “specialists”, a group series, we all knew it would contain a few Winx Saga’s fashion choices. The Winx roles, for example: Musa in Fate is played Fate’s producers instead designated her as
it: “Fate: The Winx Saga”. This version is of boys who are trained to become warri‐ changes – however, there were a lot of fairies are known for wearing very high by Elisha Applebaum, who is mostly an “empath” meaning that she is
directed towards teenagers, whilst the ors. differences and not all of them pleased fashion, editorial, bold outfits, however, white and ¼ Asian, and Flora is not even extraordinarily empathic towards others.
cartoon was more appropriate for Bloom and her friends get enrolled in the fans, so allow me to compare and in the Netflix version, they wear more in the live-action; instead we have her Overall, as someone who has grown up
younger audiences. mysteries and adventures related to contrast both versions: earth-like, less colourful, darker toned cousin Terra who is completely white and watching Winx Club, I think this show is
In this version of the show, our prot‐ Bloom’s origins, whilst working together The most noticeable change is the tone outfits, so this was a bit of a disappoint‐ portrayed by Eliot Salt. Nevertheless, the definitely watchable, but if you’re expect‐
agonist Bloom (Abigail Cowen), finds out with specialists: Riven (Freddie Thorp) of the live-action version. It’s darker, ment to the hardcore fans of their original hate isn’t directed towards the actresses, ing it to be exactly, if not similar to the
she has fire powers after an accident and Sky (Danny Griffin). This also more somber, and it has been said to fashion. When it comes to the transform‐ it’s directed towards the casting directors. cartoon, you will mostly likely not enjoy
occurred at her house. Subsequently, she includes some spicy romantic encoun‐ resemble the tone of Riverdale, perhaps ations and wings, in Fate, they don’t have Even though two characters suffered it. However, if you enjoy dark teen
decides to go to the “Alfea College for ters. Beatrix (Sadie Soverall), who – at one of the most drama-filled shows cur‐ usual transformations nor do they all whitewashing, Aisha is still Black and is dramas and would like to see the light-
Fairies”, in a dimension called the “Other‐ first glance – appears very sweet and rently running on television. This wasn’t have signature wings (at least in this portrayed by Precious Mustapha. Apart hearted fairies in an edgier tone, go for it
world”. She lies to her parents by telling gentle, later reveals herself to be the mis‐ as shocking as one might think, due to season), whilst in the cartoon they trans‐ from this whitewashing dilemma, fans – you’ll definitely love it! I personally
them she’ll be attending a boarding chievous antagonist of the season. The the fact that it is targeted at a more formed in almost every episode. Though weren’t at all pleased with Tecna, Flora, enjoyed it as I would with any other teen
school in Switzerland, so they have no main issue they all face is battling beings mature audience, and most teen shows what most fans are enraged about is the Brandon and more missing, who played‐ drama. I have to admit that the produc‐
idea that she has these mystical powers. called “The Burned Ones” who appear to nowadays tend to have an edgier tone. blatant whitewashing and the missing crucial roles in Winx Club, with Tecna tion is quite good, the special effects are
She gets assigned a suite with four other go after Bloom and her powers. What do However, Winx Club is known for its characters. In the animated series we had and Flora being part of the iconic friend very well done, but as I said before, it’s
girls, whom she later calls her best the Burned Ones want? Will Bloom dis‐ bright, vibrant colours and its bubbly and a diverse group of friends, with Musa the group. It created even more confusion surely not the same as the original and
friends: Musa (Elisha Applebaum), Stella cover her origins? What is Beatrix’s light-hearted tone. So for the producers music fairy being Asian, Flora the nature amongst fans, why an important protag‐ beloved Winx Club.
16 Summer 2020 BEE 3 BEE 3 Summer 2020 17
HISTORY A QUEENS’ BEST FRIEND
The earliest record of the diamond dates Or so argued Bhai Gobind Ram, head Palace, on the 250th anniversary of the
back to Babur, founder of the Mughal Brahmin (priest and teacher). His treas‐ East India Company. Since then, it has
Empire, in the 16th century. urer, Beli Ram argued that the gem was been placed on the Crown of Queen
According to his diary, it was gifted to state property, and should be passed on to Alexandra in 1902, and remains there, on
him after he conquered Delhi and Agra in Kharak Singh, the emperor’s eldest son display in the Tower of London.
The crown’s 1526. Historians are unsure whether the
187-carat diamond he wrote about was in
and successor. When Ranjit Singh died,
Beli Ram hid the Kohinoor in his vaults,
Its turbulent story is far from over. The
governments of India, Pakistan, and
diamond. fact the Kohinoor.
The diamond finds itself next on the
and Kharak Singh also agreed the dia‐
mond should remain with him.
Afghanistan have all requested the return
of the Kohinoor. The government of India
Peacock throne of Shah Jahan, the fifth Due to an 1839 coup that overthrew was the first to claim it as soon as the
Mughal emperor. Unfortunately, while in Kharak Singh, the diamond ended up in country got its independence in 1947.
the possession of his son and successor the hands of the prime minister’s brother, There are also internal disputes, as the
The Aurangzeb, it was crudely cut by the
Venetian lapidarist Hortense Borgia,
bringing its weight down to 186 carats.
Gulab Singh, Raja of Jammu. It was his
until 1841, when he gave it to emperor
Sher Singh, as a way to make an alliance.
Indian Culture Minister has promised to
make “all possible efforts” to see its
return, yet the Solicitor General of India
Kohinoor Once again, this story is not entirely
accurate, as it is likely the Orlov (now
part of Catherine the Great’s scepter in
Since then it has changed ownership
many times, taking the form of a token of
gratitude, a family heirloom, a prospect‐
denies the fact that it was stolen, and says
it was given voluntarily.
Pakistan lay claim to the Kohinoor in
Diamondd
Diamon the Kremlin), was mistaken for the
Kohinoor.
In 1739, the Mughal treasury was
looted by Nadir Shah of Persia, who took
the diamond and many other historic
ive donation to the Jagannath Temple,
and an attempt at making an alliance.
The last Maharaj to own the Kohinoor
was also the youngest. Five-year-old
emperor Duleep Singh wore it on his
1976, arguing that its return would show
Britain’s willingness to let go of its colo‐
nial past and move forward with the pro‐
cess of decolonisation. The Prime Minis‐
ter of the United Kingdom James
ERIKA KAVVADA jewels. This is when the infamous dia‐ wrist after he ascended to power follow‐ Callaghan replied, citing the 1849 Treaty
he origins of this 105-carat mond got its name, as the Shah exclaimed ing an 1843 counter-coup. of Lahore with the Maharaj and the dia‐
T gemstone are shrouded in mys‐
tery. Some claim it was
unearthed in India’s Kollur
mine in the 13th century, while
others say that it was found in a dry river
bed. According to superstition, it is also
cursed. Currently, it can be found in the
it was like a “Mountain of Light”, or Koh-
I-Noor, and was taken to modern-day
Afghanistan, where it would remain for
70 years.
Following Nadir Shah’s murder, his
grandson came in possession of the dia‐
mond in 1751, who then gave it to
This brings us to the end of the Anglo-
Sikh War in 1849. The Last Treaty of
Lahore was signed, giving official owner‐
ship of the Kohinoor to Queen Victoria.
The Kingdom of Punjab was annexed to
the East India Company. Maharaja
Duleep Singh, now eleven years old,
mond’s long and complicated history.
The Taliban claims the Kohinoor as
Afghanistan’s property. In 2000, they
formally asked for its return, saying it was
taken by India, and then by Britain. They
support their claim by making reference
to the fact that the Kohinoor was given to
Tower of London, on Queen Elizabeth’s Ahmad Shah Durrani, founder of the signed the diamond over. Ranjit Singh by Shah Shuja Durrani while
crown. How did this legendary gem end Afghan Empire. According to legend, the diamond was his son was being tortured.
up so far from its place of origin? Who is Shuja Shah Durrani, a descendant of almost lost before its journey to England, Britain’s main argument against the
the rightful owner? To answer these ques‐ Ahmad, wore it in a bracelet until 1813, as it was placed in a waistcoat pocket, diamond’s return is the fact that it has
tions we must first understand its history. when he gave it to Ranjit Singh, founder which was then sent to be laundered. been part of British history for 150 years,
of the Sikh Empire, as a token of gratitude Luckily, it was found and returned by a and that returning it would eventually
for his help and hospitality when he fled valet. lead to the British museum being empty.
to Lahore following his overthrow. Ranjit The heavily guarded Kohinoor, sealed Britain also argues that due to so many
Singh proudly wore the diamond on spe‐ in an iron safe, left Bombay on April 6th, claims, it is impossible to decide on an
cial occasions and kept it in Gobindgarh 1850 on the HMS Medea. A cholera out‐ original owner. The British government is
Fort when it was not on his person. After break while the ship was docked in Maur‐ firm in its position that the Kohinoor will
suffering his third stroke, Ranjit Singh, itius led to it almost being under attack, not be returned. Due to its complicated
now too weak to speak, explained as locals wanted it to depart immediately. history and the lack of possible com‐
through gestures that he wished the The Kohinoor was presented to the promises, it will remain in Britain for the
Kohinoor to be donated to Jagannath Queen on July 3rd, 1850 in Buckingham foreseeable future.
Temple, along with other jewels.
PICTURED: Queen Victoria wearing the Kohinoor (Franz Xaver Winterhalter, 1856)
18 Summer 2020 BEE 3 BEE 3 Summer 2020 19TIPS AND TRICKS COVID
Welcome, stress! The art of concentration
EVA STEININGER
VALENTINA SKACKOVA e’ve all experienced getting
S
tress. Anxiety. Failure. Lovely
way to start an article, isn’t it?
Unfortunately, these factors can
be part of our daily lives, and
dealing with them is never easy.
It is unpleasant and tiring, often demotiv‐
probably not have the same reaction
under the same circumstances. “We boil
at different degrees”; Ralph Waldo Emer‐
son nailed it. So, why do some of us
simmer like water, while others barely
bubble around 5000° like tungsten? What
W distracted when in reality,
we should be paying atten‐
tion: right before an exam,
in an important meeting,
while speaking with our parents - We
often suffer from a lack of active concen‐
tration. I will explain below what concen‐
ating. But although we are all exposed to determines our boiling temperature? tration is about and I will provide tips on mind is typically interrupted anywhere This function of the brain plays an
stress, two different individuals would how to improve it. Concentration is the between 20 and 40 percent of the time. important role when humans are con‐
mental process of focusing all your atten‐ You might think that these interruptions fronted with danger and need an immedi‐
tion on a single thought or task. It takes are often external – a phone call, a mes‐ ate fight or flight response. But today,
place in the conscious part of our brain, sage, a bird passing by your window, but with our less danger-prone and more
the cerebral cortex, which controls all of according to psychologist Gloria Mark’s intellectually demanding lifestyle it’s neg‐
our thoughts and actions within our research, our mind is responsible for ative side effects have become more
awareness. Voluntarily focusing on one around 44% of these interruptions. evident.
thing continuously can take a lot of Losing focus is actually an evolutionary The good news is: You can work on
Two words: psychological resilience. It is Psychological resilience is also influ‐ Sometimes we need to remind effort. Most of the time we are not com‐ feature meant to keep us safe. It happens strengthening your focus so that smaller
“the capacity of individuals to cope suc‐ enced by the conditions we grow up in. A ourselves what to think and not let cir‐ pletely focusing on what we are doing. when our brain is noticing things that distractions don’t cause full stop on your
cessfully with significant change, ad‐ loving, reliable environment, combined cumstances bring us down. Think about For example, when we are reading, our might need our attention. thinking.
versity or risk’’ (Lee & Cranford, 2008). In with enough opportunities to master your ability to change the stressor. If it
other words, it’s the ability to deal with challenges and stress are the key for chil‐ can’t be changed, then it is what it is.
negative change or stress and to move on
without harmful long-term consequences.
dren to develop a higher resilience. An
extremely stressful and chaotic home will
Your energy is better spent working on
coping with the circumstances. If you can
Focusing Techniques
Highly resilient individuals (in our case, usually have the opposite effect. Keeping change it, then what are you waiting for? se a timer to limit your work- still have enough energy. The Pomodoro track. Next time when this happens to
the “tungstens”) have an energetic ap‐
proach to life, embrace challenges, and
keep up a positive attitude. This doesn’t
mean they see life through heart-shaped,
rose coloured glasses. But when failure,
stress, or other charmingly negative
change stumbles their way, they don’t
the child in a protective bubble doesn’t
help either. Stress is required to build up
tolerance; gradual exposure to it, at man‐
ageable levels, can help develop coping
strategies to become resilient.
What else makes the difference
between our tungstens and water-people?
Moping around with self-pity as your
only companion never did anybody good.
Failure helps us build our resilience. Face
your challenges and try to bounce back
from them (preferably with a minimal
“moping” step). Stress can hijack your
brain: find something else to focus on,
U time. Knowing that you have a
break coming makes it easier
to stay concentrated and
motivated. So instead of trying
to slog through for hours, you will get
your work done in a shorter time through
bursts of intensive work. What works
Technique however, advises blocks of 25
minutes for work, followed by a 5 minute
break. Create a “Do later list”. I’m sure
you’ve experienced many occasions in
which you were concentrating on an
important task when suddenly a random
idea, errand, or question popped into
you, just write down whatever is on your
mind to deal with it later (or not at all)
and continue focusing on your main
task. Creativity expert Julie Cameron
even advices to write three full pages of
brain dump every morning to clear
mental clutter. It can be anything: vaca‐
break down. People with lower psycholo‐ A positive attitude. If you’re an obturate rather than on the elephant in your mind. best for me are blocks of 55 Minutes, after your head. Even if it only takes you a tion spots to research, a rant about
gical resilience, on the other hand, tend to pessimist like me, this may seem like an Get out of your comfort zone and try which I then decide to either take a break minute or two to research a random fact‐ someone you know or an explanation of
dwell on their problems, feel victimised, unattainable, even an undesirable goal. something you’ve wanted to accomplish or continue for another 55 minutes if I oid, it gets your focus completely off what you are feeling at the time.
or may turn to unhealthy coping strat‐ But try and change your beliefs and for a long time. A purpose in life
egies, such as drugs, alcohol or other sub‐
stances. Poorly handled stress can lead to
standards. Your beliefs affect your feelings
and emotions. Your emotions affect the
increases psychological resilience. Sur‐
round yourself with supportive, empath‐
During online lessons
a long list of undesirable effects: a lower way you think. And your thoughts affect etic people, who will help you get through ou have to be in a classroom for mean that you are indeed paying atten‐ If the subject is too hard, try to work
immune system, moodiness, memory and
focus problems, low self-esteem, insom‐
nia, and more.
Good news though: psychological resi‐
lience isn’t an inborn talent or aptitude. It
is something you can cultivate and im‐
prove. Your resilience is similar to
how you respond to situations. So, if you
imagine that a situation might not end up
in the worst way possible (which is still
far from being idealistic), you will feel
calmer. Your cool head will help you
think more clearly. And your thoughts
will make you stick to the good old “think
tough times. They will listen.
Let’s make it clear: resilience doesn’t
stop you from making mistakes; it stops
you from feeling dejected by them. It
won’t rid your life of stress, but it will
teach you how to welcome stress, and
how to keep moving forward. Water can’t
Y a set period of time anyway, so
why not use that time to pay
attention and actually learn
something.
Take detailed notes. If you are not
taking notes, then you’re just listening
passively to what’s being said, and that
tion, but you’re also more likely to
remember what’s been said as a result.
Active Reading. When you must read a
text in or for class, don’t just go through
the words, but underline important pas‐
sages, ask questions, and recapitulate.
It will help you to stay focused and when
out what you’d need to know in order to
fully understand it.
If it’s too easy, have a think about what
you would ask to advance to the next
level. What questions would be asked of
you if you were studying this more in
depth?
muscles; it can be trained. But if you do before you act”. As endocrinologist Hans turn into tungsten; but you can become makes it much harder to stay focused. you later come back to it, you will directly If you don’t know where to start, try
not exercise regularly, it will get softer, Selye said; “It’s not stress that kills us; it’s more resilient. Life can be tough. But so Making detailed notes forces you to con‐ recall what it was about. thinking like a toddler – interrogate the
just like your muscles. our reaction to it”. Good motivation to can you. centrate on what’s being said during the Think of questions. You don’t necessar‐ topic with questions like who, why,
work on our attitude, isn’t it? lesson, process it and then write it down ily need to ask them, just think of them where, when and how. That should keep
in a digestible form. Not only does it and perhaps write them down. your brain occupied for a while.
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