The Opinionated Ones: by Eileen Cham (June 08)

The Voice of the Omniscient Editor-in-Chief

Our new IB-coordinator Mr Azhar reminded me that this issue’s deadline had been moved from the usual 27^th to the 21^st, due to the one-week break that came at the end of the month. My reaction was: “OH NO!”

August was a month filled to the brim with out-of-class activities. There was that wet morning involving handmade speed boats organised by Ms Ellie Chuah. All ingenious inventions (especially the one that whooshed across the pool), but I think I had a little too much fun immersing myself in the warm, crystalline water. The highlight, of course, came at the end, when a bunch of us decided Ms Ellie needed to be thoroughly soaked. It came with a price: Mr Masukor (one of the instigators) went into the pool himself fully clothed.

Then there was the Merdeka Carnival. I had already joined the KDU family last year around this time, but never got to witness this event up close since I had not been assigned a task. This year, together with Ms G, I was to man the IB stall (thanks, Cassie, for the WWF initiative). But let it be known that I was only there for an hour or so before I was whisked away by the boys to get myself into the spinning frenzy of the Zorb Ball (with Eugene, whom I stepped on a few times), and be dunked in public by Lewis, Pratik and Wei Jie, who all missed their target (losers!). Before the day ended, Mr Masukor and I escaped to the pool and tanned ourselves (I am now the colour of a well-done piece of steak). Who says the life of a teacher is tough? I believe it is what you make of it.

A group of IB students (Eileen, Michelle, Azam, Lewis, Khairil, Pratik, Cassie, Wei Jie, Nicholas, Keat Meng) took up the challenge of representing the IB department at KLIMUN (Kuala Lumpur International Model United Nations). They were there for a week, and I am sure they will have a lot to say when we see them again after the break.

Our love to the contributors of this issue: Vivian, Khairil, Geraldine, Pang, Yati, Pratik, Masukor, Ellie, Eugene, Fatin, Sheril, Afandi, Zuraida, Izzudin, Azlan, and the anonymous one.

Edward Ong, August 09

P.S. This month’s cover (by Hannah) illustrates our exhaustion from fun. Zorba would be proud.

Amidst the rain of creativity crashing down upon the pavements of Sri KDU, I find myself without an umbrella. Already five months since the publication of our magazine, the flicker of light in the caves of our minds (remember those caves?) has grown into a bright, indestructible flame. It truly is a marvel how our words can withhold such power and if correctly used can generate influence of epic proportions, and who would know better about the power of words than the 3^rd KL International Model United Nations delegates from Sri KDU?

Very recently, a group of twenty-one students from the Secondary School and the IB Department embarked on a journey to INTI University College for this event. As a congregation of delegates from across the world, the 3^rd KLIMUN proved to be a truly enriching experience for all its participants. We saw how delegates were able to convince other Member countries to support their resolutions not merely based on the merit of the resolutions themselves but based on the convincing speech given by these delegates, thus demonstrating the true power of words. It is with that that I urge all readers to take this opportunity to begin expressing your views here in Opinionated Monthly. The platform has been set, but it is up to you to take advantage of it.

Azam Ismail

Deputy Editor

Holidays have always been a good time to reflect; we pack away all-things-school to the back of our brains and let the other corners run messy and wild with our imaginations, our travels. I’ve always appreciated how I always return to my hometown with a mental vacuum; it prepares me well for the sound, undisturbed hibernating marathon I plan to embark on. But even more than that, I appreciate how I always come back with a heavy heart. (Actually heavier everything… the holiday gluttony!)

True, I would choose to face the KLIMUN audience all over again in a heartbeat, than to answer the speculations of a roomful of relatives curious about my “next step”. Or to take another Bio test than to be forced with another mug of Spirulina.

But all that aside, being home reminds me better than anything else about who I am and what I want… as cheesy as that sounds.

Homework moved at an embarrassing tortoise-pace this holiday. But all the time spent looking out of windows doing nothing, it was worth it.

I hope the holidays did to you what it did to me. And perhaps, we’ll be more ready to write this time round.

Eileen Cham

Associate Editor

The Voice of the Omniscient Editor-in-Chief

Here we go again: another month, another issue. Wasn’t it just last week that we put out the July issue? A lot has happened since then. The juniors (June 09) have acclimatised to the air-conditioned IB classrooms and to the unconventional ways of their seniors; they have discovered the true identity of English A1; a CAS trip has taken place and we have returned with new friendships (but could we please do the next one at some beach resort?); class tests have spread terror; we have said goodbye to the irreplaceable Mr Jonathon Shaw, the founder of the IB department in Sri KDU; all of MJ’s albums have returned to the top of the charts…

This issue has a lot to offer: tender, personal (love) poems; an insightful article about the complexities of Warcraft (which I already had a taste of last year at Aiman’s place); an IB student’s meditation on being an IB student; an indictment of ineffectual school systems; a revealing interview with our star Aimran Aliff, who will be performing at No Black Tie (cool place!) on August 19; a short piece about the correct usage of the apostrophe; our usual discussion forum – this time about the benefits and dangers of science (curiously, none of our science teachers have contributed. Does this mean your stance has been defeated before it is even stated? J). We are also very pleased to have Aiman Ahmad’s contribution. Even though he is now at Taylor’s, he and his crazy self are still very much a part of us.

There is no denying that we are a family (Michelle’s piece will make it even clearer). The CAS trip to Gopeng proved how we can pull ourselves together and make things work, even though at times, due to stress, we feel like strangling each other. But family is family. You insult each other (lovingly), pinch each other (tenderly), mumble an apology or two, and then you move on to better things. The white water rafting was the most awesome experience I have had until now. Having three other people in the same raft screaming in your ear about rapids and rocks was priceless. (It was also priceless when Mr Masukor, at the first sheer drop (boom boom), swung to my side, headbutted me, and then, for some inexplicable reason, plunged head-first into the angry water. I tried to fish him out but he was too heavy for me!)

The cooperation we saw during the white water descent exemplifies us as the IB department. We are inventive, fearless risk–takers who will not fall on our knees in the face of obstacles. We make our own rules and laugh when others tell us we can’t. This is what makes us unique. So do keep your uniqueness coming – in the form of the written word. Juniors, we are expecting great things from you…

Our love goes to Keat Meng, GG, Paul, Ariffin, Demie, Geraldine, Michelle, Yati, Aimran, Aiman, Hakim, Masukor and Akmal.

Edward Ong, August 09

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Another month, yet another issue!

It seems our humble little magazine has garnered enough buzz in Sri KDU to be distributed to the Secondary School! So this issue is the official initiation of our lovely publication outside of the IB Department. Well done, team and good job to all those who have contributed so far. We couldn’t have done it without you.

I think it really is a true test of how the small things we do can translate into something really worthwhile. The idea for our publication sprouted from our Editor-in-Chief (and oh-so popular English teacher), Mr. Edward Ong. Through his efforts, we formed a small group of dedicated editors, authors, illustrators and advertisers. It was a stressful task to put out our very first issue as most of us were, well, amateurs. We weren’t sure what we were doing for the most part but that was all remedied by the help of our great teacher. Regardless, it was a definite success and all our efforts did not go to waste at all. From then on, curiosity grew as the Secondary School students and teachers began to see our work on display outside the Admin Office.

Word reached the parents and most were simply thrilled at the idea of a literary magazine, an outlet for students to express their thoughts freely in a conducive and healthy way. That was and still is the very core of Opinionated Monthly which drives us to publish a new issue month after month. We are very happy to be able to provide all of you with a platform to display your talents and observations of the world, and we hope to continue for the years to come. Let our rocky beginnings be an inspiration to you. After all, look at where we are now. Who knows? Perhaps there is a hidden poet in you waiting to be unleashed!

Azam Ismail

Deputy Editor

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As I was reviewing the previous issue of OM (as per pre-publishing custom), I noticed that our submissions collectively lean towards gloom. The previous issue covered everything dark and twisty – paranoia, unrequited love, teen angst, cynicism.

Granted, there are many reasons to be miserable about. There are the usual deadlines (of course); and university applications are now looming ever closer, while teachers pack away for greener pastures. Bad news in the papers, of people we respect and admire. And ants crawling out of wall cracks to drown themselves in mugs (the erratic weather!)… all these, and others, contribute towards the general lean towards sorrow in the student body lately, yes?

Perhaps it is in our hormones to see the melodrama in everything. Besides, all this anguish could not be all bad, could they, when so many works in OM had been inspired by them?

That said, I would love to read more happy stories in OM. One can never have enough of those.

Eileen Cham

Associate Editor