WRiting Contest #2

Senior Category Winning SUbmissions

Untitled
By Connie Jin
First Place, Senior Category

Genocide. You know this speech is going to be serious, because I just started off with the word genocide. I’ll say it again — genocide. I would imagine that word makes you feel uncomfortable - and it should because in English that’s the word for the systematic murder of communities. That’s the word for the oppression and erasure of marginalized cultures. That’s the word for what happens when languages go extinct. Protecting diversity in people starts with protecting the words they speak, and besides the fact that slaughtering other cultures is wrong, continued neglect of the world’s 2,900 endangered languages would lead to a disaster of assimilation. So today, let’s explore why preservation is needed at all, the costs of our current actions and the key changes that could allow linguistic diversity to flourish.

You’re probably wondering: “Connie, why do we need diverse languages to prevent genocide? Those seem to be two different concepts”. The answer is put best by Aboriginal Australian educator Jaquie Hunter, who says: “We have our culture, a strong culture – but without language how are you supposed to keep it going?”. Every language is the heart of a culture, and tradition and heritage and stories and people. A genocide’s first step has always been to extinguish traditional languages. Because, as every good colonizer knows, if you rip out the heart, it becomes pretty easy to kill the body.

But we saw this in Hawaii, where all native languages were banned in 1896. 90 years later, when only 32 Hawaiian children still spoke their language, representative Kanahele declared a “International Crime of Genocide against the Native Hawaiian People”. We saw this in China’s Uyghur population, whose Xinjiang province constitutes 1.5% of the state population, but 21% of arrests and detainments. Where government officials are publicly stating their intent to “break their lineage, break their roots, break their connections, and break their origins” with literature bans. We saw this right here in Canada, with more than 150,000 Indigenous children forced into residential schools to “kill the Indian in the child” and we still see it today. Sometimes the methods are different. Often the methods are the same. And everytime, we see how the death or survival of a language means the death or survival of a people.

So if it sounds like I’m angry, that’s because I am angry.

Beyond the historical wrongs that are being rewarded; the trauma of stolen heritage that hinders one’s success, the genocides that have occurred over 600 times since 1950, is the TRUTH - some of you are still skeptical. Even if we are losing a language every 2 weeks and will lose 90% of all linguistic diversity by 2050, this doesn’t affect us English, Mandarin, or French speakers. Except it does.

Because there is a cost to genocide: The high school dropout rate is 6 times higher for Indigenous youth compared to any other ethnic groups—that is the cost. The suicide rate among Canadian First Nations is 3 times higher than the general population—that is the cost. The unmarked graves of over 1900 children were discovered after centuries of government denial—that is the cost. And sooner or later we have to realize that the cost is simply too high.

I know this sounds daunting - to undo centuries of genocidal programs, but I truly believe the protection of linguistic diversity boils down to three key steps.

Number 1: Research. In the words of Naoto Kan, “if you are unable to understand the cause of a problem it is impossible to solve it”. Layer by layer, we can only begin to peel away at a solution by first documenting and understanding all there is to know about certain endangered languages. From grammar syntax to cultural significance, the quirks of a language should be recorded in the pages of a linguist’s notebook not lost in the pages of history. But preservation on paper is only the first step, which bring me to

Number 2: Encouraging activism in your community. As a child of two first-generation immigrants, sometimes the only way to spread awareness is to start in your own household. It was my younger brother who first encouraged my parents to buy Every Child Matters pins and attend a rally on National Truth and Reconciliation Day. And if a ten-year-old can stand up for what he believes in, so can you.

Number 3: Increased support for free, digital language learning. I’d like everyone to reach into their pockets: see the phone you’re now holding? It’s one of the most important inventions ever, with a few taps on the screen I can converse fluently or be educated in over 100 languages—for free. They didn’t have this thing in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, which made it easier for governments to murder, incarcerate, and traumatize marginalized groups. That’s no longer the case, we do have access to this technology. If language learning platforms were to incorporate less common languages into their programs, there would be nothing to stop ordinary people from making an extraordinary difference.

The tools we need to prevent cultural genocide are already at our disposal. When we choose not to protect linguistic diversity, it isn’t an issue of resources, it’s an issue of human mindset, education, and awareness. I believe words have power, this gathering here today indicates that we all believe words have power. So if that’s the case, we should be trying to preserve them. Thank you.

To be extending, or not to be extending?
By Teresa Pan
Second Place, Senior Category

To be extending, or not to be extending: that is the question. But should there really be an answer? About three years ago, a terrifying monster wearing the mask of a guardian angel crept out of the shadows to prey on the sanity of students below grade 10. Its name is “Proficiency Scale”. While the proficiency scale was adopted for the purpose of lessening academic stress on students, it has left parents, students, and even teachers, bewildered and frustrated.

I’m Teresa, and today, I will be telling you why we should abolish the proficiency scale in favor of the traditional letter grade system. Proficiency scale refers to the grading system in which four categories— Emerging, Developing, Proficient, Extending— are used to assess students. The letter grade system is the system in which letters are used, such as A+, or B-. In order to ensure greater academic success, we must make sure that the grading system is clear and motivates students, reduces academic burnout, and most importantly, prepares students for the future.

First, letter grades are much more straightforward than proficiency scales. For example, with proficiency scales, it is easier for the marking to be subjective as the marking standards will vary with different teachers. The proficiency scale uses broad categories to measure a student’s performance and work. These categories leave an overabundance of space for interpretation based on each individual teacher. In addition, since many students in a grade have different teachers for each subject, some teachers will mark easier than others and leads to discontent in the students who received teachers who marked harder and worsens the student-teacher relationship. Another reason for despondent students is that it is harder to attain affirmation and academic validation with proficiency scales. Since there are only four categories in proficiency scales as opposed to a wide range of letter grades from A+ to F-, it is harder to measure incremental improvement. Without recognition for their efforts, students will become unmotivated and feel that their hard work is not valued, leading them towards a downward spiral of failure ending with them hitting the cold hard ground of hopelessness.

Second, proficiency scales leads to more academic burnout. Because students are often told that “proficient is the goal” and that “getting extending is only if you’re above grade level”, they almost never know how to receive the highest grade. This leads to high-achieving students trying to desperately “extend”, even if their teachers don’t believe in giving out extending. This results in anxiety and stress that every student does not deserve. Furthermore, the concept of extending is fundamentally misleading. When a student receives an A+ on a quiz, it means that they met all the criteria and completed everything correctly. On the other hand, since extending is defined as “above grade level”, extending would be above A+. However, students should only be marked by their performance at their grade level because that is what they were taught to do. By using the proficiency scale, students are being put at a disadvantage when being compared to their peers in schools that use the letter grade system. This brings me to my final point.

Universities offering future opportunities to these students are much more familiar with the letter grade system. When applying for universities, especially foreign ones, Canadian students will suffer greatly because of the proficiency scales used. Allow me to explain. Many university admission officers will look at the extending category and automatically equate it to an A+. However, extending is above A+ as explained before, this leads to a student’s learning ability to be inaccurately calculated, thus undermining years and years of hard work. Now, although one could argue that since in grade 10, students start using the letter grade system, their university applications are not that affected. However, I vehemently disagree. In grade 10, students will need time to readjust to the unfamiliar grading system as they will have undergone years of proficiency scales and have this malicious antagonist ingrained in their minds. During this adjustment period, students will struggle immensely, not only having to deal with the increased workload that comes with being in the senior grades, but also having to relearn how to receive high grades. This could cause a decline in academic performance in grade 10 from grade 9, thus misleading universities.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, a school is “an administrative unit dedicated to and designed to impart skills and knowledge to students.” Here in British Columbia, with the proficiency scale in place, we cannot move forward with this goal. We gain nothing from confusing our students and their parents to the point of academic failure. We gain nothing from making our students more stressed and burnt out. And above all, we gain nothing from restricting our students from reaching their full potential and a better future. I, on behalf of all the students of B.C. agonizing over proficiency scales, beseech you to recognize the grading system that has failed us and to move forward with the letter grade system to restore our province to the academic glory it deserves. Thank you.

Permafrost: An Unknown Threat of Climate Change
By Amos Zhu
Third Place, Senior Category

In the icy tundras of the northernmost part of the world, the ground holds a frozen threat. A pandora’s box of potential crises that we’ve been inadvertently opening for years. We started to become aware of it in July 2016 when local reindeer began coming down with a mysterious illness and dying at alarming rates. Soon, people in a small Russian community of Yamal nomads began developing fevers, severe headaches, and nausea until almost 100 people had grown sick and a 12-year-old child passed away. They had developed cases of anthrax, an incredibly rare bacterial infection. The cause of the outbreak was a 75-year-old frozen reindeer carcass buried below ground that stored anthrax until a hot summer awoke this bacteria once more. But it’s not just anthrax in the arctic permafrost; experts have now realized that everything from the Spanish flu to the black plague is frozen away. And as our world warms, this growing threat is thawing.

We all know that global warming is a threat. So today, I want to focus on a part of this problem that’s always left out. A life-threatening ticking time bomb under the ground: diseases trapped in our permafrost. The permafrost is exposing us to microbes, the risk this brings to humanity, and finally, what we need to do to prevent a possible pandemic.

So first, what exactly is permafrost? As the name indicates, it’s permanently frozen areas of land. This permafrost can be up to 1,000 meters deep and 10 million years old! And you know when you forget something in the deep, dark recesses of the back of your freezer? Well, that’s kind of what’s happened with biological matter for millennia. And much like the nasty food you eventually find, the permafrost brings its own rotten surprises. This land is incredibly cold, cut off from oxygen, and not exposed to ultraviolet light - making it the perfect place for microbes to sit and chill. But these aren’t sleeping beauties, in fact, they’re more of a sleeping beast.

And this leads to my first problem, these diseases are waking up once more due to a growing threat to all aspects of life; climate change. As the earth gets warmer, this permafrost is melting, causing dormant microbes in those ancient carcasses to come back to life. This may not sound like a big deal until you realize that the black plague, smallpox, measles, and the Spanish flu have all been found in permafrost. Now, after a microbe’s reawakening, an unfortunate reindeer or other animal usually grazes near this land and becomes an unsuspecting patient 0. From there the disease spreads, first infecting more animals until, eventually, it reaches local people.

However, this is just the tip of the iceberg because so many more pathogens located in permafrost remain unknown and untreatable. And this is the second problem, a lack of planning. Scientists believe that permafrost contains pathogens up to a million years old. Considering that humans are thought to have evolved 300,000 years ago, we have no conception of what we may find lurking below. In 2015, US and Chinese researchers collected ice core samples on the Tibetan plateau. They found 33 pathogens, 28 of which they couldn’t even identify because they’re unknown to modern science. This means that if they were to infect humans, we would have no sense of the course of treatment, no vaccines to prevent them from spreading, and no idea how bad things could get. Despite this, Jean-Michel Claverie, a geneticist working with the University of the Arctic, shared, “Little attention has been given to an outbreak that might emerge in the far north and then travel south – and that is a recipe for disaster.”

Luckily, we can still carve our way out of this icy fate. Most obviously, we need to stop global warming here and now. But you already knew that before my speech, didn’t you? So, I want to examine unique solutions for this specific manifestation of climate devastation, which begins with two steps: prevention and research.

So first, prevention. We need to prevent further permafrost thawing and keep those nasty pathogens at bay. And luckily, Megafaunal Ecosystem Engineering could very well save the day. This verbose term refers to changing an ecosystem by introducing megafauna, also known as large animals. Grazing animals trample small saplings, preventing trees from growing, and could help switch the Arctic from woody vegetation to grassland. So why do we want grasslands? Grasslands allow cold winter temperatures to penetrate deeper into the soil, keeping things frozen for much longer. Beyond this, heat radiates from trees, making snow melt faster in their proximity. So, as counterintuitive as it seems, in this context, the fewer trees, the better. But how exactly can we get all these wild horses and bison to populate one of the most remote regions on earth? Our home country, Canada, can sponsor an initiative for the Arctic Council to platform this plan. Because arctic nations and indigenous peoples are already council members, they could collaborate to set up breeding programs across arctic territories.

And second, we need to combat the most pressing threats and prepare ourselves for potential outbreaks. This is where research comes in. Arctic bordering nations already have research institutions that collect and analyze ice core samples, but it’s time to dig deeper into the dirt. Random permafrost core sampling and analysis can allow us to track what diseases are most likely to make a comeback in the near future. In Canada, this could look like the Canadian Ice Core Lab partnering with pathology labs to conduct risk analysis and even begin research into treatment plans and cures! These initiatives can be sponsored by both governments, and international groups like the World Health Organization.

Permafrost thawing isn’t just a chilling tale; it’s a grim reality of our warming world. But if we stay cool under pressure, we still have time to keep this threat on ice. That way, we can keep the ominous diseases of the past hidden far below our life here on the surface.

How Technology has Impacted the Modern English Language
By Eleanor Lin
Honorable Mention, Senior Category

“Rizz”. The one word that transformed from an everyday word, “charisma”, into one of the most popular words to be used in the world, ultimately winning Oxford’s Word of the year. So how did a slang word, originating from Black Culture and popularized by Social Media, come to become a word so widely known it became one of the most popular words used in the world? The answer? Technology.

First off, let’s start with some basic context. How did this come to be? Rizz first went viral on TikTok when college student Henry De Tolla had a TikTok video go viral this June for its deadpan use of the phrase “Livvy rizzed up Baby Gronk”. It was then popularized by Kai Cenat, a pre-existing, popular Youtuber by developing other related phrases, such as "W rizz" and "L rizz", to describe a person's "winning" or "losing" abilities at attracting or chatting up a person/potential love interest, spreading popularity among Gen Z and Gen Alpha groups. The amazingly high popularity of the word resulted in winning Oxford's Word of the Year - essentially the most newly popularly used word that is culturally significant and represents the past year. To put this into context, in 2021 the word was “vax”, short for vaccine during Covid-19 was chosen, and in 2019 “climate emergency” achieved this honor as a climate action summit in which sixty-five countries and the European Union pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions to zero by the year 2050 was held. In other words, according to their website, Oxford’s Word of the Year “is a word or expression that has attracted a great deal of interest over the last 12 months, [especially one that] reflects the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of that particular year and to have lasting potential as a word of cultural significance.”

So, what was technology’s role in this? Languages are an ever-evolving thing, where new words are continually being added into the dictionary. Throughout the history of English, there have been innumerable changes - in fact, it is impossible for a modern English speaker to understand the original form of Old English, or Middle English; the letters don’t even look the same! The rise of technology has ultimately quickened the evolution of language, as platforms such as Youtube, Instagram, and in this case, TikTok, spread new trends and slang going viral with a mere click of a button because nowadays, tech has made it much easier for youth to connect globally, sharing ideas, trends, and language online. Alternatively, the use of texting has also contributed to this change in language: Acronyms. Take “rizz” for example; “rizz” derives from “chaRISma”, and was shortened for easier access online to seem “cooler”. Other words such as “because” have turned into “cuz”, “as soon as possible” has turned into “asap”, and “for your information” has turned into “fyi” - and these are just some examples of acronyms that have progressed from just being used in text to being used “irl” between people in social settings.

Then how will this influence our generation and the generations to come? As stated before, tech will speed the cycle of creating slang and online trends for younger generations significantly - and like all other social movements, this isn’t necessarily a one-sided “good thing” or “bad thing”. On one hand, this rapid progression in language can cause barriers between different generations. For example, if your mom told you to do the dishes, and you replied with “bet”, the mom may believe that the kid was talking back since the traditional meaning for “bet” is very different from the slang version, which only means “okay” or is just simply a word to agree with the speaker. However, this would create a “gap” between the parents and the children because of the incomprehensiveness between them. On the other hand, this does not mean that this rapid progression is a terrible development. This type of rapid communication between teens has allowed for a global sense of connection between our generation, creating connections between cultures and communities. In fact, the word “rizz” derives from Black culture, and its spread would not have been possible without the use of technology.

In conclusion, Oxford’s Word of the Year in 2023, “rizz”, has sparked debate - a non-traditional, slang word, being chosen as the most popular word used in the world? And in contrast to words like “vax” and “climate action”? In my opinion, technology has been a main contributor to this sudden change - making communication between teens globally, and easily accessible has increased the use of slang, acronyms, etc. greatly increasing the use of newly created slang for the younger generations. With all of this in mind, I just can’t wait to see what 2024’s word of the year is!

Untitled
By Ethan Kapoor
Honorable Mention, Senior Category

Imagine your favorite song, the one you listen to on repeat, that one that makes you feel better, that makes life just a little better. Now, imagine the artist who created it struggling to pay their bills. This is the reality for many musicians today.

Hi Everyone, I'm Ethan Kapoor and today, I'll go over three key points: First, there is the issue of artists being underpaid and taken advantage of. Then I'll go over the roots of this problem, which include unfair distribution and streaming practices. Lastly, we'll look at some feasible solutions.

First, let’s look at the problem itself. Many musicians are barely scraping by.

Imagine you’re an artist with a song that has millions of streams. You might expect that kind of popularity to translate to good income. But here’s the truth: on major streaming platforms, an artist earns less than a cent per stream, as of May 2024, Spotify, the largest streaming platform is paying between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream. So, even a song with a million streams might only make a few thousand dollars. For the average artist, that’s not nearly enough to sustain their career.

But it’s not just about the money. Creativity is negatively impacted by poor financial situations. When musicians can’t make ends meet, they often have to abandon their craft entirely. Many talented musicians leave the industry because they simply can’t afford to stay. Imagine the voices, the new music, the talent we’ve already lost because the system is failing them.

So, what’s causing this problem? The short answer: the way streaming platforms and record labels operate is fundamentally unfair.

Currently, platforms like Spotify and Apple Music use a “pro-rata” payment model. This means that all revenue is pooled together, and then distributed based on which artists get the most streams. This system naturally benefits top-tier artists and big record labels, while independent musicians get only a small fraction of the revenue.

There's also the role of major labels. These labels control the industry and often make deals with streaming platforms that work for their artists. Musicians who sign with these labels often end up giving away the rights to their work, only to receive very low royalties in return.

Finally, there’s consumer behavior. Most listeners don’t know how little artists make from streaming. When streaming becomes the only way fans support music, artists suffer financially.

So how do we fix this broken system? First, we need a better payment model. One option is a “user-centric” system, where each listener’s subscription fee goes directly to the artists they listen to. This way, if you stream your favorite artist all month, they’ll be the one getting paid—not a major label’s top artist.

Second, we can encourage more direct support. Platforms like Patreon allow fans to buy music and merchandise. This creates a direct connection between fans and artists, helping musicians make a living independently without a music label holding them down

Finally, awareness matters. Fans can make a difference by consciously choosing to buy music, attend concerts, and promote artists they listen to and like on social media. Imagine the impact of an artist-led campaign to educate fans on this issue.

The music industry doesn’t have to stay broken. By demanding fairer practices from streaming services and by supporting artists directly, we can make a difference. So here’s my challenge to you: Start supporting your favorite artists today. Pay attention to where your money goes, and don’t settle for a system that only benefits the few at the top.

Asian Representation in Media
By Ziyu Wang
Honorable Mention, Senior Category

When we turn our TV's on and go to a netflix to watch a movie, how many of the people you see are Asian? The most accurate answer would be little to none. Today I wanna talk about Asian representation in the media. Even though minority representation is getting better in the SQ, it is still not even close to being good enough.

Firstly, I want to talk about how much Asian representation our society even sees. When we think of Asian people in movies, little to no names come to mind. Even though most of us would think society is advancing and we are seeing more Asian and minority roles in movies, a lot of the time we think the problem is solved when in reality it has only just started getting better. When the problem then gets even worse than it was before because of the little to no attention on it, the cycle starts all over again. It is extremely important for us to take this into account because of the fact that society is not paying attention to it now. Every single Asian kid including myself when watching movies, looks up to these protagonists and heros, but when they see that superman, or Matilda looks so different from them it leads to them questioning their own identity. Only approximately 6% of leads in movies are Asian, while around 68% are white. The stories and movies we watch when we are little build up our character and make up who we are in the future, but when kids grow up thinking that they aren't good enough to be heros or important because of the underrepresentation we see in the media that sticks with them their whole life.

In order to increase Asian hires in the media world, I think a few things would be highly beneficial. Firstly, getting rid of bias training towards people of European descent, and teaching employers to recognize and combat that unconscious bias. Secondly, a more flexible work arrangement to accommodate more diverse needs is necessary. This makes it easier for a wider range of candidates to apply.

Next, I wanna mention what Asian representation in the media looks like when we do get it. Firstly, when we see Asian characters, the whole movie is often only Asian characters and not diverse. Why can't we see an Asian character interacting with a person of European descent? This shows to people that maybe Asian people aren't capable of interacting with others, or they aren't worthy of it. What also occurs is that false stereotypes are often reinforced in such movies. Think of Crazy Rich Asians for example which is arguably the most famous movie with a lot of Asian characters. The word crazy is literally right in the title, and they portray these characters as lunatics who only care about wealth and reputation. It is especially the problem that Asian characters even when they do get cast in a movie, it is focused on reinforcing stereotypes that attract more views. Usually, in these Asian only movies it's Asians who all fit a certain type of Asian like East Asian, thin, and pale-skinned. Which says something about the ideal type of "Asian" that a lot of regular Asians don't fit into at all.

This often happens because the majority of directors and movie script writers are not Asian so therefore don't know how to portray them properly. A possible fix to this problem would be possible hiring more directors and scriptwriters who are Asian and have a better understanding of the culture.