There is a social phenomenon called the “Tall Poppy Syndrome.” It’s the tendency for humans to criticize high achievers, hoping to pull them down. The name originates from the farming practice of cutting down poppies that grow too fast, deviating from the norm. They become too tall for their own good. Often, this can be […]
My last conversation in 2019 was with my friends. We spammed our group chat with cheers about the end of the year and lamented the difficulties of ninth grade, deciding that no matter what would happen in 2020, it had to be better than 2019. Yikes. Sure, hindsight is 2020 (literally), but there was nothing […]
In today’s increasingly polarized ideological world, groupthink is often preferred to any real exploration and exchange of ideas. When we only interact with like-minded people, our opinions are confirmed rather than tested. Most of Generation Z only knows “Google” as a verb and social media as omnipresent. In today’s America, our online preferences are monitored […]
As a half-German, half-American girl living in the United States, I’ve always felt as though I live in two separate worlds. One is the world of salmon on Christmas Eve, backyard gatherings where barbecue is conspicuously absent, the smell of wet pine needles and soccer. It is the German world, spaghettieis and dirndls and alpine […]
In a time when the trustworthiness of news is so critical, yet essentially every source seems to be biased, diversity in the newsroom is not just important but required. Reforms in the editorial process and diversity and equity initiatives are imperative to redirect the trajectory of the American newsroom toward something we can all be […]
Since the pandemic began, each interaction I have with others has begun with a countless set of questions: how are you using your extra time? What new skills have you acquired? With the expectation to spend your time learning a new language, jogging and organizing your room, the media’s message is clear: lockdown must be […]
District attorney Irene Lee McLeod ’99 and detective David Sun ’98 discussed jobs in criminal law at the HW4L Campus: Law and Order panel Feb. 27. The event, organized by HW Works and the HW Student Alumni Association, is their first panel of the year. The panels are designed to let students learn more about […]
Upper school faculty members attended the third annual Pollyanna Conference at the Middle School Nov. 2. In accordance with this year’s theme, “Everybody, Everybody: Reimagining Gender and Sexual Orientation in Our Schools,” representatives from 15 schools around the country discussed diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as how to become more welcoming toward members of […]