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Reflecting on my high school experience, I am extremely glad I joined the Global Scholars program. Whether it’s in class discussing current global issues and diplomacy, or it’s in Kazakhstan hiking atop a snowy mountain, there are countless memories I’ve made at Poly thanks to this program.  The view from the Tien Shan Mountains, Kazakhstan I took the Class “Facing Global Challenges” this year, just as all my fellow Scholars did, and I quickly fell in love. Unlike most history/social studies classes I’ve attended, this class went above and beyond in keeping track of current global affairs, trade, and conflicts. Conversations were structured enough so that we could cover what needed to, but loose enough that everyone got a turn to speak. The best thing about this class is how it encourages everyone to participate. From the first week of Fall, everyone is already planning their yearlong Capstone projects; because everyone shares this common goal, there is a sense of unity and support among your classmates.  If I had to pick a favorite topic his year, I would have to say that I was always interested in the current conflicts going on in Palestine. We dove so deep into decades-old history and heard stories from all sides of the conflict. And because we would have a new thing to talk about every week (as the conflict continued to grow and change as we moved on throughout the year), there was no way a conversation or analysis could become repetitive; in fact, there was so much information to take in that there was no way we could cover everything. My capstone project was completed along with the partnership of a fellow Global Scholar, Daniel Zheng. We called it “BrushPal”, and the idea was to create a cultural exchange between us and children in Uganda through the theme of art. Because you don’t need language to communicate your emotions through drawings, we thought it would be a great idea to send drawings and paintings to the children and receive their artwork back (like a pen pal situation). But when we ran into issues with shipments and price, we pivoted. We decided to create videos of us creating art (music videos and drawing tutorials), which we would post on a YouTube channel we shared with the caretakers of the children at La Lona and Mama Music (the two organizations we worked with). We were finally able to present the culmination of our project recently, which happened in the library and had interactive parts like a drumming tutorial and a drawing station, all of which would be sent to the children in Uganda (digitally). Students try out traditional Ugandan drums at our capstone presentation What I thought was the most impactful part of this whole process was the friends I made while meeting on ZOOM. People like Daniel Demento (co-founder of Worldwide Musicians United) and Adam Luwaganda (owner and founder of Mama Music)  became close to us as we worked closely with them throughout the year. Our business group chat has even become a place to talk about our lives and current situations.  A child at La Lona shows off his art As I reflect on what being a Global Scholar has allowed me to do, I can’t help but urge those who are questioning whether or not to join to at least give it a shot. Being a Scholar has taken me to countries I never would have imagined and introduced me to friends I never thought I’d have, and if I could, I would do it again 100 times.

This past Monday, I was able to present the capstone project I have been working on this whole year with my partner Daniel Zheng. Daniel and I present our project This project started when we were assigned a "Capstone Project" in our GIP class, and I asked Daniel to work with me. We spent some time brainstorming projects, and although we knew we wanted to work with art and artists, we had no clue where to start. That's when I contacted Cassandra Puga, the mother of a close friend of mine and founder of La Lona, a nonprofit organization in Uganda. Cassandra put us in touch with Daniel Demento, the co-founder of Worldwide Musicians United, a nonprofit that works closely with performing arts throughout Africa. From there, we met people such as Luwaganda Adam, owner and founder of Mama Music School, an organization providing underprivileged children in Uganda access to performing arts. A student at La Lona shows off his artwork When we first met all these people, Daniel and I were honestly a bit overwhelmed. We had no clue where to start working. So we set up a ZOOM meeting with them so we could brainstorm ideas. The original plan was to create a "PenPal" connection through us and children in Uganda, but these plans fell through when we ran into problems with shipping. So Daniel and I had the idea to create videos for the Ugandan children of us doing artwork and music. If we could not share our physical work, at least we could do it digitally. In Daniel's garage, we got to work, filming myself drawing and Daniel playing instruments. And although it was hard work, we were always able to stay motivated because every time we sent a video out, we would hear back from Cassandra about how much the children loved it. Art created by students at La Lona What we were originally trying to do with this project was to create bonds across the globe through art. And although we were not able to achieve what we originally had in mind, Daniel and I can confidently say that by now, we are not just working partners with Cassandra, Mr. Demento, and Adam, but friends as well. Special thank you to Cassandra Puga, Luwaganda Adam, Daniel Dememento, and Mr. Will for helping us with this project!

In my climate change class, I have learned how global warming affects everything—from the environment to national security. That’s why it’s alarming to see the Trump administration completely ignoring the climate crisis, even as it creates real threats to U.S. interests at home and abroad. What was once a well-traveled road is now almost completely submerged by rising tides The idea that climate change is a “threat multiplier” isn’t new. Experts have long warned that rising temperatures make things like poverty, migration, and conflict worse. In fact, humans in many third-world countries such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have been forced out of their homes due to rising tides. While this seems extremely distant from the US, it is important to remember that compared to these countries, the US emits an exorbitant amount of carbon into the air. This carbon traps heat and leads to global warming. Essentially, the problems of others are caused by our own hands.  Now, in a world focused on strategic competition, especially with China, climate issues are even more important. If the U.S. wants its support, it has to take its climate concerns seriously. Right now, China is offering them help, while the U.S. is stepping back. In accordance with this, the US has placed tariffs on dozens of countries. This only alienates us even more. Trump denies global warming And problems aren't as far away as one might believe. At home, U.S. military bases and cities are already getting hit by wildfires, hurricanes, and floods. Without proper funding for adaptation, the US will keep paying billions in damage. The Biden administration had started investing in clean energy and resilience, but Trump’s team seems ready to tear that down. Ignoring climate change won’t stop its effects; it just puts us at greater risk. If the U.S. wants to stay strong and protect its allies, it needs to lead on climate, not fall behind. It’s not just about politics. It’s about shaping the future. Sources: https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/29/climate/trump-dismisses-climate-report-authors/index.html https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/23/climate-trump-security-china/ https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15042025/todays-climate-national-security-research-trump/

When authoritarian leaders come to power, their first target isn’t always the military or the press, it’s the universities. According to Yale professor Jason Stanley, that’s no coincidence. In a recent interview, Stanley explained why he’s leaving the United States after Donald Trump’s return to office: he believes the attack on higher education is a sign. He believes that this affront paves the road towards something deeper, something more malicious. Professor Stanley From Italy under Mussolini to modern-day Hungary and India, authoritarian governments have a history of silencing universities.  That is because universities are full of young people who not only view the world, but question it as well. They ask questions that challenge authority and protest injustice-- this is exactly what authoritarians don't want. Challenges like these threaten a group that desires full control. An image of a protester's sign. These protests (led by college students) challenge authority, which is what Stanley describes as less safe under the current political climate. For Stanley, this issue is personal. He’s Jewish, the son of Holocaust survivors, and the father of two Black sons. He says the current political climate in the U.S. feels unsafe for his family, especially with growing racism, attacks on diversity programs, and antisemitism being used as a political weapon. He also worries that the real suffering of Palestinians in Gaza is being ignored, while Jewish identity is being misused to justify crackdowns on campus protests.  Recently, Stanley has been offered a job at the University of Toronto in Canada. He hopes that moving his family there will allow his sons more freedom and less peril; for the last thirty years, Canada has been a very Liberal country, and with the recent election results, it stands to stay that way. He hopes that the political climate there will allow more freedom to speak one's mind. Stanley hopes that his decision to leave serves as a warning to the American people. If we want to protect democracy and combat authoritarian society, one must learn to protect the places where people learn to question power. Right now, those places are under serious threat. Sources: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/01/nx-s1-5345769/yale-university-professor-fascism-canada https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/16/trump-authoritarians-universities-fascism-jason-stanley/

Tensions between Rwanda and Congo have been high for decades. Multiple invasions of Congo by Rwanda due to unstable government and rebel forces have caused Rwandan peacekeepers to be stationed in the country since 1999. Millions died decades ago, in two massive conflicts known as Africa's World Wars, but fighting has However, it has not been until recently that situations have grown more intense, killing hundreds and displacing thousands. This is due to the M23 rebel group, a Tutsi militia that has taken over multiple towns and cities in Congo. One of the cities in Congo that has fallen victim to devastation is Goma, the capital of the Kivu province of Congo. An M23 soldier patrols the streets of Goma A horrible reoccurrence during these times of crisis, and in almost any conflict, is how defenseless people are hurt due to infrastructure collapses and are left weakened by the absence of police and law. When M23 captured Munzenze prison, hundreds of inmates were freed from captivity. However, the most horrific scenes did not come from M23 directly. Instead, it was when male inmates found their way into the female section of the prison. Over 100 women were raped and killed as a result of the jailbreak. Reports also state that a majority of the women were killed after inmates fleeing the prison set fire to the buildings. Inmates flee as black smoke engulfs the prison But this is just a small portion of what is going on. In Goma alone, there are reports of up to 2,900 deaths, bodies lying in the street as chaos ensues. As fighting continues, the number of tragedies will only rise. During times like this, with tragedies that go almost unnoticed to a majority of the world, it is important to spread awareness. While it is almost impossible and very dangerous for high school students living in countries outside of Congo (such as myself) to come to places like Goma to aid those affected, there are other things we can do to help. Spreading information and protesting these moments from where we are in the world is just a start. Sources https://blog.mathmedic.com/post/early-solutions-to-the-2024-ap-calculus-free-response https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgly1yrd9j3o https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0dg11y6xko https://www.npr.org/2025/01/31/nx-s1-5281422/congo-goma-fighting-m23-rwanda-drc

On February 24, 2022, the Russian military invaded Ukraine. The Kremlin believed it would be a swift victory, and had plans to take Kyiv, the capital, within weeks. However, Ukrainian forces fought tooth and nail, delaying Russia’s victory for months. Months turned into years and now, 1,047 days later, there is still no clear victor.  Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the current President of Ukraine The United States has played a major role in the background of this war, supplying Ukraine with weapons and ammo. Recently, Trump and Putin have planned to discuss the war without Zelenskyy. Trump claims that he wishes to halt Putin’s invasion, but it is unlikely that we will see a scenario where Russia simply turns around and admits defeat. For this war to end, and for Ukraine to emerge the victor, they must outlast Russia in a war of attrition, a seemingly impossible task that they are already trying to accomplish. Trump shakes Putin's hand during his first term in office However, It is unclear what Trump's true motives are because although he claims that his goal is a ceasefire, he has also planned ceasefire meetings without Ukraine. Furthermore, the Trump administration encourages the Ukraine government to hold parliamentary elections, which has the possibility of destabilizing Ukraine, and that could prove to be detrimental at such a key time like this.  The Biden administration tried to outlast Russia in a war of attrition. But we must wait to see if Trump has the same plans. Sources: https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/01/27/amid-talk-of-a-ceasefire-ukraines-front-line-is-crumbling https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2018/07/politics/trump-putin-summit-cnnphotos/ https://www.americanacademy.de/no-way-out/ https://www.congress.gov/118/meeting/house/116768/documents/HHRG-118-ZS00-20240130-SD002.pdf https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/donald-trumps-promise-of-strong-us-leadership-should-begin-with-ukraine/ https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/2/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-1074

This past Saturday, I saw a debate between the Secretary of State and a distinguished expert in foreign policy. Our Secretary of State argued on the side of pro-strategic ambiguity, with points such as it would help reduce tension between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. Our Secretary believes that remaining strategically ambiguous helps us align with the PROC’s “One China Policy.”  With the amount of US support being unclear, she believes Taiwan would not make any claims that would anger China into confrontation.  Xi Jinping declared that the PROC will take back Taiwan within 25 years Her opponent, however, views the situation oppositely. While he acknowledged her points as valid and agreed that strategic ambiguity had worked well for America in the past, he believes that with China’s growing aggression around the Strait of Taiwan and Xi Jinping’s recent claims to have Taiwan reoccupied in the next 25 years will not be calmed by strategic ambiguity, and, if anything, it will make the US appear as weak. Instead, He argued for strategic clarity. “Making China guess what we will do in the event of an attack on Taiwan is one thing” he stated “But outright explaining to the PROC why the cons of an attack drastically outweigh the benefits is another.”  A map of the PROC's recent military exercises. These exercises are mainly used as an intimidation tactic. Listening to both speakers, I think that I would have to side with the case for strategic clarity. In an age where an attack from China grows more and more imminent, even with America’s use of strategic ambiguity, it is clear to me that strategic ambiguity has “run its course.” The geopolitical tension between the PROC and Taiwan is only growing, and being clear in our response to Xi Jinping’s aggression seems the only viable option to de-escalate the situation.  Sources: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/does-the-united-states-need-to-update-its-taiwan-policy/?utm_campaign=Center%20for%20Asia%20Policy%20Studies%20Bulletin&utm_medium=email&utm_content=335595885&utm_source=hs_email https://www.economist.com/china/2024/10/17/china-makes-love-and-war-with-taiwan "The Growing Danger of US Ambiguity on Taiwan" Foreign Affairs Magazine.

12 days ago, a year's worth of rain fell in Valencia, Spain. the heavy downpours, which in some areas measured around 490 liters per square meter, devastated local towns, killing over 200 people, many of whom suffocated after being trapped in the thick mud that came from the flooding. Images of piled-up cars and broken buildings are pouring in from various sources. Protesters have taken to the streets, criticizing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the regional president of Valencia, Carlos Màzon. They believe officials have taken too long to respond, calling for Sanchez's resignation. Right-wing new sources claim "If Spaniards today weren’t so lily-livered, we’d be hanging them and quartering them and putting their remains on display in the public square so they could be bait for flies and carrion feeders, as should be the fate of tyrants." They berate the entire government for wantonly dealing with the floods. Some news outlets also note a string of deleted tweets about Valencia's weather forecast coming from Sanchez himself. While responses are extreme, they are not without reason. Warnings were too late and did not emphasize the nature of the emergency enough and response to the floods was too little and too late. The real response force was the civilian volunteers who began searching for missing people immediately after the flooding ceased. "Strangers aid the needy by diving into the muck and, with each scoop and toss, inch towards a distant renewal." Three days ago, the king of Spain, Sanchez, and Màzon visited areas affected by floods and were met with angry protestors who threw mud and hurled insults at them. Outside of Valencia, hundreds of thousands of protestors in the streets chant "We are stained with mud, and you are stained with blood" as well as "Murderer" at PM Sanchez. While many different opinions and a lot of false news is being circulated about the floods, there is one very clear thing: the people in Valencia are suffering, and should not have to deal with lazy politicians as they wait for aid. While leaders failed initially to send in help, it is now up to them to make sure the damage is resolved quickly. Sources: https://apnews.com/article/spain-floods-protest-valencia-897877bed9379462c06ea00ec24b7fd7 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/10/spain-floods-valencia-political-fallout-government https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/09/the-images-of-spains-floods-werent-created-by-ai-the-trouble-is-people-think-they-were https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2024/11/10/the-devastation-brought-by-spains-floods-of-the-century https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg4n614v32o https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/04/world/video/woman-strips-underwear-iran-ldn-digvid?dicbo=v2-dvbqQog&hpt=ob_blogfooterold https://www.npr.org/2024/11/02/nx-s1-5176508/spain-valencia-chiva-flood-map

My Facing Global Issues class had an amazing learning opportunity this past Wednesday. We were lucky enough to host Professor Mietek Boduszynski for our class and gain an understanding of his past work in foreign affairs as well as his view on the current Israel/Palestine conflict. Soon, a year will have passed since the October 7th attacks that started the current conflict, and sadly, an ending to the death and suffering does not look close. We need to learn from people like Professor Boduszynski; awareness and education are the best prevention of human suffering. Although a somber conversation, Professor Boduszynski used his knowledge of foreign affairs to teach us more about a topic that we have already spent a week closely studying. A history of allies vs. partners on the international politics scale allowed me to understand the gravity of the situation further, and how the relations the US must maintain with certain countries means that our government will look the other way (breaking our own laws) when handling human rights violations in certain countries. Boduszynski also impressed me when I asked him what his opinions on the current leaders of Hamas meeting in China were. Even with little knowledge about China's role in the situation, Boduszynski's vast knowledge of foreign affairs helped him infer what he thought China is trying to do--become the largest player in the Middle East and Africa--dethroning the US. But even with such a knowledgeable speaker, I left the room with questions. Why is so much money sent to Israel when they are killing innocent people in broad daylight? If we violate our own laws by looking the other way in India, why shouldn't we do the same to defund the IDF, saving innocent men, women, and children in Gaza? There are ways to reach peace without leaving Israel vulnerable to its neighboring countries and without the deaths of thousands of Palestinians. Again, the best prevention to violence is through education and awareness. We must educate ourselves if we want peace for the future. Left Image: Prfessor Boduszynski Sources: https://polytechnic.myschoolapp.com/ftpimages/270/download/download_9842917.pdf Professor Boduszynski's slideshow https://www.economist.com/briefing/2024/07/18/optimistic-plans-for-post-war-gaza-have-little-basis-in-reality https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/23/china/hamas-fatah-palestinian-factions-beijing-intl-hnk/index.html

This past year I have had two amazing travel opportunities. One was to go to Cambodia and learn about culture, food, music, and nature; the other led me to a 30-day canoeing trip in Central Québec. While both experiences were on opposite sides of the spectrum, the similarities in the two regions is insane. In Cambodia, the temperature is hot in the morning and hotter during the day. The city was loud and busy, and clean drinking water was scarce. Canada was almost the complete opposite, cold and colder during the day, silent except for the sounds of birds or paddle strokes, and the waters of the lakes and rivers were so clean that we did not boil nor filter them.  However, the similarities in the two landscapes are what fascinated me the most. How it could go from sun to rain in a matter of minutes, how once you stepped outside of the city, lush greenery covered the entire landscape, and although I was barely able to speak to the people of Québec, just like the people I met in Cambodia, they were welcoming and kind, even with a language barrier separating us.  World travel is an amazing experience and privilege that I am so blessed to have, it has changed me for the better, and I hope that everyone can experience immersing themselves in a completely different culture as well. Me and my friend Ronen with our Cambodian guides Pum and Silong, who were two of the kindest and most welcoming people I have ever met. Waving goodbye to the resupply pilots on my Canada trip. They flew to us a day early; they had to be evacuated from their airbase due to fires, and instead of immediately flying away, they decided to overpack the plane with our resupply food and get it to us before saving themselves.

I was fortunate enough this summer to travel in one of the most remote places on Earth. For 30 days, I canoed through central and northern Québec, a place few have ever visited. Birds, fish, bears, trees, the wilderness there was thriving and untouched. We began on the Pekans River, paddling upstream and poling and lining through rapids*. While the days were strenuous and long, it was there that I truly felt like I could relax and reflect. That far north, we were almost completely secluded, save the two resupply pilots on day 15 and the three fishermen we ran into on day 6. You build an insanely strong bond with the people around you when you are secluded and depending on each other to survive. We brought no gas, stoves, only two lighters, and some axes and saws on our trip. We depended on a certain amount of us searching for and chopping firewood, someone setting up a dinner station, and two people baking and cooking. And because of our dependencies on one another, any walls or barriers between us were gone by the third day. When you rely on the people around you as much as they rely on you, the respect everybody has for each other grows exponentially. After 30 days of travel, I felt healthier and stronger than I had ever felt before. I had grown accustomed to a healthier, more simple lifestyle; similarly to everyone on my trip, I did not want to leave. I remember seeing our van driver arriving on our last day, and even though we were still secluded at the end of a random dirt road, as soon as he stepped out, it felt like we had been transported back into society. immediately we were hit with news of assassination attempts and sports victories, and immediately we wanted to be alone again. While wilderness travel might not be within everyone's comfort zone, I hope that everybody gets a chance to experience it once in their lives. When all you have to worry about is what you are eating for the night and if it rains or not, life becomes simpler and more enjoyable. *Poling: Similar to this photo, we used the poles by jamming them into the riverbed and pushing the canoes upstream. The only difference is that we made our poles out of young spruce trees. There was also another person in the canoe who sat down in the front and kept it straight against the current Lining: our lining was the same as this image. When going upstream (against the current) the person in front keeps the boat close to shore and pulls it up while the person in the back either takes or gives slack to keep the boat straight. When going downstream (against the current) the person in the back keeps their end closer to shore while the person in the front pulls.

As I returned from a trip this summer, the Olympic Games were already underway. Excitedly, I messaged my friends for updates and began watching the highlight clips posted all over social media. One post, however, caught my eye in a way deeper than just an electric sports highlight. A news clip from a UK tabloid talked about the "controversy in the Olympic Games opening." I was intrigued, so I researched by trying to find articles from more trustworthy sources. Here is what I learned. On July 26th, the Paris Olympics was opened. Vibrant displays of art and culture illuminated the Seine River, introducing the dozens of countries involved. But it was not the countries involved that caused an uproar, but rather an artistic display of the Greek God, Dionysus. A god of wine and celebration, he intertwined French culture with the spirit of the Olympics. Painting a man blue, and indulgently feeding him grapes and food, was originally meant to be a nod to Greek mythology; the Olympic Games is a Greek tradition, after all. However, this image caused an uproar in Christian communities around the world, who claimed that the display was reminiscent and mocking of the famous painting "The Last Supper." Figures from around the world voiced their opinions, including Elon Musk and Donald Trump who called the display "a disgrace," but many also voiced opinions rejecting those claims. After all, the display was never meant to cause emotional harm, its original purpose was to unite people of all different backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and genders in celebration. The Olympic's official Twitter account stated " The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings." It is disappointing to see how a display meant to contrast the strife in the world ( the performer, who starred as Dionysus (Philippe Katerine) played his song "Nu" or, "Naked," as a response to the conflict in Gaza) through excessive celebration backfires to cause dissent and anger in the thousands. Although the display was reminiscent of The Last Supper, it is imperative to understand that the display is not intended to be mocking nor is it taking direct inspiration from the painting. In my opinion, the greatest disappointment to arise out of this controversy is the way humans polarize each other in response to it. As we speak, dozens of conflicts are harming other humans across the world. It is horrible to see that an event dedicated to uniting and celebrating has become a cornerstone for more separation. Another major issue I see is the way religion and controversy have managed to turn the Olympics political. with world leaders criticizing and appraising the show, an event meant for the people now feels corporate and distasteful. Somehow, these leaders have managed to make the Olympics about themselves and their opinions. We must be better about not taking these displays so personally and truly seeing them as what they are intended to be, not what we interpret them as. Sources https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/29/sport/blue-man-olympics-opening-ceremony-spt-intl/index.html https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-slams-opening-ceremony-2024-paris-olympics-thought-disgrace https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/28/sports/olympics-opening-ceremony-last-supper-paris.html https://x.com/Olympics/status/1816929100532945380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1816929100532945380%7Ctwgr%5E9e9209f4e18308e2a500cb54875444338f672c0a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fmedia%2Ftrump-slams-opening-ceremony-2024-paris-olympics-thought-disgrace https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRoXoLNh/